9 Overlooked Towns In Wisconsin Worth Visiting
The towns and villages of the Great Lake States can enchant and inspire with their beauty, just as they can give a planner a run for their money to see everything that can be seen! None more than the state of Wisconsin can make such a scenario more real.
From the stunning coastlines and beautiful views to visiting art galleries in Door County, it can be quite challenging to track down each shop and gallery that this Midwestern experience has to offer. And besides downtown trips, there are also plenty of natural adventures to sort out for oneself when planning a trip to this state. So take heed of some examples of towns worth seeing and the many activities that can be checked off once entering their borders. Once you've seen one of them, you'll only be more prepared and eager to visit the next.
Bayfield
The small town of Bayfield, Wisconsin, sits right on Lake Superior. With a population just above 590, it’s a place where travelers can take in all the history and fun that the town has to offer without a lot of congestion. As for the history, visitors can take a leisurely walk along the Iron Bridge Historic Nature Trail, where a restored iron bridge awaits, and view interpretive signs on Bayfield’s frontier days.
If, instead, the water calls interested travelers, Bayfield boasts boating, sailing, kayaking, and a trip on the ferry to Madeline Island. The ferry runs as soon as the ice breaks, but in the winter, travelers use the Ice Road to visit the island, driving their cars over the frozen Lake Superior. Summer folks can also look forward to harvesting strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, and more at local farms. In the fall, they might join the crowds at an arts fair such as the Annual Festival of the Arts in September, one of the longest-running in the whole state.
Sturgeon Bay
Located on the Door Peninsula, Sturgeon Bay is home to 9,702 residents and was once a shipbuilding and maritime traffic city, linking itself to Lake Michigan via a canal. Visitors might want to go to the Door County Maritime Museum, where one can look at artifacts of shipwrecks, and take tours of the restored tugboat, John Purves.
Visitors can also visit the Potawatomi State Park for outdoor activities, such as camping and picnicking in the 1,200 acres of upland terrain. It was named after the native tribe, Bo-De-Wad-Me or “keeper of the fire.” More nature awaits at Crossroads at Big Creek, a 200-acre nature preserve, where visitors can hike, ski, and bird. Events include “Environmental Exploration” and “Wild Ones Presentation” as well as naturalist-led hikes almost every week.
Fish Creek
Like many shoreline towns, Fish Creek has all the feel of a fishing village. However, this Door County town is also known to have a thriving shopping scene on its streets where souvenirs, clothing, jewelry, Irish imports, artwork, bath products, beach stuff, and homemade candy are all available for sale. In the summer, enjoy a walk to Fish Creek Public Beach, a mixture of sandy and grassy spots for relaxation and swimming.
Peninsula State Park is also nearby, where nature lovers can explore the 3,700 acres that were once the traditional lands of the Potawatomi, Menominee, and Winnebago nations. Artifacts from native settlements have been found dating back to as far as 400 B.C. Camping, golfing, biking, skiing, and hiking areas are all available, as well as access to a historic lighthouse on the park grounds.
New Glarus
New Glarus still holds to its history as a Swiss immigrant’s town. With 2,266 residents, the small city is between Madison and the Illinois border and is a destination along the Badger State Trail and the Sugar River State Trail. For interested walkers, the trail runs through farmland, woods, hills, meadows, prairies, and glacial topography.
Visitors might like to see the Swiss Historical Village, which features 14 houses holding artifacts that trace the town’s earlier years as a Swiss colony and its progression into a dairy farming community. And the city itself is recognizably Swiss. Initially established in 1845 by emigrants fleeing economic instability in Switzerland, the community remains known for its Swiss architecture, cuisine, and beer. Breweries such as the New Glarus Brewing Company, which proudly labels itself as a product of Wisconsin, continue to open in this town.
Stockholm
With only 78 people living within its borders, the Village of Stockholm is a snug community where visitors can be awed by both nature and art. Stockholm is one of many spots along the Fresh Art Spring and Fall Tour, a popular route highlighting Wisconsin art galleries. Some of the galleries featured include Rustic Road Gallery, Art Orchard Gallery, and Indigo Swan Jewelry & Fine Art. There is also the Stockholm Art Fair, held each year in July at Stockholm Village Park, which includes music, art, and food.
