By VacationIdea Staff on January 24, 2023 - Updated. Open mid-June through October, the Jerry Smith Produce Country Store sells a range of homegrown produce and pick-your-own produce (depending on the season). 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. Discover these empowering women's history destinations selected by the U.S. News travel editors. Located just off Interstate-94 on the East Frontage Road at 6521-120th Avenue, the brewery produces four barrels of beer per week on average and focuses on delivering a delicious, drinkable beer for both locals and visitors. At Wisconsin supper clubs, the steak is served rare and the traditions are well done. Past and Future Exhibits: Past events at the Milwaukee showroom in Kenosha have included the annual Holiday Party. Milwaukee's also home to a very different kind of museum. Two own businesses with their spouses. Watch the Milwaukee Art Museum's striking Quadracci Pavilion open and close its "wings"; catch the Milwaukee Brewers in Miller Park; tour the Pabst Mansion; or take a simulated motorcycle ride at the Harley-Davidson Museum. Located on Lake Michigan, Kenosha, WI is a tranquil lakeside town north of the Illinois border with the lakefront development of HarborPark at its center. Door County Kayak Tours gets high ratings for their friendly, informative guides. Now, thanks to a revitalized downtown, an emerging foodie scene, new cultural attractions and beautiful public gardens, word is getting out: You'd be crazy not to stop. Whats Nearby: The Anderson Center is located within the Kemper Center campus. Train enthusiasts of all ages will enjoy a stop at Green Bay's National Railroad Museum. History: Gateway Classic Cars was founded in 1999 with its headquarters in St. Louis, Missouri. Sing-along Shakespeare? Departing from Kenosha Harbor May through September, the tall ship Red Witch can be enjoyed on public tours of the lake during the day and evening and on sunset trips and also offers private charters for special occasions. Photo courtesy of St. Charles Convention and Visitors Bureau. University of Wisconsin Madison Memorial Union. Highly recommend. Inspiration flows on both sides of the Grand River, particularly near downtown. Circling the entire lake would take all day, but you can pick a section and go for a jog or a stroll. Ongoing Programs and Education: Summer camp programs are offered each year for children between the ages of 5 and 12, as well as a full range of after-school programming during the school year. Megan Johnson and Sharael KolbergMarch 3, 2023, Holly Johnson and Erin EvansMarch 1, 2023, Holly Johnson and Erin EvansFeb. Author Lisa Eldred Steinkopf shares how to make blooms last longerand repeat. History: Formerly the residence of the Anderson family, construction on the home began in 1929 and was finished in 1931. Highlights include a two-story maze, a play area aimed at babies and toddlers, and an exciting planetarium. 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. U.S. News rates the cheapest travel insurance options, considering expert and consumer recommendations. Guided group tours of the sanctuary are available for schools, groups, and nature clubs for a nominal fee. 6501 3rd Avenue, Kenosha, WI 53143, Phone: 262-925-8040, Insider travel recommendations, In-depth reviews of our favorite places: Brooklyn, MS, MO, Sacramento, Oceanside, MT, St. Louis, MA, From Columbus, Montreal, PA, RI, SC, Day Trips from Dallas, Mackinac Island, St Louis, Things to Do in Albuquerque, Grand Canyon. Two miles of nature trails wind through the Pike River Valley, including the Old Indian Trail. A warm-weather visit calls for a stay at The Abbey Resort, the only lodging directly on the shores of Lake Geneva. If you're up for more exploration, also visit neighboring Matthiessen State Park, where 5 miles of trails carve into the mile-long canyon, passing rocks, waterfalls and beautiful, sometimes dizzying, vantage points. The oldest park in the system, Petrifying Springs Park is a 360-acre park with a network of wooded trails, an 18-hole golf course, playgrounds and ball fields for children, and picnic areas for families. For August, the water was a bit cold, but still able to swim. If you make a purchase from our site, we may earn a commission. Hike the bluffs. It's no exaggeration to claim Wisconsin offers something for every type of traveler world-class art for culture enthusiasts, metropolitan food tours for foodies, numerous waterparks for families and relaxing scenery for outdoors lovers, including rolling hills, lush farmland, forests and lakes. The one-of-a-kind Min-Aqua Bats have been entertaining crowds in Minocqua with their first-rate water-ski show since 1950. Taliesin Preservation manages the grounds and offers six touring options of the estate, along with other arts and cultural programming and special events like a farm dinner series, biking tour and Winter Festival tours. There are better campgrounds out there if the goal.is strictly to get back to nature. 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. With more than 300 hands-on science and arts exhibits, the center has something for children of all ages. The tranquil Anderson Japanese Gardensis just one of the draws to the area. The parks rolling landscapes include natural hardwood forests, a ball diamond, chess tables, and picnic areas with barbeque grills, lighted cross-country skiing and sledding hills, a dog park, a playground for children, sand volleyball courts, and modern restrooms. Those who aren't architecture enthusiasts will still have reason to visit Spring Green. You can even reserve a table inside what used to be the bank's vault. Related: Trip Guide to Michigan's Southwest Shore. 