Explore every nook and cranny of the great state of Wisconsin and you’ll be delighted by what you discover. From unique restaurants to beautiful views and everywhere in between, the Dairy State has so much to offer and so much to see, do eat, experience, and learn from. By no means an exhaustive list, here are some of the downright best day trips in Wisconsin:

  1. Discover charm, history, and the great outdoors in Chippewa Falls.

Facebook/Chippewa Falls Main Street There’s so much to do in this small town in Wisconsin on the Chippewa River. Spend the day relaxing on an inner tube, check out the nearly 40 nearby lakes or stroll the quaint downtown - the perfect getaway. Chippewa Falls, WI 54729, USA

  1. Roll a strike at the country’s oldest sanctioned bowling alley.

Wikimedia/Dori Call ahead to The Holler House in Milwaukee so they can have an actual pin boy there to reset your lanes and then experience a unique and amazing part of Americana and history. Holler House, 2042 W Lincoln Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53215, USA

  1. Spend the day in beautiful surroundings at Vino in the Valley.

Facebook/Vino in the Valley Located in Maiden Rock, Vino in the Valley offers amazing Italian dining, unparalleled views and, of course, wine. Vino in the Valley, W3826 450th Ave, Maiden Rock, WI 54750, USA

  1. Experience fresh bakery straight from the farm in Blue Mounds.

Facebook/Cress Spring Bakery Cress Springs Bakery is tucked away on a farm and uses the bounty around them to make delicious baked goods. They source from their neighbors and mill right on site. You’ve never had a better loaf of bread. 4035 Ryan Rd, Blue Mounds, WI 53517, USA

  1. Eat your way through the Wisconsin Cheese Trail.

Facebook/Montchevre What is the Wisconsin Cheese Trail, you ask? In less than 200 miles in a loop from Madison, hungry cheese-lovers can visit, at minimum, 14 different locations to sample, purchase and learn about cheese right here in the dairy state. Cheese Country Trail, South Wayne, WI, USA

  1. Stroll the country’s largest producer-only farmer’s market in Madison.

Facebook/Dane County Farmers’ Market Covering all four sides of the Capitol Square, this farmer’s market in Madison has more than 300 vendors and is the place to be on Saturday mornings. Capitol Court, Capitol Ct, Madison, WI 53715, USA

  1. Get transported to Switzerland in New Glarus.

New Glarus Village With just more than 2,100 residents, New Glarus has all the appeal of a small town getaway but pairs it with amazing food, history and charm. Swiss immigrants put this place on the map and the city loves to celebrate that heritage. New Glarus, WI 53574, USA

  1. Sample Elegant Farmer’s world-famous apple pie in a bag.

Yelp/Gail M. For more than 70 years, Elegant Farmer has been making people happy with what many say is the best apple pie in America. The farm has so much to do and see. It’s a perfect day trip. Elegant Farmer, 1545 Main St, Mukwonago, WI 53149, USA

  1. Check out this unique slot canyon near the Wisconsin Dells.

TripAdvisor/Andrew H Witch’s Gulch is narrow and tight, but provides an amazing up-close view of the sandstone formations. Witches Gulch, Dell Prairie, WI 53965, USA

  1. You’ll never run out of things to do in Spring Green.

Flickr/John Mayers Taliesin, House on the Rock, an artist’s town, the nearby river - there’s more to see and do here than you could fit into a single day or weekend in beautiful Spring Green. Spring Green, WI 53588, USA

  1. Take the day trip of a lifetime through Racine and Kenosha.

Flickr/James Jordan With gorgeous stretches of beach, lighthouses, history and amazing food, this trip through two iconic small towns in Wisconsin along the Lake Michigan shore south of Milwaukee is one you can’t miss. Racine, WI, USAKenosha, WI, USA

  1. Experience the magic of Mineral Point.

Flickr/Jimmy Emerson, DVM This small town outside of Madison known as Mineral Point is full of charm and whimsy. Sample a pasty, wander the caves and learn all about the cool history here. Mineral Point, WI 53565, USA

