Weyauwega, WI

Set in central Wisconsin's Waupaca County, Weyauwega sits along the Waupaca River just a short stretch from the Wolf River. The town got its start in the mid-1800s around local watermills, and that laid-back, small-town atmosphere has remained intact ever since. With Lake Weyauwega right in town and Highway 10 nearby, it offers quiet lakeside living with a straightforward commute to Appleton and the Fox Valley.

ATTRZoolooki / CC BY-SA 3.0

Life here tends to center on the outdoors and a close community spirit. Warm weekends bring people out to fish, kayak, or pick up fresh curds at the local cheese factory. Every autumn, the whole area turns out for Horse and Buggy Days, an annual festival filled with parades, craft displays, and horse rides that gives newcomers an immediate feel for the town's friendly, down-to-earth character.