Wisconsin, which is bordered by Lakes Michigan and Superior, has a variety of landscapes and attractions that are fun to explore. Large tracts of hills to the north and west are ideal for hiking and mountain biking, whereas lowland regions to the south and east have proven to be excellent for dairy production. The beaches are among the most visited locations in the summer.
Although Madison and Milwaukee, Wisconsin’s two major cities, are home to many of the state’s top attractions, smaller towns like Spring Green, where the renowned Taliesin home of architect Frank Lloyd Wright is located, are also worthwhile visiting. The state also provides a wide range of great cultural activities and events, from Milwaukee’s celebrated Summerfest to the enormous Oshkosh Airshow.
10 Best Tourist Attractions in Wisconsin
Outdoor enthusiasts have a variety of options, including some of the top hiking and biking trails in the nation, fantastic fishing lakes, and lakes for boating and leisure activities.
With our list of the best Wisconsin attractions, you can learn more about these and other intriguing places to visit.
1. Copper Falls State Park
The Badger State is well-known for many things, including cheese and dairy products, but it’s also home to a number of breathtaking natural sights. Due to the abundance of beautiful waterfalls there, it is particularly well-liked by hikers and outdoor enthusiasts. While many are easily accessible to significant urban centres, some of the most beautiful are situated in rather rural areas.
Copper Falls State Park is one of the most well-liked waterfall sites in Wisconsin. In fact, there are three waterfalls in this lovely park, which is only a short drive north of the tiny town of Mellen. The Waterfall Trail, a short hike that’s accessible from the park’s north end, leads to two of the most popular, Copper Falls and Brownstone Falls, respectively.
2. Exploring the Land O’ Lakes
In the northern portion of Wisconsin, between Boulder Junction, Eagle River, and Rhinelander, sits the magnificent Land o’ Lakes region. With almost 200 pristine lakes of all sizes, it is incredibly well-liked by fans of water sports.
The area, which is fantastic to explore by canoe or kayak, is especially beloved by campers and backpackers. Highlights include its diverse flora and fauna, excellent fishing, and opportunities for bird watching, including the chance to see some of the area’s last few white-tailed eagles.
3. The Green Bay Packers: Lambeau Field and the Walk of Legends
The Green Bay Packers’ journey is an amazing example of how a small town can support a major league professional sports team. Consider the team’s arena. The longest continually occupied stadium in the NFL, Lambeau Field opened in 1957 and is almost big enough to hold the whole 72,000-person city.
The third-oldest NFL franchise was founded in 1919, and because the city of Green Bay owns it, it is also the only non-profit team in the league. You will appreciate a tour of the stadium with its behind-the-scenes insight at how a big league team functions whether you are a sports enthusiast or not.
The Walk of Legends, a walkway of 24 statues commemorating the history of football in Green Bay from 1895 to the present (fun to explore at night), and the Packers Heritage Trail, a walking tour of city landmarks connected with the team, are two outstanding self-guided sightseeing tours of Packers-related landmarks that are also well worth checking out.
4. The Great Outdoors: Door County
Door County is located in one of Wisconsin’s most picturesque regions. This region of exceptional natural beauty, which is about 46 miles northeast of Green Bay and is situated on a peninsula with a view of Lake Michigan, has become a well-liked tourist destination because of its plethora of attractive hotels and campsites.
Each year, a large number of tourists come to this lovely rural area to participate in the many outdoor activities. These activities include enjoyable pastimes like trout fishing, sailing, diving, and swimming, in addition to hiking and biking. Kayaking is an excellent activity here as well.
Door County is home to some of Wisconsin’s prettiest small communities, including charming Sturgeon Bay with its gorgeous old lighthouse (one of many similar structures scattered around the state) and Ephraim with its old harbour and historic structures. The oldest Icelandic colony in the nation is on Washington Island, which is also worthwhile for travel.
5. The Dells of the Wisconsin River
The Dells of the Wisconsin River are a stunning five-mile gorge on the state’s main river. They are occasionally referred to as the Wisconsin Dells, however this is frequently confused with the tourist town of the same name. This region of exceptional natural beauty, part of which is contained inside the same-named state park, is home to numerous distinctive sandstone rock formations, canyons, and cliffs, some of which reach heights of up to 100 feet.
