9 Most Inviting Towns in Wisconsin
Win yourself a trip to Wisconsin, the United States’ greatest producer of dairy products. It was in Badger State that the first ice cream sundae was served, and a satellite known as Sputnik IV from the USSR plummeted in 1962. It is a vibrant state with lush woods and forests in the Door Peninsula and epic islands and islets on Lake Michigan. But most of all, you will find yourself enchanted by the nine most inviting towns in Wisconsin, each promoting and preserving the histories and habitats of the region. So flow down the great Wisconsin River (named from the Algonquin word Meskonsing for “this stream meanders through something red” as a reference to Wisconsin Dell), and let these nine small towns invite you to the milky wonders of Wisconsin.
Sturgeon Bay
Praised as one of the Top 10 Happiest Seaside Towns in the US, Sturgeon Bay has captured the attention and wonder of many a traveler with its pristine location beside Lake Michigan. At Sturgeon Bay, you will be awestruck by the evocative art pieces in the Millers Art Museum and Margaret Lockwood Gallery as well as the masterfully created glassware at the Popelka Trenchard Glass. As one of the finest towns in the Door County and in the Door Peninsula, Sturgeon Bay houses the Door County Maritime Museum which elucidates on the history of both the town and the peninsula. Watch boats travel across the Sturgeon Bay Canal, where a historic lighthouse watches over the entranceway to Lake Michigan. And from May 25 to 26, the Sturgeon Bay Fine Arts Fair will showcase many of the local talents and culture of the area. Only 43 miles from the city of Green Bay, luxuriate yourself in Sturgeon Bay’s finest establishments such as White Birch Inn or The Foxglove Inn.
Elkhart Lake
Approximately 26 miles from the serene waters of Lake Winnebago, Elkhart Lake is a riveting town of bucolic splendors and laidback simplicities. Visitors can go rowing and fishing on the lake which the town is named after. For those in love with the land, La Budde Creek State Wildlife Area and Kettle Moraine State Forest have an abundance of space for camping in the day or night and trekking through quiet woods and creeks.
The Sheboygan Marsh State Wildlife Area, similarly, contains many exciting features for the most adventurous of people to enjoy such as Sheboygan Lake and Sheboygan River. In addition, Henschel's Indian Museum and Hidden Springs Trout Farm educates travelers about the Native American lifestyle in Elkhart Lake. Racecar drivers can be thrilled to explore the Road America racetrack, which continues to host many regional races since its inception in 1955. And anyone worn and weary from all the fun exploration can always recharge for the next day at The Osthoff Resort.
Lake Geneva
Although dissimilar from being the Lake Geneva of Switzerland, the Lake Geneva in Wisconsin is a splendid resort town to wind down and refreshen from city life. Besides the shores of Geneva Lake, travelers can go ziplining and might spot recognizable fauna from Africa roaming the local safaris from above. Nearby, the Big Foot Beach State Park creates an relaxing atmosphere for recreational activities, while the Tristan Crist Magic Theatre conjures many mysteries and marvels for you to admire.
The Black Point Estate and Gardens—the 1888 summer estate of Conrad Seipp, a Chicago beer baron—opens its hallowed and ancient doors from May 1to October 31. Neighboring this fabulous estate is the Baker House, built around the same period and now serving as a venue for local performances. For those eager to see the stars, the Yerkes Observatory—one of the ten best astronomical observatories in the world where many Nobel prize-winning astronomers worked since 1897—has all the gadgets and gizmos you need to contemplate the cosmos. As for opulent lodgings like the Seven Oaks Bed & Breakfast and Lake Geneva Lodge, you will not feel fatigued in the placid Lake Geneva.
Sister Bay
About 44 minutes from Sturgeon Bay, Sister Bay to watch the watery barrier between Michigan and Wisconsin known as Green Bay. This is especially true when you are exploring Peninsula State Park, a 38-acre wide haven which provides perfect and unparalleled views of Green Bay from atop Eagle Tower. Aside from Peninsula State Park, there are dynamic and vibrant destinations for any outdoors person to love. The Three Springs Nature Preserve, for example, is a paradise for the local flora and fauna, while the Mink River Reserve has a number of creeks and marshes leading out into Lake Michigan. As for the Wagon Trail Campground, you can live the life of an old-school camper in those ancient woods. Partake in the annual Goat Parade and Al Johnson's Goat Festival on June, so celebrated due to an incident where a goat was spotted on a random roof. If you require accommodations, look to the Open Hearth Lodge, The Coachlite Inn, or County House Resort for a relaxing rest in the evenings.
