There are so many unique, fun, and quirky things to do in Wisconsin! From larger than life roadside attractions to unique collections and bucket-list memories. A road trip through Wisconsin will be an unforgettable experience! .
1. World’s Largest Display of Glass Paper Weights
I’m always interested in seeing a quirky collection! The Bergstrom-Mahler Museum of Glass displays a huge collection of beautiful glass paperweights and they’re free to view! Located in the Fox Cities region of Wisconsin, the glass themed museum has 5,000 in their collection – many of them in display cases.
2. Birthplace of the Hamburger
Though several towns claim the title – Seymour, Wisconsin is known as the “birthplace of the hamburger”. Invented at a county fair in 1885 by Charles Nagreen – the burger was born after Nagreen smashed a meatball between two pieces of bread. There’s a large statue of “Hamburger Charlie” in downtown Seymour and a sculpture of a huge hamburger across the street.
3. Lake Geneva Mailboat Tour
One of the most enjoyable experiences during my recent month-long road trip around Wisconsin was the Lake Geneva Mailboat Tour! Over 100 years ago, wealthy Chicago residents built beautiful mansions all around the lake at a time when there were no roads. As a result, mail had to be delivered by boat. Today, the tradition continues with college age mailboat “jumpers” that leap from the moving boat and deliver mail while tourists sit on top and cheer them on.
4. Tour A World War II Tug Boat in Kewaunee
The tugboat, docked near the historic Kewaunee Lighthouse, participated in the D-Day invasion of Normandy, towing ammunition barges across the English Channel. Visitors can walk through the tugboat and have an authentic look at what it was like for crew members who lived and worked on board the ship during its missions.
5. Hike To Granddad Bluff in La Crosse
Hike (or drive) to arguably the best viewpoint in southwest Wisconsin at Granddad Bluff! Sadly, I was there on a day when smoke from Canadian wildfires was blowing through – but even then, it was obvious what a cool lookout spot this is! The 600 foot high bluff includes a pavilion along with a walkway for visitors to capture some amazing photos overlooking the region!
6. SC Johnson Campus Tour
This was an unexpected treat and a bit like hopping into a time machine! Racine is home to the headquarters of SC Johnson which makes many different household products like Ziplock Bags, Glade, Raid, Off, and Pledge. The free campus tour features the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Administration Building, the Research Tower, as well as Foster + Partners-designed Fortaleza Hall. It’s wild to see where some of these iconic products were actually invented!
7. Learn To Sail in Sheboygan
If you’ve always wanted to learn how to sail, there’s a really cool program in Sheboygan that lets locals and visitors enjoy hands-on instruction! And it’s cheap! For just $25, you can enjoy a couple of hours out on the water (in a sailboat that’s virtually un-flippable) with a SEAS instructor. You’ll enjoy the beauty of Lake Michigan but also learn proper sailing techniques and jargon! It’s a lot of fun!
8. Visit America’s #1 Pie Shop
On the west side of the state is a small town called Stockholm along the Great River Road. It’s home to Stockholm Pie – which has been voted “America’s Best Pie Shop” for two years in a row! (2024 & 2025) The pies are amazing and the atmosphere reminds you of days gone by. There’s a cool General Store as well with locally made products and goodies.
9. Visit Johnsonville Brats Headquarters
I guess I never realized that Johnsonville Brats was based in Wisconsin until I saw the sign on the highway pointing me to the company’s headquarters! Of course, it makes perfect sense! While you can’t tour the actual headquarters or plants – you can stop in their cool little store with fresh products and nifty gift items. The place is LOADED with merch and Johnsville swag! Plus there are some fun photo ops outside!
10. Yerkes Observatory
Yerkes Observatory in Lake Geneva was a huge surprise! It was so fascinating to see this gigantic telescope in person and learn about all of the history and famous scientists that spent time here. The observatory first opened in 1897 and for nearly a century, a virtual who’s who of astronomy surveyed outer space through the Yerkes Great Refractor. The facility now hosts tours and special events including concerts and stargazing.
11. Les Paul Grave Site
Les Paul was the first solid body electric guitar and a pioneer in music technology. Paul was born in Waukesha, Wisconsin and his hometown celebrates his legacy with guitar statues and murals all around town. It’s easy to find his gravesite at Prairie Home Cemetery in Waukesha which includes a brief biography and a cool guitar etching at his tombstone.
12. America’s “Little Switzerland” in New Glarus
New Glarus is such a fun little town just a short drive from Madison. The town celebrates its Swiss heritage year-round with festivals, local shops, and museums. You’ll spot alpine horns and cow statues all over the place! If you’re able to attend Volkfest (Swiss Independence Day) – it’s a must! You’ll hear live music and enjoy fresh brats off the grill while locals celebrate in authentic costumes. Pretty fun!
13. See Harry Houdini’s Straightjacket
Magician Harry Houdini claimed Appleton, Wisconsin as his birthplace. (Even though it wasn’t.) The local history museum has a fun display of Houdini items including props from his performances and even a straitjacket he used on stage. The History Museum at the Castle has an interactive exhibit for families to enjoy based on Houdini’s life and magic tricks. Check out the video below for other fun things to do in the Fox Cities region!
