Welcome to the Bigroads ultimate travel guide to Wisconsin! Hopefully this page helps provide some inspiration and tips to help you plan your next trip to Wisconsin.
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Wisconsin is most famous for its beer, cheese, and farms, but there's so much more to the state. It has dozens of water parks (there are more than 20 in Wisconsin Dells alone) and some of the best long-distance rail trails in the country. Wisconsin also features Door County on Lake Michigan, which is packed with attractive towns and parks and is billed as the "Cape Cod of the Midwest". The city of Madison, Wisconsin is great too, and is usually on the list of America's top 10 best mid-sized cities.
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TOP 10 ATTRACTIONS IN WISCONSIN
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Are you short on time or struggling to choose something to do or see in Wisconsin? Here are my selections for the top 10 attractions or experiences in Wisconsin, in no particular order:
✮ Enjoy one (or several) of the indoor and outdoor water parks in Wisconsin Dells, the water park capital of the world (there are more than 20!)
✮ Explore the city of Madison on foot; it's a foodie heaven and one of the best and most walkable mid-sized cities in the U.S.
✮ Spend time enjoying the towns, parks, shorelines, and other attractions of Door County peninsula, known as the 'Cape Cod of the Midwest'
✮ Be amazed by the quirky collections at House on the Rock, one of the largest private collection museums in the U.S.
✮ Go for a hike in Devil's Lake State Park
✮ Drink tons of beer and eat lots of cheese! There are literally hundreds of breweries in Wisconsin along with many large and small cheese shops
✮ Catch a Green Bay Packers football game at legendary Lambeau Field
✮ Cycle the excellent Elroy-Sparta State Trail (bring a headlamp for its 3 tunnels)
✮ Take a guided tour of famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright's home, studio, and school at Taliesin in Spring Green
✮ Go boating or kayaking in Apostle Islands National Lakeshore
If I could select only one place to visit in Wisconsin, I would choose the Madison area. There are many attractions in the city itself, and you can also take day trips to Milwaukee, Wisconsin Dells, Baraboo, Devil's Lake State Park, and/or Lake Geneva. There's a reason why Madison is consistently rated as one of the best places to live in America.
Interested in discovering great attractions in other U.S. states? My 10 Great Attractions in Each U.S. State guide covers the best attractions from coast-to-coast. And here is a guide to the best One-Week Vacations in the U.S..
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5-STAR ATTRACTIONS IN WISCONSIN
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Here is my opinionated list of 5-star attractions in Wisconsin. I believe each of these attractions should be on your Wisconsin bucket list since they are all noteworthy from a national perspective:
Northern Wisconsin
✮ Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, Bayfield - beautiful Lake Superior shoreline; a great place to go boating or kayaking
✮ Apostle Islands Sea Caves, La Pointe - some of the most impressive scenery on the Great Lakes; kayaking tours are highly recommended
✮ Copper Falls State Park, Mellen - one of Wisconsin's best waterfalls
✮ Fred Smith's Wisconsin Concrete Park, Phillips - a famous roadside attraction of various sculptures made of concrete, stained glass, and more
✮ Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame, Hayward - good fishing museum that also has several giant fish statues, including an enormous Muskie
✮ Northwoods Zip Line Adventure Tours, Minocqua - awesome zip-lining and aerial adventure park
✮ Timm's Hill, Hill - short walk to obtain great views from the highpoint of Wisconsin
✮ World's Heaviest Ball of Twine, Lake Nebagamon - a massive ball of twine that weights more than 20,000 pounds
Central Wisconsin (including Baraboo, Eau Claire, Sheboygan, and Wisconsin Dells)
✮ Bigfoot Zipline, Wisconsin Dells - one of the best zip-lining parks in the U.S.
