Location: Wausau
Top Things to do in Wausau
The 10 Best Budget-friendly Things to do in Wausau, Wisconsin (WI)
Wausau is a city in and the county seat of Marathon County, Wisconsin, United States. The Wisconsin River divides the city into east and west. The city is adjacent to the Town of Wausau.
Restaurants in Wausau
1. Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 257 reviews
Reviewed By BethanyAnneB8 - Wausau, United States
I really enjoy that they get new exhibits every few months. It keeps me coming back. I’ve gone here with my boyfriend and both of our families. Well maintained and clean place to enjoy art. Could spend a short amount of time or a few hours and have a good time. Recently went to the origami exhibit, very cool!
2. The Grand Theater
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 83 reviews
North Central Wisconsin's home for the performing arts is The Grand Theater. Located in downtown Wausau, The Grand has it all--from Broadway to Ballet, Comedy to Cirque, Classical, Theatre and so much more!
Reviewed By pspauly63 - Wausau, United States
The Grand Theatre has been around for so many years and they do an incredible season filled with all different acts, operas and ballets. Saw the Russian Ballet, Sleeping Beauty tonight. Amazing
3. Rib Mountain State Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 235 reviews
Fantastic hiking trails with spectacular vistas and unique habitats, nature programs for the family, Summer concerts, and Winter snowshoe events. Reserveable shelters, and a beautiful outdoor event venue. Park concessions open daily during Summer season (Memorial Day weekend - Labor Day weekend), and weekends during Fall (through mid October) with gifts, snacks and more.
Reviewed By ALG1603
We drove to the top parking lot, and hiked the yellow trail and the red/quarry trail. The yellow trail is around 4.5 miles long - and has some good up and down sections. The red/quarry trail was gorgeous. It was around 2 miles, and the views and scenery were fantastic. The trails on the red/quarry trail were tougher - more strenuous, more rocks, slippery packed snow sections, and lots of leaves covering rocks and steps and holes. Be careful, step carefully, look around for the trail markers and have fun. It's beautiful. The tower was closed, but there's so much else to see.
4. Lil' Ole Winemaker Shoppe
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 34 reviews
Stop in and meet Brian and Sue, your hosts at Lil' Ole Winemaker Shoppe, now conveniently located downtown 2 blocks east of the 400 Block. We are your northwoods headquarters for over 30 mouth-watering homemade wines, wine and beer making supplies and a gift shop with something special for any wine enthusiast on your list. Offering classes and demonstrations of wine making and you can even rent a space to make your own wine. Sample our wines at our wine bar perfectly placed in front of a stunning vineyard mural. Join the Case Club where you can buy 12 bottles and get your 13th for free. Drink coffee, nibble on snacks and browse your tablet in front of our fireplace with free Wi-Fi or schedule a meeting in one of our meeting rooms. We have plenty of table space allowing you to meet with friends for coffee, snacks and wine.
Reviewed By r01313 - Hubertus, United States
Came here with my sister. This place just had this cozy comfortable feel to it. Sat down for a little wine tasting and immediately felt welcome and like we were regulars even though it was our first visit here. The staff and customers here are so awesome. Best wine we had out of about 6 wineries we visited over a four day weekend. We can't wait to go back!
5. Nine Mile Forest
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 25 reviews
Reviewed By WiOutdoorGirl - Madison, United States
I have been coming to Nine Mile Forest for cross country skiing for years and love it. The trails are well-groomed and provide a diversity of skiing options. I especially like the spacious warming shelter with the wood burning stove. The shelter is open this year with restrictions so plan accordingly. They have reduced the number of tables and are limiting capacity.
6. Yawkey House Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 48 reviews
Stunning details and a commitment to quality are evident in both the interior and exterior of the Yawkey House Museum. The exterior showcases Classical Revival architecture with stately lines and original decorative elements, and also includes a beautiful outdoor sunken garden with a carriage house unique to the needs of the early twentieth century. Inside, experience the style and warmth of Arts and Crafts influenced design with built-in cabinetry and extraordinary stained glass features. Guided tours begin on the hour with the first tour starting at 9:00 am on Tuesday - Friday and 1:00 pm on Saturday and Sunday. The last tour begins at 3:00 pm. Guided tours leave from the Woodson History Center and last 45-60 minutes.
Reviewed By coptrdrivr - Wausau, United States
Very well-done-- both the well-preserved and fascinating Yawkey House that reveals so much about how the elites lived in a bygone era and the adjacent museum that captures the essence of life in north central Wisconsin. From farms to logging , manufacturing to Native Americans- the history is all displayed- with excellent provided narrative. Definitely cuts above average!
7. Monk Botanical Gardens
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 55 reviews
Central Wisconsin's only botanical garden located on the north end of Wausau, WI. The Gardens currently features a Memory Plaza, Wildflower Woods, Meditation Garden, outdoor Kitchen Potager, raised garden beds used for education, fully accessible Treehouse, and aerated pond. Numerous trails, some marked with distance posts, lead through the property, which can be visited free of charge. A wide variety of trees, many of them memorials, and other colorful plantings dot the landscape. Ideal for walks, meditation, exploration, and events such as weddings, birthday parties, and reunions. A list of Garden events, including regular tours, can be found on the website. The Gardens are a geocaching site.
Reviewed By mraffini37 - Prairie du Sac, United States
This was a wonderful stop on our tour of Wausau. We met up with some of the staff and were able to hear about the history if the park and some plans for the future. It was just beautiful. The grounds are well maintained and cared for by the volunteers.The pond is a great setting for pictures. There is a wide variety of trees and plants. Some of the sculptures and structures are a highlight. Don't forget to stop at the treehouse!!
8. Bull Falls Brewery
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 41 reviews
Reviewed By 994ginaw
we stop when we were in the area great beer and great bar tender prices are reasonable nice decor in this place
9. Athletic Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 33 reviews
Athletic Park is a baseball stadium and the home field of the Wisconsin Woodchucks baseball team of the Northwoods League. It features a covered grandstand with stadium/bleacher seating along with private decks available for groups, dug outs, concessions and and team clubhouses. A brand new playground for children is also available as a part of the park experience.
Reviewed By F1189FYmargaretc - Wausau, United States
Newly renovated hometown ball park in a nice little neighborhood. The kid-zone behind home plate is great for restless little ones when they need to stretch out between innings. There food service can be very slow at times, so may not want to go when everyone is very hungry!
10. Sylvan Tubing Hill
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 29 reviews
Reviewed By frankt673 - Chicago, United States
Nice people, fun tubing hills (6 total), and no need to bring your own tubes or carry them or yourself up the hill. You pay, get a tube at the bottom of the hill, sit in it and they hook it up to a rope that drags you up. Easy peasy. Great for families! Tip for dads: if you need to get back at a young one for smacking you in the ear with a snowball, connect your tubes together, then on the way down gently drag your downhill boot along the snow. Snow will kick up in their face! :)
