40 Best Stops Between Chicago and Glacier National Park (2024)

The top stops along the way from Chicago to Glacier National Park (with short detours) are Mt. Olympus Water & Theme Park Resort, American Family Field, and Six Flags Great America. Other popular stops include Wisconsin State Capitol, The House on the Rock, and National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium.

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Six Flags Great America

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Theme park

Water & Amusem*nt Parks

Six Flags Great America is a vast and sprawling amusem*nt park situated in Gurnee, Illinois. The park boasts of over 100 rides and attractions, including numerous roller coasters for those seeking thrills. Visitors can also take a break from the rides by visiting Gurnee Mills shopping center located nearby. Recently opened to the public, Six Flags Great America welcomes all visitors with no waiting lines in the park.

Fantastic time had. Was my first time visiting and I loved it. As others have said, several rides weren’t open like the joker, and a few others but I still had an awesome day out. So many other cooler rides around. The funnel cake was epic and meeting bugs bunny was nice. I throughly enjoyed myself and would come back. Not so many people as like at Disney or universal so I don’t know if maybe cause I went on a work day Friday but I loved that. No waiting time on most rides (though the Goliath and the flight roller coasters had hectic lines) but everything else you walked right into the ride. A great day out.

Chosani Mbewe — Google review

Great park. My only complaint is they aren't very good at pairing single riders which really bogs down the lines (even more so on coasters that are only running one train). While they have an impressive coaster lineup, numerous of their coasters are clones or have been cloned at other parks so there's only a handful of "unique" coasters. Don't get me wrong all the coasters are fun but The Whizzer is about the only one so unique that you can't get that experience at another park.

John Niehaus — Google review

Had. A blast the three of us went it was awesome got on rollercoaster 🎢 I never thought I would. We went early on Saturday so the flash pass wasn't needed to skip the line. Everyone that worked there was very friendly and nice!!! I bought my season tickets online so everything was ready for us to get into the park, with ease!!!

Cameron Roberts — Google review

Small but well organized park with rollercoasters! A small area allows you to walk the entire park in 10-15 minutes on foot, drinks are sold everywhere, there are smoking areas and restaurants with food, and comfortable places to relax. The park is very interesting, each attraction has its own history, which goes back years, reminding that nothing new has been invented since then, but there are favorite classics that people love to ride. There are a lot of people on holidays and weekends, and you have to wait in line for a long time, it is better to come on Monday or Wednesday. I really liked the park, but there are not enough sweet desserts! I would like a greater variety of sweet buns, donuts, and possibly cakes!!! I recommend

Two wheels for soul — Google review

I visited Six Flags a few times this year. I will say getting a season pass is worth the value if you go more than once (even only twice). The pass includes parking, discounts on certain food and drinks in the park. Plus discounted tickets for friends and family.Six Flags offers many attractions for thrill seekers. I love the selection of Rollercoasters they have. The wait times weren't terrible, though I went on weekdays. I also brought my 8 and 6 year old children for Boo Fest recently and I was very impressed with how many attractions they had for little ones. The decorations were fun to look at and the rides kept them busy. There are dozens of food options and they do offer themed foods from time to time (Oktoberfest in September and October). The food can be pricey but, the quality is good. I bought a pass for next year, I used to go a lot when I was younger and it's still a great amusem*nt park with plenty to do. The longest I waited for am attraction was about 50 minutes.

Jeffrey Arias — Google review

Six Flags Great America is a FANTASTIC theme park! Not only does it have a bunch of coasters and spinning rides, but it has a LOT of rides for kids under 48in. At least 16 that I can think of, and about 12 of those kids under 42in can also ride. Their app has gotten really good; you can mobile order from a lot of different restaurants, see show times, and access the flash pass. The park is clean, the entertainment is top notch (I don't think I've met entertainers who are nicer than the ones here at SFGA, and they're super talented...and I go to Disneyworld a LOT, lol) food is good, and all the employees that I've ever encountered are kind and willing to help you. This review is ONLY for the main park. The waterpark is not open for the season yet...but we love it there too, especially since they added mobile ordering over in that section. You can only enter the waterpark from outside, there is no longer an entrance from inside the park. There is a six flags great america Facebook page for people who are fans of the park, and you can get a daily alert for up to date information about the park and meet new coaster enthusiasts, which will enhance your experience at the park.

Danielle O'Hara — Google review

The rides were pretty fun and overall a decent experience. Don't let the empty lines fool you, you'll be in line for hours if you don't have a "Flash Pass" it really is the pay to win system that gives people with money the most. So If you can afford it buy some of those passes, if not pass on six flags and go to kings island instead.

Alex Salazar — Google review

What a fun experience for our family!! So many rides for so many different thrill-seeking levels. I recommend buying tickets online about a month in advance - that seemed to be the lowest price. I also recommend going on a weekday. The lines were longest right after lunch (around 1pm - 4pm) If possible, get there 30min before it opens to get a good parking spot, lather on sunscreen, and wait in line for the gates to open. I also suggest bringing along lunch/supper. You are able to leave and re-enter the park as long as your hand is stamped, so save some money and pack food in the car. Tip: freeze the lunch meat and keep in a cooler w/ice packs in your car. It will be nice and cold for lunch (a bit icy, but good on a hot day!) and still cool/safe enough for supper.

Katrina Meinel — Google review

Six Flags Great AmericaNot bad. I've seen pictures of this place. I finally got to see it.Very enjoyable. Good food. Good rides. I only have ONE ISSUE. Why did they remove the batmobile. I came JUST TO SEE THE BATMOBILE. WHY DID YOU REMOVE IT.Highly Recommended

Kalvin Hang — Google review

Six Flags Great America is open y’all. Today was a pretty good day. There was literally no line in the park. We have waited long enough.