✮ Boat tours in Wisconsin Dells - many companies offer scenic boat rides from this town
✮ Bookworm Gardens, Sheboygan - a relatively small but "vibrant, playful outdoor children's garden"
✮ Circus World, Baraboo - "America's favorite circus attraction"
✮ Crystal Cave, Spring Valley - guided tours of the longest cave in Wisconsin
✮ Devil's Lake State Park, Baraboo - 2 beaches, plus excellent hiking, biking and rock climbing; offers some of the best hiking in the state
✮ EAA AirVenture Museum, Oshkosh - more than 250 historic airplanes are on display; one of the best aircraft museums in the U.S.
✮ Elroy-Sparta State Trail - the best rail trail in Wisconsin; 33.8 mile unpaved route with three hand-dug railroad tunnels (bring headlamps)
✮ Grandad Bluff, La Crosse - drive a road up 600-foot tall bluffs for elevated views of the Mississippi River
✮ Great River Road - a scenic drive along the Mississippi River on the western border of the state
✮ International Crane Foundation, Baraboo - wildlife/nature center featuring all 15 known species of cranes
✮ Lost Canyon Tours, Wisconsin Dells - guided horse-drawn carriage tours of cliff-walled gorges
✮ Noah's Ark Water Park, Wisconsin Dells - the largest water park in the U.S.; this is the best of Wisconsin Dells' 20+ water parks
✮ Road America, Plymouth - one of the world's fastest permanent motorsport racing tracks
✮ Rick Wilcox Magic Theater, Wisconsin Dells - famous magic show
✮ Water parks of Wisconsin Dells - there are more than 20+ indoor & outdoor water parks in this tourist town; Noah's Ark is the best one
✮ Wilderness Resort, Wisconsin Dells - largest water park resort in the U.S.
✮ Wisconsin Deer Park, Wisconsin Dells - see and feed over 100 deer
✮ Witches Gulch, Wisconsin Dells - walk through a narrow, moss-filled canyon that is reached via a guided boat tour
Green Bay and the Door County Peninsula (eastern side of central Wisconsin)
✮ Al Johnson's - Swedish breakfast and lunch spot with goats on its roof
✮ Baileys Harbor - one of several beloved small towns in Door County
✮ Bay Beach Amusement Park, Green Bay - old-fashioned/nostalgic amusement park
✮ Boat tours in Door County - go boating, sailing, etc. in the "Cape Cod of the Midwest"
✮ Cana Island Lighthouse, Baileys Harbor - one of Wisconsin's most beloved lighthouses, and the most famous in Door County
✮ Cave Point County Park / Cave Point Park, Sturgeon Bay - wonderful limestone bluffs and caves; great hiking, biking, and kayaking
✮ Chartered fishing tours - several companies offer excellent charted fishing tours in Door County
✮ Door County - a 70-mile peninsula in northeastern Wisconsin that is loaded with beaches, lighthouses, cute towns, and nature parks
✮ Door County Trolley, Egg Harbor - famous trolley company offering a variety of guided tours (e.g. scenic, ghost, lighthouse, wine, etc.)
✮ Egg Harbor - one of several beloved small towns in Door County
✮ Fish Creek - one of several beloved small towns in Door County
✮ Farm, The, Sturgeon Bay - a great living history museum; see and feed baby farm animals
✮ Green Bay Botanical Garden, Green Bay - one of the best botanical gardens in Wisconsin
✮ Lakeshore Adventures Zip Line - awesome zip-lining tours
✮ National Railroad Museum, Green Bay - over 70 rail cars and locomotives are on display
✮ Northern Sky Theatre - one of several excellent outdoor theaters in Door County
✮ Peninsula Players Theatre - one of several excellent outdoor theaters in Door County
✮ Peninsula State Park, Fish Creek - one of Wisconsin's best state parks; beaches; hiking and mountain biking trails; scenic views; camping
✮ Renard's Cheese Store, Sturgeon Bay - one of the best of Wisconsin's big cheese shops; try the cheese curds!
