Wisconsin is a gorgeous state which boasts of many famous attractions. Over 100 million tourists visit the state every year with tourism contributing north of $20 billion to Wisconsin’s coffers.
We were curious to find out which spots are preferred by tourists, so we looked at places with high reported number of visits every year. Find out if your favorite place made the list!
Wisconsin Dells
Wisconsin Dells is a small town which has, however, seen a steady stream of tourists every year. It is estimated that approximately 4 million people visit Wisconsin Dells annually, but why is that? The answer is that Wisconsin Dells has it all – beautiful nature coupled with lots of attractions for people of all ages.
The town is famous for its “duck rides” – rides on an amphibious vehicle – that take you through the forests before entering Lake Delton and the Wisconsin River. Once you get your nature fix, it’s time to visit one of the many indoors and outdoors water parks in Wisconsin Dells which are the main reason why tourists go there.
With 20 water parks of different sizes, it’s no wonder that Wisconsin Dells is known as the water park capital of the world.
Oshkosh
Oshkosh is a sleepy Wisconsin town which becomes the busiest airspace in the world for a week every year. EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, held every summer since 1970, is an aerial spectacle that attracts the best pilots in the world who show off their impressive skills at the daily shows.
The event is visited by around half a million people every year, and the number continues to rise. We advise you to plan your trip in advance as it might be hard to find last minute accommodation.
Taliesin
Taliesin, located in Spring Green, Wisconsin, is the home of the arguably most famous American architect, Frank Lloyd Wright. Wright was born in the small Wisconsin town and he kept going back to design new impressive buildings. Taliesin is his own work and it’s exemplary of the Prairie School of Architecture.
The first building there was finished in 1911, but Wright continued to add new structures and Taliesin served as a studio where he taught his students about the Prairie style. The last structure was built in 1959, meaning that Wright kept on improving the estate until his passing.
What’s also unique about Taliesin is that it features the only restaurant ever designed by Wright, while also being the place where the architect designed some of his most famous buildings such as the Guggenheim Museum in Manhattan.
Many call Taliesin in Spring Green (not to be confused with Taliesin in Scottsdale, AZ) the autobiography of Wright writ in stone. We recommend visiting this spectacular estate to all who appreciate innovative architecture.
The House on the Rock
If you simply can’t get enough of Frank Lloyd Wright, then go ahead and visit the House on the Rock after you come back from Taliesin. Located in Spring Green, the House on the Rock mimics the style of Wright and it’s a curious place filled with antiques and oddities that will leave you scratching your head.
National Railroad Museum
For the fans of choo-choo’s, we recommend the National Railroad Museum in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The museum features over 20 different steam and diesel trains, and it does so in a very creative way.
Visitors can enjoy dinner on one of the trains or take part in an exciting murder mystery on another. There is also the Polar Express event running in November and December for fans of the iconic film, along with many other different events throughout the year. We advise you to check out their website, so you can plan your trip accordingly.
The National Railroad Museum also features over 70 pieces of rolling stock and around 100,000 other artefacts. You might need more than one day to see everything that the museum has to offer.
National Historic Cheesemaking Center Museum
Wisconsin is the cheese state, so if you go there and don’t eat any, that would be considered a major faux pas. For those of you who are particularly passionate about cheese (who are we kidding, we are all passionate about cheese), we recommend visiting the National Historic Cheesemaking Center Museum in Monroe, Wisconsin.
Visitors can learn about the old cheesemaking process and see it in person. Naturally, the museum has a gift store which is, as you might have guessed, a richly stoked cheese shop. We love everything about this museum and about cheese, so if you feel like us, go ahead and plan your trip.
The Harley-Davidson Museum
Home to the most popular motorcycle brand, the Harley-Davidson Museum is the perfect place for all thrill-seekers. Some people might not know but Harley-Davidson was founded in 1903 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and you will likely have locals tell you that every chance they get.
If you want to see how and where everything started, you should give the Harley-Davidson Museum a visit. Featuring more than 450 vehicles, the museum details the rich history of the brand in a fun and creative way. There is also a unique Harley-Davidson restaurant that offers delicious dishes.
Count yourself lucky if you go there on one of the bike nights where owners of Harley-Davidson motorcycles come to the museum to show off their babies and meet up with other brand enthusiasts and tourists to talk about their motorcycles.
Conclusion
What do you think of our list? Have you visited any of the attractions? Let us know!
