Wisconsin

Value Times are January, February, March, April, October, November and December.
Excludes Holidays and Special Events

Perhaps best known for cheese, Wisconsin offers so much more to the vacationers delight. For the adventurous, whitewater rafting and charter fishing. For the playful, music and food fests, water parks and cheese, wine and brewery tours. Competitive spirits will enjoy a round of golf. Those who want to learn a bit on vacation can explore museum exhibits and historic sites. Plus, wildlife preserves, waterfalls, state parks and bike trails are plentiful.

Your Destination

Wisconsin Dells

An area of towering sandstone cliffs (up to 150 ft/45 m tall) along the Wisconsin River, the Dells has been a popular travel attraction since the 1800s. Nature has been joined by man-made attractions, making this a bustling tourism center that draws big crowds in the summer. Not everyone will care for the commercialized atmosphere, but many love it. It's especially popular with families, who find plenty to do.

If you want pure scenic beauty, you'll find it on one of the boat tours of the Dells, which give you a close-up look at the sandstone formations. There are two sections—the Upper and Lower Dells—which are separated by a dam, so you have to take two boat rides to see the whole area. The tour of the Upper Dells includes stops where you can hike on riverside nature trails. You can also see the river in one of the Wisconsin Ducks, amphibious vehicles from World War II.

On land, there's a profusion of entertainment venues. Among the choices: the Tommy Bartlett Thrill Show; Tommy Bartlett's Robot World and Exploratory; and Noah's Ark, FamilyLand and Riverview Park and Waterworld—all water parks. There's also a motor speedway, a Ripley's Believe It or Not Museum, a wax museum, the Ho-Chunk Winnebago Bingo and Casino, and the Wisconsin Opry.
Though summer is definitely peak season at the Dells, the indoor water parks and some other attractions remain open all year. A profusion of indoor water-park resorts—many of which reserve admission to guests—offer additional indoor attractions.

Dining

German cooking (including every type of sausage ever conceived), freshwater fish (fried or boiled) and cheese and other dairy products top the list of things that you should try in Wisconsin. In fact, Wisconsin produces more than 35 percent of all the cheese made in the U.S., much of it being manufactured in small, family-owned cheese factories that welcome visitors. Be sure to try some cheese curds, a chewy by-product of cheese production that's mighty tasty. When fresh, they squeak as you chew them.

Almost every type of food is available in the state, and in the rural areas there's some great home-style cooking. Look for international cuisines: Polish (sample the pierogi, kielbasa and excellent pastries); Scandinavian (try the lefse); Armenian, Italian, Czech, French, Cantonese, Dutch and Serbian.

No matter what parts of the state you visit, be sure to try the local beer: Most of the national breweries that "made Milwaukee famous" have moved out of state, but local brewers keep the tradition alive.

Shopping

While Wisconsin is best known for its cheese and beer, you’ll also discover a wide variety of shopping options, including excellent pieces of folk art, crafts and antiques in the rural areas. In fact, crafts enthusiasts will want to make a pilgrimage to Mineral Point, a town founded by Cornish immigrants that has become a lovely tribute to the handmade art and eclectic tastes of the 1800s (the historic homes range from log cabin to neo-Gothic).

Travel Tips

Drive some of the scenic highways of Wisconsin during autumn. Fall foliage doesn't get much better. For a free guide to the best spots for admiring the season, contact the state tourist board.

Consider visiting one of the National Football League preseason training camps in Wisconsin. The Green Bay Packers train in Green Bay, but a few other teams also hold preseason workouts in the state.

Weather

Wisconsin has four distinct seasons, with warm summers and cold winters. Expect temperatures from the mid 50s to low 80s F/11-27 C in summer, with moderately high humidity and occasional days in the 90s F/32-34 C. June and July are the wettest of the warmer months, with some thunderstorms. The fall foliage is beautiful throughout the wooded areas of the state.

Some people go to Wisconsin during the winter to enjoy good skiing (cross-country and downhill), snowmobiling and other winter sports. The first snow usually falls early in November in the north, in December in the south. Snow accumulations vary, with annual averages being anywhere from 30 to 100 in/100 to 300 cm. Temperatures can be very cold, with occasional readings below -30 F/-34 C. Daily winter temperatures are generally -1 to 27 F/-18 to -2 C in the north and 3 to 30 F/-15 to -1 C in the south and along Lake Michigan. That's before the wind-chill factor.

Getting There

Major domestic airlines and their affiliated regional carriers serve the state's major airport, Milwaukee's General Mitchell International (MKE), which is 5-mi/8 km south of downtown.

Getting Around The Area

Major rental car agencies maintain branches at the airport.

The information contained here and within the GiveBack Vacations website is believed to be correct. Every effort has been made to assure accuracy. LifeStyles Vacation Club and Global Connections, Inc. assume no responsibility for errors, inaccuracies or omissions.

The destinations listed are subject to change without notice or may no longer be available under this vacation certificate.