The jewel of the Great Lakes region, Wisconsin has something for every visitor.
Milwaukee provides the festivals, nightlife and big-city entertainment city lovers crave, while foodies flock to the incredibly diverse (and bikeable) capital of Madison. Couples and solo travelers alike can choose from charming diminutive towns throughout the state, and families will find plenty of playgrounds and water parks to keep the little ones joyful. Beautiful beaches cover much of the wide-ranging coastline along the two Great Lakes, and in every corner of the state you’ll find stunning foliage views and countless other outdoor opportunities.
Here are eight places you can’t miss in Wisconsin.
Milwaukee is your go-to city for festivals of all kinds
While Milwaukee is known around the world as Brew City, locals call their hometown the Festival City. Perhaps the world’s largest music festival, Summerfest is an annual mainstay of the calendar – i Henry Maier Festival Park (commonly called “Summerfest areas”) host massive events almost every weekend during the summer and early fall. From food truck events to cultural events dedicated to the Irish, African, German, Mexican and LGBTIQ+ communities – there is always something happening on the shores of the lake. Throw “inland” celebrations like Bastille Day, Anime Milwaukee and Wisconsin State Fair (don’t leave without trying the puff!), and visitors are almost guaranteed to find something special during their visit.
Wisconsin’s largest and most diverse city also offers the best entertainment and nightlife in the state, and its proximity to several points of interest – including Madison, the Wisconsin Dells and the Door County Peninsula – make it a great base from which to explore the region on day trips.
Wisconsin Dells offers great options for families
If kids could only choose one place in Wisconsin, most would choose Wisconsin Dells. This city of 3,000 people is known as the “water park capital of the world” and is home to one of the largest in the country, Noah’s ark. There are not only outdoor water parks in the area, available only in summer, but also indoor ones (e.g Kalahari Resort), which means you can soak in here even when the temperature outside drops. If you’re going here in the summer or fall, be sure to take one of these with you Boat tours on the Upper Dells Riverwhich are led by amusing, genial guides who can make even teenagers “too cool for school” smile.
If you’re looking for food, head to the trendy indoor food truck park The Grateful Shed, where children will love Fruity Pebble marshmallow ice cream (and adults will love delicious grilled cheese sandwiches). Both Mirror Lake State Park AND Devil’s Lake State Park they offer year-round hikes suitable for families, as well as kayaking and kayaking tours during the summer and fall months.
Foodies should flock to Madison
Wisconsin beer and cheese is not to be missed. And if you really love food, you don’t want to miss Madison, a college town (and state capital) that’s home to more than its fair share of hard-to-find cuisines. Taste Laotian red curry noodles at Lao Laan-Xangsnack on Taiwanese street food and sip bubble tea at Taiwan Small Food and munch on Momos in Little Tibet. Enjoy beer-battered cheese curds (a Wisconsin delicacy that doesn’t taste good in any other state) and the state’s official cocktail, the Brandy Old Fashioned, at: Old-fashioned tavern and restaurant. Oh, and for arguably the best craft cheese in the state, visit Fomagination and then grab a beer at Capital Brewery, one of the oldest craft breweries in the country.
The Door County Peninsula has a little bit of everything
Door County, known as the Cape Cod of the Midwest, is an extremely popular weekend getaway destination for couples, families, groups of friends and solo travelers from throughout the Midwest for two reasons: it is gorgeous and it provides something modern to discover every time (repeat) visit. Warm-weather weekends are the busiest (followed by fall weekends, popular with leaf-peepers) – so it’s a good idea to plan your trip mid-week to avoid the crowds.
The 300 miles of shoreline on the 70-mile peninsula make it a great spot for swimmers, kayakers and even divers, and its proximity to Whitefish Dunes, Peninsula State Park, Newport State Park and Rock Island State Park (which can only be accessed accessible by ferry), offer top-notch hiking, stargazing and camping opportunities.
Expect a secret spot for the perfect weekend getaway in Stevens Point
Stevens point is not (yet) well known to out-of-state travelers – and that’s a good thing. One of Wisconsinites’ favorite undiscovered destinations offers good food, great trails and exceptional entertainment, all without the crowds. Stop by Ruby Colored Coffees For the ultimate maple latte, head to the 175-year-old farmer’s market a few blocks away, then take a walk (or bike ride) along the 47-mile trail Green Round Trail as it glides along the waterfront and passes through forests, parks and wetlands. Twenty-five minutes from the city Lone Oak Farm, which hosts a great brunch every Sunday from Mother’s Day to Halloween. And it’s 45 minutes away Jurustyczny Park sculpture park, an open-air museum with prehistoric-inspired sculptures made from scrap metal, elderly beer cans and bicycle parts.
Wisconsin’s Drift Free Area allows you to experience life on the river
Adjacent to the southwestern state line, Wisconsin’s Driftless Area is renowned for its combination of restored prairies, wildlife-rich wetlands, and dense forests. It is popular with cyclists, motorcyclists and tourists who make the 250-kilometer route The Great River Road in Wisconsin, the state’s only National Scenic Byway. Complementing the diminutive and mid-sized towns that dot southeastern Wisconsin and the petite towns and wilderness areas of the northern half of the state, this stretch of 33 diminutive towns along the Mississippi River offers a glimpse into a lifestyle not usually associated with the Midwest. Be sure to spend an afternoon at Potosi Brewery Companywhere you’ll find great beer and brewery tours, as well as a brewery museum, transportation museum, and the Great River Road Interpretive Center (admission is free).
See the gorgeous fall foliage in northern Wisconsin (or just “up north”)
Driving “north” is popular in Wisconsin – a huge thing. This is the equivalent of relaxing in your cabin, tent or camper and enjoying a bit of nature. While northern Wisconsin is an ideal getaway at any time of year, fall is an especially stunning time of year when the dense forests and wilderness areas featherlight up with brilliant shades of red, orange and yellow. You can’t go wrong with any north destination, although we find Minocqua and Eagle River (near the Michigan border) particularly nice. The area also offers numerous opportunities for hiking, camping, kayaking and boating on 1.5 million acres of pristine terrain. Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest easily accessible.
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