Neville Reid — Google review

The rides were great! Definitely got an adrenaline rush for sure. However it was the 4th of July so the only water ride they had was packed! And halfway through our day all the rides overheated and shut off. We waited about an hour or more and left due to maintenance taking a while to get everything back up. Slice of pizza was 20 bucks but it was good and vending machines charged 5 buckaroos for beverages. Definitely won’t be coming back until things cool off.

JANIE CHAMBERS — Google review

Great place to visit with family and kids. Lots of awesome rides. We enjoyed the each and every ride. Gotham City Rail ride is ready great. Food option are also nice and shops are open till 11.

Surendra Gurjar — Google review

Six Flags is definitely a thrills over atmosphere kind of park. There are some areas that they paid decent attention to though like Battle for Metropolis. If you're not into thrill rides, you might not get your money's worth as there are lots of crazy rides, a decent number of kids rides and not much in between. Plus of course, there are the lines on busy days. If you are an adrenaline junkie though, this is the perfect place for you.

Patrick Villacorta — Google review

This is such a bittersweet review. Our family enjoys coming here with our season passes because we live nearby. the rides are great and the park is clean. They have an amazing variety of adventurous rides to family rides. And the kids sections are great. They've been doing a lot better with their entertainment this summer than in the past. If you're coming here for just the day, I would not recommend it. The prices are skyrocketed and the parking charges are unjust. You will pay around $20 bucks for a mediocre/poor meal. Spend your money somewhere else. For being one of the only amusem*nt parks in the area, I expect a lot better.

Becka Irving — Google review

This is my closest six flags as I live in the UP of Michigan, but I love it so much. Great staff, clean park, and so many things to do for a huge range of ages. My husband and I went twice in 2023. Mid to end June was our first trip, on a Tuesday, and crowds were very mellow, got on everything in the first 3 hours of opening. Next was Saturday before Halloween for fright fest, right at park open was very slow, by 2 there's was quite a bit of people there, by 5/5:30, the streets were near impassable, wait times got up to 3 hours on a couple coasters and haunted attractions, but we still had an amazing time.They always have street entertainment, a huge variety of food, and shows going on too, and a whole play yard for the Littles.Food prices are pretty crazy high in my personal opinion, I won't spend $17 on a piece of pizza.. But I bring a couple bottles of water in and some snacks or sandwiches in a backpack with me. All the rides have bins to put any bags or cups in while ur on the ride.This place is awesome and we will be coming back again and again.

Naomi Anderson — Google review

I was here with my colleague. It’s cloudy but we had a great time. There are many different types of rollercoasters and it was amazing :) I wanna visit again in the spring.

Summer — Google review

FRIGHT FEST!!! GREAT TIME!! It's expensive to get in to six flags and it's costly while your in there. It's worth it when you get inside and get on the rides, and do the haunted houses. It's a cash less place so load your cards or have credit available. Parking is a nightmare and far to walk but it's a huge place. The scary characters walk around and they have scary zones so it's still a great time if you don't get the fright fest tickets. The kids will absolutely love what's going on and have a blast with all the scary characters walking around. The lines for waiting are big but generally move quite quickly. Hope you enjoy!!!

Thomas R (Emergency Engineer) — Google review

Great time on the X-flight, Raging Bull, and The Viper.Really good rides. Some cool things for the kids. Fright fest is dope too! Great decorations and interactive bits throughout the park.Def a money grab. Regular nachos are going to be $18. Beer is $15. Everything is pricey here.Worth noting that if you go during the weekend (or any busy time) then you’re best off getting a fast pass. We got screwed by the place after waiting 45 min in line for raging Bull only for them to shut it down. Because of that we only rode 3 rides after being at the park for an entire day.

Jeremy Miller — Google review

I’m too old for this place. 🤣No, really, we had a BLAST! Little tip, you cannot pay with cash for anything at all in the park. Bring a credit card!The newer rides were so fun. Fright Fest was incredible. Get there early, stay till close. We’ll be back next year!

Shannon Giese — Google review

We love six flag parks. I have children at 41 inches tall and 49 inches tall. Both of them had great time in this park. Last Saturday was the first time we went to the Halloween event. We absolutely love it. However, it might be too intense for the little ones. There were many people so the line was long. Some of the most popular rides were at 90+ mins wait. The preferred parking place is in front of the Hurricane Harbor park. You don’t have to print the preferred parking reservation. Just tell the staff your name when you arrive and he will let you in.

Ivy Tian — Google review

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Woodfield Mall

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Shopping mall

Shopping

Expansive mall offering brand-name stores, restaurants, a bowling alley & game lounge & comedy club.

I simply wanted y’all to know my incredible experience at this particular store. I wanted to shop clothes for kids and I went to the perfect store. This store is super clean and everything is perfectly organized. Many people were there who are also busy shopping but the store is not crowded. Staff are accommodating and helpful. I’ve got to choose from their wonderful selection of shoes and clothes. They got pretty designs and good quality selection of clothes. Shoes and clothes are branded and the prices are fair and reasonable. It was a great deal and the kids love what I got for them. I highly suggested this Kids Foot Locker store if you wanted amazing shoes, clothes and other stuffs for kids!

Charles Strickland — Google review

We decided to come here since I have no works to do. My wife told me that we go to this mall early to spend our whole day here. It’s been a long time since we go to the mall. Since we already eat our breakfast before coming here we decided to go to every stores and looks for some products and things to buy. There are some people in the mall so it’s easy to walk and the flooring was very clean. Some of the stores that we enter has a nice and good service and some are not. The pricing was depending on the brand and the quality of the shirts. The good things are there’s a sale and a discount but in a limited product only. Although the dress and the polo shirt that we bought was little expensive but its worth the price. After the tiring shopping we ate and bought some groceries. So this is our experience in this mall.