14. Visit Working Dairy Farms
During my stop in Kewaunee, I had the pleasure of visiting Heims Hillcrest Dairy and took a guided tour of their facility. It was amazing! Not only was the family so friendly and welcoming – it was fascinating to see and learn all about the modern technology that these farms use. Heims offers free tours to the general public which can be arranged by reaching out to them on their website.
15. Eat Delicious Kringle in Racine
Until my visit to Racine I had never heard of Kringle. It’s a Danish dessert that is roughly the size of a small pizza and cut into sections and typically served at a gathering. They come in various flavors and among the best places to get them in Racine is a place called O&H Danish Bakery. It’s a pretty good sweet treat!
16. EAA Airplane Festival
You’ll have to plan your Wisconsin road trip for July to enjoy an experience at EAA but it might be worth it if you like airplanes! I’ve never seen anything quite like the EAA Adventure in Oshkosh. It’s absolutely massive. Try to imagine the largest gathering of airplanes you can think of – and then know that it’s even bigger than that! Super fun to see the historic planes and meet flight enthusiasts from all over the world. Bring comfy shoes because there’s A LOT of ground to cover!
17. Ride The Kenosha Streetcar
It’s not a long ride but it’s definitely a fun way to tour downtown Kenosha. The streetcar only costs $1.00 for about 15 minutes. You’ll hop on at one of the stops around town and have a chance to circle the neighborhood. It’s a fun throwback to the old days and you can use it to save yourself a few steps depending on where you park!
18. Visit The Little Chute Windmill
Little Chute is a village within the Fox Cities of Wisconsin. The Little Chute Windmill is authentic and a tribute to Dutch settlers in Wisconsin. And you can go up inside of it! A volunteer guide will give you the background on local history in the area and how a windmill functions.
19. Site of the First Culvers Restaurant
Though the original restaurant has since been replaced with a modern Culvers – it’s still fun to stop by the spot in Sauk City where it all got started. It’s one of my favorite fast food restaurants and this location didn’t disappoint. There are some historic photos around the building and a mural out front to designate the “birthplace” of the popular chain.
20. Tour The First Private Home To Have Lights
The first private residence in the world to be illuminated using hydroelectricity from a central Edison system was Hearthstone Historic House in Appleton, Wisconsin. The mansion is absolutely beautiful and worth the time to take a tour. What’s most interesting are the original light “switches” you’ll find around the home. While not a switch at all – the knobs show how electricity was initially sent to light fixtures. It’s also where the phrase “turn the lights on” originated.
21. Ice Cream Sundae Birthplace
The small town of Two Rivers, Wisconsin is allegedly the “birthplace of the ice cream sundae”. Sadly, the old building where Ed Berners’ Ice Cream Parlor existed is no longer.However, a recreation of the soda fountain can be found at the Washington House Museum. The story goes that a customer asked for chocolate syrup on his ice cream, a topping usually reserved for ice cream sodas. Berners initially only served the creation on Sundays, leading to the name “sundae”, according to the Wisconsin Historical Society.
22. World’s Largest Six Pack
A fun photo-op in La Crosse is located at the site of City Brewing Company. The “six pack” was actually designed as storage tanks for excess beer back in 1969. The tanks feature Old Style beer logos. If you squint, you can see me standing at the bottom of the tanks!
23. Laura Ingalls Wilder Birthplace
The only thing left on the site where Laura Ingalls Wilders was born is a historic plaque and a replica of the cabin where she lived in Stockholm, Wisconsin. If you’re a diehard fan of Little House on the Prairie, or of Laura’s life – you’ll probably enjoy visiting the spot. It’s a 10-15 minute drive into the countryside from downtown Stockholm along the Great River Road. There’s even a picnic table or two where you can chill out and have lunch. A small museum dedicated to her birthplace is located in nearby Pepin.
24. World’s Tallest Grandfather Clock
If seeing roadside attractions is part of your list of things to do in Wisconsin, you should add this giant clock! The working grandfather clock is located in Downtown Kewaunee, Wisconsin right next to the local fire engine museum across from the marina. It stands 36 feet high and was built in 1976.
25. World’s Largest Bicycle Statue
Sparta, Wisconsin claims to be the bicycling capitol of America – due to having the first “rails to trails” bike path built in 1967. A large sculpture in town, known as “Ben Bikin” stands 32 feet tall and overlooks one of the town’s parks.
26. Cheese Capital of the World
Plymouth is the self-proclaimed “cheese capital of America”. The town supposedly produces nearly 15 percent of all the cheese consumed in the United States. The town has a fun downtown with locally owned shops and restaurants along with murals highlighting the towns agricultural heritage. It’s definitely a place for your list of things to do in Wisconsin.
27. Visit Wisconsin’s Many Lighthouses
Wisconsin has lots of beautiful lighthouses around the state with most situated around Lake Michigan. During my recent road trip through the state, I loved taking photographs of the lighthouses in places like Sheboygan, Kenosha, Kewaunee, and the Fox Cities. This should definitely be on your list of things to do in Wisconsin!