Its population hovers just over 2,000, but don't let its quaint vibe fool you: Kohler is a pretty special place with a lot to offer its visitors. And with the PGA Championship shining its spotlight on the area in August, the world will be discovering more of this perfect small town. Let's start with a golf course receiving some well-deserved buzz this year.
1. Whistling Straights Golf Course
Named by Golf Digest as one of the World's Top 100 Great Golf Courses, Whistling Straits is an exceptional course with breathtaking views and interesting holes. This famous golf destination consists of two 18-hole courses, The Straits and The Irish, both of which hug the gorgeous Lake Michigan shoreline. Golfers can expect a challenging round where you'll be met with fescue fairways, nearly 1,000 massive sand dune bunkers, four twisting streams and more. If you're an avid golfer, put the world-class Whistling Straits Golf Course on your bucket list ... and good luck to you.
2. Blackwolf Run Golf Course
Like Whistling Straights, Blackwolf Run has hosted its fair share of championships, including the Andersen Consulting World Golf Championships in the '90s, as well as the U.S. Women's Open in 1998 and 2012. But it's the story behind how the course came to be that I find fun and fascinating: Winnebago Chief Blackwolf and his tribe inhabited the Sheboygan River Valley at one time. More than 200 years later, you'll find this striking pair of 18-hole courses: The River and The Meadow Valleys at Blackwolf Run.
3. Kohler Waters Spa
All that golf is sure to make "spa time" seem even more appealing. One of just 48 five-star spas in the world, Kohler Waters Spa offers a wide variety of soothing services from therapeutic water treatments to powerful facial and body treatments. The environment is just as calming as the services themselves - think water-inspired rooms, alluring respite areas, a warm relaxation pool and a rooftop deck with a whirlpool, a fireplace and a lounge.
4. Kohler Design Center
Q: How interesting can a lot of toilet fixtures really be? A: Extremely.
Most would agree it's the Kohler Company that truly put this tiny town on the map. It's this very same company that is also responsible for making "bubbler" a thing in Wisconsin. (Thanks, guys.) In 1985, Kohler transformed its recreation hall into a 36,000-square-foot showcase of innovative product design and technology, creative achievement and American history. It's a riveting tour - and you can't beat the price. (It's free.)
5. Blind Horse Restaurant and Winery
When you visit The Blind Horse Restaurant and Winery in Kohler, you may forget you're even in Wisconsin at all. Begin your "Napa Valley Style" experience with a food-and-wine pairing or a guided tour of the contemporary winery. Then take in the live music while enjoying gourmet pizza and a glass of your favorite wine from the comfort of the outdoor patio, which overlooks seven beautiful acres. Aahhhh yes, please.
- Mariah Haberman is the co-host of the nation's longest-running tourism TV show, "Discover Wisconsin." Her column is published Tuesday on Life page in the Times.
1. Whistling Straights Golf Course
Named by Golf Digest as one of the World's Top 100 Great Golf Courses, Whistling Straits is an exceptional course with breathtaking views and interesting holes. This famous golf destination consists of two 18-hole courses, The Straits and The Irish, both of which hug the gorgeous Lake Michigan shoreline. Golfers can expect a challenging round where you'll be met with fescue fairways, nearly 1,000 massive sand dune bunkers, four twisting streams and more. If you're an avid golfer, put the world-class Whistling Straits Golf Course on your bucket list ... and good luck to you.
2. Blackwolf Run Golf Course
Like Whistling Straights, Blackwolf Run has hosted its fair share of championships, including the Andersen Consulting World Golf Championships in the '90s, as well as the U.S. Women's Open in 1998 and 2012. But it's the story behind how the course came to be that I find fun and fascinating: Winnebago Chief Blackwolf and his tribe inhabited the Sheboygan River Valley at one time. More than 200 years later, you'll find this striking pair of 18-hole courses: The River and The Meadow Valleys at Blackwolf Run.
3. Kohler Waters Spa
All that golf is sure to make "spa time" seem even more appealing. One of just 48 five-star spas in the world, Kohler Waters Spa offers a wide variety of soothing services from therapeutic water treatments to powerful facial and body treatments. The environment is just as calming as the services themselves - think water-inspired rooms, alluring respite areas, a warm relaxation pool and a rooftop deck with a whirlpool, a fireplace and a lounge.
4. Kohler Design Center
Q: How interesting can a lot of toilet fixtures really be? A: Extremely.
Most would agree it's the Kohler Company that truly put this tiny town on the map. It's this very same company that is also responsible for making "bubbler" a thing in Wisconsin. (Thanks, guys.) In 1985, Kohler transformed its recreation hall into a 36,000-square-foot showcase of innovative product design and technology, creative achievement and American history. It's a riveting tour - and you can't beat the price. (It's free.)
5. Blind Horse Restaurant and Winery
When you visit The Blind Horse Restaurant and Winery in Kohler, you may forget you're even in Wisconsin at all. Begin your "Napa Valley Style" experience with a food-and-wine pairing or a guided tour of the contemporary winery. Then take in the live music while enjoying gourmet pizza and a glass of your favorite wine from the comfort of the outdoor patio, which overlooks seven beautiful acres. Aahhhh yes, please.
- Mariah Haberman is the co-host of the nation's longest-running tourism TV show, "Discover Wisconsin." Her column is published Tuesday on Life page in the Times.