The Dells region is also home to a wide variety of unusual plants and animals, such the six different kinds of dragonflies and the cliff cudweed, which is only found in one other place on earth. It’s not the easiest spot to get to because of its delicate ecological situation, and those who want to experience its splendour must do so by boat.
6. Circus World Museum
The Circus World Museum, which is in the little town of Baraboo, is a great place for children of all ages to go to learn about what a professional circus does on a daily basis. The museum offers many intriguing displays and exhibits with a focus on the nation’s rich circus history, which was formerly one of the top entertainment enterprises in the country.
The museum reportedly houses the greatest collection of circus-related memorabilia in the entire world, including posters and parade waggons. There is a Big Top in the summer that hosts regular events, including classic circus acts (check their website for scheduled performances). Given that it once served as the home of the enormous Ringling Brothers Circus, Baraboo is perfectly suited to house this museum.
7. The Harley-Davidson Museum, Milwaukee
A Harley-Davidson motorcycle is the epitome of “freedom,” and tourists visiting Milwaukee, the birthplace of the fabled “Hog,” are well aware of this. The city’s Harley-Davidson Museum, which is home to more than 450 vintage motorcycles, is the perfect spot to learn more about this legendary vehicle.
Excellent displays of the company’s well-known teardrop tanks may be found here, along with exhibits that describe the individuals and settings that gave rise to the equipment. A fun restaurant with a Harley motif is also present. If at all possible, plan your trip to coincide with one of the popular “bike nights” at the museum, when admirers and owners descend in droves to display and admire these vintage vehicles.
You can take one of the several self-guided tours offered at the museum to learn more about and get a behind-the-scenes peek at this venerable American business. By downloading a map, you may explore the entire 20-acre Harley Davidson complex and visit structures like the original shed where the company was founded in 1903 and the H-D archives, which contain records, apparel, and other items.
8. Wisconsin State Capitol, Madison
With many of its key attractions located in the city centre, Madison offers many compelling reasons to visit. The Wisconsin State Capitol is among the most beautiful. It was finished in 1917 and has a 284-foot-tall dome on top that is only three feet shorter than the Capitol building in Washington, D.C.
The building’s best interior elements, including as its enormous murals, superb marble work, and elegant rotunda with its states and monuments, are all included in daily, free tours that last an hour.
On the sixth floor, there is a fascinating museum on the history of the structure that is well worth seeing. The Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center, which Frank Lloyd Wright designed, offers one of the greatest views of the capitol.
9. Taliesin: Frank Lloyd Wright’s Perfect Country Home
Frank Lloyd Wright was among the most significant personalities to have been born and raised in Wisconsin. The state where the renowned architect was born and spent a large portion of his life is still home to many examples of his creations.
But the majority of visitors go to Taliesin East in Spring Green, sometimes known as “Taliesen.” This magnificent residence, which is situated among 600 acres of picturesque rolling farmland, was began in 1911, and construction continued there until Wright’s passing in 1959.
Wright spent his summers here before packing up and moving to Taliesin West, one of Scottsdale, Arizona, in the winter, one of the city’s most popular tourist destinations. This is still done annually by students of Taliesin’s School of Architecture. There are guided tours that visit the house, theatre, studio, gallery, and school. An educational visitor centre with a restaurant is another feature.
10. Oshkosh
In addition to its role on the international airshow circuit, the small town of Oshkosh on Lake Winnebago, northwest of Milwaukee, is well-known for its popular line of children’s clothes. Since 1970, this location has hosted EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, the greatest gathering of aviators in the world.
Up to 15,000 aircraft of all sizes and shapes land at the airport throughout the course of the week-long event, making the Oshkosh control tower the busiest on the planet. They are joined by an estimated 500,000 spectators who have gathered to watch exhilarating aerobatic performances and military aircraft flybys from the past and the present.
Nighttime flying displays, theatre productions, movie screenings, and educational workshops are all enjoyable experiences. A wide range of aircraft rides, including ones on the enormous B-17 bomber, are offered for those with the means. The outstanding EAA AirVenture Museum, which houses a collection of almost 200 aircraft, deserves special mention.
