Wisconsin

"The Badger State"

Wisconsin offers something for any traveller, from romantic getaways to family activities to outdoor adventures. Located on the shores of Lake Michigan, Milwaukee offers a wealth of cultural and entertainment opportunities including music and ethnic festivals, performing arts, professional sports, as well as great shopping and dining. Iron Horse fans should flock to the recently opened Harley Davidson Museum. Travelling west, the capital city of Madison is home to a lively atmosphere starting with State Street and continuing through diverse cultural events and attractions. Fun is very much the name of the game in nearby Wisconsin Dells with its water parks, family attractions and scenic beauty.

Following Wisconsin’s western border, the mighty Mississippi River provides the perfect backdrop for visitors to La Crosse and other cities along the river. Visitors can enjoy spectacular river views from the bluffs, explore small-town shops or hop aboard a paddlewheel riverboat. Northern Wisconsin is famous for its woods and water, including Lake Superior. Its lakes and rivers are among the best in the country for fishing, canoeing, rafting and kayaking. Northern Wisconsin is famous for its woods and water, including Bayfield, the gateway to the Apostle Islands in Lake Superior. 

With 15,000 lakes – including two Great Lakes – and the most famous river in the world, Wisconsin is a freshwa-ter playground. You’ll find sailing regattas, kayaking and canoeing at every turn.

Surfing and stand-up paddleboarding on Lake Michigan are popular water sports. Underneath the surface, divers can explore shipwrecks in the state’s maritime corridor. The Harley-Davidson motorcycle museum is also a must-visit.

Land Area: 56,138 sq. miles

Population: 5,453,450

State Capital: Madison

Largest City: Milwaukee

Local Time: 6 hrs behind the UK

Average Temperature: 43°F (summer: 67°F, winter: 16°F)

Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, Ice Age National Scenic Trail, St. Croix National Scenic Riverway.

Imagine rolling countryside covered in brilliant fall foliage, a snowmobiling adventure in winter, a stroll amid flowering cherry trees in spring and a retreat to a lakeside cottage in summer. These are the moments that draw people to Wisconsin. Outdoor adventurers and families will love this gem of a state, and foodies and culture seekers won’t be disappointed either. Wisconsin is the supper-club king, cheese-making capital, birthplace of Frank Lloyd Wright, home of the Harley-Davidson and land of 11 Native American tribes.

Wisconsin winters make the state a snow sports paradise. Nordic skiing, snowmobiling, show shoeing and ice fishing are abundant. As snow melts in the spring, see the stunning cherry blossoms of Door County and get on the water for rafting and fishing – there are more than 15,000 inland lakes, two Great Lakes and the mighty Mississippi River to enjoy. Summertime heralds patio dining and food trucks, cabin camping and outdoor events like Summerfest, the largest outdoor music festival in the world. In the fall, take a drive along the Great River Road, named a bucket-list road trip by USA Today. 

Come hungry, because the Midwest’s famously fresh meals are on the menu. Learn the history of cheese making at the National Historic Cheesemaking Centre in the Cheese Capital of Monroe, then visit a local factory to pick up a freshly made wedge. Beer is beloved here, sipped in beer gardens and produced in a wide array of microbreweries around the state. 

Notable ones to try: 3 Sheeps, Lakefront Brewery, Capital Brewery and New Glarus Brewing. Chat with the locals over an old-fashioned and a fish fry at a supper club; there are more than 300 throughout Wisconsin. 

Famed American architect Frank Lloyd Wright was born here and left his mark across the state. Nine sites are part of the self-guided Frank Lloyd Wright Trail through southern Wisconsin. Motorcycle fanatics can get their fill of “hogs” at the Harley-Davidson Museum in Milwaukee. While in the city, don’t miss the Milwaukee Art Museum. The iconic building is as stunning as the collection of 25,000 works inside. On a spiritual note, the Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help is the site of a Catholic Church-confirmed apparition of the Virgin Mary.