The Civil War Museum is dedicated to showcasing the contributions of the Upper Midwest to the Civil War. The one-of-a-kind Min-Aqua Bats have been entertaining crowds in Minocqua with their first-rate water-ski show since 1950. A Spring Green restaurant well worth visiting for architecture buffs is Last Leaf Public House. 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. 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. Two miles of nature trails wind through the Pike River Valley, including the Old Indian Trail. I-94 from the Illinois state line to Route 50 is for the most part finished! The Dane County Farmers' Market is the country's largest producer-only farmers market, a great way to take yourself on a food tour of the finest Wisconsin farmers have to offer. Settle in at night around a fire pit to enjoy a clear view of the stars in the dark northern Wisconsin skies. Sitting on a rocking chair on a veranda at Indiana's Turkey Run State Park inn feels surprisingly like taking refuge deep in the forest. 7 Fresh Places to Eat, Drink, Play and Stay This Winter. Though it's home to the Fighting Irish, it's not all football in South Bend. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. Wisconsin Museum of Quilts and Fiber Arts, 8 Midwest Flea Markets to Add to Your Must-Visit List, Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park, Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum, quiet weekends of swimming, sunning, boating and water-skiing in the crystal-clear lake. The town of Clear Lake offers what you'd think Clear Lake Iowa Tourism Before you dismiss swimming in favor of Pumpkin Spice Everything, let's take a moment to acknowledge that there are a few days left to lounge on the beach and soak up the last of summer's delicious rays of sun. About the Area: Great Central Location! The entire road traverses 3,000 miles through 10 states, and our 250-mile stretch takes you through 33 historic Wisconsin towns. Field trips invite students to attend nature-based learning programs. 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. 7817 Sheridan Road Kenosha, WI 53143, Phone: 262-653-0900, Free things to do, beaches near me: UT, WV. A Heritage Farmstead on site offers lessons in beekeeping, and grows heritage vegetables in a community garden. 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. We dare not mess with an iconat least, not too much. Hot Rod may also be used as a technical term for any motorized vehicle with an engine not original to the body. When you need a day trip from Chicago or a weekend getaway from the big city, you don't have to go far. The private residence turned art center features over 25 exhibits of local, regional and national artwork each year in addition to arts education programming for youth and adults. Grand Rapids' ArtPrize extravaganza every other fall is part art walk, part city tour and and entirely vacation-worthy. 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. Visitors love getting to see the Super Bowl trophies. If a car is listed as Numbers Matching, it means the vehicle still has the original engine and transmission. Juried shows take place annually. 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. 3. 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. Please check out our disclosure policy for more details. We will definitely be back and will recommend the Illinois Beach Resort to our friends. A Nature Center on the property was built in the 1940s to originally serve as the stable to Ruths six horses. The location takes pride in being like a museum, but you can take the cars home with you, as one guest is quoted as saying. The Mississippi River forms a natural border with Missouri and Iowa in the west. 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. This being Wisconsin, Eau Claire houses a handful of craft breweries, including The Brewing Projekt, where you can order up a flight of creative beer flavors in a hip, loft-like setting. Older park but very clean and well maintained campground. 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. A great weekend destination for both shoppers and history buffs, Cedarburg has a Main Street that's on the National Register of Historic Places and dozens of limestone buildings housing more than 70 boutiques, chocolate shops and restaurants. Hot off the minds of Midwest travel writers: a fresh look at where to eat, drink, play and stay around the region. The Kenosha History Center has a gift shop that sells a variety of souvenirs, items, and related gifts. For more fun, be sure to visit Six Flags Great America. 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. Anderson Arts Center 24 Art Museums By Fifite77Chloe enjoy the moment with family. With more than 300 hands-on science and arts exhibits, the center has something for children of all ages. Oshkosh Airshow. By providing financing and global shipping, and by offering 16 showrooms across the United States, Gateway Classic Cars has succeeded in making the classic car buying and selling experience easier and more accessible for all parties. more. For many Midwesterners, holiday feasting kicks off with a relish tray. 