- - This Small Town in Wisconsin Might Be the Coziest Fall Getaway in America

Meghann FoyeNovember 1, 2025 at 9:06 PM

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It’s rare to find a destination that truly checks every box: fiery fall foliage, fine dining and a world-class spa—even a food and wine weekend that’s drawn Martha Stewart. But in Kohler, Wisconsin, you’ll find all that and more. Here, you can start your morning with a cold plunge at the Forbes Five-Star Kohler Waters Spa, nap in a temperature-controlled relaxation lounge and then wander through two floors of design inspiration at the Kohler Design Center, where gleaming tiles and cast-iron tubs double as art. Once built for factory workers, here's why this small Wisconsin town has quietly become an unexpectedly exceptional under-the-radar escape for spa and food lovers—and its cozy fall Midwestern vibes can’t be beat.

Related: 6 Idyllic Getaways You Won't Believe Are in the Midwest

Best Things to Do in Kohler, WisconsinStay: Heritage and Hospitality at the American Club

A National Historic Landmark, The American Club blends Gilded-Age refinement with cozy Midwestern warmth. Originally built as a dormitory for Kohler factory workers, it's been since transformed into a sprawling, estate-like retreat that feels lifted from a Ralph Lauren holiday catalog. Here you'll find dark wood paneling, crackling fireplaces and plush rooms overlooking a courtyard garden that doubles as a sculpture gallery. The Greenhouse, a glass conservatory brought over from England by Walter J. Kohler himself, now serves jewel-like pastries and seasonal lattes in a setting that feels straight out of the Willy Wonka movie. For a lakeside alternative, the Inn on Woodlake offers a more modern, minimalist vibe with sunset views and easy access to wooded trails that wind through the property.

Related: This Town is Quietly Producing Some of the Best Wine in California—And It's Not Napa

Wellness: The Midwest’s Only Five-Star Spa—and Why It’s Worth a Whole Day

Kohler Waters SpaDestination Kohler

Forbes recently renewed the Kohler Waters Spa’s Five-Star rating for the fifth year in a row, cementing its status as the only Five-Star spa in the Midwest—and it’s easy to see why. I booked the 50-minute Signature Massage, infused with hollyhock oil—the symbolic flower of the town of Kohler—and spent the rest of the morning exploring the spa’s serene spaces. The rooftop level offers a rock-crystal sauna, whirlpool and open-air lounge, while the main floor features a classically inspired waterfall pool—a subtle nod to the same era as the Greenhouse—along with a sauna, steam room and cold plunge. Cozy, temperature-controlled relaxation areas with fur throws make it all too easy to lose track of time. The spa’s hydrotherapy menu is its true standout, with water-inspired treatments like the Citrus Reviver body wrap and the Healing Waters Massage, each influsing Kohler's unique craft and design. Before leaving, I grabbed a chilled blueberry "Relax" smoothie from the Spa Café—the perfect finish to a day of quiet luxury.

Dining & Drinks: Firesides, Five Courses & a Few Cheese Curds

For a cozy town, Kohler punches well above its weight when it comes to dining. The village’s restaurants celebrate Wisconsin’s love of comfort food—but with a gourmet edge. On Fall menus, you'll find local cheeses, seasonal produce and hearty dishes that pair perfectly with a craft beer or a glass of red by the fire. At The Immigrant Restaurant, a tribute to the workers who helped build Kohler in the early 20th century, a five-course tasting menu features refined dishes like uni custard and Rohan duck breast. River Wildlife, a private hunting and fishing club tucked into the woods, feels like a scene from a classic American novel—pine-planked walls, a roaring fireplace and rustic Wisconsin fare like venison and game-inspired specialties. Over at Whistling Straits, a relaxed clubhouse setting belies the seriously elegant dining, while the pub-style Horse & Plow serves local favorites like cheese curds and crispy fish and chips.

Related: The Cozy Maine Town That's Quietly Becoming a Fall Favorite

Specialty Weekends: From Food & Wine to Frozen Fairways

The village’s premier event, Kohler Food & Wine, just wrapped for the year—a celebrity-chef–studded weekend that’s both intimate and indulgent. Headliners like Scott Conant, Robert Irvine and Martha Stewart (who calls Kohler “enchanting”) joined other rising stars for two days of live demos, tastings and wine dinners hosted across The American Club and The Shops at Woodlake. Guests sampled vintages and cocktails in the central tasting lounge, joined conversations on seasonal cooking and danced the nights away at themed after-parties. One highlight: a fireside chat with Martha Stewart and the founder of Flamingo Estate, who spoke about creativity, inspiration and the joy of seasonal living.

Kohler’s activity calendar doesn't end there, though. In late summer and early fall, Flora Fields comes alive with color—a celebration of nature and creativity featuring rare sunflower varieties, a nine-acre corn maze, hay forts and seasonal sips. Then, from December through February, Frozen Fairways transforms Blackwolf Run into a winter wonderland of twinkling lights, carriage rides, snowshoe trails and ice skating.

Natural Beauty: Trails, Fairways and Fall Color

For nature lovers, golf at Destination Kohler is truly breathtaking. Designed by legendary architect Pete Dye, both Blackwolf Run and Whistling Straits are world-renowned courses that blend championship golf with fall-color-filled Midwestern scenery. At Blackwolf Run, the River Course and Meadow Valleys Course wind along the Sheboygan River, and at this time of year, golden foliage studs the scene. At Whistling Straits, perched on the shores of Lake Michigan, windswept bluffs give the course an almost coastal feel—more Scotland than Wisconsin—and have hosted multiple PGA Championships and a Ryder Cup.

You don’t need a tee time to soak it all in, though. The River Wildlife preserve, a 500-acre private wilderness just beyond The American Club, offers miles of maple-lined wooded trails that trace the riverbanks and meadows. Nearby, Kohler-Andrae State Park adds another layer of outdoor beauty, with boardwalk trails that wind through sand dunes and along the Lake Michigan shoreline. For art lovers, a serene sculpture garden near The American Club brings together outdoor art and landscape design, making it easy to spend a full afternoon wandering between fairways, forests and the lakeshore.

Can’t-Miss Stops and Shops

Kohler may be small, but it’s packed with charming shops and unexpected finds that make it easy to spend a day exploring between meals and spa sessions. From design inspiration to pistachio cronuts, here are a few local favorites worth carving out time for:

The Greenhouse Bakery: Set inside a glass conservatory imported from England, it’s the coziest spot in town for a French Toast Latte and the must-try Pistachio Cronut.

Bold Cycle: Power through a 45-minute, high-energy spin class before rewarding yourself with some famed Kohler chocolate turtles next door.

Kohler Design Center: Wander the second floor of pre-designed bathrooms like a “Where’s Waldo” hunt for Martha Stewart’s collab cast-iron tubs.

Kohler Garden Center: A hidden gem for fall mums, home décor and locally made gifts.

The Wisconsin Trader: A one-stop shop for local cheese, cozy apparel and made-in-Wisconsin treasures.

Related: The Charming Harbor Town Near Salem You Need to Visit This Fall

This story was originally reported by Parade on Nov 1, 2025, where it first appeared in the Travel section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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