At 27 miles, the Lake Geneva Shore Path is a must-do activity in this area. Spring Green's internationally respected American Players Theatre entices theater lovers with outdoor summer stagings of Shakespeare and other classics. The Tall Ship Red Witch is a replica of the Great Lakes working schooners from the mid-19th century, measuring 77 feet long and weighing 41 tons, and is equipped with the highest quality safety equipment and systems. Bike the Scenic Backroads. Wander the paths and trails at Olbrich Botanical Gardens or the University of Wisconsin Arboretum; admire the art at Chazen Museum of Art or the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art; take a leisurely cruise around Lake Mendota or Menona; and be sure to work up an appetite-Madison's 600-plus restaurants offer something for every taste. The Oxbow Hotel's accommodations are inspired by the town's hip, artsy feel with a stylish design featuring exposed brick, regional artwork and a turntable in every room. Leisure Village, a gated age-restricted community with 360 attached homes, is located just 4.2 miles from the border and less than 2 miles from Grass Lake, which is part of the . Address: 2285 S. Broadway, Green Bay, WI 54304. Prospectus may be found on the Anderson Centers website. The Kemper Center is also home to the Griffin Observatory, which offers visitors the opportunity to see the universe and gaze at the stars using modern technology from within a historical setting. Family friendly games and activities, food and drink are also offered. The closest thing to that in the Midwest is the Door County fish boil, a one-of-a-kind culinary spectacle. Book your next cruise vacation on one of these floating megaresorts. Dedicated to preserving the historic nature of the site and its buildings, the Kemper Center also offers a range of educational programs that focus on the regions local history and its arts as well as several cultural, educational, and recreational activities for visitors of all ages. And just minutes from Oswego's charming Main Street-with brick-paved sidewalks-is a family-run winery. Roth Cheese, Monroe, Wisconsin Roth Cheese Please check out our disclosure policy for more details. Summer excitement reaches its peak at the end of June with Summerfest, a massive and affordable music festival. 29270 County Highway G, Ashland, WI 54806, Phone: 715-685-9983. Want improv Shakespeare? The resort's hill is decidedly not the Rocky Mountains, but there are three chair lifts, two carpet lifts, 20 runs and a terrain park. Summer is the busiest season, and events like the annual Door County Plein Air Festival every July, when artists try to capture the summer light on the area's water and fields, make every stay unique. Discover charm, history, and the great outdoors in Chippewa Falls. Best Weekend Getaways From Chicago: Road Trips & Itineraries - Thrillist Other draws to the area: Bloomington's restored 1800s buildings house farm-to-table restaurants, shops and live-music venues. Located a short distance from our home, the Illinois Beach Resort is a gem. At the first annual event drivers met up at Quaker Steak and Lube in New Berlin, Wisconsin for breakfast, then drove to Gateway Classic Cars for lunch and a tour of the showroom. This resort town of 7,600 has draws for summer and winter. Great outdoors, grown-up eats and classic clubs make these two cultured cities especially appealing in the summer when University of Illinois students head home. Guided group tours of the sanctuary are available for schools, groups, and nature clubs for a nominal fee. We dare not mess with an iconat least, not too much. I took my daughter and 2 granddaughters there in early August. 13 Top-Rated Things to Do in Door County, WI | PlanetWare Round out the weekend with a stay in one of the area resorts such as the Osthoff. Check with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. Department of State and local tourism boards before traveling.). Music education at the arts center includes guitar lessons for beginners of all ages, as well as ballroom dance lessons through Miss Geris School of Ballroom Dance. Address: 1265 Lombardi Ave., Green Bay, WI 54304. 25 Best Things to Do in Wisconsin - VacationIdea James Anderson, the homes owner, was an executive with American Brass, while his wife Janet Lance Anderson was the grand-daughter of Z. G. Simmons, founder of the Simmons Mattress Company. Motorcycle enthusiasts will be in hog heaven when they enter this modern steel-and-glass museum. Wisconsin Deer Park. Past and Future Exhibits: Past events at the Milwaukee showroom in Kenosha have included the annual Holiday Party. Kenoshas historic streetcars are one of the citys top attractions and provide a 2-mile scenic loop tour of the town, which includes two historic districts, the downtown business district, the HarborPark development, and the Lake Michigan shoreline. The Dinosaur Discovery Museum is dedicated to the exploration and explication between modern birds and meat-eating dinosaurs. With visions of dinner parties and game nights dancing in their heads, a Chicago couple renovated their historic (and first) home, one DIY project at a time. The museum boasts a variety of exhibits, displays, and a movie on the Civil War as well as hosts several educational programs, classes, and workshops throughout the year. Copyright 2023 Meredith Corporation. Another go-to stop is the Aldo Leopold Foundation. 