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. Grand Geneva Resort & Spa is one of the best choices for a winter visit to Lake Geneva, with a bevy of amenities and a modest ski hill. ), Avid DIYers Transform a 1929 Chicago Home One Project at a Time. Prospectus may be found on the Anderson Centers website. Since then, the company has sold over 25,000 vehicles, and is now the worlds largest classic car dealer, with over 2,700 vehicles for sale at any one time. The stone and stucco 2-story house contains 30 rooms. Lake Geneva Shore Path. Exhibit galleries also house rotating works of art by locally known artists and famous masters. Squirrels chattering. Other draws to the area: Bloomington's restored 1800s buildings house farm-to-table restaurants, shops and live-music venues. Limestone buildings create a scenic backdrop in Cedarburg. Located near the Wisconsin-Illinois border, 7 miles north of the border and about 50 miles southeast of Milwaukee, Lake Geneva is popular for weekend getaways, with visitors describing it as the "Newport of the Midwest" for its opulent lakefront mansions. 12. The 297-acre Apple River Canyon State Park offers quiet amid the woods along Apple River. The museum has a range of permanent and traveling exhibits, such as the interactive exhibit known as Little Clint: The Story of a Baby Dinosaur, which follows the journey of a juvenile T. rex from birth to fossilization, excavation, the lab, and finally the museum. Enter through the musky's tail and make your way up to the observation platform in the fish's open jaw. Shops and restaurants in century-old buildings have long attracted visitors to this town of 3,500. You can even reserve a table inside what used to be the bank's vault. Classes include a Wildflower Walk Series, which takes place in May and September and is hosted by Hawthorn Hollows Restoration Ecologist. The Dinosaur Discovery Museum is dedicated to the exploration and explication between modern birds and meat-eating dinosaurs. Get our trip guide to the Indiana Dunes area. Illinois Beach State Park, tucked in the far northeast corner of Illinois has something for everyone. 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. Like the brandy in an Old-Fashioned, these timeless institutions only get better with age. Chocolate Shop. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Attraction Spotlight: Anderson Arts Center. Sing-along Shakespeare? a monthly program for people living with early to mid-stage memory loss and their care partners. Franks Diner is an historic landmark and lunch car diner that has been serving authentic all-American fare for lunch for more than 80 years. around there are lot of mansions. From classic wide-brimmed hats to water-repellent trucker hats, find your ideal style. The closest thing to that in the Midwest is the Door County fish boil, a one-of-a-kind culinary spectacle. The annual fundraiser, Birds and Breakfast, takes place each spring at the peak of the migratory birding season. Maybe that's why quiet types flock here-bird-watchers, hikers and history buffs eager to explore Parke County and its covered bridges. Address: 5754 State Road 23, Spring Green, WI 53588. Fred Scheer's Lumberjack Shows make for another fun, unique family outing in Minocqua. Wisconsin Dells is home to the most indoor and outdoor water parks in the world more than 20 different parks. Inspiration flows on both sides of the Grand River, particularly near downtown. Brooks babbling. Located a short distance from our home, the Illinois Beach Resort is a gem. Yet plenty of visitors delight in the one-of-a-kind roadside spectacle known as The House on the Rock. Biking is one of the top things to do in Door County because there are plenty of opportunities for both road biking and trail biking. Billing itself as the capital of cheese, this shop is a must-see for cheese lovers, featuring dozens of one-of-a-kind artisanal Wisconsin varieties. 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 . The laid . The Buzz Caf is open Monday through Sunday for breakfast, lunch, and early dinner. 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. The Anderson Arts Center also has a gift shop that sells a variety of items, such as handcrafted jewelry, ceramics, furniture, artwork, and more, and hosts the Twilight Jazz Free Outdoor Concert series on the lawn outside the center on select Tuesday evenings from June through August. Rent your own boat and water ski on Elkhart Lake or hit the nearby Kettle Moraine State Park trails. A vintage electric streetcar system connects the towns attractions and entertainment. Located on the Riverfront Museum Park campus, the Discovery Center Museum is one of the top family attractions in Illinois. These escapesincluding Amish Country, Indiana; Galena, Illinois; and Lake Geneva, Wisconsinare within a one- to three-hour drive and offer a variety of activities that will recharge your life. This resort town of 7,600 has draws for summer and winter. Diners rave about the generous portions and highly recommend the German pork schnitzel and spaetzle noodles. It all goes down easily with an old-fashioned drink. 