The Ultimate Guide to Lake Wawasee: My Favorite Local Spots
A few times a year I receive an email or a DM asking for my favorite must do’s in Kosciusko County. It’s time to take my email reply and toss it out to you, the internet.
Lake Wawasee, loved by many including the one and only Martha Stewart (Ok ok she was only visiting Polywood for her line but I have no doubt she’ll have a house soon😉). I’ve spent my whole life here -- since I was three days old, to be exact -- and I still fall in further in love every year. If there’s one thing I know for sure, it’s that this lake is best experienced through slow mornings (year round), long boat rides, and good food shared with the people you love most.
Whether you’re visiting for a day, weekend, or spending the summer here, this is your insider’s guide to the best of Syracuse, Indiana -- from local coffee to lakeside dinners.
1. Brew City Roasting Company
Their pastries are luxurious, the sandwiches are delicious, and the lattes are perfection. You’ll likely find me here in the summer at 7am on my way to a ski session or after a morning family session. It’s cozy and always smells amazing. The design aesthetic is on point as well.
My order: Hot Tumeric Latte or Iced Brew City Signature and a Brew City Biscuit.
2. Oakwood Resort
Oakwood Resort is the place to stay. It’s beautiful, walkable, and right on the water. Take advantage of the swimming area or enjoy a kayak for a little adventure. Be sure to grab dinner at The Pier & Back Porch -- there’s nothing quite like a sunset meal by the lake. Not staying at the Oakwood? You can boat to dinner there too!
Upset you’re missing church while you’re at the lake? Head to the beach of the Oakwood Resort for boat in church at 8:30-9am Memorial Day-Labor Day.
Sundays at 10am you’ll witness the Thunder Run gather on the shores of the Oakwood Resort. This is a great spot to witness the start of their weekly wooden boat parade!
My order: BBQ Burger and a salad. Cory and I split and share the salad and burger. Their menu typically changes yearly but the BBQ burger always remains.
3. The Channel Marker
A Lake Wawasee staple. Whether you boat in for lunch or meet friends for evening drinks, The Channel Marker is always buzzing with good energy. We love sitting on the covered porch.
My order: Strawberry Basil Salad
4. Kiyomi
Kiyomi Japanese has some of the best sushi and hibachi in the area. It’s owned by the kindest family and we visit weekly (dine in or takeout -- they are always busy!) The atmosphere is welcoming, the food is fresh, and our visiting family and friends ALWAYS want to go there.
My order: Chicken Hibachi Cory’s order: The Wawasee Roll
5. The Lakeside
A go-to for an elevated evening dinner. Occasionally Cory and I will order a few small plates to share for dinner with our drink of choice (my favs that seem to always be on the rotating menu: stuffed dates, baked brie, or tomato tarte). For dinner, I’ll always get the filet or stuffer chicken -- I hear the Bi Bim Bap is fabulous. Your drink? Blueberry bourbon sour (trust me on this one). Everything here feels elevated but still relaxed..the perfect mix of refined and comfortable. Grab reservations.
6. Joe’s Ice Cream
If you are an ice cream lover, you must end every summer weekend at Joe’s Ice Cream. The line will be long, but it’s worth it. Park and walk up..it’s much faster than the drive-thru line.
My order: Tennessee Toffee
7. The WACF
If you’re looking for a great place to walk, this is your area! With several trails, lake views, and shade -- we love to park at the main WACF property and walk or bike the area. Walk the boardwalk to Lakeside Coffee Co and enjoy a walk back to your car with coffee in hand.
Fun fact: This is where Cory and I got married.
Additional Loves:
Lakeside Coffee Co- another local coffee shop (Cory’s Syrcause favorite) with games and a great area for kids to play. Going for lunch? Get the Southwest Chicken Salad. Delish.
Airbnbs and rental homes - I photograph many families at their Lake Wawasee Airbnbs each year, and they always tell me it’s the best way to soak up the scenery with all the comforts of home. BOOK EARLY in the year -- especially if you’re hoping for a holiday weekend.
Sleepy Owl Supper Club - classic Wawasee, get the World’s Smallest Sundae at the end of dinner. This restaurant will be packed!
Maxwelton Golf Course or Wawasee Golf Club - Great courses if you’re looking for something that isn’t lake time.
Family photos- If you’re spending the week at the lake, it’s the perfect time to document it. I photograph both immediate and extended family sessions at Lake Wawasee, capturing the best smiles, the natural in-between moments, and everything that makes your time here feel like yours. It’s a relaxed, easy way to hold onto the memories you’ve created all week without it feeling like a production. Learn more here.
Lake Wawasee will always feel like home to me. It’s a place that’s both timeless and alive, filled with long-standing traditions and new memories waiting to be made. Whether you’re here for a weekend getaway or a lifetime of summers, I hope this guide helps you experience the charm, food, and community that make this lake so special.
Love these photos of a man and his boat?
A session like this makes for a great Father’s Day Gift. One he’ll never expect, but will always keep. Great for the man that has everything… except photos like these.