724 54th St. Kenosha, WI 53140, Phone: 262-653-4287, Top rated last minute places for couples: CT, IL, CA, MD, VT, VA, Atlanta, From Chicago, MD beaches. Get a taste for this classic culinary tradition at Little Bohemia Lodge in the nearby town of Manitowish Waters. Some people come here for classic Amish Country: 31kinds of pie at Das Dutchman Essenhaus, hand-sewn gifts and homemade jellies at Little Helpers Quilt Shop, treasure-hunting at the Shipshewana Flea Market. Other special events throughout the year include a pumpkin patch train ride in the fall and a Polar Express train ride in November and December. This charming little hideaway about 30 minutes west of Sheboygan is often overlooked but shouldn't be. The Lake Geneva Shore Path can be accessed all around the lake. Review tags are currently only available for English language reviews. The Osthoff Resort is the grande dame of Elkhart Lake with fine dining, a French cooking school and an award-winning spa. Guests are invited to fill their trunks with candy for children, and display their personal classic vehicles. The 250,000 square foot campus is home to the Durkee Mansion, an historic house museum, Kids Space, a classroom space and artist in residence home, and the Kemper Hall Convention Center, an event venue and office space. Milman was considered a master of classic French design and one of the forefathers of modern French Art Deco. By no means an exhaustive list, here are some of the downright best day trips in Wisconsin: 1. Established in 2003, Kenosha HarborMarket is the citys top market and, regardless of the season, is dedicated to providing both locals and visitors with top quality produce, freshly baked artisan treats, handcrafted soaps and candles, and other homemade goods. Lake Geneva atramos/Flickr atramos/Flickr Lake Geneva has an absolutely fantastic downtown with ice cream and fudge shops, as well as more upscale retailers. If a car is listed as Numbers Matching, it means the vehicle still has the original engine and transmission. They have a hotel with a decent restaurant, and a campground. (Note: Some tours and excursions may be affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. 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. Pure Americana is served up in central Wisconsin's Minocqua; the town offers everything from the fudge and ice cream shops to the popular screen-door cottages families love to rent. Visitors praise the mostly local teenagers who participate for mastering some incredible tricks and keeping a beloved tradition alive. I-94 from the Illinois state line to Route 50 is for the most part finished! Save. 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. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, this more than 100-year-old building features painstakingly preserved original light fixtures, doors and other features from when it was the State Bank of Spring Green. 12. 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. The beds were very comfortable. *Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something that we have recommended. Chocolate Shop. Summer is high season, with a multitude of neighborhood festivals, outdoor concerts and ethnic celebrations, like German Fest in July, honoring the city's largest immigrant group. At 27 miles, the Lake Geneva Shore Path is a must-do activity in this area. And the small town of Wisconsin Rapids, 100 miles northwest of Madison, is the cranberry capital. A replica wigwam on the trail offers an example of the Potawatomi shelters that existed hundreds of years ago. 5621 6th Ave, Kenosha, WI 53140, Phone: 262-220-7782, Romantic weekend getaways near me: 4th of July, New England, Arizona with Kids, Virginia with Kids, Albany vacation ideas, Honeymoon Ideas, Key West. How far you drive is up to you each town has its own personality. Managed by the Kenosha County Historical Society, the Kenosha History Center is one of two buildings on the site, the first of which focuses on Kenosha County history, and the second the Southport Light Station Museum is a restored lightkeeper's home and lighthouse. Tens of thousands of visitors make the pilgrimage each year to central Wisconsin's Green Bay, considered a mecca for football fans. The Kenosha Visitors Bureau has named Gateway Classic Cars of Milwaukee a top tourist attraction for the Kenosha, Wisconsin area. [See more of Milwaukee: Things to Do | Hotels | Photos ]. 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. 7 Fresh Places to Eat, Drink, Play and Stay This Winter. Located on the Riverfront Museum Park campus, the Discovery Center Museum is one of the top family attractions in Illinois. Located on Lake Michigan, the largest lake in the United States, Milwaukee is easy to explore; everything seems to be only a 5-minute drive away. 