Jose Diaz — Google review

A typical mall. Nothing special. Big enough for to spend few hrs there & have a meal. But in my honest opinion, the mall design a bit weird. A lot of stairs, ramp & escalators. Kinda confusing

M MM — Google review

Wow. This is the best mall I've ever been to. Huge variety of stores and the labyrinth design makes it so easy to go wherever you want. Great job to the architecture team for designing such a cool user friendly shopping experience. I'm, and they are getting a Primark!!!

K.R. Vega — Google review

Woodfield Mall is just plain amazing, it is a good spot for xmas shopping. You will find everything here.Before Covid they had this awesome new food court that had opened.I was so sad because I wanted to try a few spots. Anyways I am hoping to re-visit and hopefully they are still open. Update it is open and back up and everything is still amazing.

Carm A — Google review

I grew up going to this mall for all my shopping needs. Happy to say it’s still the best mall around. Great stores, easy layout. Don’t miss Woodfield when you have shopping needs!

Laurie Arslani — Google review

A great mall with some amazing stores. You will find a variety of diverse stores. You will find your luxury brand stores here. You will find collectables stores here and clothing stores.We really liked the variety of diverse restaurants here. You can find a boba tea place here and a variety of different foods here. Garrets Popcorn has a line and this was our go-to spot for Garrets Popcorn. Totally worth the wait!The layout of the mall is very easy to walk through but there are not many escalators. The elevators were not working (2023) memorial weekend when we were here.Bathrooms were in good condition. Not the cleanest but also not the dirtiest as well. Trash bins are easily accessible and easy to find. There is seating around the main areas but not so much around other areas.Parking is very easy to find. When it's busy, it's busy. You're better off parking away from the front entrances as we saw someone driving around from the moment we got into the parking lot and from the time we found a spot and walked towards the mall.Overall, a great mall and would HIGHLY recommend coming here to find stuff you want.

TinaEh VangLee — Google review

A real shopper friendly mall. The food court isn't out of the way. It's kinda centered. A lot of malls have that dead feel to them but this one is pretty much thriving with stores and restaurants located throughout the mall. Pretty busy every time I've gone, but it's been shoppable

Michael G — Google review

I visited Woodfield mall after a long time.But this mall has no change in terms of eguipment and decoration. I did not feel good about the mall.Crowded with people and one could say, that they are very outdated.I won’t go there for a few years, maybe never.

Dudy — Google review

The Primark in here opened up, which is one of my fav stores, which is so nice!! This mall has a great selection and is full of incredible stores. One of the best malls I've been to. Shopping paradise!

I Like Tacos — Google review

4.5

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4.5

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5 Woodfield Mall, Schaumburg, IL 60173, USA

(847) 330-1537

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Rooms and guests

Rooms

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Adults

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Children

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Cantigny

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Park

Museums

500 acres of gardens, golf, camping & picnic grounds, plus 2 museums, eateries & a bandshell.

Wow! This place is stunning! Had the opportunity to shoot a wedding here in 2021 and was amazed by the venue. The landscaping was immaculate with luscious gardens, abundant ivy archways, and large trees. There were nice paths throughout so the bride did not have to worry about getting her dress muddy. I also loved the wide concrete stairways out by the gardens.The couple had their ceremony at a church nearby and then party-bused it over for bridal party shots and couple portraits.The couple was all smiles all day even though it was a classic Indiana summer day - 100 degrees and not a cloud in the sky. The pushed through the heat for their portraits and I am so glad they did! On days like this, it is nice to have lots of shaded areas around the venue to take little breaks.5/5 for landscaping5/5 for venue being accommodating to any request that I had5/5 for uniqueness as a wedding venueCannot rave enough! If you are thinking about booking your wedding here - do it!

Clay House Photography — Google review

I decided to visit in hopes to see fall colors. The park did not disappoint in this aspect as the trees were in peak color form. The park also had fall decorations and colorful mums. The miles of trails take you across scenic landscape, gorgeous buildings, unique sculptures, and a plethora of plants. There is a rich history of the park and one can read about it throughout the park. The parking is $5. The only problem I had was that there were a ton of people taking photos and you may find yourself accidentally walking through one! I will be coming back here for more photo ops and to take in the beautiful scenery. Please visit in fall you won’t regret!

Ryan Sutter — Google review

Absolutely beautiful gardens! The idea garden really caught our attention, but the grounds are full of curated horticultural masterpieces. We'll spend more time in, and get more photos of, the other areas on the next trip.Unfortunately, the mansion was still closed for construction on this trip, so we couldn't go inside. The area surrounding it is superbly peaceful, though, so still head over there and look around. The memorial site for Col. and Mrs. McCormick is an especially tranquil place for quiet reflection.

Aaron D. Tanner (Biduman) — Google review

Beautiful park with space for all. In addition the First Division museum is located on site as well and if you go to one, make sure you see them both. Lots of history and just a great way to spend the afternoon anytime of year. Plenty of parking and restrooms.

Elizabeth Kirwan — Google review

Beautiful place with an incredible story! Outside they have many trails to walk and explore woods, fields, gardens, and ponds. Watch out for the wild turkeys that live here- four of them followed me and my companion though nothing more happened. Also on the property is the First Division Museum which is all about the American Military from World War 1 to the present. Their exhibits are excellent in terms of content and display, which looks and feels like you are on the battlefields. The employees in the museum were welcoming and helpful. I highly recommend visiting this museum! Lastly, there is an outdoor ‘Tank Park’ that displays several different tanks and artillery pieces from World War 1 to present and provides plenty of picture taking opportunities. As for parking- lots of it in their huge parking lot! A must come here for a couple hours and well worth it!

