Solid midwestern folk sporting tank tops, koozies in hand, cluster in groups enjoying the lake breeze from their lawn chairs and pontoon boats. It’s a familiar and comforting scene for two people who spent their childhoods steeped in lake water.

We’re staying at Shell Lake’s Municipal Campground for five whole days. So far, each has been that perfect summer blend of warm sunny afternoons followed by clear cool nights. Our location couldn’t be any better: perched between a 2,600 acre lake and a tiny but charming main street. Shell Lake businesses include a tavern serving fresh walleye (baked or fried), an independent grocer making a killing on disposable grills, and an ice cream stand situated steps from the public beach. It’s everything a great Lake Town should be, with a few quirky surprises thrown in for fun (see: Museum of Woodcarving).

It doesn’t take long to feel at home in a town this size, but Mayor, Sally Peterson, bowled me over with her hospitality. When's the last time your vacation destination's chief executive dropped everything to provide you with a lunch recommendation? What a great stop.

Play: Three words: Walk. In. Raku. The Potter's Shed calls itself, “a place like nowhere else,” and I tend to agree. Shopping, dining, live music and crafts all in one place—half of it outdoors. Good clean fun.

Explore: Part of the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway, the Namekagon River is a northwoods classic. The National Park Service maintains boat-in campsites and more than a dozen access points which are serviced by private outfitters. The nice people at Log Cabin Resort shuttled us and our boat from Trego up to the Springbrook Landing for a 4-hour paddle through fantastic scenery, but the less motivated can opt for a shorter tube float.