10 Things To Do This Winter in Wisconsin

Stroll Through Small Towns

In winter, Wisconsin’s small towns burst with enough cozy charm to do a holiday movie proud. Whether you’re window shopping in Ephraim, drinking cocoa in a Cedarburg café or snuggling up by the fire at a Bayfield B&B, you’ll be surrounded by the kind of old-fashioned comfort and hospitality that’s only found in places where the world moves a little slower.

Each small town has its own unique personality – discover one that matches yours! 

Fly Down a Tubing Hill

Young or old, tall or small: If you can sit, you can slide down Wisconsin’s snow tubing hills. Snow tubing is the perfect activity for those who want all the thrill of winter sports but with no special skills required – the best of both worlds!

The whole group can tube together at Sunburst Winter Sports Park, where over 40 tubing lanes drop riders 10 stories at speeds up to 40 MPH, or down one of six unique tubing hills at Badlands Sno-Park, ranging in intensity from Bunny to Turbo. 

Have a competitive crew? Settle once and for all who’s king (or queen!) of the hill with a race at these family-friendly tubing parks.

Sample Seasonal Brews

 

 When cold weather strikes, good drinks come to the rescue, and many craft breweries are stirring up special creations for just this time of year. New Glarus adds naturally sweet Clover Honey into their winter brew Cabin Fever to accent warm notes on your tongue, and the Brewers Reserve Bourbon Barrel Stout is Central Waters' most sought-after beer of the year, aged in oak bourbon barrels and flavored with hints of vanilla.

Over 200 craft breweries are mixing up creative flavors around Wisconsin – find one close to you!

Cozy Up in a Cabin

Enjoy all things hygge (Danish for cozy) during a winter stay at a Wisconsin cabin. You’ll be spoiled for choice – every region of the state boasts a variety of cabins, each with its own distinct charm – but to fully embrace the flakes, consider a trip to the Northwoods. The area receives some of the state’s highest snowfall totals, and its many lakes and lush forests are the perfect backdrop to a cozy cabin getaway.

No winter cabin is complete without a warm fire. Pull on your pajamas and curl up in these cabins with amazing fireplaces!

Gas Up the Sled

Why take the car when you could take the sled? Winter in Wisconsin means snowmobile season is in full swing, and no corner of the state is left untouched by our expansive network of trails.  Start your ride in the Snowmobile Capital of the World, Eagle River, where 500 miles of groomed trails connect to the greater Northwoods and the International Snowmobile Hall of Fame displays the evolution of sleds, from early model to present day. 

So many trails, so little time: Discover which places you can’t miss this winter with these amazing snowmobiling spots in Wisconsin.

Explore the Ice Caves

This one’s all up to Mother Nature – but if she cooperates, you’ll be treated to the sight of a lifetime. When the temperatures drop in Bayfield, the famed Apostle Islands Sea Caves freeze over to become sparkling ice caves. Once Lake Superior is safely frozen, you can walk from the shore straight into the caves themselves – where ancient, otherworldly rock formations are covered with thousands of glittering icicles.

Get the latest update on whether the caves are open. If there’s no freeze over this year, check out the dependably icy Cave Point or tour the Red Cliff Ice Caves to get your fill of winter wonder.

Warm Up at a Waterpark

80-degree temperatures are a lot closer than you think! If a quick winter escape is what you need, trade your snowsuit for a swimsuit and head to a Wisconsin waterpark. Balmy summer weather reigns all year round at indoor parks like Tundra Lodge, but for a taste of both warm and cold, head to the Kalahari – their indoor/outdoor hot tub is open through winter, and is the coolest (pun intended) way to stay warm while still out in the snow. Both resorts also have wheelchair accessible rooms and waterpark amenities so that everyone can have barrier-free fun all winter long.

Whether you like to whip down waterslides or kick back on the lazy river, discover awesome rides and slides at Wisconsin’s indoor waterparks.

Take a Trip for Two

If summer is the season of family vacations, winter is the perfect time getaway as a couple. Foodies can cook their own delicious dish under the guidance of chefs at the Lake Geneva School of Cooking, outdoor-lovers will find fresh air and frozen waterfalls on a hike through Amnicon Falls State Park, and adventure-seekers can soar over snow-topped trees on a Northwoods zipline tour. Wrap up your weekend with a cabin stay, and you’ve got a foolproof plan to recharge for the year ahead.

Need more inspiration? Plan a winter date with these snowy season ideas.

Hit the Slopes

No need to set your sights west for great downhill skiing – Wisconsin is home to the third-most ski resorts in the country, and that means snow shredders and newcomers alike can find runs to fit their comfort level close to home. Daredevils can head to Whitecap Mountain for five stomach-dropping double black diamond runs, but if light and breezy is more your style, try Granite Peak, where almost a third of the runs are graded as easy, or Tyrol Basin, where a beginners-only magic carpet leads to two gentle slopes. 

Haven’t quite got your ski legs yet? No problem – check out these ski hills great for beginners.

Hike by Candlelight

See Wisconsin’s parks come to life by candlelight on special nighttime hikes held throughout winter. Bundle up for a walk (or snowshoe, or cross-country ski) among snow-covered pines and luminaries at events like the Norskedalen Candlelight Snowshoe Hike, where snowshoes are available to rent and hikes end with hot chocolate and s’mores by the fire.

Browse our full lineup of winter events for more candlelight hikes coming up this season.

Check out more winter trip ideas around the state and keep up with the latest snow conditions with the Wisconsin Snow Report!