✮ Ridges Sanctuary, Baileys Harbor - lovely nature preserve with hiking trails and a nature center
✮ Schoolhouse Beach Park, Washington - attractive smooth-rock strewn beach
✮ Sister Bay - one of several beloved small towns in Door County
✮ Washington Island - take the Washington Island Ferry to visit this island off the tip of the Door County Peninsula
✮ Wisconsin Maritime Museum, Manitowoc - tour a WWII submarine
Southwestern / Southcentral Wisconsin (including Janesville and Madison)
✮ American Players Theatre, Spring Green - highly-rated classical theater
✮ Camp Randall Stadium, University of Wisconsin, Madison - famous college football stadium
✮ Cave of the Mounds, Blue Mounds - guided tours of an underground limestone cave
✮ Great River Road - a scenic drive along the Mississippi River on the western border of the state
✮ Guided food tours in Madison - several companies offer guided food tours that sample some of Madison's best food offerings
✮ Henry Vilas Zoo, Madison - one of the finest medium-sized zoos in the U.S.
✮ House on the Rock, The, Spring Green - an eccentric museum complex with quirky historical collections; you'll either love or hate this place
✮ Memorial Union Terrace, Madison - a classic lakefront hangout spot with some live music events
✮ National Mustard Museum, Middleton - quirky museum with more than 5,000 mustards from around the world
✮ Natural Bridge State Park, Leland - short hike to a small but interesting natural bridge
✮ Olbrich Botanical Gardens, Madison - arguably the finest gardens in Wisconsin
✮ Rotary Botanical Gardens, Janesville - one of the best botanical gardens in the state
✮ State Street / Downtown Madison - the lively center of the great city of Madison
✮ Taliesin, Spring Green - various guided tours of the famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright's home, studio, and school
✮ Wisconsin State Capitol, Madison - one of the most breathtaking U.S. state capitol buildings
Southeastern Wisconsin (including Lake Geneva & Milwaukee)
✮ Alpine Valley Music Theatre, Elkhorn - one of the most famous outdoor music/concert venues in the U.S.
✮ American Family Field, Milwaukee - one of the most beloved MLB ballparks in the country; home of the Milwaukee Brewers
✮ Breweries / brewery tours in Milwaukee - there are more than 20 breweries in this city, some of which offer tours (e.g. Miller, Lakefront)
✮ Geneva Lake - Wisconsin's most beloved lake; known for its shoreline mansions and estates; a walking path encircles the lake
✮ Geneva Lake Shore Path, Lake Geneva - a lovely 22-mile path that encircles Geneva Lake
✮ Harley-Davidson Museum, Milwaukee - hundreds of Harley-Davidson motorcycles are on display here
✮ Lake Geneva Ziplines and Adventures, Lake Geneva - awesome aerial adventure park / zip-lining
✮ Mars Cheese Castle, Kenosha - one of the best of Wisconsin's giant cheese shops
✮ Milwaukee Art Museum, Milwaukee - Wisconsin's best art museum
✮ Milwaukee County Zoo, Milwaukee - one of the finest medium-sized zoos in the U.S.
✮ Milwaukee Public Market / Historic Third World, Milwaukee - most popular shopping area in Milwaukee
✮ Mitchell Park Domes, Milwaukee - indoor botanical gardens under giant domes
✮ Oak Leaf Trail - 125 miles of paved cycling and walking trails in Milwaukee County
✮ Pabst Mansion, Milwaukee - guided and self-guided tours of a historic museum and architectural landmark
✮ Tristan Crist Magic Theatre, Lake Geneva - small but highly rated magic theater
✮ Wind Point Lighthouse, Racine - one of Wisconsin's most beloved lighthouses on Lake Michigan
Are you aware of any other 5-star attractions in Wisconsin? If so, please email me at gparsons66@hotmail.com.