Michael G — Google review

Nicely done park surrounding the museum. The brick walkways were exceptionally done and very well kept. There are several flower gardens an be plenty of places to sit and enjoy the surroundings. There is plenty of parking and admission for us that day was $5 per car.

Philip Malizia — Google review

I have been here a few times and the grounds are amazing. All the tanks, the home that you can tour, where celebrities like John Wayne visited, and the gardens are amazing. However this time I came to see a orchestra perform a concert on the grounds in the bandshell. What agreat experience! If you haven't been here check it out and stay for the Saturday night musical entertainment.

Mike S — Google review

Great place for a walk, you can visit some tanks that are displayed outside the 1st Division museum. The entrance is free in the museum. There is a picnic area and a playground for kids. Beautiful flower garden in spring and summer and a lot of events during the entire year. You are only paying for the parking fee, read is free to visit.

Marcela Naste — Google review

First time visitor. Amazing. Went on a weekday afternoon in November and there was hardly anyone there. Almost had the entire place to ourselves. Walked the grounds a bit - I’m sure they’re quite stunning when the flowers are blooming but we had fall colors to look at which were very nice. Went over to the war museum and found it to be very accessible and relatively short and to the point. Nice displays with a general overview of what the First Division has done since World War I. Watched a couple of good short videos inside that helped explain Catigny Park and the ongoing changes. We’ll have to come back when the main house is finished being renovated. We also enjoyed being able to climb on the tanks. That was cool.

Karl Peterman — Google review

This is the first time I visit this park and I really like how it is designed and how clean it is. At the entrance there is a parking fee but if you are walking in there is no fee. They do have plenty of parking and on this visit I got to see the Alembrijes that were completed by Mexican Artists who brought their art from Mexico City to be displayed here. They also have a playground in the front of the park, they also have a restaurant and also there is an area where kids can play or do activities inside. There is plenty of space to seat and enjoy the park. The trails are very clean and overall I liked the park so I'll come back to this exhibition again.

Miguel Angel — Google review

This park has so many events all week that you can find something to enjoy, very pretty. They have lavender and a cute little garden. It's so beautiful, take second to come enjoy the view.

Claudia Ramos — Google review

This estate is immaculately maintained and has dozens of beautifully groomed walking paths. There are things to do for all ages. The retired army tanks are definitely a popular part that are appreciated by children because they can climb on them. The flowers and plants are meticulously taken care of. The entire property is some jewel of Illinois. I would recommend Cantigny Park to family and friends of all ages!

Cameron Wiegartz — Google review

This is an amazing place to get out and enjoy nature and learn a lot. They have a military museum and tanks. Such beautiful grounds. Admission is paid by the car. During week is the best time to go its only 5.00 and a little more expensive on weekends. Definitely worth the visit, the cafe has amazing food as well. I really enjoyed the beautiful grounds and landscaping. Extremely peaceful.

Kelly Stevens — Google review

We went in December 2023 for their first light show and opening of the ice rink. It was amazing. It took about 15 minutes to walk up to the house and 15 minutes to walk back. The walk through the lit up gardens was beautiful. They had fires and sitting areas throughout and a few different cocoa centers. The house took about 10 minutes to walk through. At the end was a little specialty gift shop and another, larger cocoa center.They probably should have had a bit of extra staff to help with in take at the skating rink, but other than that it was a smooth, just a bit slow process. For rink use and skates it was $10/person and for the light show it was $15/person. My family enjoyed our evening from 4:30pm to just shy of 8pm.Definitely would like to go again next year.

Autty Bozza — Google review

An absolutely amazing place to relax and recharge new energy.A huge park with a touch of a great past.If you have a dog only Monday is good day.The museum is free, and that’s rare in the world.Moreover beautiful and will teach you a lot.I’m in of the person who invented, founded and realized this place.I was more fortunate, that I was occompanied by four women.Thank you and good luck...

Dudy — Google review

We wanted to do something different instead of going to a sit down restaurant like we do every holiday season. My wife said someone she knows had a great time so we booked a cabana. We had an amazing time! Food was good, hot cocoa was good and there's a bar if you're needing something warmer. They provide blankets but dress for the outdoors and bring thicker blankets if needed. Next time we'll bring a foldable table as table space is lacking. Overall, we had a wonderful family night.

Moses Cuadra — Google review

Cantigny Christmas lights were amazing! Was worth the price of $10 parking and $15 admission. It was such a delight to see all the indoor and outdoor festive decorations. Was able to grab a nice cup of hot chocolate and walk the path at my own pace for as long as I wanted. Absolutely adored the McCormick house with all its history and charm!

Anna — Google review

Cantigny Park Review Google MapsVery beautiful, clean, nicely arranged, well kept park for all ages. I can’t believe I haven’t heard of it before. I asked a bunch of people from FB neighborhood for good places to spend time with kids and this place was 1st on recommendation list.It is indeed a great park. It costs $ for entrance but so worth it. We went there on Wednesday 8/16/23 which is a weekday & paid $5/car at the entrance, but they have different fee for weekends and holidays. However, regardless the fee, I’d go there again and again.The park has nice playground structure for toddlers near a huge parking lot, also down the path there is a walk in bathroom with multiple stalls. Soda vending machine around the corner and a tank on the parking lot.The park itself has main entrance across from handy-kept parking area but you can also walk the side paths of each direction with a stroller or a wagon. (Left path) will take you around beautiful floral gardens, museum mansions and to the nice green meadow with a pond of water lilies & cute fish that swim close to the edge to look at you. It was fun to feed them bread.Further on, the park has numerous floral arrangement secluded corners with certain incline path for wheeled items like stroller or wheelchair. A great big field with inflated jump castles for kids, and other interactions at a certain AM hour of the day, because they remove them closer to 5pm.Further on there is a nice fountain, with benches to rest & take cool photos. Beautiful gardens and exquisite flowers with names. A little deeper towards the indoor museum of WWII military equipment and heavy weaponry there’s a big bunch of WWII tanks from several different countries. And by bunch I mean it allot, at least 10-15 of them stationed outside and kids can climb & touch them. Very cool. My 4 y/o toddler did not skip a single tank his dad placed him on. So he had a blast. Between the tanks and a pond… he wanted to feed the fish again before we left.On FB photos I saw different colorful structures for kids which I didn’t notice at the park, but I’m guessing they are installed seasonally. So it’s cool to come back in a while to catch something new. For this reason I highly recommend this place to anyone. Just use a sunscreen at AM visiting hours on a hot summer day.

