Officially registered as “The Snowmobile Capital of the World” since 1964, this area has more than 600 miles of trails weaving through Vilas and Oneida counties and the Nicolet National Forest, and around 2,000 lakes, that are groomed daily by the members of five snowmobile clubs. The wintry outdoors is valued in this area, and it’s often asserted by locals that snowmobiles outnumber cars during the winter months. Additionally, each year since 1927, on the weekend closest to New Year, Eagle River volunteer firefighters and community volunteers spend over 700 hours building a palace of ice formed by nearly 3,000 12-inch-thick ice blocks that is truly an architectural wonder to behold.