1. Road Trip: Wisconsin / Illinois border - OnMilwaukee Great River Road Head west and drive the Great River Road along the Mississippi, with its bluff-top views, river sights, charming B&Bs and sprawling vineyards. Towns like New Buffalo, St. Joseph, Benton Harbor, Holland, Saugatuck and Grand Haven provide pristine beaches, great shopping, lakeside restaurants and front-row view of sunsets over Lake Michigan. When you need a day trip from Chicago or a weekend getaway from the big city, you don't have to go far. Kerosene is then thrown onto the fire, making for a fiery finish. 23 Top Things to Do in Wisconsin - US News & World Report The Main, East and Upper Galleries are reserved for the work of regional artists. Address: 5607 County Road C, Spring Green, WI 53588. Cyclist on a scenic backcountry road in Door County. If traveling to the self-proclaimed "Waterpark Capital of the World" with kids, stay at one of the top resorts for easy access to amenities. At Wisconsin supper clubs, the steak is served rare and the traditions are well done. Built in 1960 by Alex Jordan, this massive home now houses his eclectic collection of everything from suits of armor to ivory carvings. Not everything in Green Bay is devoted to the Packers. This is a great place to appreciate and wander in nature with friends or little ones. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. You can even see the bullet holes that remain in one of the windows. The galleries show the work of students in area schools, as well as work completed at the Centers summer camps and afterschool programs. A red-brick two-story Colonial home was built as a residence in the 1950s. Two miles of nature trails wind through the Pike River Valley, including the Old Indian Trail. Badger red is the hotel's unifying color palette, and guests give the hotel high marks for its nostalgic decor and artwork, including collages of political buttons, a nod to the town's legacy of social activism. Sing-along Shakespeare? I just went through there last evening at 5 p.m. rush hour and there were no back ups because all three lanes going both directions are open. [Read: The Top Things to Do in Wisconsin Dells.]. 880 Green Bay Rd, Kenosha, WI 53144, Phone: 262-552-8196, Expert opinion: Where should I go this weekend for fun? 7. The Tall Ship Red Witch, LLC offers thrilling and unforgettable and Lake Michigan sailing excursions aboard an authentic and beautifully restored wooden tall ship. Related: Get our trip guide to the Indiana Dunes area. Wright is widely revered as America's greatest architect and the founder of the Prairie-style school of architecture. Visitors point to the Palace Theater as a great night out, applauding the talent and production value of the concerts, comedy shows, plays for children and Broadway-style productions. A hearty pancake breakfast is followed by a walk through the trails to bird watch. Every day, hundreds of drivers speed past the turnoff on US-20 for Apple River Canyon State Park, bound for getaways in Galena. For more experienced practitioners, ballroom dances, featuring a live band, take place periodically on Saturday nights. We had a wonderful time playing at the beach all day enjoying the beautiful weather and crystal clear water. Milman was considered a master of classic French design and one of the forefathers of modern French Art Deco. But take time to hike, cruise the river or ski the slopes, sip local wines, taste beer and do some shopping. Taliesin is his Prairie-style, minimalist masterpiece, a must-see for architecture and design enthusiasts. Topics include seed dispersal and the plant life cycle, sugar maple trees and Wisconsins history of maple sugaring, and the history of the Potawatomi and the Old Indian Trail. Wisconsin is the nation's largest producer of cranberries. Road Trips & Scenic Drives in Illinois Regardless of where you stay, winter in Lake Geneva means it's time for their annual one-of-a-kind Winterfest, one of the country's largest ice sculpture festivals. The Art of the Car show takes place each August, while October hosts Oktoberfest. Selling via consignment, the company has become a sellers choice by listing their vehicles on over 250 websites, garnering over 5.2 million views annually. this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines. The two rivers provide plenty of outdoor opportunities, from fishing and swimming to kayaking and tubing. RNoggin Brewing Co. has a tap room where visitors can taste their brews as well as tuck into fare provided by food trucks during events. With more than 200 breweries, there are brewery tours for every palette, from micro to macro and fruit beers to pale ales. Nearby Kettle Moraine State Forest also offers outdoor rec of another type with trails for biking, hiking and running. With more than 300 miles of shoreline to enjoy, visitors have long flocked to Wisconsin's peninsula, known as Door County, for weekend getaways. The Kenosha History Center has a gift shop that sells a variety of souvenirs, items, and related gifts. The farm also offers a variety of fun activities for the whole families, including hayrides, corn mazes, pick-your-own-produce days, a giant jumping pumpkin, a petting zoo, pony and camel rides, and a country store with freshly baked bread and cookies and delicious