Fond Du Lac

  • Windsurfing is a popular activity on Lake Winnebago.

    Windsurfing is a popular activity on Lake Winnebago.
  • Guests enjoy the nice weather on the outdoor patio at Trinity Restaurant and Hall.

    Guests enjoy the nice weather on the outdoor patio at Trinity Restaurant and Hall.
  • The Siberian Outpost offers dog sled demonstrations and rides.

    The Siberian Outpost offers dog sled demonstrations and rides.
  • Swimmers cool off on a hot day at Fairgrounds Family Aquatic Center and Waterpark.

    Swimmers cool off on a hot day at Fairgrounds Family Aquatic Center and Waterpark.
  • A young girl is all smiles as she crawls through the mud.

    A young girl is all smiles as she crawls through the mud.
  • Spectators enjoy getting a glimpse of a sturgeon, a giant prehistoric fish that can be found in Lake Winnebago.

    Spectators enjoy getting a glimpse of a sturgeon, a giant prehistoric fish that can be found in Lake Winnebago.

Located at the base of Lake Winnebago, Fond du Lac (French for “far end of the lake”) goes out of its way to introduce visitors to its many charms. View the Niagara Escarpment and beautiful shoreline of Wisconsin’s largest lake from the Lakeside Spirit, Lake Winnebago’s only excursion craft. Enjoy 400-acre Lakeside Park and climb to the top of the lookout lighthouse, or ride the antique carousel. History thrives at the Galloway House and Village complex of 30 buildings including the Blakely Museum. Recreation abounds throughout the county with miles of hiking and biking trails, challenging golf courses, and more. Exotic animals reside at Villa Loretto, a nursing home run by nuns. A few miles to the southeast, the striking glacial legacy of the northern unit of the Kettle Moraine State Forest is detailed at the Henry S. Ruess Ice Age Visitor Center near Campbellsport.

Don't leave without tasting...

Kelley Country Creamery ice cream and Schreiner's homemade pie. It was USA Today's pick for Best Ice Cream Shop in Wisconsin! Did someone say life’s short, eat dessert first? Well it just so happens that Schreiner’s Restaurant did because it is the only restaurant in Fond du Lac where you can treat yourself to a fresh slice of pie with a hand-rolled pie crust and made from scratch filling. Need we say more?

Mark these events on your calendar:

  • Walleye Weekend
  • Fondue Fest
  • Edge the Ledge
  • Foot of the Lake Synchronized Skating Competition
  • Prairie Fest
  • Sturgeon Stampede
  • Race the Lake
  • Tour of America's Dairyland Bike Race

You’ll catch the big one if you...

Hook up with Fond du Lac area experts through the local chapters of Sturgeons for Tomorrow, Walleyes for Tomorrow club and fishing guides! Lake Winnebago, the largest freshwater lake in Wisconsin, is one of the more heavily fished state lakes and considered to be one of the nation's top walleye fisheries. Year round fishing includes the annual sturgeon spearing in February with its rich history and traditions, ice fishing, and don’t forget the annual Walleye Weekend tournament.

Explore your adventurous side

Jump in the lake or go fly a kite...or put both together and go wind kiting on Lake Winnebago. The wind is just right for kiting and windsurfing in the summer or on the ice in the winter. Bring your bike and weave through the trails in the Kettle Moraine State Forest. Got a kayak? You can travel to a county park accessible only by waterway with canoe or kayak. You must love dogs at the Siberian Outpost. Learn about an antique sled and have the huskies mush through the snow.

Must see attractions:

  • The Villa Loretto, a nursing home ranch run by nuns with over 300 animals
  • Christmas year round resides at the Kristmas Kringle Shoppe
  • Explore hidden passageways used on the Underground Railroad at the Historic Octagon House
  • Walk through the past at the Galloway House and Village
  • The Children’s Museum of Fond du Lac
  • The Windhover Center for the Arts