Vladlena Malikova — Google review

Cantigny Park is a top-notch wedding venue that I, as a wedding photographer, have had the pleasure of working at multiple times. Its grounds are stunning, adorned with beautiful flowers, providing an ideal setting for capturing memorable moments. What's remarkable is its versatility, offering both indoor and outdoor ceremony spaces to cater to diverse preferences. The staff is consistently professional and accommodating, ensuring seamless events and maximum photo opportunities.Cantigny Park stands out as a picturesque canvas for creating timeless memories. I eagerly anticipate returning to this venue in the future, knowing it never fails to deliver an exceptional experience. Whether you're a couple seeking a romantic backdrop or a photographer searching for the perfect setting, Cantigny Park is a highly recommended choice that consistently exceeds expectations. IG: LaurenAshleyStudios

Lauren Ashley Studios — Google review

4.8

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5.0

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1 S, 151 Winfield Rd, Wheaton, IL 60189, USA

(630) 668-5161

4

Milwaukee Art Museum

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Art museum

Museums

Art gallery

Milwaukee Art Museum is a world-renowned art museum located in downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The Museum has a collection of over 25,000 paintings, prints, drawings and photographs from all over the world. The architecture of the Quadracci Pavilion by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava is iconic of Milwaukee and features retractable winglike structures that open up to 66 meters during the day.

Great place. Visited here many times in different years, both from just outside as well as from inside. The most interesting thing about this building is the wings open and close every morning and every evening, and that is a sight to watch.The exhibits are interesting and very creative. A full day can be easily spent here roaming inside and outside. Lakeside views are stunning too.

See Joy Explores — Google review

I t was quite a while ago I was able to spend some time and check out this beautiful one of a kind structure! While visiting for work. The wings open at around 10am with the museum, and flap at noontime, then close when the museum closes. Worth seeing!In side the museum there is lots of space with views of the lake and lots of nice art.It is also located just steps away on the shores of Lake Michigan and can walk right in front of the lake and the museum while walking along the path

Donald hood — Google review

Wonderful experience! Not only was the museum awesome, but it sits right on the lake. Great place to spend an entire day! Beer and food tents on the patio for after a day spent looking at beautiful and moving works of art.

Angie Malloy — Google review

This art museum is a great size! It isn't overwhelming, you can take your time and enjoy the art and the beautiful views of the lake. There was a Haitian exhibit when I visited that was phenomenal! I really recommend it.One thing to note, it was very warm inside so bring layers. I was in a winter sweater and it was a bit too warm!

J Larwig — Google review

The Milwaukee Art Museum is not only a cornucopia of masterpieces of art. The museum itself is a masterpiece of artwork, both the interior and the exterior. The world renowned mechanical wings, which spread out when the museum opens to the public and fold shut when the museum closes for the day (and light up at night), have made this building’s architecture world famous.Most of the galleries in the museum are dedicated towards contemporary and modern art. I didn’t explore these galleries as much as the historic European and American art galleries, but I still found plenty of paintings and sculptures in the contemporary galleries intriguing to marvel at. The abstract images portrayed in those works leave you to make your own interpretation as to what exactly the artist is trying to convey.I spent much more time in the historic European and American paintings galleries. These exhibits displayed a plethora of realism and impressionist masterpieces from a wide variety of artists, some famous and others lesser known. Most of the famous paintings and sketches were from the Dutch painter Rembrandt, but there was also a gallery dedicated to Paul Gauguin, and a couple of works from Claude Monet. These works further deepened my admiration for great art museums like this one.This visit in January 2024 was actually my second visit to the Milwaukee Art Museum. My first one was in January 2018. During that time, there was a traveling exhibit featuring renowned masterpieces from artists such as Edgar Degas and Vincent Van Gogh. These exhibits are usually on display for a rather brief period of time, and whenever there is such an exhibition, you should definitely go to the art museum and see those famous pieces of art yourself. Even when there’s not any temporary exhibits featuring world famous priceless artwork, the museum still has a plethora to explore. This is after all, Milwaukee’s best tourist attraction and a must see in every imaginable way.

N Duncan — Google review

It truly is a beautifully designed building that houses unbelievably wonderful pieces of art. You will see works of popular artists like Andy Warhol, Georgia O'keeffe, and countless others.The sculpture of "The Janitor" is amazing. He seemed as if he was going to tell me a story about the years of service he'd given to his field of work. Other works of art made me ponder what the artists message to us is, how the art was created, and what was the inspiration for the work? You will naturally wonder about these things and more yourself.

Patrick Cameron — Google review

The Art in Bloom exhibit was beautiful. I've lived in Milwaukee for years and this was my first time at this exhibit. I've grown up attending various events at the art museum and also just coming on my own time, but this particular event that happens annually is worth the trip. How cool to see flower arrangements that are inspired by art in the museum!

Kayla Loos — Google review

This is an absolutely beautiful museum. It offers something for everyone whether your particular favorite art expression is Impressionism, Modern, Renaissance, Folk, and much more. We spent close to three hours and did not see it all. If you are in the Milwaukee area I highly recommend a visit to this museum. You won’t be disappointed! We arrived about 10:30 and the underground parking garage was mostly empty. We paid $10 for the time we were there. There is also a garage across the street.