  1. Sip your cares away along the Great River Road Wine Trail.

Yelp/Jennifer G. The Great River Road stretches along both sides of the Mississippi in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Iowa. Over a stretch of just more than 200 miles there are 11 different vineyards making 100 different wines. The Wisconsin portion of the trail is just 68 miles in length and will take you to five different vineyards. Great River Road, Great River Rd, Trempealeau, WI, USA

  1. Practice your spells at the Jefferson Harry Potter Festival.

Flickr/Jefferson Harry Potter Festival You may not expect to find a gigantic Harry Potter festival in Wisconsin, but this one got so big it outgrew it’s original host city! Jefferson, WI 53549, USA

  1. Shop in one of the oldest stores in the state in Cornucopia.

Facebook/Ehlers General Store At more than a century old, Ehler’s General Store has plenty of history to match it’s ideal location on the shores of Lake Superior. Ehlers General Store, 88545 Superior St, Cornucopia, WI 54827, USA

  1. Watch the planes take off and land at the EAA Fly-in.

Author’s photo We were once a skeptic about the EAA Fly-in, thinking it wasn’t for us. But there’s so much to see and do here and the air show alone is worth the price of admission. Wittman Regional Airport, 525 W 20th Ave, Oshkosh, WI 54902, USA

  1. Discover all that’s cool about small town Princeton.

Flickr/John Iwanski Most well-known for their swap meet, there’s more than meets the eye in this charming small town in Wisconsin known as Princeton. Princeton, WI 54968, USA

  1. Learn all about nature at the Beaver Creek Nature Reserve.

Facebook/Beaver Creek Reserve With 400 acres, a discovery center, a butterfly house and more, you’ll never run out of things to do and see and learn here at the Beaver Creek Nature Reserve. Beaver Creek Reserve - Wise Nature Center, S1 County Hwy K, Fall Creek, WI 54742, USA

Looking for more things to see and do in Wisconsin? Check out our ultimate bucket list for Wisconsinites who are obsessed with nature.

Facebook/Chippewa Falls Main Street

There’s so much to do in this small town in Wisconsin on the Chippewa River. Spend the day relaxing on an inner tube, check out the nearly 40 nearby lakes or stroll the quaint downtown - the perfect getaway.

Chippewa Falls, WI 54729, USA

Wikimedia/Dori

Call ahead to The Holler House in Milwaukee so they can have an actual pin boy there to reset your lanes and then experience a unique and amazing part of Americana and history.

Holler House, 2042 W Lincoln Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53215, USA

Facebook/Vino in the Valley

Located in Maiden Rock, Vino in the Valley offers amazing Italian dining, unparalleled views and, of course, wine.

Vino in the Valley, W3826 450th Ave, Maiden Rock, WI 54750, USA

Facebook/Cress Spring Bakery

Cress Springs Bakery is tucked away on a farm and uses the bounty around them to make delicious baked goods. They source from their neighbors and mill right on site. You’ve never had a better loaf of bread.

4035 Ryan Rd, Blue Mounds, WI 53517, USA

Facebook/Montchevre

What is the Wisconsin Cheese Trail, you ask? In less than 200 miles in a loop from Madison, hungry cheese-lovers can visit, at minimum, 14 different locations to sample, purchase and learn about cheese right here in the dairy state.

Cheese Country Trail, South Wayne, WI, USA

Facebook/Dane County Farmers’ Market

Covering all four sides of the Capitol Square, this farmer’s market in Madison has more than 300 vendors and is the place to be on Saturday mornings.

Capitol Court, Capitol Ct, Madison, WI 53715, USA

New Glarus Village

With just more than 2,100 residents, New Glarus has all the appeal of a small town getaway but pairs it with amazing food, history and charm. Swiss immigrants put this place on the map and the city loves to celebrate that heritage.

New Glarus, WI 53574, USA

Yelp/Gail M.

For more than 70 years, Elegant Farmer has been making people happy with what many say is the best apple pie in America. The farm has so much to do and see. It’s a perfect day trip.

Elegant Farmer, 1545 Main St, Mukwonago, WI 53149, USA

TripAdvisor/Andrew H

Witch’s Gulch is narrow and tight, but provides an amazing up-close view of the sandstone formations.

