Midwestern adventure: 5 trip ideas in Wisconsin

Smack-dab in the Upper Midwest, bordered by Minnesota, Michigan, Iowa, and Illinois and hugging two Great Lakes (Lake Michigan and Lake Superior), the Dairy State remains true to its name. It’s the producer of acclaimed cheeses, crafted by creameries – some on their fourth or fifth generation – who can trace roots back to Switzerland. It’s also home to the country’s second highest number of organic farms, bolstering its many farm-to-table restaurants.

Beyond its agricultural might, Wisconsin comes loaded with natural wonders, from dune-fringed lake shores and miles of waterways to rolling hills. They’re accessible via the state’s endless hiking routes, including the 1931km Ice Age Trail, one of 11 National Scenic Trails in the US. Then there are the state’s key cities, where history and a diverse food culture is front and centre.

Whether you’re after an urban escape or an outdoor adventure, here are five trip ideas to explore Wisconsin.

Named for America’s most famous architect, the 322km-long Frank Lloyd Wright Trail encompasses nine sites designed by Wright and open for tours. They include his 800-acre homestead (Taliesin in Spring Green, a UNESCO World Heritage Site) and the country’s highest concentration of American System-Built Homes (Burnham Block in Milwaukee). Built for the working class between 1915 and 1916, these small-scale homes were celebrated for their smart storage and ample natural light.

If time is tight, or you can’t make the guided tours, Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center – also designed by Wright – is nearly always open in downtown Madison, and offers stellar views of Lake Monona too.

The bucolic Door Peninsula juts out between Green Bay and Lake Michigan and all five of Door County’s state parks – from the rustic and remote to the most accessible – are fantastic day trips if you don’t want to pitch a tent.

Car-free Rock Island State Park, home to photogenic Pottawatomie Lighthouse and a sandy beach, is only reachable by ferry. Meanwhile, at Whitefish Dunes State Park, wheelchair-friendly trails lead to the remains of eight Indigenous settlements, including those once used by the Potawatomi, a Native American tribe. There’s a beach wheelchair to explore the dunes too.

You can also hike along the Lake Michigan shoreline at Newport State Park, in the peninsula’s northern reaches, or stop for a lake and forest-filled photo at the Old Ski Hill overlook at Potawatomi State Park, farther south. Culture and architecture awaits at Peninsula State Park: tour the 1868 Eagle Bluff Lighthouse or see an outdoor play in the Northern Sky Theater amphitheater.

Snug along Lake Superior, the small city of Bayfield is the gateway to Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. Check into Legendary Waters Resort and Casino, owned and operated by the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa. Sip whiskey and vodka cocktails at Copper Crow Distillery, the country’s first Native American-owned distillery and venture to Madeline Island’s Miijim for dishes crafted by chef-owner Bryce Stevenson (a member of the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa) featuring rabbit and elk accented by foraged ingredients like mushrooms and ramps.

For a lakeshore hike and views of all five Apostle Islands, Frog Bay Tribal National Park is the country’s first tribal-owned national park. A new two-year exhibit Passages: Ojibwe migration to the place where the food grows on the water at the Madeline Island Museum tells the story of the Ojibwe’s arrival.

Wisconsin became a state in 1848 and you can learn its history at the capital city’s many museums. This year the University of Wisconsin-Madison turns 175 years old and continues to host four museums: the Chazen Museum of Art (Wisconsin’s second-largest art collection), plus a zoology, physics and geology museum. Those last three celebrate the state’s notable contributions to science.

Telling the stories of Wisconsin’s military vets, the Wisconsin Veterans Museum is downtown, right across the street from the State Capitol building – this impressive domed structure dates back to 1917 and a free guided tour offers a deep-dive into the building’s architecture.

At Olbrich Botanical Gardens, the Thai Pavilion is a gift from the Thai government to UW-Madison and is the only one of its kind in the continental US.

As Wisconsin’s largest city, Milwaukee is the state’s cultural capital and home to its most ethnically diverse population. This is expressed through the local food scene, whether it’s in fine-dining restaurants or casual spots. Sample award-winning cheese ‘orphans’ (single-serve wedges) at West Allis Cheese & Sausage Shoppe, inside the buzzy Milwaukee Public Market or head to the beloved Wisconsin Cheese Mart. The latter is on the same cobblestoned street as the 122-year-old, fine-dining Mader’s Restaurant, which is a veritable trip to Germany, from where many of Milwaukee’s founding fathers emigrated. Baked pretzels are the size of your head and beers are served in a stein or glass boot.

Dan Jacobs, who catapulted to fame after placing in the top three in the 21st season of Top Chef (Top Chef Wisconsin), has also made a mark on the food culture here: he co-owns Dan Dan (dishing up Asian-fusion dishes in a casual space) and EsterEv (where you’ll find a tasting menu with inventive plating and culinary techniques).

You can also experience a true supper club at Five O’Clock Supper Club, right on down to the relish tray and Brandy Old Fashioned cocktails (Wisconsin’s official cocktail).