Scenic Cottage, 5-Lake Chain. Boat, Swim, Ski, Bike, Golf, Fish, Rest, Relax.

Wisconsin’s second-tallest mountain and a peaceful, clear-water chain of lakes are among the many features of our cottage located in unincorporated Mt. Morris, in the heart of recreation-rich Waushara County.

Watch the sun rise over Emerald Lake - creating a sparkling display of light as you welcome the new day. An over-sized hammock invites you to an afternoon nap.

Take a short walk to our private beach on Mt. Morris Lake - a sandy beach is a fun place to build a castle. There is a secured swimming area, with a long peer, and a easy to reach raft. At dusk, from the beach you look into the western sky at a flaming central-Wisconsin sunset.

When the moon and stars come out, grill a dinner and sit down at our 8-seat picnic table, while you burn a campfire on our spacious sand patio. Ample split wood is provided for your enjoyment.

Dive off our wide pier and splash out to our swimming raft. Kayak, paddle board, canoe, row or motor under a white footbridge onto Morris Lake, the skiable 180-acre lake and heart of the five-lake Morris chain. Guests have free access to our rowboat, canoe, paddle board and two kayaks, with paddles and life jackets provided. Powerboat rentals are available in Wautoma, seven miles away.

Large-mouth bass, bluegill, and sunfish are abundant and ready to strike. Spend the day netting painted turtles or searching for herons, beavers and deer along the shores of the chain of lakes.

The cottage's large, glassed-in porch has a panoramic view of Emerald Lake and is ideal for evening card games or quiet reading. The vintage tube-powered stereo radio and record player was recently restored and is ready for your listening pleasure. There is a eclectic collection of albums - rock, folk, big band, comedy, musicals, and more. Stack a few discs and let the music play as you get into vacation mode.

The master bedroom is set apart from the three others and just steps from a new wood-burning stove with a hearth made of local stone. The cottage's beds comfortably sleep eight. While we have set our occupancy limit at eight, if your family requires a little more room, we have two canvas cots and a reclining leather couch that may accommodate your needs. Please remember, there will be an additional charge for more than four adults, or guest counts over eight.

The kitchen is fully stocked with pots and pans, a gas stove and microwave oven, a two-well sink, refrigerator and utensils. An antique oak pedestal table comfortably seats six, expandable to eight.

From The Cottage, it’s just a short walk to unincorporated Mt. Morris, which features a quaint, 19th-century mill that is enjoying a second life as an ice cream and coffee shop. Just steps down the road is The Trading Post, a popular restaurant and night spot where good food and live music attract locals and visitors from throughout the area.

Hike or drive up Mt. Morris and enjoy the panoramic views of central Wisconsin farmland, as well as tennis, horse shoe pits, a play lot, and picnic area. On the other side of the mountain is Nordic Mountain resort, offering exciting mountain bike trails and a wake-board training facility. An archery golf course--where bows and arrows replace balls and clubs--can be found just a short drive away.

Mt. Morris is in the heart of Waushara County, a recreational jewel in heartland America. Within a 10-minute drive from the cottage, the 27-hole Waushara Country Club features elevated tees, wooded fairways, and plentiful hills and water features. Waushara County’s rolling hills and smooth-running roads are ideal for bicycle touring. Nearby farms offer strawberry picking and foot-long sweetcorn all summer long.

Visit a cluster of Amish farms outside Wautoma, where baked goods, quilts, furniture and crafts are sold. Explore the antique shops of nearby Wild Rose or Berlin. Visit the rock quarry-cum-nature park in Red Granite, and swim in the deep quarry lake. In nearby Waupaca you can rent an over-sized inner tube or a compact canoe and paddle down the Crystal River - it is a family friendly float in a shallow river. Great way to beat the heat.

The Cottage has been in our family for nearly 70 years, and some of our guests have been visiting for 20 years and more. Decades have passed since our immigrant grandparents bought the cottage as a wedding present for our parents, but the rest and recreation of a week on the lake is one thing that, thankfully, never seems to change.