Discover 5-star attractions in neighboring states using these state guides:
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IL |
MI |
MN
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BEST TOWNS & CITIES TO VISIT IN WISCONSIN
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These towns and cities in Wisconsin are generally regarded as the most interesting to travelers:
✮ Bailey’s Harbor - an attractive small town in Door County on Lake Michigan; the town has 3 lighthouses and water sports are very popular
✮ Baraboo - a small city dubbed the "Circus City"; home of Circus World, the excellent Devil's Lake State Park, and several wineries
✮ Eau Claire - a medium-sized city called the "indie music capital of the Midwest"; has art galleries, outdoor activities, and several breweries
✮ Egg Harbor - one of several attractive small towns in Door County on Lake Michigan; has boutique shops and fine dining
✮ Fish Creek - one of several attractive small towns in Door County on Lake Michigan; known for theaters, wineries, and Peninsula State Park
✮ Sisters Bay - one of several attractive small towns in Door County on Lake Michigan; has several boutique shops and art galleries
✮ Wisconsin Dells - a small town called the "water park capital of the world"; one of the most popular family-fun destinations in the Midwest
My favorite city in Wisconsin is Madison - I recommend that first-time visitors spend at least 4-5 nights there. The city itself is great and there are many day trip opportunities you can take from there.
If you want to visit Door County (the "Cape Cod of the Midwest"), stay in Bailey's Harbor, Egg Harbor, Fish Creek, or Sisters Bay. Sturgeon Bay is another option, but it is a little outside of the prime tourist areas of Door County. I would spend 4-5 nights in this area if you've never been. You can combine a trip with the attractions of Green Bay as well.
If you like theme parks and tourist attractions, I would spend at least 3-4 days in Wisconsin Dells at some point. There are more than 20 water parks there, plus tons of other tourist attractions and a few theatre/performance shows. It's one of the premier "tourist traps" of the United States, and folks tend to either love or hate the area.
Green Bay is also a notable place if you love football. Lambeau Field is one of the very best places to see an NFL game.
Read my Favorite Places in the U.S. Guide to find new and interesting towns and cities across the country.
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WHAT IS WISCONSIN FAMOUS FOR?
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Here are some things that Wisconsin is famous or well-known for:
✮ ATV/ORV-ing
✮ beer / breweries - there are more than 200 breweries in the state!
✮ brat / bratwurst
✮ cheese - there are many huge cheese shops to be found across the state
✮ cranberries
✮ dairy farms / cows
✮ fish fry
✮ ginseng
✮ Native American culture and history
✮ quirky museums - e.g. House on the Rock, National Mustard Museum
✮ rail trails - Wisconsin has many long and excellent rail trails (it's one of the leaders in rail trail development in the U.S.)
✮ roadside attractions
✮ snowmobiling
✮ water parks - Wisconsin Dells is the "water park capital of the world" and has more than 20 water parks!
Visit my What is Each U.S. State Famous For? guide to explore the unique characteristics of other states.
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NATIONAL PARKS IN WISCONSIN
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There are currently no national parks or national monuments in Wisconsin. However, there are a few other federally-managed parks and properties in the state, including:
National Forests
✮ Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest
National Historical Parks / Other National Parks & Properties
✮ Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, Bayfield - features some of the most beautiful scenery on the Great Lakes; outstanding kayaking
✮ Ice Age National Scenic Trail
✮ North Country National Scenic Trail
✮ Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway
For more information on Wisconsin's national parks, visit the Wisconsin page of the National Park Service.
For an overview of all of America's national parks, explore my U.S. National Parks Guide.