Witches Gulch, Dell Prairie, WI 53965, USA

Flickr/John Mayers

Taliesin, House on the Rock, an artist’s town, the nearby river - there’s more to see and do here than you could fit into a single day or weekend in beautiful Spring Green.

Spring Green, WI 53588, USA

Flickr/James Jordan

With gorgeous stretches of beach, lighthouses, history and amazing food, this trip through two iconic small towns in Wisconsin along the Lake Michigan shore south of Milwaukee is one you can’t miss.

Racine, WI, USAKenosha, WI, USA

Flickr/Jimmy Emerson, DVM

This small town outside of Madison known as Mineral Point is full of charm and whimsy. Sample a pasty, wander the caves and learn all about the cool history here.

Mineral Point, WI 53565, USA

Yelp/Jennifer G.

The Great River Road stretches along both sides of the Mississippi in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Iowa. Over a stretch of just more than 200 miles there are 11 different vineyards making 100 different wines. The Wisconsin portion of the trail is just 68 miles in length and will take you to five different vineyards.

Great River Road, Great River Rd, Trempealeau, WI, USA

Flickr/Jefferson Harry Potter Festival

You may not expect to find a gigantic Harry Potter festival in Wisconsin, but this one got so big it outgrew it’s original host city!

Jefferson, WI 53549, USA

Facebook/Ehlers General Store

At more than a century old, Ehler’s General Store has plenty of history to match it’s ideal location on the shores of Lake Superior.

Ehlers General Store, 88545 Superior St, Cornucopia, WI 54827, USA

Author’s photo

We were once a skeptic about the EAA Fly-in, thinking it wasn’t for us. But there’s so much to see and do here and the air show alone is worth the price of admission.

Wittman Regional Airport, 525 W 20th Ave, Oshkosh, WI 54902, USA

Flickr/John Iwanski

Most well-known for their swap meet, there’s more than meets the eye in this charming small town in Wisconsin known as Princeton.

Princeton, WI 54968, USA

Facebook/Beaver Creek Reserve

With 400 acres, a discovery center, a butterfly house and more, you’ll never run out of things to do and see and learn here at the Beaver Creek Nature Reserve.

Beaver Creek Reserve - Wise Nature Center, S1 County Hwy K, Fall Creek, WI 54742, USA

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The OIYS Visitor Center

Best Day Trips in Wisconsin July 27, 2022 Tori Jane What are some wonderfully unique things to do around Wisconsin?   Wisconsin gets a boring reputation as a “flyover” state, but anyone who says it’s boring has simply never been here – or, they’ve lived here forever and never managed to explore. As it turns out, there are all kinds of wonderfully unique things to do around Wisconsin that you’ll never be able to do anywhere else, like its wonderful state parks. The state parks in Wisconsin are plentiful and beautiful, showing the best sides of our little state no matter which one you visit (we recommend all of them). Start with Devil’s Lake State Park in all its majestic wonder, and then go from there. You can’t go wrong, and there are 65 more state park units in Wisconsin to explore.   Where are the best getaway spots near me?   Wisconsin is a beautiful state with plenty of wonderful ideas for your next getaway. It’s a perfect place for those who enjoy peace and quiet, and it goes without saying that you can find perfect escapes for a solo adventure or a romantic getaway. Some of the best getaway spots in Wisconsin include places like Door County, which is known for being one of the most beautiful places in Wisconsin. Camp, fish, or shop – it’s all a delight. Another excellent place for getting away in Wisconsin is the Ishnala Supper Club, an elite dinner spot where no reservations are available, so you’ll either want to arrive early or expect to wait a bit (but it’s worth it, seriously). Other ideas include the best hotels in Wisconsin, the most beautiful natural wonders in Wisconsin, and more.   What kind of day trips near me can I go on in Wisconsin?   With as many state parks as there are in Wisconsin (66, remember?), you’ll never run out of day trip options. Some of the best day trips in Wisconsin are had at our parks; some of the best ones for killing a whole day include the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, which is actually a National park and is known for being outrageously beautiful. With 21 islands to explore, you might just end up taking longer than a day! You can also spend a whole day on the Lower Wisconsin River, paddling, kayaking, and more. There’s so much more to do in Wisconsin than even most locals know – get out and explore ASAP!  