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. Classes include puppet making, cartooning, drawing and painting, crafting and the fiber arts as well as sculpting. The Bird Lovers Series offers several different programs from a Bird Walk, to classes on attracting bluebirds, the Wisconsin state bird. Head over to Mirror Lake State Park for a scenic hike along a tranquil lake surrounded by sandstone bluffs. We went on a weekday and there were no crowds. Older park but very clean and well maintained campground. The Art of the Car show takes place each August, while October hosts Oktoberfest. The Wisconsin Great River Road parallels the majestic Mississippi River along 250 miles of the state's western border. Address: 7036 Grand Geneva Way, Lake Geneva, WI 53147. Listen for wildlife. Green Bay is the smallest city housing an NFL team, and the Green Bay Packers are the only publicly owned major professional sports team in the U.S. Cheeseheads are a dedicated bunch, but you don't have to own a green and gold jersey to appreciate the memorabilia and exhibits at the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame. Follow these steps (and allow plenty of time) to get your child a passport. Art, music and food festivals fill the calendar, and the compact downtown has just as diverse offerings. The Eau Claire Downtown Farmers Market welcomes shoppers May through October every Saturday morning. Being a peninsula in the Great Lakes, the area's 11 lighthouses play a big part in Door County's history. Diners rave about the generous portions and highly recommend the German pork schnitzel and spaetzle noodles. Catch this not-to-be-missed free show on Sunday, Wednesday or Friday. Settle in at night around a fire pit to enjoy a clear view of the stars in the dark northern Wisconsin skies. Grand Geneva Resort and Spa, Lake Geneva Grand Geneva Resort and Spa There are frequently cash prizes offered for winning works of art. Grab a cheesy bite of nostalgia at Papa Del's Pizza or enjoy more upscale fare at Miga; take time to admire the works at Krannert Art Museum and Spurlock Museum; go for a stroll at the University of Illinois arboretum or Allerton Park and Retreat Center. Visitors will also discover a robust farm-to-table movement in this fertile section of America's heartland. I would stay here again tonuse it as my home base for other adventures. Hop on State Trunk Highway 54 for a self-guided food tour as the 50-mile Wisconsin Cranberry Trail winds past family farms and cranberry marshes. Stop by the Door County Maritime Museum to dive deeper into lighthouse lore. Wisconsin's landscape has five major geographic regions. Become a Cheesehead by exploring all that Wisconsin has to offer. The galleries show the work of students in area schools, as well as work completed at the Centers summer camps and afterschool programs. Bloomington-Normal, Illinois: 130 miles southwest of Chicago, Rockford, Illinois: 90 miles west of Chicago, Fox River Valley, Illinois: 60 miles west of Chicago, Champaign-Urbana: 140 miles south of Chicago, South Bend, Indiana: 95 miles east of Chicago, Turkey Run Inn, Indiana: 150 miles south of Chicago, Lake Mills, Wisconsin: 125 miles northwest of Chicago, Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie: 60 miles southwest of Chicago, Woodstock, Illinois: 60 miles northwest of Chicago, Indiana Dunes: 54 miles southeast of Chicago, Lake Geneva, Wisconsin: 80 miles northwest of Chicago, Michigan's southwest shore: 70 to 150 miles east of Chicago, Galena, Illinois: 163 miles west of Chicago, Mount Morris, Illinois: 100 miles northwest of Chicago, Cedarburg, Wisconsin: 113 miles north of Chicago, Madison, Wisconsin: 147 miles northwest of Chicago, Amish Country, Indiana: 110 miles east of Chicago, Starved Rock State Park, Illinois: 100 miles southwest of Chicago, Zion, Illinois: 50 miles north of Chicago, Grand Rapids, Michigan: 175 miles northeast of Chicago, Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin: 150 miles north of Chicago, Glencoe, Illinois: 15 miles north of Chicago, Apple River Canyon State Park, Illinois: 146 miles west of Chicago, Beloit, Wisconsin: 96 miles northwest of Chicago. After a day on the slopes, skiers like to warm up with a hot toddy around the outdoor fire pit at the resort's Embers Terrace. 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. But in downstate Illinois, that takes on a fresh new form. read more Grand Rapids' ArtPrize extravaganza every other fall is part art walk, part city tour and and entirely vacation-worthy. Most people come here for quiet weekends of swimming, sunning, boating and water-skiing in the crystal-clear lake, but the legendary Road America course is popular with amateur racers and their fans. In 1988, Friends of Hawthorne Hollow was established to provide financial support to maintain the gardens and facilities through memberships and donations. And the fifth is a James Beard finalist chef. Shows have been mounted by the League of Milwaukee Artists, the Chicago Society of Artists, the Racine Art Guild, Madison Contemporary Fiber Artists and the Coalition of Photographic Arts among others. Anderson Arts Center 24 Art Museums By Fifite77Chloe enjoy the moment with family. Illinois borders Wisconsin to the north, Michigan via a water boundary in Lake Michigan to the northeast, Indiana to the east, and Kentucky to southeast. Kohler Walkway through the dunes in Kohler-Andrae State Park The city of Kohler is best known for the Kohler Design Center and the premier golf courses in the community. The Badger State's charming small towns, thriving farm-to-table movement and rich brewing heritage guarantee quality vacations for all types of travelers. I took my daughter and 2 granddaughters there in early August. Visitors point to Le Chateau Bed and Breakfast as the best lodging in Wisconsin Rapids.