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Wisconsin has more than 60 state parks. I believe that many would agree that these represent Wisconsin's finest state parks:
Flagship / Premier State Parks:
✮ Copper Falls State Park - gorges and waterfalls; miles of good hiking trails
✮ Devil's Lake State Park - beaches plus excellent hiking and rock climbing; views from scenic bluffs; the most popular state park in Wisconsin
✮ Pattison State Park - several impressive waterfalls, including the largest waterfall in Wisconsin (Big Manitou Falls)
✮ Peninsula State Park - beaches; hiking and mountain biking trails; scenic views
✮ Wyalusing State Park - interesting geology and views of the Mississippi River
Other Notable State Parks:
✮ Amnicon Falls State Park - several waterfalls on the Amnicon River
✮ Harrington Beach State Park - mile-long beach and a white cedar and hardwood swamp
✮ High Cliff State Park - scenic views from limestone cliffs
✮ Kohler-Andrae State Park - beaches and hiking trails
✮ Willow River State Park - scenic waterfalls
My favorite state park in Wisconsin is Devil's Lake State Park. I love hiking up to the scenic views on the rocky bluffs there. The state park makes for a nice day trip from either Madison or Wisconsin Dells.
Find the best state parks across the country using my Top 100 State Parks in the U.S. guide.
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BEST WATERFALLS IN WISCONSIN
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Wisconsin has more than 100 natural waterfalls, the vast majority of which are found in northern Wisconsin. Here are many of the best waterfalls in the state:
Northern Wisconsin
✮ Amnicon Falls in Amnicon Falls State Park
✮ Big Manitou Falls in Pattison State Park - 165-foot drop; the largest waterfall in Wisconsin
✮ Brownstone Falls in Copper Falls State Park - 30-foot drop
✮ Cascade Falls in Osceola
✮ Copper Falls in Copper Falls State Park - 30-foot drop
✮ Little Manitou Falls in Pattison State Park - 30-foot drop
✮ Long Slide Falls in Long Slide Falls County Park, Pembine
✮ Lost Creek Falls in Cornucopia
✮ Lower Potato Falls in Iron County Forest - 50-foot drop
✮ Morgan Falls in St. Peter's Dome State Natural Area, Marengo - 70-foot drop; combine with hike up St. Peter's Dome for great reviews
Central Wisconsin (including Baraboo, Eau Claire, Sheboygan, and Wisconsin Dells)
✮ Willow Falls, Willow River State Park - a tiered waterfall that drops a total of 45 feet and is up to 100 feet wide
For a listing of all known waterfalls in Wisconsin, visit the World Waterfall Database.
Chase more waterfalls across the country with my Best Waterfalls in the U.S. guide.
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BEST SCENIC DRIVES IN WISCONSIN
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Here is a list of the best scenic drives in Wisconsin:
✮ Door County Coastal Byway - a 66-mile paved loop in Door County with views of Lake Michigan and the Bay of Green Bay
✮ Great River Road - a 2,069-mile paved route along the Mississippi River that travels from Minnesota to Louisiana; 250 miles are in Wisconsin
✮ Kettle Moraine Scenic Drive - a 115-mile paved route from Elkhart Lake to Whitewater Lake using a variety of local and county roads
✮ Lake Superior Scenic Byway/WI-13 - a 70-mile paved route from Barksdale (near Ashland) to Cloverland in northwestern Wisconsin
The 100-mile Lower Wisconsin River Road (WI-60) and the 145-mile network of roads that comprise theNicolet-Wolf River Scenic Byway both look like they are interesting drives as well. I don't expect the scenery on those roads to be nationally significant, but I could be wrong about that.
Discover great scenic drives across the country with my Best Scenic Drives in the U.S. guide.
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BEST RAIL TRAILS IN WISCONSIN
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Wisconsin has long been a leader in rail trail development. You'll find many awesome and long rides in the state. Here is a list of some of the best rail trails (or similar cycling paths) in Wisconsin:
Northern Wisconsin
✮ Gandy Dancer State Trail - 98 miles if you include the northern and southern sections
Central Wisconsin (including Baraboo, Eau Claire, Sheboygan, and Wisconsin Dells)
✮ 400 State Trail - 22 miles
✮ Chippewa River State Trail - 38 miles; 100% paved
✮ Elroy-Sparta State Trail - 34 miles; arguably the best rail trail in Wisconsin; widely considered one of the best rail trails in the U.S.
