Wisconsin’s Northwoods are the stuff of imagination. Picture an idyllic lakeside cabin tucked into a forest, clear water lapping at the shore, and chances are you are near Three Lakes, Wisconsin.
Did you know that twelve of 52 Araiguma Rascal episodes were inspired by Raccoons Are the Brightest People, North’s enchanting but lesser-known follow-up to Rascal? Animators borrowed storylines and visual cues from that spirited collection to highlight Rascal’s curiosity, intelligence, and adaptability.
In the same volume, North introduced Carl Marty, a Three Lakes resort owner known for allowing raccoons and other wildlife to wander freely through his lodge. Other stories celebrate raccoons’ astonishing cleverness and the often comic friction between humans and North’s beloved “ring-tailed wonders.”
Three Lakes invites you into the Northwoods that Sterling knew. It sits at the gateway to the 28-lake Eagle River–Three Lakes chain. Take a boat tour through the connecting channels, or rent a canoe or kayak and explore at your own pace. The fishing is world-class: charter a boat, settle into the quiet, and let your line tempt musky, walleye, bass, and panfish beneath the surface.
Beyond the lakes, trails wind through the Chequamegon–Nicolet National Forest. Hike or bike the Three Eagle Trail in summer; return in winter when snowmobile and cross-country ski routes cut clean lines through fresh snow. Visit the historic Three Lakes Winery for its cranberry wines, browse a local bookshop, then settle in at a classic Northwoods supper club.
Visitors may collect a Rascal Trail stamp year-round at the Three Lakes Historical Society and Museum, which preserves the region’s resort history and lake traditions.
