2965 Cranes Rd

"Covered in fine green fur and seven feet long, with the head of a frog, the face of an elephant, stout legs, a spiky, dinosaur-like back and a long tail …" As far as folklore goes, nobody does it better than Rhinelander. Their legendary beast, the hodag, dates back to the 1890s and was even mentioned in Paul Bunyan stories. It likes to feast on everything from water snakes to oxen, but his favorite meal -- only consumed on Sundays -- are white bulldogs. Residents and visitors can see a statue of the legendary beast at the Visitor's Center.

Aside from the hodag, there's much to love about Rhinelander. It is located along the Wisconsin and Pelican Rivers, with Boom Lake on the north side. Hodag Park sits along the lake and has a boat launch, ball fields, picnic areas, and a playground. Residents can shop the Rhinelander Flea Market, held every Wednesday; the Hodag Farmers' Market, open on Saturdays from May to June; and attend the Hodag Country Festival.