Things to do in  Wisconsin

Right on the shores of Lake Michigan, the Milwaukee Art Museum is one of the largest art museums in the nation—with perhaps the most striking architecture of them all. Though the museum’s 25,000 works have plenty of appeal, you’ll also want plenty of time to explore the grounds, imagining the museum’s shiplike structure setting out to sea.

When a brewery hosts one of America’s top-rated brew tours, you know you’re in for an experience. But don’t let the jokes and eccentrics fool you: Lakefront is serious about brewing. Sit down in their massive German-style beer hall (perhaps with a pint and a soft pretzel), and you’ll see what all the Milwaukee fuss is about.

As you’re strolling the Milwaukee Riverwalk, you’ll likely spot a statue with a leather jacket and two thumbs up. “Aayyyy!” That’s Arthur Fonzarelli, aka “The Fonz,” from the 1970s TV show Happy Days. Set in Milwaukee, The Fonz is still the city’s coolest character—even his statue is genuinely beloved, as showcased by the passersby waiting for their “Bronze Fonz” selfie.

Right on the shores of Lake Michigan, Milwaukee’s Historic Third Ward is where many visits start—and end. A former warehouse district, this trendy ‘hood is now home to scores of restaurants, bars and cafes, indie boutiques, the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design, the Broadway Theatre Center, and the famous Milwaukee Public Market. For your trip to Brew City, start here.

The fourth-oldest continually operating theatre in the country, tickets aren’t required to appreciate Milwaukee’s Pabst Theater. A national historic landmark and the largest theater in Milwaukee’s Theatre District, this 1895 spot is Gilded Age opulence inside and out. Commissioned by beer magnate Frederick Pabst as a German-style opera house, this venue still brings in household names worthy of its stage.

Perhaps the most lauded attraction within Milwaukee’s historic Lake Park, the North Point Lighthouse reminds of Lake Michigan’s nautical past and present. First lit in 1888, this spot remained operational—guiding ships toward the Milwaukee River—until 1994. Today, visitors can tour the museum, climb to the top, and take in a beloved piece of Milwaukee history.

The Hearthstone Historic House Museum is best known as the first home in the United States to be lit by a hydroelectric station based on Thomas Edison's plans. Visit the house to learn about area history, marvel at the 1882 mansion's opulent interiors, and take a guided tour to see the original electroliers, light switches, and wiring.

You can find one of the largest Luxembourgish communities outside of Europe between Milwaukee and Sheboygan. It’s in, oddly enough, a town called Belgium, Wisconsin. The Luxembourg American Cultural Society and Center (LACS) caters to this community, preserving the fabric uniting this tiny town with this tiny country and showcasing to visitors the Luxembourg–Wisconsin connection.

Milwaukee’s City Hall is one of the most beautiful in the US: Thanks to the city’s German heritage, it was designed in Flemish Renaissance Revival style—the same as the Hamburg Rathaus. With a massive bell tower that could pass for Big Ben, this grand beauty was once one of the tallest buildings in the world—if you count the flagpole.

Milwaukee’s American Family Field (formerly Miller Park) throws it back to baseball’s heyday after World War I, with giant arched windows, a red-brick facade, and a clock tower. (This is Wisconsin, though, so rest assured the retractable roof will keep you safe from any inclement weather.) Here, some 40,000 fans cheer on the Brewers, sing “Roll Out the Barrel” during the seventh-inning stretch, and pour out the Miller Lite.

Connecting the Wisconsin Capitol to the University of Wisconsin–Madison, State Street is the beating heart of downtown Madison. The neighborhood is one of the Midwest’s best—it sits on an isthmus between two lakes, offering fabulous water views, and countless shops, restaurants, coffee shops, and bookstores.

One of the jewels in Wisconsin’s state park system, visitors to Whitefish Dunes State Park in Door County are spoiled for views. With tall sand dunes, indigenous villages, dense forests, and sandy beaches, every corner here is worth a wander. Just an hour north of Green Bay, this natural spot is full of easy-access wonder.

One part mansion, one part brewery, equal parts circus and splendor—the AL. Ringling Mansion in Baraboo, Wisconsin, offers a portal to a world devoted to delights. Tours welcome visitors into the stately, Victorian-era rooms, and guides (usually the owners) bring the Ringling Brothers to life with facts and stories. And yes, if you want to take a haunted tour, that’s an option, too.

Kids will be in their element at Discovery World, Milwaukee, where they can do everything from piloting a flight simulator to creating their own thunderstorms. Right on the shores of Lake Michigan, this museum is a cool spot for adults, too—who doesn’t want to create their own music?—but it’s really built for younger visitors to wander, explore, and discover.

Milwaukee’s Lakefront Trail loops through Veterans Park up to McKinley Park and McKinley Beach, and runs for 3 miles (4.8 kilometers) along the shores of Lake Michigan. You’ll catch locals running, biking, and walking their dogs—it’s a popular spot for good reason. When you’re here, you’re sandwiched between the city’s impressive skyline and the lake horizon, walking between worlds.