Central Wisconsin, your way
Big days out. Good company back home.
A ski day at Granite Peak. A long view from Rib Mountain. An orchard afternoon with the children, followed by dinner together and an evening by the fire. Around Stratford, Wisconsin, your getaway can be as adventurous—or as unhurried—as you want it to be.
Use Conestoga Ranch & Lodge as your countryside home base, and discover the mountain, forest trails, art, and family experiences that make Central Wisconsin worth exploring. Our favorite part? Having somewhere inviting to come back to together.
The mountain is only the beginning
Make the Wausau and Rib Mountain area a highlight of your stay. Winter brings ski days and snowy woodland outings; warmer seasons invite you onto the trails and up to the views.
Photo Granite Peak Ski Area
Rib Mountain / Wausau · Ski & snowboard days
Granite Peak Ski Area
The ski trip everyone looks forward to
Granite Peak brings the energy of a proper mountain day to your Wisconsin getaway. Its downhill ski and snowboard terrain spans beginner runs, glades, moguls, and terrain parks, giving mixed-ability groups plenty to enjoy. Rentals and lessons help everyone find their rhythm.
Make the slopes the centerpiece of a winter weekend, then come back to Conestoga Ranch & Lodge for a pizza-oven dinner, games, and the pleasure of staying together.
Plan your ski day · Find lessons & rentals
Photo: Yinan Chen / GoodFreePhotos · Public domain
Wausau · Views, hiking & fresh air
Rib Mountain State Park
A view worth making time for
Rib Mountain's quartzite formations, woodland trails, and observation tower turn a walk into a destination. Explore more than 13 miles of hiking trails, discover the old quarry, or settle into a picnic with a view. It's a lovely choice for families who want a little adventure at their own pace.
Autumn brings color to the hillsides, while winter offers hiking and snowshoeing. Choose a route that suits your people and make the mountain part of the day's story.
Explore Rib Mountain · Choose your trail
Photo: Visit Wausau
Wausau · A forest day for active groups
Nine Mile County Forest
Follow the trail into a different pace
Nine Mile's extensive forest trail network gives outdoor-minded guests room to roam. In the warmer months, think woodland hikes and mountain biking. In winter, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and fat-tire biking bring their own reasons to head outside.
Pick the activity your group loves, pack something for after the outing, and enjoy a day shaped by the woods. The county's trail page helps you choose the best available routes for your visit.
Discover Nine Mile Forest · Explore current trail options
Photo: Visit Wausau
Mosinee · Water, woodland & picnic afternoons
Big Eau Pleine County Park
Bring a picnic. Let the afternoon unfold.
A peninsula reaching into Big Eau Pleine Reservoir creates a setting for the kind of outdoor day that doesn't need a complicated itinerary. Walk the trails, enjoy the playground and beach, find a picnic spot, or plan a fishing or boating outing using the park's public access points.
For guests who love a quieter woodland walk, Big Eau Pleine Woods State Natural Area adds another reason to explore. This is a warm-weather family favorite to keep in mind when planning your Central Wisconsin stay.
Explore the park & reservoir · Discover Big Eau Pleine Woods
Art, wildlife & afternoons to remember
There is plenty here for the people who love discoveries as much as outdoor adventures. These Wausau, Marshfield, and Edgar outings bring their own character to a family or group getaway.
Photo: Royalbroil · CC BY-SA 2.5 · Wikimedia Commons · License · Resized from original
Wausau · Art, nature & a beautiful change of pace
Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum
See the natural world a little differently
The Woodson Art Museum brings art and nature together through its galleries, sculpture garden, and celebrated annual Birds in Art exhibition. The family-focused Art Park offers hands-on opportunities that invite younger visitors into the experience, too.
With free general admission, this is an appealing Wausau stop for couples, families, and mixed-age groups. Pair the museum with another Wausau outing, or make it a relaxed destination in its own right.
Plan a Woodson visit · Explore family programs
Photo: Visit Marshfield / Wendlandt
Marshfield · A family outing with wonderful wildlife
Wildwood Park & Zoo
The day the children met the bears
Kodiak bears, wolves, bison, elk, and bald eagles give wildlife-loving families plenty to talk about at Marshfield's Wildwood Park & Zoo. The municipal zoo offers free admission, while the surrounding park adds paths, picnic areas, ponds, and sensory gardens.
The large-animal drive offers another way to enjoy selected wildlife from your vehicle. Make this the start of a Marshfield family day, with time afterward for another local stop or an easy return to the home.
Discover Wildwood Park & Zoo
Photo: Visit Marshfield
Marshfield · Imagination, sculpture & something unexpected
Jurustic Park
A wonderfully different kind of creature encounter
At Jurustic Park, rusted-metal creatures turn an outdoor stroll into a conversation. Artist Clyde Wynia's imaginative sculptures are full of humor and personality, making this a memorable stop for curious children and adults alike.