✮ Old Abe State Trail - 28 miles
✮ Omaha Trail - 13 miles
✮ Tomorrow River State Trail - 29 miles
✮ Wild Goose State Trail - 34 miles
✮ Wiouwash State Trail - 41 miles
Green Bay and the Door County Peninsula (eastern side of central Wisconsin)
✮ Ahnapee State Trail - 45 miles
✮ Devil's River State Trail - 14 miles
Southern Wisconsin (including Madison and Milwaukee)
✮ Bugline Trail - 16 miles; 100% paved
✮ Eisenbahn State Trail - 25 miles
✮ Glacial Drumlin State Trail - 52 miles
✮ Oak Leaf Trail - 125 mile trail network in Milwaukee County
✮ Ozaukee Interurban Trail - 30 miles
For detailed information on all known rail trails in Wisconsin, visit the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy website.
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BEST AMUSEMENT PARKS IN WISCONSIN
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Wisconsin goes absolutely overboard with amusement parks, especially indoor and outdoor water parks. The town of Wisconsin Dells is actually known as the "water park capital of the world" and it has more than 20 water parks. Here are some of the best amusement parks in Wisconsin:
✮ Bay Beach Amusement Park, Green Bay - outdoor amusement park
✮ Kalahari Indoor Waterpark, Wisconsin Dells - indoor and outdoor water park (it's mostly indoors)
✮ Little Amerricka, Marshall - outdoor amusement park
✮ Mt. Olympus Water and Theme Park - outdoor amusement park and water park
✮ Noah's Ark Water Park, Wisconsin Dells - outdoor water park; believed to be the largest water park in the U.S.
✮ Quarry Beach Amusement Park, Sheboygan - outdoor inflatable aqua park
✮ Wilderness Resort, Wisconsin Dells - indoor and outdoor water park; you must stay at the resort in order to use the water park
Mt. Olympus Water & Theme Park in Wisconsin Dells also offers overnight accommodations. Before you book reservations for this resort though, I highly recommend reading recent traveler reviews on sites like TripAdvisor and Hotels.com.
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BEST MUSEUMS IN WISCONSIN
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Wisconsin has many fine museums. The best museums in Wisconsin include:
Northern Wisconsin
✮ Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame,
Hayward
Central Wisconsin (including Baraboo, Eau Claire, Sheboygan, and Wisconsin Dells)
✮ Circus World, Baraboo - "America's favorite circus attraction"
✮ Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum, Wausau
Green Bay and the Door County Peninsula (eastern side of central Wisconsin)
✮ Door County Maritime Museum, Sturgeon Bay
✮ EAA AirVenture Museum, Oshkosh - more than 250 historic airplanes on display; one of the U.S.'s best aircraft museums
✮ Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame, Green Bay
✮ National Railroad Museum, Green Bay - over 70 rail cars and locomotives are on display
✮ Wisconsin Maritime Museum, Manitowoc - tour a WWII submarine
Southern Wisconsin (including Madison and Milwaukee)
✮ Chazen Museum of Art, Madison
✮ Civil War Museum, Kenosha
✮ Discovery World, Milwaukee
✮ Harley-Davidson Museum, Milwaukee - hundreds of motorcycles on display
✮ House on the Rock, Spring Green
✮ Madison Children's Museum, Madison
✮ Milwaukee Art Museum, Milwaukee - Wisconsin's best art museum
✮ Milwaukee Public Museum, Milwaukee
✮ National Bobblehead Hall of Fame & Museum, Milwaukee
✮ National Mustard Museum, Middleton - quirky museum with more than 5,000 mustards from around the world
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BEST DAY HIKES IN WISCONSIN
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Wisconsin offers many good hiking trails. Here are some of the best day hikes in Wisconsin:
Northern Wisconsin
✮ Copper Falls State Park trails (e.g. North Country Trail / Doughboys Trail)
✮ Lakeshore Trail, Apostle Islands National Lakeshore
✮ Lost Creek Falls in Cornucopia
✮ St. Peter's Dome Trail, Marengo
Central Wisconsin (including Baraboo, Eau Claire, Sheboygan, and Wisconsin Dells)
✮ Brady Bluff Trail, Perrot State Park
✮ Devil's Lake State Park trails (e.g. East Bluff, West Bluff)
✮ Gibraltar Rock, Gibraltar Rock State Natural Area, Merrimac
✮ Ice Age Trail-Eau Claire Dells section
✮ Natural Bridge, Natural Bridge State Park
✮ Parfrey's Glen Trail, Parfrey's Glen State Natural Area
✮ Willow River State Park trails
Green Bay and the Door County Peninsula (eastern side of central Wisconsin)
✮ Cave Point County Park trails
✮ Dunes Cordwalk, Kohler Andrae State Park
✮ Eagle Trail, Peninsula State Park
✮ Point Beach State Forest trails
Southern Wisconsin (including Madison and Milwaukee)
✮ Lake Geneva Shore Path - a 22-mile loop if you hike the entire thing (which is a popular and fun challenge!)
