10 Wisconsin Summer Vacation Destinations Away from the Crowd
1. Baraboo Fun for the whole family! Learn about the fifteen
species of cranes at the International Crane Foundation and the
history of trains at Mid-Continent Railway Museum. Ride an
elephant and feed camels at Circus World. Let your imaginations
run wild at Dr. Evermor's Art Park, located south of Baraboo
across from the Badger Ordnance Plant. Back in Baraboo, refuel
after climbing the bluffs at Devil's Lake State Park by
indulging in a gourmet burrito topped with cumin sauce at the
Little Village Cafe.
2. Cassville/Prairie du Chien The Mississippi River and two
state parks (Nelson Dewey and Wyalusing) offer a wide variety of
recreational choices, including boating, hiking, and eagle
watching. Visit the Stonefield and Villa Louis State Historic
Sites to learn about early European settlers to Wisconsin. Other
points of interest: Kickapoo Indian Caverns, St. John Mine, the
Cassville Ferry, and Fort Crawford Museum.
3. Cedarburg/Port Washington For shoppers and antique
collectors, historic downtown Cedarburg offers many
opportunities to indulge. For the family, there's Cedar Creek
Settlement, Pioneer Village, and the Family Farm. Picnic at
Covered Bridge Park, featuring Wisconsin's last remaining
historical covered bridge. Nearby Port Washington, located on
Lake Michigan, has the charm of a New England fishing village.
Visit the Lighthouse Museum and Pier Street.
4. Chippewa Falls Rolling hills in the heart of central
Wisconsin provide a beautiful backdrop. Take a tour of
Leinenkugel's Brewery or the Cook-Rutledge Museum. For kids,
visit the Irvine Park zoo or nearby Fort Bon Secours to see
historical reenactments of the French fur trade era. For outdoor
enthusiasts, bike on the Old Abe State Bike Trail or hike in
Lake Wissota State Park.
5. Dodgeville/Mineral Point/Spring Green In Mineral Point, visit
Pendarvis Historic Site to see how the early Cornish lead miners
lived. Shop on historic High Street, and stop in at the Red
Rooster Cafe for a pastie. Outside of Dodgeville, visit Folklore
Village, then spend the rest of the day swimming and hiking at
Governor Dodge State Park. Just down the road, visit the
one-of-a-kind House on the Rock. Near Spring Green, see
Shakespeare performed outdoors at American Player's Theatre and
tour Taliesin, the estate and architectural school built by
Frank Lloyd Wright.
6. Green Bay Green Bay is home to more than Lambeau Field and
the Packer Hall of Fame. Did you know it's the oldest settlement
in Wisconsin, founded in 1669? Visit Heritage Hill State Park,
site of four historical recreations of early life in Wisconsin,
and the Oneida Nation Museum. Bay Beach Amusement Park appeals
to children of all ages, and the low price can't be beat