Stockholm is also the home of the Maiden Rock Bluff, the most notable limestone cliff face above the Mississippi River. It is 400 feet high and sits alongside cedar trees that are up to 250 years old! The area is also home to the golden eagle, bald eagle, and turkey vulture. It was designated as a State Natural Area in 2004.
Elkhart Lake
The Village of Elkhart Lake holds 957 residents and is located between Green Bay and Milwaukee. In its significant body of water, Elkhart Lake, visitors can boat and swim to their heart's content. Nearby, there is a 3.3-mile segment of the Ice Age National Trail where small hills and roads connect out of Sheboygan County. Day hikers continue to enjoy this section of the trail throughout the year.
Elkhart has a history in racing. Today, the village is home to an auto racing track, known as Road America, which opened in 1955 and features a 4-mile track. The village also has its roots in the early days of the railroads, which brought trade and travelers, as well as resorts to house and entertain them, although that has mostly died off. There are three resorts in the village today: Osthoff Resort, Siebken’s Resort, and Victorian Village Resort.
Cedarburg
As a suburb of Milwaukee, about 20 miles north of the city, Cedarburg maintains a small-town feel with plenty of community events throughout the year. As the holidays approach, the town celebrates with events such as the Rivoli Holiday Film Festival, Santa’s Workshop, and the Tipsy Elf Holiday Pop-up Bar at the historic Kuhefuss House on Washington Avenue.
About 12,320 residents live in Cedarburg, and visitors and natives use the city’s downtown to eat, play, and shop. One might like to visit the Pink Llama’s Gallery if art is on the radar. In addition, there is the Cedarburg Children’s Theater, the Wisconsin Museum of Quilt and Fiber Arts, and the Lakeshore Symphonic Band Inc. headquarters. And who could forget the Cedarburg Bridge, the last covered bridge in Wisconsin, located three miles north of Cedarburg? A new bridge has been erected beside it for auto traffic, and visitors are encouraged to walk through the 85-year-old relic.
Ephraim
The Village of Ephraim, Wisconsin, holds a beautiful piece of coastline, overlooking its prize: the Eagle Tower, located in Peninsula State Park. A 60-foot-high structure, located almost 200 feet above Green Bay, the tower offers a panoramic view from 100 steps to the top. From here, the viewer can see this village, as well as the surrounding islands and the Upper Michigan shoreline.
Ephraim is also known for its proximity to the Peninsula State Park Golf Course, which offers a great view of Eagle Harbor and the village for those who prefer their feet on the ground. Birds and wildlife are also known to frequent the grounds, and an outing there is an overall tranquil experience. Historical buffs can also view the village's collection of nineteenth-century historic buildings, including the Moravian Church, the Pioneer Schoolhouse, the Anderson Store, the Anderson Barn, and eight homes in the village that are more than a century old and still in use.
Mineral Point
The third-oldest city in Wisconsin, with a population of 2,575, Mineral Point began as a Cornish settlement in 1827. It was a mining town that was quickly connected to the railroad in 1857. In 2004, the Mineral Point Railroad Depot was restored and now serves as a public museum, featuring railroad memorabilia, including a 15-foot passenger bench, a baggage cart, and a ticket booth.
For a very particular kind of visit, there is the Shake Rag Alley Center for the Arts, an educational hub where adult students can lodge at five guest spaces while taking workshops in weaving, mosaic, blacksmithing, and more. The center also has event space for gatherings on campus. For those who are less students and more shoppers, Mineral Point offers a plethora of shops and spaces such as Brewery Potter, Mineral Point Opera House, and the Glove Clay Center.
Beyond the beautiful sunrises and sunsets, rolling hills and bridges, the Midwest of the United States can serve up a round of healthy appetites and restful nights, knowing that everything that can be done has been. With a bit of foresight and planning, the trip of a lifetime may very well be to the state of Wisconsin.
So, if travel is the goal, pack your experience full of activities, sights, and adventures that can only be found in the northern Midwest. Between all the nature trails, shopping districts, museums, lakeside beaches, and festive events, the trip will fly by. Still, with a good camera and a sense of curiosity, this trip will last a lifetime in each retelling.