The adjacent Hobbit House studio and shop features Nancy Wynia's handmade glass, jewelry, and other work. Add this spring-to-fall art outing to a Marshfield day and bring a little curiosity with you. Public admission is free.
Explore Jurustic Park
Photo: Rock Ridge Orchard
Edgar · Harvest-season outings
Rock Ridge Orchard
Apples, cider & a little country happiness
Rock Ridge Orchard gives a fall weekend a delicious destination. Apple picking, fresh cider, bakery treats, wagon rides, and children's Play Patch activities bring different generations into the same easygoing afternoon.
The family-owned orchard also hosts seasonal public events. Look through its harvest calendar as you plan your autumn stay, and leave room for a few treats to bring back to the home.
Explore the orchard · See seasonal events
A good meal. A reason to celebrate.
Some of the best plans are the simple ones: a Wisconsin fish fry, dinner with your people, or gathering for a wedding in a beautifully restored barn.
Stratford · Wisconsin dining
Country Aire Restaurant
Country Aire is a Stratford option for Friday fish fry, steaks, broasted chicken, and a family meal out. Its restaurant, bar, and banquet facilities also offer catering and custom menus for planned celebrations. Browse the menu and make dinner part of your getaway.
Explore Country Aire · See the menu
Stratford · Weddings & special occasions
Stratford Heritage Barn
Stratford Heritage Barn brings the character of a restored dairy barn to weddings, reunions, and special occasions. Timber interiors, a covered porch, patio, and wine garden create inviting spaces for a celebration. Explore its weddings and public-event announcements for inspiration as you plan your visit.
Discover Heritage Barn · Wedding inspiration
The countryside is part of the experience
Around Edgar and Stratford, the rural landscape and local Amish community add to the area's quiet character. Conestoga Ranch & Lodge's Amish-built log home brings that craftsmanship into your stay. Give yourself time for a country drive, a long breakfast, and the pleasure of a morning that belongs entirely to your group.
Interested in local craftsmanship or another personal recommendation? Carol & Andy are happy to help you shape a getaway that feels like yours. Ask Carol & Andy.
Make the weekend your own
01 · Make time for this
A ski getaway with a cozy finish
Build a winter day around Granite Peak. Add a Rib Mountain walk or a Woodson Art Museum visit for another change of pace, then return for pizza-oven dinner and games together at Conestoga Ranch & Lodge.
02 · Make time for this
A family day full of discoveries
Explore Wildwood Park & Zoo, then add Jurustic Park to your Marshfield outing in its visiting season. Leave time afterward for the pond views, game spaces, and an evening together at the home.
03 · Make time for this
A harvest-season country weekend
Enjoy apples and cider at Rock Ridge Orchard during harvest season, add a Stratford dinner, and spend the next morning lingering over breakfast. The best weekends leave room for both an outing and a little doing nothing.
A little inspiration before you plan
What are the best things to do near Stratford, Wisconsin?
Granite Peak and Rib Mountain are highlights for mountain adventures. Nine Mile Forest and Big Eau Pleine offer regional outdoor outings, while Woodson Art Museum, Wildwood Park & Zoo, Jurustic Park, and Rock Ridge Orchard add art, wildlife, and seasonal family experiences. Country Aire and Stratford Heritage Barn offer Stratford dining and celebrations.
Is Conestoga Ranch & Lodge a good home base for a Granite Peak trip?
Conestoga Ranch & Lodge is a countryside lodging option for families and groups who want to stay together during a Granite Peak getaway. The home sleeps up to 10 guests and includes three enclosed bedrooms, a large open loft, two bathrooms, game spaces, and an indoor commercial pizza oven. Granite Peak is in the Rib Mountain and Wausau area.
What can we enjoy beyond skiing?
Choose Rib Mountain hikes, a Woodson Art Museum visit, or a Marshfield family outing. In warmer seasons, add Big Eau Pleine's park and waterfront or a forest trail day. Harvest season brings Rock Ridge Orchard experiences, and time at Conestoga's private pond and firepit gives the trip its quieter moments.
Your Stratford countryside home base
The outing is wonderful. Coming home together is even better.
Conestoga Ranch & Lodge welcomes up to 10 guests to an Amish-built log home on over 10 acres of prairie and woodland. Three enclosed bedrooms, a large open loft, and two bathrooms give your group room to settle in. Enjoy the private spring-fed pond, game spaces, indoor commercial pizza oven, and firepit with complimentary firewood.
For a family ski trip, a countryside getaway, or overnight lodging for a local celebration, let Carol & Andy help you choose your dates. Your stay is hosted personally by Sacha Stays of Wisconsin.
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Call Carol & Andy: 608-957-7545 · Read our guest FAQs
A local guide from Sacha Stays of Wisconsin · Updated November 3, 2026. Explore the official destination links for visitor information and seasonal calendars.