Anita Peek — Google review

Great way to go spend a couple of hours in Milwaukee! Had a very large selection of different historic items, art pieces, sculptures, furniture, mechanical pieces, etc! It got me thinking about many various periods throughout human history and was quite thought-provoking. Not to mention, the architecture of the museum itself is impressive!

Braeden McKean — Google review

A large and varied collection of art modalities and subjects are on display.With too much to see in several hours, I recommend becoming a member, especially if you live in Milwaukee and appreciate art and beauty's impact on oneself.There are water fountains and restrooms inside. The parking below and across the street in the garage are discounted if you are a member. There are a number of benches for the large art pieces and a set of tables and chairs in the foyer on the lake side entrance. I do enjoy reading books in the museum in several places such as the 3rd floor's lounge room with views of the lake and discovery world/south.They can hold your water bottles or other items that they will not let you bring inside (such as a metal water bottle). There are also lockers for items, but I'm not sure how much those cost.Students and seniors pay less for tickets.

Paul Rinaldi — Google review

The architecture of the building itself alone is amazing. My visit here was more than I imagined, such great art pieces and amazing views right outside as well! A lot of art to see, I believe we spent a couple hours exploring. One of my favorite museums I've been to so far! Most definitely recommend if you are in the area.

Michelle Chesmore — Google review

An absolute “need to go” to spot when visiting Milwaukee.Not just for the relaxing lakefront walk outside and admiring the architecture. They also have great seasonal and exclusive exhibits year round. Plus, there’s a pretty good cafe inside if you’re hungry.For those locals, there’s typically a monthly deal for a cheaper entrance. I believe it’s the 3rd Thursday of every month. Correct me if I’m wrong.They also have great events here all throughout the year.

Jeremy Miller — Google review

Such a great museum! I didn't want to leave, as we hadn't seen all of the galleries, but the kids were ready for food (if I'm honest, we were all fading). The sketching kits that you can pick up (free!) for the kids are an incredible idea, and was a perfect way to get and keep 6 and 7 year old kids interested in the art around them.I am looking forward to returning so I can see all of the myriad art pieces I missed!

Aaron M Mills — Google review

A beautiful building and amazing pieces from paintings, sculptures, pottery, furniture, carvings, posters were being featured but sadly the photography section was closed as they were moving and updating. A definite must see in Milwaukee for any and all ages. Staff were helpful and available throughout the areas.

Beth Rekoske — Google review

I had never visited the art museum before. We only went because I'm a teacher and had a free pass, and kids are free. It's not really a place for kids, though. We were followed and got in trouble for the kids getting too close to exhibits. Unless you are an art student or your passion is art, this was a one-time stop for us. Some of the older paintings were cool to see, but the best part was the lakefront! We ate lunch outside and walked by the lake.

D M — Google review

Fascinating facility and a fantastic collection of American, Minimalist, Abstract and Haitian Art and so much more. Definitely needs to be a bucket list item. Easy access and plenty of parking. Spend the day, enjoy a great coffee, tea and sandwich in the restaurant.

Larry Culbertson — Google review

Wow, what an amazing museum inside and out! Such a great collection, but be warned the Milwaukee Art Museum is huge! I regret only allocating two-ish hours for my visit, because you really could spend a half-day or more here. Wear comfy shoes!

Alyssa, waywardblog — Google review

Milwaukee Art Museum is beautiful! Whomever designed this building really created something special. The building itself is gorgeous. You walk in and there is beautiful scenary of Lake Michigan..breathtaking! As you wonder down the halls and in the open concept floor plans there is something for everyone to see. The hand painted artwork is my favorite and also some of the sculpted work as well. They have security on every floor which I love. The staff is nice and friendly. It is much bigger in the inside vs just looking at the outside. They do have a small cafe area where you can eat.

Sweet N Sassy — Google review

This museum is such a gem! It’s a beautiful architectural marvel designed by Santiago Calatrava. You will definitely admire the combination of shapes, spaces and light.The collection is also really well curated. Amazing contemporary art pieces and a great selection of modernist furniture.

Tatiana B — Google review

Going to start this review by saying it's a bit biased. Reason why? Because I never went in. This was a scheduled stop on a father son road trip in 2022. Had a financial faux pa a few days before getting to this destination. Well, long story short, my son and I decided we would save some money instead of buying tickets. Now, what I will say is that we still stopped here and took in the sights. The museum is a marvel of modern architecture and is stunning to look at. So, we took some pictures, enjoyed the view of Lake Michigan and walked the surrounding grounds. There's no doubt the museum is wonderful. I have toured the museum before but I didn't think it was fair I give an exact review of what's inside. Especially, knowing my last visit was over 30 years ago. I'm sure many things have changed inside. With that noted, I still would highly recommend visiting the museum!

D-Rock T — Google review

Excellent museum with beautiful views, amazing architecture & world class galleries & collections. Everything from current contemporary exhibitions & a well rounded post-war American collection to European classics and amazing folk art. Easy to spend a lot of time here regardless of level of art education or particular interest. Highly recommended. 🖼️

Death Party — Google review

I absolutely LOVED this museum!!! The staff was friendly and helpful. The art was absolutely STUNNING! I was very impressed with the number of Georgia Okeeffe paintings I saw. A great collection of both historical and contemporary pieces. I only wish I had more time to explore! I only had 2 hours before closing, and I definitely could have stayed another 2 hours.

Tracy Murphy — Google review

I’ve had the pleasure of visiting several times now and each time I find new delights. The faculty itself is quite striking. The variety in the collection means that everyone can find something that draws them in regardless of your personal tastes.The setting is also stunning. I was there most recently near dusk in November. The sky colors and low horizon shadows made it exceptionally pretty.

