No road trip with friends or family is complete without a quirky stop or two, and Wisconsin has some of the most memorable roadside attractions of all. Check out these amazing stops that will only expand your love for this state.
1. The world’s largest fish – Hayward
The largest building in the town of Hayward is a giant fiberglass musky, part of the National Freshwater Fisheries Hall of Fame. The musky is four and a half stories lofty and as long as a Boeing 757. Enter through the tail of the musky and make your way to the observation platform in the open jaw of the fish, which can accommodate up to 20 people. When in Hayward, you can’t take a group selfie in front of this behemoth.
Bonus tip: You and your crew can fish in the 88,000-gallon pond under the Musky for extra fun!
2. Goats on Al Johnson’s Roof – Sister Bay
A trip to Door County? Goats grazing on the sod roof of Al Johnson’s Swedish Restaurant in Sister Bay have been turning heads for decades. These goats have gained celebrity status with their own online “Goat Cam” and June’s “Roofing of the Goats” parade.
Bonus tip: Order Swedish pancakes from a restaurant; this is the second most celebrated thing about this true Scandinavian restaurant.
3. Pinkie the Elephant – DeForest
I-90/94 travelers who need fuel should exit Highway V to find Pinkie the Pink Elephant at the nearby Shell station in DeForest. It’s tough to miss this gigantic fiberglass sculpture styled after fashionable black-rimmed glasses. What started as a way to get customers to the gas station turned into the perfect selfie spot.
Bonus tip: Enjoy a slice of delicious cake at the Norske Nook restaurant, just eight kilometers away.
4. The world’s largest six-pack – La Crosse
The world’s largest six-pack is actually a set of metal beer tanks built in 1969 by the G. Heileman Brewing Company (the original Old Style brewer) to store supplies. Now owned by City Brewery and redesigned to look like a six-pack of La Crosse Lager, they contain the equivalent of 7,340,796 cans of beer. Wow!
Bonus tip: Head south on WI-35 to the Potosi National Brewery Museum, where you’ll find the world’s largest cone beer can. It is over 40 feet lofty!
5. Cheesecake Castle – Kenosha
In a country where cheese is king, storing it in a castle makes sense. Welcome to Mars Cheese Castle, conveniently located on the Illinois-Wisconsin border in Kenosha. Stock up on artisan cheeses and bags of cheese curds for your journey to and from Wisconsin.
Bonus tip: Buy a Danish kringle, Wisconsin’s official state pastry with a fruit or nut filling, from O&H Danish Bakery in nearby Racine to share on the go with your crew.
6. The world’s greatest talking madman – Mercer
Her name is Claire d’Loon and she has a fantastic voice and great stage presence (she’s 16 feet lofty and 2,000 pounds). This lovely lady is the world’s biggest talking lunatic, and even though she only speaks in lunatic sounds, she is elated to support any tourist/paparazzi wanting a photo.
Bonus tip: Rent a kayak and float down the Turtle-Flambeau River to try to spot a real loon.
7. Site of the Sputnik disaster – Manitowoc
September 6, 1962 changed the course of Manitowoc history when a A 20-pound piece of the Sputnik IV satellite crashed in the middle of Main Street. To commemorate this strange twist of fate, the city secured the crash site and preserved an official replica of the space debris in the nearby Rahr-West Art Museum, where Georgia O’Keeffe and Pablo Picasso also work.
Bonus tip: Plan your visit in September for the annual Sputnikfest, which commemorates the moment when space collided with Manitowoc.
8. The biggest penny in the world – woodruff
At 15 feet lofty, 12 inches broad and almost 9 tons in weight, the World’s Largest Penny occupies a prominent place in small Woodruff. The specific currency commemorates a 1953 fundraiser by Dr. Kate Pelham Newcomb, who challenged local students to save their pennies to build a hospital. The news spread throughout the country and ultimately resulted in the collection of PLN 1.7 million. Who would have thought that you could build a hospital for affordable?
Bonus tip: Visit the nearby Doctor Kate Museum to learn the full story.
9. The world’s largest M – Platteville
If you’ve ever wanted to stand next to the celebrated Hollywood sign over Los Angeles, you might consider taking a trip to Platte Mound to see the world’s largest M. The M was created by students of the former Wisconsin Mining School, now known as the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, hence the “M.” The 241-foot by 214-foot letter can be seen from almost 50 miles away.
Bonus tip: Put on your tough hat and take an underground tour of the 1845 Bevans Lead Mine at the Mining & Rollo Jamison Museums.
10. Doctor Evermore’s Forevertron – Freedom of the North
Behind the rescue work in this miniature community lies an out-of-this-world art collection created by the overdue Dr. Evermore (yes, he was a real person). The inspiration for his magical sculpture garden came from senior pieces and parts from a rescue concert. The centerpiece? Forevertron, a 400-ton, 50-meter-tall scrap metal sculpture often considered the largest in the world. You and your group can explore the area for free and you are sure to find many surprising attractions.
Bonus tip: Take a trip to nearby Devil’s Lake State Park in Baraboo to take selfies with the natural rock carvings of the quartzite cliffs.
11. “Ben Bikin”, the world’s greatest cyclist – Sparta
To underline its claim to be the Bicycle Capital of America, Sparta proudly presents “I’m Bikin“, i.e. “Big Ben” – the world’s largest cyclist – at the entrance to the city. The 32-meter-tall Victorian-era cyclist has a loudspeaker at its base, thanks to which “Ben” can reproduce the history of Sparta in audio form.
Bonus tip: Bring your bike (and your friends!) and ride the Elroy-Sparta State Trail, the nation’s first rail-to-trail conversion.
12. Concrete Park – Phillips
After retiring in his sixties, Fred Smith decided to honor his experiences as a lumberjack, tavern owner, farmer, and dance musician by adding another title to his name – artist. Without any training, Smith created Concrete Park, a one-of-a-kind folk art exhibit at Phillips composed of approximately 200 handcrafted sculptures made from all kinds of materials.
Bonus tip: Head thirty miles south for a bird’s-eye view of the area from Timms Hill, the highest natural point in Wisconsin.
13. The largest Hodaga-Rhineland monument in the world
What the hell is Hodag? Described as a cross between a dog and a frog with horns and glowing eyes, this mysterious creature began as a local legend and is now the mascot of Rhinelander’s hometown in the Northwoods. This one-of-a-kind monster even appeared in an episode of Scooby-Doo! Stop by the Rhinelander Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center with your crew to take a selfie in front of the iconic beast.
Bonus tip: Visit the Hodag store to purchase souvenir monster merchandise.
14. The world’s largest potato masher – seedling
Wisconsin is celebrated for dairy farming, but did you know that it is also home to the top three producing states for crops such as cranberries, carrots, peas, potatoes and more? Take a photo of the world’s largest potato masher and discover more fascinating facts about Wisconsin agriculture at the newly constructed Food and Farm Exploration Center. With engaging exhibits for all ages, this is one stop on your next family trip.
Bonus tip: Grab some delicious dairy at Belt’s Soft Serve in Stevens Point to make your trip a little sweeter.
Discover more of the places locals love with our top trip ideas for Wisconsin’s hidden gems!