Stockholm
Situated on Lake Pepin and the Mississippi River, the town of Stockholm is a wondrously charming town that brings the allure of Sweden to central America. Deriving its name from Stockholm, the capital city of Sweden, the Stockholm Museum elaborates on the mass migration of immigrants from Sweden towards a home away from the original home in the Old World. Thanks to its Swedish influences, Stockholm is a delightfully inviting town that welcomes visitors with pie from the Stockholm Pie Company and beekeeping lessons at the Heritage Woods. For explorers of all kinds, the Maiden Rock Bluff State Natural Area is a magnificent destination for you to roam. As for lodgings like the Rivertown Landing and Art Orchard & Guesthouse, you can feel as jolly and peaceful as the Swedish people.
Hayward
Hayward is a town of undisturbed tranquility, home to numerous bodies of water like lakes Hayward, Round, Grindstone, and Bass. Furthermore, several preserves and parks dominate the area as best exemplified by the Bean Brook State Wildlife Management Area and Kissick Swamp State Wildlife Management Area. Marvel at the antique rods and reels at the Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame, and watch awesome activities and festivities at the Sawyer County Agricultural Fair Association. The Lumberjack World Championship on August is a particularly adrenalin-pumping event in Hayward as it brings many international competitors to see who can live up to the legend of Paul Bunyan. If you do intend to stay longer in Hayward, book a room at the Flat Creek Lodge.
Bayfield
Experience the biblical beauty of the Apostle Islands from Bayfield, a town with convenient access to the Jewels of Lake Superior. There are 22 islands to explore from Bayfield’s ports, with Madeline Island being the largest of the Apostle Islands and containing several preserves and parks like the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. Elsewhere, you can tour the many historic lighthouses that have shepherded many ships to safe harbor in Bayfield, like the Devils Island Lighthouse. At the Copper Crow Distillery, the first Native American owned distillery in the US, you can sample some of the finest beer in the region. Or you go to the Eckels Pottery and Fine Craft Gallery to peruse some of the best pottery in Wisconsin. Prepare to purchase or pluck some exquisite apples during the Bayfield Apple Festival on October 4 - 6. Should you wish to spend your vacation in Bayfield, you can store your belongings safely in the Old Rittenhouse Inn, Lake Superior Lodge, or Pine Cottage.
Port Washington
Want a New England atmosphere in a state not part of New England? Then the Americana town of Port Washington has the fitting ambiance to charm you to stay. Only 27 miles north of Milwaukee, visitors can immerse themselves into the Victorian-era lifestyle of the 1800s at the Judge Eghart House. Stand upon the historic Port Washington Breakwater Light for the ferocious sprays of Lake Michigan. You can even scuba dive down Lake Michigan to see the many shipwrecks and other oddities deep in Lake Michigan. For a deeper appreciation of the bygone times, the Luxembourg American Cultural Center’s Roots and Leaves Museum narrates the history of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, as well as the mass migrations from Luxembourg to America. And for a comfortable and secure sleep in Port Washington, The Harborview provides impeccable services for your daily needs.
New Glarus
Experience a new kind of vacation in the inviting town of New Glarus. It has earned the title “Little Switzerland of America” for the Swiss influence and décor of its architecture, notably seen in the Swiss Historical Village & Musuem. The Wilhelm Tell Festival on September—celebrating one of Europe's best archers in the Middle Ages—and the Swiss Volksfest (Swiss Independence Day) on August 4 are among the many cultural facets honoring the townsfolks’ Swiss connections. At the Edelweiss Chalet Country Club, you can partake in riveting golf courses. At the New Glarus Brewing Company and the Whiskey Run Distillery, you can sample some of the fine wines and whiskeys New Glarus produces. And beyond the town perimeter lies the New Glarus State Park, a paradise for Wisconsin’s wildlife. Only 34 minutes from Madison, do not forget to find accommodations at either the Chalet Landhaus Inn, The Blanc Chalet, or Wolf’s Den.
Conclusion
In the state where Harry Houdini was born, allow the magic of Wisconsin to transport you in a billow of smoke into a new and wondrous experience. Go beyond the geographical treasures of the House on the Rock and the Cave of the Mounds, and tour the most inviting towns in the Badger State. Dive and delve into the past at Port Washington, where the waters of Lake Michigan conceal the skeletons of ancient vessels. Rejuvenate in serene dwellings like Elkhart Lake, or cherish the exquisite Swiss cheeses at New Glarus or Lake Geneva. Go island hopping in Bayfield, and explore the beauty of the Door Peninsula at Sister Bay or Sturgeon Bay. Either way, strengthen your bones with a fine glass of milk from a state renowned for its many dairy products.
