8 Romantic Getaways in Wisconsin: The Best Hotels for an Intimate Weekend Away

What could be sweeter than staying the night in an old candy factory? The Charmant in La Crosse was built in 1898, originally as a factory manufacturing a luxury chocolate line of the same name. The hotel retains much of the original design, including wood floors, exposed brick and wood beams. If you close your eyes, you might even still be able to smell the sweetness of the candy wafting from every corner of the building.

Stick with the candy-coated theme when you and your sweetheart add on the wine and chocolate package. It’ll get you a bottle of red wine with two glasses and two handmade truffles each from Indulgence Chocolatier. If you book the Grand Salle room, you’ll be able to enjoy your treats from your 300-square-foot balcony—the largest on the property—with a view of the mighty Mississippi.

When the Pfister first opened in 1893, it was groundbreaking. Media called it the “Grand Hotel of the West.” It was the only fireproof hotel in Milwaukee and the first to have electricity throughout and thermostat controls in every room. The Pfister was the height of luxury, a place where high society came to mingle and relax. Plus, it was in the heart of the city.

All of those things are still true today—though there are more fireproofed and electrified buildings now. Much of the original building has been preserved, so when you step off of the busy downtown streets and into the hotel, you’re transported back in time to old-world luxury that weaves through the place like a thread of history. Choose from three romance-filled packages: “I do. I do. I do!” comes with an overnight stay in the historic part of the hotel, breakfast in bed, and a bottle of champagne; “Spa-Ahhhmazing” includes an overnight stay and a 60-minute couples massage; and “Romantic Retreat” gets you chocolate truffles, champagne, and a $50 gift card to one of the hotel restaurants.

You won’t get much more of a classic Wisconsin vibe than when staying in the former home of the state’s “Cheese King.” August Westphal, who built Westphal Mansion Inn in Hartford as his family home in 1913, owned more than 50 cheese factories throughout the state. The location of the inn is evidence of Westphal’s prominence: atop a terraced lawn, looking over historic downtown Hartford.

Your romantic stay begins before you even walk into the building, when you pass a concrete water feature and explore the rose and lavender gardens surrounding the property. Inside the English Tudor-style home, you can enjoy original woodwork and restored antiques. Book the Sweetheart Special package for your stay and surprise your partner with a dozen long-stem roses (in a color of your choice), a bottle of wine of your preference and a dark chocolate with sea salt bar from Indulgence Chocolatiers.

Historical charm and Midwestern island life meet at Four Seasons Island Resort in Pembine. The hotel was built in 1905 by the Wisconsin and Michigan Railroad, and the property retains all that antique charm—from the century-old bridge to get onto the grounds to the grand entry greeting you when you arrive. Four Seasons is on a secluded island in the middle of the Menominee River, surrounded by more than 66 acres of privacy at the heart of the Northwoods.

The amenities at the hotel are anything but antique. Each room is a suite and overlooks the property’s golf course and the island. Some rooms have whirlpools, but if yours doesn’t, take a dip in the saltwater pool. Afterwards, reconnect with your love by booking the Romantic Island Hideaway package, which includes a two night stay, a bottle of champagne, chocolates, a private one-hour pontoon boat ride on the river with a bottle of wine, and a one-hour history tour of the resort and island.

Everything about the Otter Creek Inn in Eau Claire exudes romance. Not only is it tucked in among the trees on a secluded hill, it’s also adults only, there are only six rooms and every room has a fireplace and a jacuzzi. You and your partner will be able to snuggle up together in front of a warm blaze or in a soothing private hot tub—all inside an English Tudor-style property full of historical flair.

For just $10, you can bring even more romance to your stay with the Weekday Romance package. It includes a bottle of champagne and chocolate-dipped strawberries. Don’t forget to order breakfast in bed for the next morning. All the ingredients come from local farms and dairies for a true Wisconsin experience.

Perfect for the football-loving couple, Lodge Kohler in Green Bay is a modern luxury lodge within walking distance to Lambeau Field, the home of the Green Bay Packers. You can even book a room that looks over the stadium to soak in all the sport vibes you can handle, or book one of three Packers-themed packages to get you into the stadium itself.

If you want to experience the posh lodge on its own without worrying about football games, the Getaway for Two package should be your go-to. It includes two nights, one three-course dinner at Taverne in the Sky (the rooftop bar and restaurant), one breakfast at Leaps and Bounds (the on-site indoor/outdoor café), a 50-minute spa service per person, a spa beverage each, one wine flight per person, two days of access to the Thermal Suite and its hydromassage pool, and either a brandy and chocolates pairing or a craft cocktail experience.

For many Wisconsinites, Door County and romance are practically synonymous. Moonlight walks hand-in-hand on the beach, days spent privately hiking through the forest, and some of the best dining Wisconsin has to offer. Country House Resort in Sister Bay combines almost all of those things in one place. The resort is nestled in the woods away from downtown Sister Bay and the main highway, with lush gardens and more than 1,000 feet of private beach. It’s also just a short walk to Sister Bay and all of the dining downtown has to offer, all along a shoreline trail.

The Getaway to Romance package puts you and your loved one in a water-view suite for two nights, plus you’ll get a candlelit dinner for two at a restaurant in the neighboring town of Fish Creek, a $25 gift certificate to spend throughout Door County and either a couple’s massage package or a gourmet gift basket.

The American Club in Kohler began its life in 1918 as housing for immigrants coming to work at the new Kohler factory. For $27.50 monthly, they got a private room, three meals a day, laundry service, and an on-site bowling alley, pub, and barbershop. They also received citizenship and English lessons. In 1981, the property morphed into the luxury lodge it is today, now complete with four award-winning golf courses, nine restaurants and a Forbes five-star rated spa.

Couples can pick from one of 11 different packages geared toward romance for two, ranging from a murder mystery dinner to tennis lessons. For the sweetest experience, though, opt for the Celebration Experience. You’ll get two nights lodging, daily breakfast, a five-course dinner at The Immigrant Restaurant, 20 percent off spa services, a bottle of sparkling wine, a nine-piece box of chocolates and a rose petal turndown on your first night at the resort.