✮ Lapham Peak, Kettle Moraine State Forest-Lapham Peak Unit
The highpoint of Wisconsin is Timm's Hill (1,951') within Timm's Hill County Park in northern Wisconsin. A short walk is required to reach the top, which offers good views from a firetower.
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BEST BACKPACKING TRIPS IN WISCONSIN
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Wisconsin offers a few backpacking opportunities. Some of premier backpacking routes and areas in Wisconsin include:
✮ Black River State Forest
✮ Chippewa Moraine State Recreation Area
✮ Ice Age National Scenic Trail
✮ Jones Spring Trail, Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest
✮ Newport State Park
✮ North Country Trail
✮ Rock Island State Park
Both the Ice Age National Scenic Trail and the North County Trail offer some backcountry shelters. At least some of these shelters must be reserved in advance.
The Porcupine Mountains of Michigan are not far from the northern border of Wisconsin, and they offer more excellent backpacking opportunities.
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CLASSIC OUTDOOR ADVENTURES IN WISCONSIN
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Wisconsin offers many outdoor adventures, including:
✮ Backpacking the Ice Age National Scenic Trail
✮ Backpacking the North Country Trail
✮ Canoeing/kayaking on the Kickapoo River
✮ Canoeing/kayaking on the Lower Wisconsin River
✮ Canoeing/kayaking on the Namekagon River
✮ Canoeing/kayaking on the St. Croix River
✮ Cycling the Elroy-Sparta State Trail - the best rail trail in Wisconsin; 33.8 mile unpaved route with three tunnels (bring headlamps)
✮ Cycling the Oak Leaf - 125 miles of paved cycling and walking trails in Milwaukee County
✮ Day hiking around Geneva Lake on the Geneva Lake Shore Path - a 22-mile loop around the lake
✮ Day hiking in Devil's Lake State Park
✮ Diving to shipwrecks in Door County
✮ Ice climbing in Devil's Lake State Park
✮ Ice climbing in Governor Dodge State Park
✮ Ice climbing in Wyalusing State Park
✮ Kayaking the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, including the famed Madeline Island Sea Caves
✮ Kayaking in various areas of Door County
✮ Mountain biking the Chequamegon Area Mountain Bike Association (CAMBA) trail system
✮ Mountain biking the John Muir trail system
✮ Mountain biking the Levis-Trow Mound Recreation Area
✮ Mountain biking the Whittail Ridge Mountain Bike Trail
✮ Para-sailing in Door County
✮ Rock climbing in Devil's Lake State Park
✮ Sailing in Door County
✮ Skydiving in Baldwin, East Troy, Jefferson, Marshall, or Sturtevant
✮ Snowmobiling the Hodag Sno Trail
✮ Snowmobiling the Nicolet State Trail
✮ Snowmobiling the Tri-County Corridor Trail
✮ Snowmobiling the Tuscobia State Trail
✮ Tubing the Apple River
✮ Tubing the Sugar River
✮ Tubing the Wolf River
✮ Whitewater rafting the Menominee River
✮ Whitewater rafting the Peshtigo River
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There are more than 15 ski/snowboard resorts in Wisconsin. On a national scale, they are generally on the smaller side with only a limited vertical drop. These ski/snowboard resorts are generally considered the best in Wisconsin:
Premier Ski/Snowboard Resorts:
✮ Granite Peak - 58 trails; 700ft vertical drop; 1,942ft summit
Other Notable Ski/Snowboard Resorts:
✮ Cascade Mountain - 36 trails; 450ft vertical drop; 1,280ft summit
