Top Things to do in Wisconsin
Top Hotels in Wisconsin
- 1. Drury Plaza Hotel Milwaukee Downtown
- 2. Hilton Garden Inn Milwaukee Downtown
- 3. Harbor Shores on Lake Geneva
- 4. Grand Geneva Resort & Spa
- 5. Hampton Inn & Suites Madison / Downtown
- 6. Madison Concourse Hotel and Governor's Club
- 7. Radisson Hotel & Conference Center Green Bay
- 8. Radisson Hotel La Crosse
- 9. Hyatt Regency Milwaukee
- 10. Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, La Crosse, WI
What to do and see in Wisconsin, United States: The Best History Museums
When you think “adventure travel” you probably think of far-flung places like Belize and Alaska—not Wisconsin. But if you’re an outdoor adventurer, you’ll find plenty of places to explore in Wisconsin. A vacation in Wisconsin can put you close to the Kettle Moraine State Forest, which has excellent biking trails. Or choose Wisconsin’s Apostle Islands—kayakers will love exploring Lake Superior’s many caves and shipwrecks.
Packers fans don’t wear those cheese-wedge hats for nothing! Foodies will love tasting as many of Wisconsin’s artisanal cheeses as possible. Either drive from cheesemaker to cheesemaker, or choose a Wisconsin vacation in a town with a good farmers’ market—then the cheesemakers bring their wares to you. And what goes better with artisanal cheese than craft beer? In Milwaukee, visit the Lakefront and Sprecher Breweries for tours and tastings.
Wisconsin Dells is a classic family vacation destination. A vacation in Wisconsin Dells will put you close to all the excitement—you’ll have to tear the kids away from the theme parks, wave pools and water parks in Wisconsin Dells!
Lake Geneva boasts clean beaches, golf, and a small-town feel that definitely appeals to city dwellers—it’s a popular getaway for residents of Chicago.
Restaurants in Wisconsin
1. Wisconsin Maritime Museum
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 502 reviews
Welcome to a great place to learn, play and explore the rich maritime history of Wisconsin and the Great Lakes region. Located on the shores of Lake Michigan, the Wisconsin Maritime Museum offers visitors a unique place to spend hours learning about the sailors, shipbuilders and submariners who made that history, and to have some great family fun! Founded in 1970 as the Manitowoc Submarine Memorial Association, the Wisconsin Maritime Museum has grown into one of the largest maritime museums in the Midwest. In addition to commemorating the maritime heritage of the Manitowoc-Two Rivers area and the submarines built here during World War II, the Wisconsin Maritime Museum is now a leader in preserving the maritime history of Wisconsin and the Great Lakes region.
Reviewed By Localgirl252 - Menomonee Falls, United States
Tour a WWII Gato class submarine the USS Cobia. 28 subs were built in this ship building town. The Maritime museum is a Smithsonian affiliate and is the largest maritime museum in the Midwest. Make sure you view the short video before touring the Cobia. Exhibits include ship building, ship trade on the Great Lakes, a Wisconsin built boat display, ship models, a engine room, a children’s activity room and dive sites of Lake Michigan ship wrecks. Plan 2 to 3 hours here. The Cobia has an overnight program for children and adults.
2. Chudnow Museum of Yesteryear
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 339 reviews
A Milwaukee nonprofit dedicated to giving visitors a glimpse into Milwaukee life between the world wars with authentic items displayed in store settings. Handicap-accessible guided tours are offered at no additional charge, and there is free off-street parking behind the building.
Reviewed By picusue - Rochester, United States
The Chudnow is a must see in Milwaukee particularly if you enjoy history. Each room of these beautiful old house is a replica of a place in the past from Soda Fountain to Speakeasy. The Chudnow’s collection of memorabilia is impressive. It was fun wandering from room to room and taking a step back in time.
3. Portage WWII History Museum
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 154 reviews
We will be closed until further notice due to Coronavirus Concerns. In the 2-1/2 hour tour you will scratch the surface of this Museum's content. Walk through areas pertaining to the Home front, Holocaust, German, Japanese, and tons of American artifacts. Several Rare pieces that will leave you speechless. Please read the comments left by our guests here on tripadvisor.
Reviewed By RoutyYates
A good friend and I are interested in history and we live about 100 miles apart so we look for interesting venues and meet up in museums and historical sites to see what we can learn. On Feb 29th, we descended on this unique museum and were very impressed with the 2-1/2 hour guided tour (which actually wound up being 5-1/2 hours long). The Curator, Brett, literally brought history to life for us as he showed interesting artifacts and told unforgettable and spellbinding stories of the ingenuity, intrigue, triumphs and tragedy of war. The contacts he made while amassing his collection are simply amazing and there are artifacts in the museum that simply don’t exist anywhere else. Brett is very passionate about preserving these truths as a way to honor the men and women who fought tyranny, often forfeiting their lives. One small room is respectfully set aside to honor the victims of genocide, and is, in my humble opinion, not a place for young children. That being said, it truly IS a place every adult SHOULD see, as the horrific actions of a society gone mad must never be repeated. Even in that room, Brett shared a story of hope. He will present an artifact which saved 3 lives- otherwise destined for execution. I am writing this two days after my visit, and I must say I am still deeply moved by the human drama, often in the face of impossible odds. Some of the coincidences mentioned would beat statistical odds, but strange things happen in the confusion of a world at war and it’s aftermath. Brett also showed artifacts connected with airmen who were quite playful and kept a great sense of humor and their indomitable spirit prevailed in the face of overwhelming circumstances. I hope I have stirred some interest in this remarkable little museum. I highly recommend it to history students and patriots. This has been a valuable experience for me - one I will not soon forget. I would actually recommend this to visually impaired persons because Brett describes events and artifacts so well, and brings history to life with intellectual clarity. Thank you Brett.
