mom31257 Posted April 21, 2018 Share Posted April 21, 2018 We will be in Chicago this summer and are considering heading up to Wisconsin. We've never been and would love to hear about things to do. Our kids don't care for water parks, but they do enjoy amusement parks. We are hoping to do more sight seeing, museums, maybe a bit of hiking, dining, etc. Thanks for ideas! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catz Posted April 21, 2018 Share Posted April 21, 2018 The Milwaukee area is in close range of Chicago, has plenty to do and would have some pretty hiking in range. It's only like a 2ish hour drive from Chicago area depending on traffic along Lake Michigan. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barnwife Posted April 21, 2018 Share Posted April 21, 2018 My suggestions will depend on how long you have. Can you give us an idea of how much time you'd want to spend here? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lady Marmalade Posted April 21, 2018 Share Posted April 21, 2018 Oh good grief, I'm quoting and repeating myself while simply trying to edit. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lady Marmalade Posted April 21, 2018 Share Posted April 21, 2018 Just now, Lady Marmalade said: Well, the amusement park option keeps you in Illinois- Six Flags is in Gurnee, just south of the Wisconsin border. There is always the House on The Rock, which isn't too extreme of a drive from the Chicago area to tick the unusual and museum boxes. That part of the state is gorgeous- Governor Dodge State Park comes to mind for hiking. There's also the Frank Lloyd Wright Trail if anyone is into architecture at all. It's hard to think about "Wisconsin" as a whole and where one might want to visit if they've never been and don't have family to visit either. Travel Wisconsin might help you narrow down a region to focus on. Door County is always great to visit. Nice small towns with touristy things to see, great places to eat. The state parks up there have all kinds of hiking trails and gorgeous scenery. The wineries are always a highlight if you are into wine. If you're more city people, Milwaukee and Madison both offer all kinds of museums, good eats, and lots of shopping/night life. If you REALLY want a drive and to experience the northwoods, it's hard to beat some time spent in the Eagle River area. If you're into sports at all, you can't really miss visiting Lambeau Field. Also in Green Bay are a small amusement park where the tickets are still only 25 cents a piece. Bay Beach Amusement park is no Six Flags, but there is still fun to be had there. Across the street from that is the Wildlife Sanctuary, which is one of my favorite places to go to just BE outdoors, among the animals and wildlife. In GB there is also the National Railroad Museum, a very nice Public Museum, and there are dozens of great restaurants to eat at. Depending on when you are visiting, the Wisconsin State Fair is hard to beat. Those cream puffs! OMG. We go every year Just To EAT all the fair food. All of it. If you are into wineries/breweries, they are sprouting up all over the state, and also in your travels, make sure you search for some local cheesemakers. They are all over as well and you just can't beat Wisconsin Cheese! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carol in Cal. Posted April 21, 2018 Share Posted April 21, 2018 Be sure to have these characteristic and (in my experience) local foods: 1. Fried cheese curds. These sound gross but they are fantastic. 2. Frozen custard. Like ice cream only much richer. 3. Brats. That is what they call bratwurst there. Every time someone would eat a hot dog elsewhere, in WI they eat these. Infinitely better than hot dogs. These are what hot dogs would like to be if only they could. And visit Old World Wisconsin. It was ruined by a tornado some years back but I understand that it has been completely rebuilt. It is the best living history site for pioneer life I have ever seen, bar none. For amusement park stuff, people tend to head to The Dells and go on water slides there. The Crystal Cave is a great place to visit as well. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Selkie Posted April 21, 2018 Share Posted April 21, 2018 The American Club in Kohler is a beautiful hotel and resort. If you're baseball fans, going to a game at Miller Park in Milwaukee is lots of fun. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mom31257 Posted April 21, 2018 Author Share Posted April 21, 2018 We will most likely go in the latter half of June. I think we could have 5 days or so, and we will visit family in friends in Ohio and Chicago before driving up there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mom31257 Posted April 21, 2018 Author Share Posted April 21, 2018 I can't have dairy, but the rest of my family can. My husband is looking up the places mentioned. He just mentioned cherry orchards, and I LOVE cherries! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catz Posted April 22, 2018 Share Posted April 22, 2018 Oh if you're have a little more time and are willing to drive a little further, Door County is a fabulous summer destination! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lady Marmalade Posted April 22, 2018 Share Posted April 22, 2018 2 hours ago, mom31257 said: I can't have dairy, but the rest of my family can. My husband is looking up the places mentioned. He just mentioned cherry orchards, and I LOVE cherries! Unfortunately, June is a little early for a cherry harvest, especially given the slow start to spring we are experiencing. But, if you're willing to travel to Door County, you might want to go a tiny bit further and explore Washington Island. It is the home of the largest lavender farm in the midwest- among many other things. The end of June is also strawberry season! There are U-pick farms all over the state- many of them complete with a hayride to the fields to pick. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisB Posted April 22, 2018 Share Posted April 22, 2018 Well, if you're going to be in Ohio and heading to Chicago and the kids like amusement parks, how about a stop at Cedar Point in Sandusky OH? Awesome rides!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barnwife Posted April 22, 2018 Share Posted April 22, 2018 If you head to Madison, check out Olbrich Gardens. If you drive from Madison to Milwaukee (or vice versa), you may want to stop somewhere in the marsh. I don't think those were mentioned by pp. I'll try and add more Madison recs later. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annie G Posted April 22, 2018 Share Posted April 22, 2018 In Madison, walking along the lake is lovely. Saturday morning the Dane County Farmer’s Market is loads of fun with tons of local food. It’s on the square and touring the Capitol building, including climbing to the top to see the spectacular view, is worth the visit. The market also has arts and crafts vendors, street musicians, and other fun stuff. Our favorite restaurant on the square is The Old Fashioned, which has a lot of local food on the menu and THE BEST cheese curds I’ve ever eaten. If you’ve never done a cave tour, Cave of the Mounds is not too far from Madison. I second Barnwife’s Olbrich Gardens suggestion. It’s beautiful!!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mamaraby Posted April 23, 2018 Share Posted April 23, 2018 On 4/21/2018 at 3:23 PM, Carol in Cal. said: And visit Old World Wisconsin. It was ruined by a tornado some years back but I understand that it has been completely rebuilt. It is the best living history site for pioneer life I have ever seen, bar none. Rest assured, Old World Wisconsin (OWW) was not ruined. It was mostly the white pine trees that covered the parking area and up near the entrance. Unfortunately, that means there’s no shade over your car and if you used to enjoy eating your lunch in the shade under the trees then that’s out. I miss those trees. From 2010 - http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/tornado-ravaged-old-world-wisconsin-remains-closed-as-tourist-season/article_b5da7200-8c53-11df-b9e0-001cc4c002e0.html As for visiting Wisconsin, state capitol tours are free - http://tours.wisconsin.gov/pub/Content.aspx?p=Capitol Tour - if you’re up for the farmer’s market, they have Saturday tours too. The Dane County Farmer’s Market really is not to be missed - https://www.vogue.com/article/dane-county-farmers-market-madison-wisconsin-guide The Wisconsin Veteran’s Museum is on the capitol square and free - https://www.wisvetsmuseum.com/ The Madison Museum of Contemporary Art is free/by donation and is just off the square down State St- https://www.mmoca.org/ The Chazen Art Musuem is a bit further from the capitol building down closer to the UW Madison campus and is also free - https://www.chazen.wisc.edu/ The Wisconsin Historical Society Museum is not free, but still a great museum. They operate OWW as well as many other historical sites around the state - https://wisconsinhistory.org/ Milwaukee also has lots to do and see. The Burke Brise Soliel at the Milwaukee Art Museum is on my list of things to see - https://mam.org/visit/burke-brise-soleil.php 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mom31257 Posted June 27, 2018 Author Share Posted June 27, 2018 Thank you to all who gave me suggestions! We left Wisconsin this morning, and we can't wait to visit again. We ended up only having 2 full days, so we went to Green Bay and Door County. We loved the Bay Beach wildlife center and amusement park. Door County was amazing, and I was so excited to find a full case of frozen goat's milk Gelatos at Door County Creamery. I can't have cow's milk and have so missed ice cream that's truly creamy! We will be back and look forward to experiencing even more of your great state! 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catz Posted June 27, 2018 Share Posted June 27, 2018 Awww ... one of my parents is from Door County and I spent many a summer there but have not been in a few years. Craving a Door County adventure. It's SO beautiful! ? I'm glad you had a great adventure! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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