The OIYS Visitor Center

Best Day Trips in Wisconsin

July 27, 2022

Tori Jane

What are some wonderfully unique things to do around Wisconsin?   Wisconsin gets a boring reputation as a “flyover” state, but anyone who says it’s boring has simply never been here – or, they’ve lived here forever and never managed to explore. As it turns out, there are all kinds of wonderfully unique things to do around Wisconsin that you’ll never be able to do anywhere else, like its wonderful state parks. The state parks in Wisconsin are plentiful and beautiful, showing the best sides of our little state no matter which one you visit (we recommend all of them). Start with Devil’s Lake State Park in all its majestic wonder, and then go from there. You can’t go wrong, and there are 65 more state park units in Wisconsin to explore.   Where are the best getaway spots near me?   Wisconsin is a beautiful state with plenty of wonderful ideas for your next getaway. It’s a perfect place for those who enjoy peace and quiet, and it goes without saying that you can find perfect escapes for a solo adventure or a romantic getaway. Some of the best getaway spots in Wisconsin include places like Door County, which is known for being one of the most beautiful places in Wisconsin. Camp, fish, or shop – it’s all a delight. Another excellent place for getting away in Wisconsin is the Ishnala Supper Club, an elite dinner spot where no reservations are available, so you’ll either want to arrive early or expect to wait a bit (but it’s worth it, seriously). Other ideas include the best hotels in Wisconsin, the most beautiful natural wonders in Wisconsin, and more.   What kind of day trips near me can I go on in Wisconsin?   With as many state parks as there are in Wisconsin (66, remember?), you’ll never run out of day trip options. Some of the best day trips in Wisconsin are had at our parks; some of the best ones for killing a whole day include the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, which is actually a National park and is known for being outrageously beautiful. With 21 islands to explore, you might just end up taking longer than a day! You can also spend a whole day on the Lower Wisconsin River, paddling, kayaking, and more. There’s so much more to do in Wisconsin than even most locals know – get out and explore ASAP!  

The OIYS Visitor Center

The OIYS Visitor Center

Wisconsin gets a boring reputation as a “flyover” state, but anyone who says it’s boring has simply never been here – or, they’ve lived here forever and never managed to explore. As it turns out, there are all kinds of wonderfully unique things to do around Wisconsin that you’ll never be able to do anywhere else, like its wonderful state parks. The state parks in Wisconsin are plentiful and beautiful, showing the best sides of our little state no matter which one you visit (we recommend all of them). Start with Devil’s Lake State Park in all its majestic wonder, and then go from there. You can’t go wrong, and there are 65 more state park units in Wisconsin to explore.  

Where are the best getaway spots near me?  

Wisconsin is a beautiful state with plenty of wonderful ideas for your next getaway. It’s a perfect place for those who enjoy peace and quiet, and it goes without saying that you can find perfect escapes for a solo adventure or a romantic getaway. Some of the best getaway spots in Wisconsin include places like Door County, which is known for being one of the most beautiful places in Wisconsin. Camp, fish, or shop – it’s all a delight. Another excellent place for getting away in Wisconsin is the Ishnala Supper Club, an elite dinner spot where no reservations are available, so you’ll either want to arrive early or expect to wait a bit (but it’s worth it, seriously). Other ideas include the best hotels in Wisconsin, the most beautiful natural wonders in Wisconsin, and more.  

What kind of day trips near me can I go on in Wisconsin?  

With as many state parks as there are in Wisconsin (66, remember?), you’ll never run out of day trip options. Some of the best day trips in Wisconsin are had at our parks; some of the best ones for killing a whole day include the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, which is actually a National park and is known for being outrageously beautiful. With 21 islands to explore, you might just end up taking longer than a day! You can also spend a whole day on the Lower Wisconsin River, paddling, kayaking, and more. There’s so much more to do in Wisconsin than even most locals know – get out and explore ASAP!