4. Caledonia Historical Society
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 3 reviews
Reviewed By charlesdeutschland - Racine, United States
All made possible by volunteers of the Caledonia Historical Society. When they have open house/days it is well worth a visit to see the 100 year old Town Hall, the old Sturtevant Train station and Caboose, an original Log Cabin, a Barn, artifacts and much more not to be missed at Linwood Park in Caledonia, WI. Located on 5 Mile road just west of Root River and East of State High Way 38. Also, well worth a just having a picnic at Linwood Park, on same location on the North side of 5 Mile Rd.
5. Wisconsin Veterans Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 240 reviews
The Wisconsin Veterans Museum acknowledges, affirms, and commemorates the role of Wisconsin citizens from Civil War to present military history.
Reviewed By 866TaylorB - Chicago, United States
In our travels from coast to coast, my wife and I love to visit art museums and history museums. In Madison, Wisconsin, we visited the Wisconsin Historical Museum, the Chazen Museum of Art and the Overture Center for the Arts. Then one of the docents at the Chazen asked: "Have you been to the Veterans Museum?" Now we have. We would have been disappointed if we had missed it. Located at 30 West Mifflin Street, the Wisconsin Veterans Museum was founded in 1901 and has been housed at this site since 1993. Dedicated to the soldiers of the state of Wisconsin, it is composed of two galleries that chronicle the history of their service in the nation's wars from the Civil War to the Persian Gulf War to the War on Terror through exhibits, videos, maps, photographs and dioramas. The 19th century gallery showcases Wisconsin's involvement in the Civil War, including a large diorama depicting the Battle of Antietam. Three Wisconsin regiments formed part of the famed Iron Brigade that fought in most of the major battles in the eastern theater, including Antietam, Gettysburg, Chancellorsville and Petersburg. In the 20th century gallery, see exhibits that illustrate Wisconsin's roles in the Mexican Border campaign, World War I and World War II and the Korean, Vietnam and Persian Gulf conflicts. Many historical firearms and three full-scale aircraft also are on display--a Sopwith Camel from WW I, a P-51 Mustang from WW II and a Huey helicopter from the Vietnam War. Even if you aren't from Wisconsin, a visit to the Wisconsin Veterans Museum is a very sobering and educational experience.
6. Wisconsin Historical Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 104 reviews
Bringing Wisconsin's history to life through exhibits on the material culture of the state and the Upper Midwest, from prehistoric times to present day.
Reviewed By Bluey114 - Brisbane, Australia
Absolutely loves this museum. Spent way longer here than we thought as there was so much to see. Lots of historical artifacts and displays. Loved it
7. H.H. Bennett Studio & Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 234 reviews
Visitors learn about the life and times of the 19th-century pioneering photographer H.H. Bennett at this historical learning center and museum. All tours and programs for 2020 are reservation based. Please call in advance to book.
Reviewed By GenevieveK466
In the middle of all the souvenir shops and diners is a jewel that many people miss. Mr. Bennett is the who that got the Dells it's name. He was a photographer in the mid to late 1800's and was incredibly ingenious in designing everything that he needed to take photos in the beautiful canyons (like waiting until winter so he could walk in on the frozen river) to documenting the Native American people (and learning their language) to building a 360 degree developing studio that turned to get the best light. He and then his descendants operated a photo studio here well into the 1900's and then the family donated the kit and kaboodle (like all his glass negatives) to the State Historical Society. They have created a creative way to tell the story of early photography and have lots of items on display as well as short videos to watch. An added bonus for anyone that appreciates good photos is that you can buy a print of some of his extraordinary photos in the gift shop. This is such a special treat and welcome break from the commercialization of downtown.
8. Villa Louis
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 184 reviews
This Victorian house includes relics from the area's history, including a battle in the War of 1812.
Reviewed By JonH652 - Fort Myers, United States
Beautiful house and tour. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and provided a great history of the house and the surrounding area. This mansion is unique in that 90% of the furnishings are original to the house, and that is very, very unusual. This mansion and related tour are highly recommended.
9. Geneva Lake Museum of History
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 185 reviews
Reviewed By N4697UTjohnf
Terrific layout for a community museum. You will pleasantly surprised at all the attractions that are available. The museum highlights begin with an exhibit from 1831 and goes through the 1990s. Have you ever seen a real Stage Coach up close?, How about a one room schoolhouse? Do you know what a mail boat is? Look in the law office, why does a typewriter in there have a duplicate set of letters...Just fascinating. Children will enjoy because they can get up close and see. There are do docents available and more that eager to give you deeper insight to displays. The museum is located just in town, free parking. There is an admission charge that is very reasonable and has senior, military, student discounts. Easily spend 2 hours without even blinking. Would highly recommend if in the area.
10. Richard I. Bong Veterans Historical Center
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 101 reviews
This museum honors World War II flying ace Richard Bong and all veterans.
Reviewed By MandySSS - Minneapolis, United States
The museum is small but filled with history of World War 2 and the history of who the museum was named after, Richard Bong. A true American hero who shot down more planes than any other American in the war where is count was 40 and went on to be a true hero of his generation. A lot of Nazi artifacts as well as other countries that are on display. If you are into history especially World War 2 you will love it!! A bit spendy but worth the extra few bucks spent.