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. The company expects sales of over $60 million in 2018. We needed extra bath towels and received them immediately from the front desk. Credit: Courtesy of Illinois Office of Tourism, Credit: Courtesy of Visit South Bend Mishawaka. Home to the main campus of the University of Wisconsin and its lovable mascot Bucky the Badger, Madison is more than just a cool college town. Things to Do in Kenosha, Wisconsin: R'Noggin Brewing Co. Southport Light Station Museum, Kenosha, Wisconsin, Things to Do in Kenosha, Wisconsin: Tall Ship Red Witch, LLC, Things to Do in Kenosha, Wisconsin: The Buzz Cafe, Things to Do in Kenosha, Wisconsin: Frank's Diner, Cover Photo: Courtesy of reb - Fotolia.com. Architecture buffs will delight in the Frank Lloyd Wright Visitor Center and Taliesin, an 800-acre estate set amidst rolling hills overlooking the Wisconsin River. These romantic getaways near Chicago are less than five hours away and perfect for your next weekend getaway. The term Hot Rod typically refers to any classic American car with an engine modified for speed. The Buzz Caf is a casual, cozy caf on 6th Avenue in Kenosha that serves breakfast, lunch, and house-roasted coffee along with a wide range of artisan craft beer and easy-drinking wines. Our 2nd floor room, with a view of the lake, was spacious and clean. Most recently, the trail was used by the Potawatomi tribe of the Algonquin nation, followed by European settlers to the area. Experience landscape that once rolled across the Midwest like an ocean at this restored prairie. Related: See our getaway guide to Lake Geneva. Credit: Photo Courtesy of Lewis Station Winery. In the same year, the three historic buildings were moved on site. 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. The beds were very comfortable. There is the Lake Superior Lowland "up north," the forested coastal plain along the shore of Lake Superior. Part of the experience is coming early, sitting around the fire and watching the hour-long cooking process, led by a Boil Master who serves as both chef and entertainer. Credit: St. Charles Riverboat Cruises. Look for fossils. Opt for the longer, more expensive options if you want to see the press box, locker rooms and more. The home was donated to Kenosha County in 1977 to become part of the Kemper Center campus. Fish the riverand let the others head to Galena. Although a consignment-based dealer, the vehicles at Gateway Classic Cars of Milwaukee are a draw for visitors who are welcome to tour the showroom floor. The Bird Lovers Series offers several different programs from a Bird Walk, to classes on attracting bluebirds, the Wisconsin state bird. Tags: Travel, Wisconsin Vacations, Midwest Vacations, US Vacations. We found some good places to walk around with our dog, though, and there are several towns near the park that have good restaurants, like The Tropics in Winthrop Harbor. Being a peninsula in the Great Lakes, the area's 11 lighthouses play a big part in Door County's history. Previous guests rave about the manicured gardens and sumptuous breakfasts, and many also appreciate how the owners have preserved the elegance of this 1889 Queen Anne-style house. The brand new facility offers close to 40,000 square feet of showroom space, allowing for between 100-150 classic cars to be displayed on the showroom floor at all times. Known as Brew City and home to the Milwaukee Brewers baseball team, no trip to Milwaukee is complete without tasting its beer heritage. Spend the night in rooms or cabins (and enjoy a hearty meal) at Starved Rock Lodge, built in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps. 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. Keep in mind that the path is not suited for strollers or bikes. This ecosystem exists alongside a larger section of restored prairie, as well as woodlands and a dwarf conifer collection, perennial gardens and a butterfly garden. 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. Address: 7036 Grand Geneva Way, Lake Geneva, WI 53147. If you want to feel like you're actually sleeping in an art museum, book a room at Saint Kate The Arts Hotel, which is located in the heart of downtown. 508 58th St, Kenosha, WI 53140, Phone: 262-657-1017, Quick Weekend Trips: Wedding venues Wisconsin, Wisconsin breweries, New Mexico Hot Springs, Wisconsin waterfalls, Things to Do in Door County, La Crosse, Things to Do in Las Cruces, Things to Do in Roswell, New Mexico Beaches, Attraction Spotlight: Gateway Classic Cars of Milwaukee. 880 Green Bay Rd, Kenosha, WI 53144, Phone: 262-552-8196, Expert opinion: Where should I go this weekend for fun? Bath houses are very old ad a little creepy. This stretch of Lake Michigan coastline offers wide sandy beaches, towering dunes, great birding, easy bike trails and interesting history. Round out the weekend with a stay in one of the area resorts such as the Osthoff. Kerosene is then thrown onto the fire, making for a fiery finish.