The 7 Can't-Miss Towns In Wisconsin
Wisconsin is home to a wealth of architecture, history, and scenic wonders that are landmark features of so many towns and villages in this state. Prepare to be transported to another country without leaving the US in the Swiss town of New Glarus. You can also have your fill of outdoor beauty by the water with a visit to Bayfield and see Wisconsin's crown jewel of architecture in Spring Green's Taliesin, the former home and studio of Frank Lloyd Wright. These are seven can't-miss towns in Wisconsin.
New Glarus
When you drive into New Glarus, you're met with chalet-style architecture and Swiss flags. "America's Little Switzerland" pays homage to the founders, who arrived in 1845 from the Canton of Glarus, hoping to find more land and prosperity than they had left behind. Window boxes with bright flowers and painted murals against stucco and wooden beams complete the feeling of an Alpine village, despite the lack of mountains.
That's not all there is to the town's Swiss pride, though. Chalet Landhaus serves fondue, and the New Glarus Bakery makes authentic Swiss pastries and cookies. Numerous festivals also occur year-round. Silvesterchlausen celebrates the new year with costumed figures to ring in good luck for the months to follow, while Volksfest features yodeling and flag throwing each summer
Stockholm
From Switzerland to Sweden. At the western end of the state on the shores of the Mississippi River, Stockholm was first settled by Swedish immigrants from Varmland in 1854. The village has gone out of its way to keep this history and culture top of mind. It is home to fewer than 100 year-round residents. However, it's full of the vibrant energy of a cultural and creative haven, and is a favorite getaway.
Shops, such as Scandihoo, feature Swedish Dal Horses and other Nordic crafts, and the Stockholm Pie & General Store serves lingonberry lemon pie and open-faced smoked salmon smörgås sandwiches. Time your visit to coincide with festivals throughout the year. You'll also find farm-to-table eateries and a lavender farm, plus river lookouts along the trail at the Maiden Rock Bluff State Natural Area.
Bayfield
Gateway to the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, Bayfield is a standout because of its open views of Lake Superior and many glorious natural features that can be enjoyed in all seasons. It's a favorite weekend spot for residents of both Wisconsin and Minnesota as a getaway to nature. In the summer, boat cruises, kayaking, sailing, and swimming are the stars. In the winter, nearby Mt. Ashwabay is a popular spot for cross-country skiing. In some years, if the temperature is low enough and the ice is stable, the famous ice caves can be viewed along the water's edge below the sandstone cliffs.
The nation's first tribal national park sits just north of town on the Red Cliff reservation. Frog Bay Tribal National Park was established by the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa. At the end of a day of outdoor activity, you can visit the country's first Native American-owned distillery, Copper Crow. There are also galleries and Pow Wows that celebrate Chippewa history and culture.
Fish Creek
Fish Creek is a scenic village facing Green Bay on the Door Peninsula, which juts out into Lake Michigan. This little town is a focal point of the performing arts scene in Door County. The 725-seat Door Community Auditorium hosts large touring acts and the Peninsula Music Festival every August. There are also the Fishstock Music Series concerts that are held inside a preserved 100-year-old barn. Elsewhere in the village, there are further arts activities, including galleries and potters' studios.
Peninsula State Park is right next to Fish Creek. Within its over 3,700 acres, there are all kinds of activities to enjoy: hiking and bike trails, an open-air woodland amphitheater which hosts concerts, Eagle Bluff Lighthouse, and even an entire 18-hole golf course. The park itself sits on top of limestone cliffs overlooking Green Bay.
Elkhart Lake
Elkhart Lake's biggest claim to fame is Road America, often referred to as "America's National Park of Speed." This four-mile, 14-turn track was founded in 1955 and hosts both national and international pro races. Within its 640 acres, there is also camping and year-round events, such as vintage car shows. For a deeper dive, the Throttlestop museum on Victory Lane keeps a rotating collection of roughly 200 historic motorcycles and 75 cars, and 14 markers around the village trace the open-road circuits raced here between 1950 and 1952.
The town itself hugs the shores of a lake of the same name. It's known for its deep blue and very clear water. This is a great place to relax on the beach or right in the water on your rented pontoon boat. Stay in one of the luxurious hotels along the water's edge and dine in excellent eateries, such as Paddock Club.
Spring Green
Spring Green is set within Wisconsin's Driftless Area, so called because it was missed by ancient glacial movement, allowing it to keep its river valleys and rugged bluffs. Taliesin was the home and studio of the world-renowned Frank Lloyd Wright, an architect and Wisconsin native. It's now a UNESCO World Heritage site and is a featured part of the 200-mile Frank Lloyd Wright Trail. This magnificent house can be seen by joining a guided tour of it and its 800-acre estate. Tours run daily May through October, with weekend tours in April and November. Taliesin was also home to Wright's Taliesin Fellowship, a school for architects. Another of his designs, the Hillside Theater, still holds movies and performances.
Spring Green is also where a very different type of architect, Alex Jordan Jr., created The House on the Rock, located just outside of town. The original house is perched on a 60-foot chimney, while the larger House on the Rock attraction features an eccentric assortment of oddities, including an indoor carousel and a sculpture of a 200-foot whale. The American Players Theatre sits just outside Spring Green. It's a 1,075-seat outdoor amphitheater, the second-largest outdoor classical theater in the country.
Princeton
Princeton is a paradise for those seeking treasures in the form of antiques and flea market finds. Dover Street Collected Home has a colorful collection of vintage home décor items. The Princeton Flea Market gathers vendors in City Park every Saturday between mid-April and mid-October. It is billed as Wisconsin's largest weekly outdoor flea market.
The town's architecture is the perfect setting for the antique and vintage vibe. Beautifully preserved 19th-century buildings of soft stone and brick proliferate the downtown area, creating historic charm. Upscale restaurants and wine tasting rooms are where to go once the shopping is done for the day. The Fox River runs right through the middle of town, and in the summer, you can tube or kayak to your heart's content.
The Can't-Miss Side Of Wisconsin
These seven towns highlight Wisconsin's natural beauty and unique charm. Bayfield puts you on Lake Superior at the edge of the Apostle Islands, and Spring Green holds both Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesin and the eccentric rooms of The House on the Rock. Whether you are after Road America's engines in Elkhart Lake or a Saturday morning at the Princeton Flea Market, these Wisconsin towns deserve a visit.
