Wisconsin Offers Unique Valentine's Gift Ideas

(ARA) - From an indoor water park or romantic spa weekend to gift baskets of distinctive wines and microbrews, Wisconsin offers plenty of great -- and unexpected -- gift ideas.

Wisconsin Outdoor Attractions

Is your hard-to-buy-for person a lover of the great outdoors? Consider gift certificates or passes that deliver some of the best activities in Wisconsin. People who enjoy nature will appreciate a year-long pass to the extensive Wisconsin State Parks system. The 2004 vehicle admission sticker is valid at 59 parks, forests and recreation areas statewide. The Wisconsin State Park System also offers an online “Parks Store,” featuring merchandise such as apparel, coffee mugs and camping accessories.

The golfer on your list will love a gift certificate to one of Wisconsin’s many top-ranked courses. The state’s public courses run the gamut from quick-and-easy par-3 layouts to pro-caliber courses created by world-famous designers such as Pete Dye, Arnold Palmer, Andy North, Jack Nicklaus and Robert Trent Jones Sr. Give the Golf Wisconsin Coupon Book (available through the Golf Course Owners of Wisconsin), which features more than $1,000 in savings at some of the finest golf locations in the Midwest.

Wisconsin’s Indoor Water Parks

Indoor water parks are one of the nation’s hottest family entertainment trends and Wisconsin offers more of them than any other state. From Wisconsin Dells (which boasts 18 of these amazing aquatic playgrounds) to Lake Geneva, Minocqua, Milwaukee and other many other communities, visitors to the Badger State have a wide variety of indoor water parks to choose from, most of which offer special gift packages and certificates. Thrill-seeking kids will also appreciate a gift certificate or season pass from Noah’s Ark, the nation’s largest outdoor water park.

Wisconsin Destination Resorts and Spas

A gift of relaxation can go a long way. A package from one of Wisconsin’s many luxury resorts and spas makes a perfect gift for a busy couple you know. The Kohler Waters Spa at Destination Kohler is a retreat within a retreat. Destination Kohler is home to The American Club, the Midwest's only AAA Five Diamond resort hotel, and is among the top 500 hotels in the world according to Travel & Leisure magazine.

The Lake Geneva area is home to several indulgent spa resorts. The Fontana Spa at the Abbey Resort is the Midwest’s largest resort spa. The waterfront resort offers online shopping for spa treatments, gift baskets, and overnight packages. The Spa at Grand Geneva offers a variety of spa and fitness packages and will deliver your gift in a specially wrapped envelope delivered just about anywhere in the world overnight. Gift cards for Sundara Spa in Wisconsin Dells are custom-packaged by staff who are always willing to give service and product suggestions.

Renewal can also get romantic with couples’ spa services in special rooms designed for two. Rhinelander’s Woodwind Health Spa & Center for the Healing offers certificates for various packages.

If your couple needs a true destination get-a-way, consider the secluded and indulgent Canoe Bay near Chetek. This quiet resort caters to couples and singles interested in the peace and tranquility of nature. Nature and tranquility also draw couples to the picturesque peninsula of Door County, which offers a variety of upscale resorts, bed & breakfasts and hotels.

Wisconsin Spirits – Breweries and Wineries

Wisconsin is famous for beer, and the state’s tradition of brewing continues today. Wisconsin’s small-craft brewers, brew pubs and microbreweries produce some of the world’s most highly ranked ales, stouts and lagers. Why not give some to the beer lover on your list? In addition to beverages, many offer barware, clothing and collectibles through their gift shops and Web sites.

Wisconsin also boasts a long history of winemaking, with state vintners producing fruit wines out of everything from apples, cherries, and cranberries to rhubarb. They also create traditional wines such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Chablis and White Zinfandel. The Door Peninsula Winery in Door County makes more than 30 different natural fruit wines. Bayfield Winery in Bayfield specializes in making traditional hard ciders, meads and country wines from locally grown fruits and honey.

The Wollersheim Winery in Prairie du Sac has received numerous national awards for its traditional wines. Like most Wisconsin wineries, it is open daily for gifts, tours and tastings.

For more Wisconsin travel or shopping information, call the Department of Tourism’s 24-hour live-operated hot line at (800) 432-TRIP/8747 or visit travelwisconsin.com. Travelers can also visit the 10 Wisconsin Travel Information Centers in select state-border cities

Courtesy of ARA Content

Courtesy of ARA Content