✮ Devils Head - 30 trails; 500ft vertical drop; 995ft summit
✮ Whitecap Mountains - 43 trails; 400ft vertical drop; 1,750ft summit
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UNIQUE / SPECIALTY FOODS TO TRY IN WISCONSIN
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Here are some unique / specialty foods to try while you are in Wisconsin:
✮ booyah
✮ brat / bratwurst
✮ butter burgers
✮ cheese curds
✮ colby cheese
✮ corned beef sandwich
✮ fish fry / fish boil
✮ fried cheese curds
✮ kringle
✮ sour cream raisin pie
Wisconsin is very serious about its cheese, and you'll find several large cheese shops across the state. I highly recommend stopping in at least one of them.
For a list of unique foods and mom-and-pop type eateries and restaurants in Wisconsin (or any other U.S. state), visit the Roadfood.com website.
For a list of unique foods to try in each U.S. state, explore my Road Trip Food guide.
For a list of the top-rated beers to try in Wisconsin (or any other U.S. state), visit the Beer Advocate website.
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OTHER KEY WISCONSIN INFORMATION
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Here is some helpful key information about Wisconsin:
State Capital:
Madison
Major Airports:
Dane County Regional Airport (MSN) in Madison and Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport (MKE) in Milwaukee
Largest Cities:
Milwaukee (573,700), Madison (277,166), Green Bay (108,063), Kenosha (100,140), Racine (77,608), Appleton (76,248), Waukesha (71,246)
Primary U.S. Interstates:
I-39, I-41, I-43, I-90, I-94
State Highpoint:
Timm's Hill (1,951') in the town of Spirit in northern Wisconsin; a short walk is required to reach the top (which offers good views from a firetower)
Professional Sports Teams:
MLB: Milwaukee Brewers
NBA: Milwaukee Bucks
NFL: Green Bay Packers
Funny or Unique Town/City Names:
Luck and Spread Eagle
Take note that in general this travel guide intentionally excluded restaurants, lodging/hotels, breweries, wineries/vineyards, and certain other types of attractions (like arcades, ax-throwing, bowling alleys, and escape rooms). These types of places tend to come and go, and keeping up with that would be too challenging. I encourage you to use Google Maps, Tripadvisor, Yelp, and other travel sites that have reader reviews to find the latest and greatest places that I haven't covered here.
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Bookworm Gardens in Sheboygan, Wisconsin
Devil's Lake State Park near Baraboo, Wisconsin
one of several huge roadside attractions in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin
Hamburger Charlie in Seymour, Wisconsin
carousel within the House on the Rock in Spring Green, Wisconsin
one of several giant cheese shops in Wisconsin
Pinkie the Pink Elephant in DeForest, Wisconsin
Giant Dinosaur at the Sinclair Gas Station in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin
World's Largest Barber Pole in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin
giant Vince Lombardi Trophy at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin
state capitol building in Madison, Wisconsin
the Hodag statue in Rhinelander, Wisconsin
Wisconsin Concrete Park in Phillips, Wisconsin
World's Heaviest Ball of Twine in Lake Nebagamon, Wisconsin
World's Largest Soup Kettle in Laona, Wisconsin
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