This Is The Friendliest Small Town in Wisconsin
Experience the charm of the Midwest in Cedarburg, the friendliest small town in Wisconsin. Boasting a beautifully preserved downtown district with pubs, restaurants, and museums, it is perfect for those who want to appreciate the beauty of the region in a friendly atmosphere on a single trip. From historic inns to an old mill transformed with trendy boutiques, you will feel part of a postcard sent from the past along Washington Avenue.
Not without a few surprises up its sleeve, Cedarburg has a characteristic typical of New England towns. Yet, authentically Wisconsin, the residents tend to be conservative, and many young professionals call Cedarburg home. Easily one of the state's most lovable small towns, see what Cedarburg can do for you. The dynamic feel and an artsy ambiance pull you in, shaping your itinerary along the way and leaving a discernible sense of nostalgia upon departure.
Geography of Cedarburg, Wisconsin
The Badger State encompasses part of the Great Lakes Region. Cedarburg is minutes from the western shore of Lake Michigan. Its German heritage and relaxed vibes—despite being just 20 minutes north of Milwaukee—combine into a great getaway. The little, yet growing town of 12,646 feels lost amid natural wonders, like Lion's Den Gorge Nature Preserve. This 73-acre bluff along Lake Michigan offers dramatic views, with hiking trails, picnic spots, and fishing.
With the creek coursing through the heart and over 200 historic buildings—nearly one for every year since the town was born—the friendliest town is incredibly photogenic. Stop by the popular Gem Shop for a keepsake, right across Bridge Road from the Cedarburg Museum of Art with its own beer garden and a gift shop for memories of this cool place.
Brief History of Cedarburg
Founded in the early 1840s by Irish and German immigrants, Frederick Hilgen and William Schroeder built the grist mill in 1855, a dam, and a water wheel to power it. Selling some 120 barrels of flour each day at their shop, the alluring Cedar Creek proved its potential. Cedarburg Grist Mill is one of the significant buildings today, repurposed into a depot selling Hoffmann’s Original brats, among other house and yard equipment. Built in 1864, the Wittenburg Mill is another site of the town's eight listings on the National Register of Historic Places. Both mills closed by the 1960s, during the post-World War II suburbanization period. The rapidly growing city was caught up in new commercial properties and housing subdivisions.
Wittenburg Mill was transformed into the Cedar Creek Settlement at the heart of the historic district. Repurposed as a hub with shops, artist studios, antique stores, and restaurants, you can shop for handmade pottery, antiques, plus fine art showcases in beautifully preserved mid-19th-century buildings. Stop by the Cedarburg Visitor Center inside the Cedarburg History Museum for an express trip back in time. Browsing its fascinating Roger C. Christensen Collection, you will recognize many of the buildings from historic photographs on the streets today, from over 150 years ago. Adjacent to downtown, the Columbia Road Historic District, also listed, hosts nearly 130 historically important structures.
Downtown Attractions
Cedarburg has downtown vibes, with sidewalk cafes and outdoor seating areas, plus friendly wineries, parks, and excellent golf. Learn about its heritage at the Cedarburg Cultural Center. It offers exhibits, performances, tours, and yoga classes, plus popular jazz and blues programs. This dynamic, welcoming community with a thriving tourist industry boasts one of the "Most Beautiful Main Streets in America" as per Architectural Digest. Just up Washington Ave., Heyden's garden features various plants and trees for a lovely stroll through seasonal decorations and landscape design. The quaint creekside allure is magnified during one of the seasonal festivals and community events.
The Wisconsin Museum of Quilts & Fiber Arts is a cool place to browse, with a permanent quilt collection and lively exhibits on rotation in the cool digs of an 1850s refurbished barn. Right at the heart, Cedar Creek Winery is great on a tour and a round of flights for every taste preference, including excellent sweet wines. Stilt House is a gastropub in a historic building with a large patio. To keep with the theme, dine first at Jail House Restaurant in West Bend, serving steaks and seafood in an 1800s wood building.
