4 Charming Day Trips in Southeast Wisconsin

While Southeast Wisconsin is home to the many attractions of Milwaukee, that’s just the beginning of this extraordinary corner of the state. Read on to discover smaller area gems perfect for exploring with your crew.

Sheboygan

About an hour north of Milwaukee, Sheboygan is an artsy city full of hidden gems that lies along the Lake Michigan shore. From the rolling dunes of Kohler-Andrae State Park and adaptive sailing through the Sailing Education Association of Sheboygan (SEAS) to the John Michael Kohler Arts Center and Bookworm Gardens, you’re sure to find something everyone in your group will love. You can even go surfing on the Great Lake!

Sample local brews at the beloved 3 Sheeps Brewing taproom and gather over authentic Neopolitan pizza at Il Ritrovo, perhaps with a stop at Blast Soft Serve for dessert. Also known as the Malibu of the Midwest, Sheboygan makes for an unforgettable day trip best shared with your favorite people.

Racine

Danish heritage lives on in the kringle capital of Wisconsin: Racine. Be sure to pick up one of these large traditional pastries from O&H Bakery, a four-generation family bakery opened in 1949, to try the deliciousness for yourself.

Stroll and explore the city’s downtown, which includes over 70 historic buildings, including the Racine Heritage Museum. And don’t miss a burger and shake at Kewpee Sandwich Shop, a 1920s cash-only diner.

The Frank Lloyd Wright Trail begins in Racine with two Wright-designed buildings: the SC Johnson Headquarters and the former Johnson home, Wingspread, both open for tours. Top off your trip by climbing the tower of the picturesque 1880 Wind Point Lighthouse for an expansive view of Lake Michigan.

Lake Geneva

Get away together to a vibrant city on scenic Geneva Lake that has a long history of resort life. Set sail with Lake Geneva Cruise Line and stop for a tour at the 1888 Black Point Estate and Gardens, one of the oldest mansions on the lake and a shining example of the popular Queen Anne design of the time. 

If you’d rather explore on foot, the Geneva Lake Shore Path will take your group past dozens of impressive homes and gardens along the water, as well as the stunning Yerkes Observatory, home to the world’s largest refracting telescope.

Dining options are plentiful, from fine dining at Geneva Chophouse to cozy breakfasts at Great Eggs, and a stop at The Cheese Box for something to take home is recommended.

Eagle and Palmyra

Not ten minutes apart, these two little towns lie along the Kettle Moraine Scenic Drive, a 115-mile route winding through connected swathes of state forest and passing impressive geological formations left by the last glaciers of the Ice Age. Enjoy remnants of a sawmill, cranberry bogs and more on the Scuppernong Springs Nature Trail north of Eagle, or take a longer hike along a segment of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail. Stop in at the office of the Southern Unit of the Kettle Moraine State Forest for help choosing the perfect route for you and your crew. Bring your mountain bikes to take on the popular single-track John Muir or Emma Carlin Trails.

Step into the pioneer days at Eagle’s open-air museum, Old World Wisconsin, a collection of ten farmsteads with workers dressed in character and ready to teach you about this time in Wisconsin’s history. Stay for dinner at the Clausing Cafe, an on-site restaurant with seasonal offerings inspired by the Immigrant cultures that made Wisconsin home.

Keep exploring with these 3 Wisconsin Microadventures for Weekend Wanderers!