homemade goodies. The Mississippi River forms a natural border with Missouri and Iowa in the west. Spot birds, hear frogs, hike and bike, see wildflowers and unwind among the 19,000 acres at Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie. No trip to Madison is complete without visiting the beautiful, white-domed Wisconsin State Capitol building. Special exhibits and galleries at the Kenosha History Center include the Yesteryear Gallery, which highlights the settlement of the area to 1900, and the Rambler Legacy Gallery, which showcases how Kenoshas auto-making legacy shaped its history. The famous cash-only joint serves a menu of casual cuisine, such as juicy burgers and fries, freshly baked bread, stacks of sweet and savory pancakes, fluffy omelets, meatloaf, and the eaterys signature dish Franks Garbage Plate. The beds were very comfortable. Cedarburg, WI, USA 2. Time your visit to witness the spectacle of the building's wings (large movable sunscreens) opening and closing at 10 a.m., noon or closing time. Starting in June, and running through mid-August, the Illinois Shakespeare Festival in Bloomington-Normal reveals its ode to the Bard. These hallowed halls house a permanent collection of hundreds of bikes, including the first motorcycles built and Elvis Presley's custom bike. A schoolhouse program designed for third graders takes place in the Nature Centers historic one-room schoolhouses. 5555 7th St, Pavilion #1, Kenosha, WI 53144, Phone: 262-221-5040, Free points of interest close to me: Frankenmuth, Gettysburg, Big Sur, Romantic East Coast resorts. Known as Brew City and home to the Milwaukee Brewers baseball team, no trip to Milwaukee is complete without tasting its beer heritage. In addition to its water parks, the Wisconsin Dells offer a wide variety of kid-friendly entertainment options, from mini-golf to indoor amusement parks. Absolutely delicious cakes. Fred Scheer's Lumberjack Shows make for another fun, unique family outing in Minocqua. We will definitely be back and will recommend the Illinois Beach Resort to our friends. 880 Green Bay Road, Kenosha, WI 53144, Phone: 262-552-8196, Courtesy of Bruce Shippee - Fotolia.com, Courtesy of Africa Studio - Fotolia.com, Dinosaur Discovery Museum, Kenosha, Wisconsin, Hawthorn Hollow Nature Sanctuary and Arboretum, Jerry Smith Produce & Pumpkin Farm, Kenosha, Wisconsin, Things to Do in Kenosha, Wisconsin: Kemper Center, Things to Do in Kenosha, Wisconsin: Kenosha HarborMarket, Things to Do in Kenosha, Wisconsin: Kenosha History Center, Kenosha Kingfish Minor League Baseball, Kenosha, Wisconsin, Things to Do in Kenosha, Wisconsin: Kenosha Public Museum, Petrifying Springs Park and Biergarten, Kenosha, Wisconsin. 4th Ave, Kenosha, WI 53140, Phone: 262-654-5770, Places to visit near me: Things to Do in Milwaukee, Things to Do in Norfolk, Cumming. When the food is almost ready, the Boil Master alerts diners that the "boil-over" is about to begin. Related: Top Things to Do in the Fox River Valley. There's much to discover beyond theme parks in this Southeastern state. The most accessible section of this shore extends from the Indiana line 175 miles north to Ludington. (The alternate version, with ham and cream, is excellent too. Enter through the musky's tail and make your way up to the observation platform in the fish's open jaw. Grocery stores and restaurants are located within 10 minutes of the resort. A Nature Center on the property was built in the 1940s to originally serve as the stable to Ruths six horses. History: Ruth Teuscher bought the first 40 acres of the Hawthorn Hollow property in 1935. Starting at the Wisconsin-Illinois border, it weaves its way to Lake Superior's shore, avoiding pavement wherever possible. Kayaking the Lake Michigan lakefront, where you can explore the caves and coves and view the shore scenery that can only be seen from the water, is another favorite outdoor activity. Also, on the menu are Bloody Marys, mimosas, and Screwdrivers for those who want something more than coffee. Wander the paths and trails at Olbrich Botanical Gardens or the University of Wisconsin Arboretum; admire the art at Chazen Museum of Art or the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art; take a leisurely cruise around Lake Mendota or Menona; and be sure to work up an appetite-Madison's 600-plus restaurants offer something for every taste. 7 Fresh Places to Eat, Drink, Play and Stay This Winter. Kenosha HarborMarket is an open-air, bustling European-style mixed market that hosts over 150 vendors each week during the outdoor season. Midwest Living is part of the Meredith Home Group. Free tours of the building are given daily. The holiday season offers a Snowflake Jazz Concert, Christmas Ballroom Dance, and the Gallery of Trees, during which professionally decorated trees are auctioned off to raise funds for the Centers youth programming. Illinois is a landlocked state in the east north-central US, a region also known as the Midwestern United States. Visitors point to Le Chateau Bed and Breakfast as the best lodging in Wisconsin Rapids. Founded in the 1970s, the Jerry Smith Produce & Pumpkin Farm is a family-owned and operated business that has been serving the community for more than 40 years. The communities of the North Shore seem farther from the bustle of downtown, thanks to abundant green spaces, including the Chicago Botanic Garden. Ongoing Programs and Education: Educational opportunities for all ages are offered in keeping with Hawthorn Hollows mission. 