Outdoor Recreation
The town and nearby parks are perfect to experience Wisconsin's traditional seasons without leaving the town. Next to the Cultural Center at the heart, Cedar Creek Park is a family-friendly riverfront green with a waterfall for a summer day, with a playground, an outdoor music stage, a trail, and a picnic space. The dog-friendly Pleasant Valley Nature Park offers an awesome boardwalk through the greens, plus a peaceful winter wonderland for snowshoeing. The Covered Bridge County Park is dog-friendly on a walk along the creek with river views and scenic spots for a picnic or photoshoot. The nearby Lime Kiln Park is an open space to roam with your family and pet, with picnic tables and something for everyone, like a playground, history markers for the lime kilns, and the iron trestle bridge.
From soaking up the sunshine to chasing the foliage and hitting the trails after a fresh snowfall, find one of the state's few remaining of the over 40 covered bridges that once dotted the countryside. Measuring 120 feet long and 12 feet wide, it is located just three miles north on the Covered Bridge Road. Built in 1876 of a certain type of pine found near Baraboo, Cedarburg Bridge is a real relic, known then as the "Red Bridge." After 85 years in service, a modern span was built beside it near the junction for traffic, while the old bridge is now pedestrian only. In addition, the 30-mile paved Interurban Trail just off Washington Avenue stretches for walkers and cyclists past meadows and pastures. You can take the Belgium Loop to Harrington Beach State Park.
The Arts
Arts put Cedarburg on the map. The original Rivoli Theater replaced the former Cedarburg General Store in a brick building in the late 1880s, built by area businessman Friedrich Boerner. Upon complete restoration of its facade, which is stunning, the modern 1936 Art Deco building is a historic single-screen theater showing family-friendly, second-run features.
Just a few blocks away, the Performing Arts Center is a newer addition, yet already one of the county's two premier venues. This 580-seat theater presents huge acts, including past performances like "Winter Solstice" by Windham Hill recording artists and the Glenn Miller Orchestra. Cedarburg is rightfully the cultural mecca of Ozaukee County for art, jazz lovers, and theater aficionados.
Festivals
Four free festivals are organized by Festivals of Cedarburg, including the Winter Festival in February, the Strawberry Festival in June, Wine & Harvest in September, and Oktoberfest, which attracts over 100,000 over two days. Cedarburg swells during its popular annual festivals, particularly through the whole series in between Thanksgiving and Christmas.
As one of the most exciting small-town Christmas destinations, thousands of twinkling lights throughout the historic district starting in November envelop you in a magical atmosphere. Enjoy holiday shopping and join in the merriment next year during the Christmas tree lighting and Santa’s Workshop, when hundreds of families meet Santa Claus for free.
Where to Stay in Cedarburg
Washington House Inn is rightfully Cedarburg's most iconic lodging at the heart of this picturesque town. Built in 1886, the historic hotel offers modern amenities for an overnight in history, where you will even want to stay during the day. It is perfect for a romantic weekend getaway, boasting whirlpool baths and a complimentary wine-and-cheese social hour.
You can relax at other charming bed-and-breakfast inns, like Lily Pad or the Stagecoach Inn Bed and Breakfast. Built in 1853, this B&B has homey vibes to soak up history, even if not staying at the on-site pub for a friend's night. With a variety of attractions at the doorstep, don't miss the nearby 1849 Kuhefuss House, Ruddy's General Store Museum, and take your kids to Amy's Candy Kitchen.
The Friendliest Small Town in Wisconsin
The town of Cedar Creek continues to thrive after 180 years of the German and Irish settlement. The suburb of Milwaukee is one of the best places to live in Wisconsin. Experience it all on your next getaway in the Badger State. You can shop and relax at charming bed-and-breakfast inns, with all-season attractions, festivals, and lakeside beauty at the doorstep.
Strolling along the old cream brick and limestone buildings, the town paints its story with a nostalgic brush of those who built it and maintain it as a tourist hub. Plan for the upcoming Fourth of July Hometown Celebration, throw a costume in your trunk when you come for the festive Pumpkin Walk on Halloween, or if you are just traveling through Wisconsin, drop by and say hello.