Stephen Balza — Google review

I highly enjoyed my time here. Beautiful pieces of art. Blown glass from only the most popular ;)My friends and I recieved military discounts, with it. Go visit, I dare you.The overall outdoor architecture is incredible, you'll want and not easily resist exploring the inside.

Spencer Thomas — Google review

4.7

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4.5

(2802)40 Best Stops Between Chicago and Glacier National Park (28)

700 N Art Museum Dr, Milwaukee, WI 53202, USA

(414) 224-3200

5

Harley-Davidson Museum

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Heritage museum

Museums

The Harley-Davidson Museum is a well-known museum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin that covers the history of the company dating back to 1903. It has current special exhibits about motorcycles and their importance in American culture.

This place was awesome! Was so impressed with how much information and how many bikes they had. Does a great job of truly portraying the history of Harley Davidson. Any fan of motorcycles, history, or even if you simply have some time to kill, the place is well worth it and the restaurant across the way isn’t half bad either

Daniel Oot — Google review

The museum was very well put together. The staff was friendly and helpful to anyone who was there. Unfortunately I didn't have time to eat at the restaurant though. Next trip that will happen.The way the museum is mapped out, the quality of the pieces, and the audio self tour info really makes it fun.Just a few photos. Don't want to ruin it for your visit.

michael hatton — Google review

Here's a few photos of what to expect in the museum! Me and my partner went during the Harley Davidson festival so it was VERY busy. It's a very cool place to check out. I don't know much about motorcycles but seeing all the old ones and the difference paint jobs was pretty cool and more up my alley. I do recommend if you're checking out Milwaukee to check this spot out!

Moon Ghoul — Google review

Great tour through history. I learned a lot and it was lots of fun! I love that all motorcycles in the place actually run with the exception of two. It’s really easy to tell which one don’t. All of the staff are as passionate about motorcycles as I am. Must see. Major check off of my bucket list.

Mike Stanford — Google review

It's a great museum to learn a lot about a piece of history that's embedded in Milwaukee. I didn't know much about motorcycles when I went, but it was definitely a fun family trip.

David Bee — Google review

Amazing museum. Great fun, very informative & interactive, detailed history. A must-visit for Harley-Davidson fans and enthusiasts.Love the bikes displayed chronologically from the first make till the latest one.Best part is that we can touch, feel, sit on some bikes and take photos.The gift shop is good.The outdoor area next to the river is beautiful.We enjoyed our visit very much 😊

Brinda Mistry — Google review

Being a huge fan and considering these motorcycles world's most sophisticated and beautiful, visiting this museum was the top reason for our day trip from Chicago.I found the entry fee slightly over 20$ reasonable for exhibition spreading on 2 floors and top vault.Museum is well organized. The first floor (where you enter) starts with founding explanations, first models produced, HD role in WWI and WWII as well in almost all public services.Most interesting on the lower floor (ground floor) for me were the custom made and decorated models which are indeed work of art.

Dejan Braki — Google review

The Harley Davidson Museum is a must-see for anyone with an interest in motorcycles or American history. The exhibits are incredibly detailed and showcase the evolution of the iconic brand over the years. The museum is well-organized and easy to navigate, with plenty of informative displays and interactive exhibits. The staff is knowledgeable and friendly, providing insight into the history and culture of Harley Davidson. The museum also features a great restaurant and gift shop, making it a great destination for a day trip or weekend getaway. Overall, I highly recommend the Harley Davidson Museum to anyone looking for a unique and informative experience.

Ritesh Singh — Google review

Absolutely fantastic. The cost is around 20$ a person. If you are a hog member, it is free.The effort and time put into preserving the history is commendable. I posted several pictures of the bikes. There are video documentaries there you can watch as well. They have a wall of all the tanks. They have a room with just the engines. I can't say enough. If you are a motorcycle enthusiast, add this place to your list.I would plan on spending a couple of hours here. There are plenty of spots to rest. Clean bathrooms.

Shane Cherniss — Google review

A must visit for all bike lovers and riders. This is the only place where you will get the complete history of Harley Davidson and see all the models they have manufactured so far.They have a very big parking space. I loved the visit My dad and my son thoroughly enjoyed it.

Srinivasan G — Google review

Stopped in with my wife on our road trip and just loved your museum. Finished our trip home to Minneapolis, we still had a few days left on our vacation, as we unpacked we just thought our grandson's would just love it as much as we did. So we grabbed both our 7 yr old boys and came back the next day. We were so excited but I think they were even more excited! Thank you for a lifetime opportunity to share these memories. We have younger grand children and look forward to sharing this with them as well. The Bath's

Donald Bath — Google review

In the course of my business trip to Chicago, I took the time and visited the Harley Davidson Museum in Milwaukee approx. 2 hours drive from Chicago, entrance 22 USDIt is very worthwhile and is highly recommended

sesa — Google review

Cool place to go even if you are not a bike fanatic. I personally think the cost was a bit much for how small the museum was ($22 per adult, $5 additional for audio tour). Part of it is under construction. You do get free parking however. Really interesting to see the development of the bike and the company. You will take 1 hour and 1/2 at most unless you plan to read everything.

Denice Korean — Google review

Very good experience. Unexpectedly huge place. So much history, original blue prints interactive media that will allow you to understand the combustion process, the difference between the twin motors..... amazing. And bar drinks and food were also pretty good.Price per Adult is 22 dollars

Carmen Morales Rico — Google review

I'm not a Harley, motorcycle owner, or rider, but this museum was pretty cool. On display are bikes from every year from the start of Harley Davidson, 1903. And a wall of engines, you can even hear them run and see photos. Also a wall of the Harley gas tanks, Evil Knievel's bike, lots of memorabilia. And a few bikes to sit on and take photos. It was a lot of fun!