6603 Third Avenue, Kenosha, WI 53143, Phone: 262-653-0481, Attraction Spotlight: Hawthorn Hollow Nature. You can glimpse that luxurious lifestyle while walking the Geneva Lakeshore Path, a 25-mile walkway that circles the lake, bringing you through the backyards of opulent estates. Why Wisconsin Supper Clubs Just Keep Getting Better With Age. Many of the classic cars on the lot have been customized into Hot Rod vehicles and updated with modern conveniences such as power steering and windows, air-conditioning, and automatic transmissions. 2. 2018 marks the 25th anniversary of the Walk in the Woods Art Fair. Waterford Unique Antique Market Antigo Wisconsin Flea Market The Princeton Flea Market Shawano Flea Market Wilmot Flea Market Another outstanding presentation is the Wisconsin Story exhibit, which tells the story of Native Americans through time from the coming of Europeans to Wisconsin and a display of a Potawatomi village in four seasons. We asked for a refrigerator and microwave, however they were out of microwaves. The laid . Visitors recommend Door County Trolley's lighthouse tour, describing it as entertaining and informative. With more than 300 hands-on science and arts exhibits, the center has something for children of all ages. The dances feature a cash bar and dessert buffet. From classic wide-brimmed hats to water-repellent trucker hats, find your ideal style. Hot off the minds of Midwest travel writers: a fresh look at where to eat, drink, play and stay around the region. Vehicles on site at the Kenosha showroom range from a 1919 Dodge Coupe, the oldest in the current inventory, to a candy apple red 1969 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500, the most expensive in the current inventory at close to one half million dollars. If you have littler ones, stroll across the street to the Betty Brinn Children's Museum. The campground is great, but alcohol is not allowed on all areas of the campground, so check which campsites allow alcohol. The draw for us was location.convenient drive to the out malls as well as the Bristol Renaissance Fairs and about an hour from Chicago as well. 1. The 30-mile Chippewa River State Trail takes full advantage of the city's riverfront location and provides an option for walkers and endurance athletes. Buckle up because you're in for an adventure along the Great River Road, one Wisconsin's national scenic byways. You can even reserve a table inside what used to be the bank's vault. Knowledgeable sales staff are on hand to share their expertise with prospective customers, interested visitors, or automobile aficionados, and shipping assistance is available to US and international buyers. The hotel has older rooms and could be updated. Diners rave about the generous portions and highly recommend the German pork schnitzel and spaetzle noodles. Theatergoers bring their picnic baskets for a theatrical evening under the stars in Spring Green's massive 1,147-seat outdoor amphitheater. Tourists descend on Lake Geneva during the summer season to rent boats, but fall and spring are also magnificent for weekend getaways. No, you don't have to walk the full loop around the entire lake, but you can definitely find a stretch of it to enjoy. Related: 8 Midwest Flea Markets to Add to Your Must-Visit List. Gateway Classic Cars is a national classic automobile museum that specializes in selling classic, collectible, and exotic cars for private sellers, collectors, and estates. U.S. News rates the cheapest travel insurance options, considering expert and consumer recommendations. We then went to the pool and swam for another hour. Starting in downtown Eau Claire's Phoenix Park, the trail runs along the Chippewa River through prairies, sandstone bluffs and wetlands. I-94 from the Illinois state line to Route 50 is for the most part finished! Wisconsin Dells is home to the most indoor and outdoor water parks in the world more than 20 different parks. Local artists and artisans showcase their wares along the path through the woods. Otherwise known as the Jambeau trail, the path has been in existence since before the United States was established, used by Indian tribes walking from what is today Green Bay to Chicago. By no means an exhaustive list, here are some of the downright best day trips in Wisconsin: 1. Review tags are currently only available for English language reviews. ), Avid DIYers Transform a 1929 Chicago Home One Project at a Time. Eye candy. Most visitors loll on the beach or cruise the lake during summer, but you can also experience the warmth of its winter in January and February during the annual Winterfest. Stop by the Door County Maritime Museum to dive deeper into lighthouse lore. Very close to the Great Lakes Naval Training (Bootcamp) which may be one reason this park stays full on weekends since the military campground nearby is very small. the garden is beautiful in spring. The area is home to Illinois Beach State Park, Volo Auto Museum and The Chocolate Sanctuary. French doors at the back of the galleries open onto a large flagstone patio at the rear of the house, which overlooks Lake Michigan. Our 2nd floor room, with a view of the lake, was spacious and clean. 25 Best Things to Do in Illinois - VacationIdea