Laura Carrington — Google review

My father and I have always been motorcycle fans and when we found out that the Harley-Davidson showroom was in Milwaukee we had to go. They have two tour options and audio guided tour where you just walk at your own pace. We decided to walk at our own pace and had an amazing time looking at all the history of where Harley came from to where they are today. They have some absolutely amazing machines on display like the old school postmaster bikes, world war I and II sidecar bikes to there current selection. It was truly amazing seeing where they started and how far they've come and it definitely made my dad smile and brought back some amazing memories for him of when he used to work on his old Harley. They also have a restaurant bar and wedding venue there which I thought was amazing there was a wedding going on while we were visiting everyone was super cool could be a great spot for a wedding for any bike enthusiast. This is a must see when in Milwaukee.

K Lewis — Google review

We visited the museum on Sunday noon. It was certainly a pleasant experience as Harley Davidson motorcycles are mostly a dream for anyone who has watched an Undertaker in WWF. The museum offers plenty of free parking. The museum featured many Harley's starting from when the company started its operations in 1903. They have done a pretty good job of preserving their history. The museum also has a souvenir shop where we bought a magnet and postcards. We spent about 2.5 hours in the museum.

omkar marathe — Google review

Never had a chance to go while I lived here and man did I miss out on it until now. So much history in one place and so much to see. Seeing the older bikes really is something especially when you never get to see them up close ever. The restaurant is delicious and the shops are a must. Go enjoy the history here because it is awesome.

patrick stemmler — Google review

Amazing experience capturing the birth of a motorcycle legend from birth to present day! This place is a treasure trove of information and a collection of some of the greatest bikes ever built. There are two floors of history here in a very clean and beautifully displayed museum for all ages!

Gary — Google review

Cool place to visit. There's even good food and beer. Come learn a bit about milwaukee history and see some cool bikes!

Scott Hendrix — Google review

The Harley-Davidson Museum in Milwaukee offers a fascinating glimpse into the history of this iconic American brand, featuring over 450 motorcycles and artifacts. It's not just for bike enthusiasts; the museum's interactive exhibits and engaging displays make it a compelling visit for anyone interested in American innovation and culture. With everything from vintage models to the latest designs, it provides a comprehensive look at the evolution of motorcycles and their impact worldwide. A visit here promises an educational and memorable experience, making it a must-see destination in Milwaukee.

Piotr Grodek — Google review

We thoroughly enjoyed our time at the museum. Allow yourself ample time to see the models since its inception and how the bikes have evolved over the century.

Nilar Aye — Google review

Stopped during our road trip and definitely wish we had had more time to spend here.If you’re a Harley fan, you’re going to want to check this place out. There are a ton of things to do.. shop, eat, ride.. even a museum (which looked awesome but we didn’t have the time to see).Prices were what you would expect, for the most part, for anything Harley.. some good deals to be had at the outlet.Make sure you have a few hours at least to spend here if you go!

Enrica Carr — Google review

Very detailed of the bikes through the years, many on display. Don't forget to go to the third floor via elevator to see the racks of bikes in storage in the vault.

Tim Jones — Google review

So much fun & it was fantastic to see the vintage motorcycles. You can tell how carefully they curated their collection. The posters, the old magazines, loved it all! We will absolutely be going back again.

Dianna Faught — Google review

4.7

(9776)40 Best Stops Between Chicago and Glacier National Park (36)

4.5

(3151)40 Best Stops Between Chicago and Glacier National Park (37)

400 W Canal St, Milwaukee, WI 53201, USA

(414) 287-2789

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6

Bookworm Gardens

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Botanical garden

Nature & Parks

Gardens

Bookworm Gardens is a botanical garden that offers community events and features sections inspired by popular children's books. Despite the parking lot being full, it doesn't feel crowded during the day on Saturdays. Although there isn't a large selection of blooming flowers, the ones available are set up beautifully. Every area of the garden has a theme based on children's books, providing an enjoyable and unique way to experience classics like "The Three Little Pigs.

Such an amazing place! My son had been here for field trips and loved it, but we went for the first time as a family for their special Halloween event. Clean and family friendly, with tons of interactive elements to keep kids busy. Can't wait to go back again.

D Castle — Google review

Book worm gardens is a near magical place, where books come to life. There are plenty of things to touch and explore, from houses and forts to musical instruments and nature!We've been here many times, with children ranging from 1 to 14, and they always enjoy each moment. I would say that, in general, children 2-7 will get the most fun out of this experience, but other ages are sure to enjoy it too.

Damon B — Google review

This place is AWESOME. There are so many areas for kids to enjoy and explore. Every book they have ever loved and new ones to find are here. Admission online is approximately $8 but worth it. My kids kept saying "this is magical" and they're almost 9And 7.5.Definitely worth the cost and visit.

K Gandolf — Google review

A visual treat for young and old alike! The stories represented through the park's exhibits range across tales familiar to all ages, and both the hard and softscaping are breath taking. Just be sure to make an appointment before you go!

Ben Szilagyi — Google review

This place looked really cool and I wanted to see it. Didn't realize they charged to go through it, thought it was more of a botanical garden. Parking is kinda limited for as busy as they get. Didn't realize it was also geared more for kids. When I seen all the curtain crawlers running around, I had to pass.

Brian Dible — Google review

Seriously the cutest. Our girls are older teens and still loved it - we had a blast trying to figure out which story went with each garden, and sometimes were introduced to new stories we hadn't read yet. Definitely worth a trip (or more!) to this magical place!

Sara Borland — Google review

Such a cute place! Thouroughly enjoyed by my nieces aged 4-9. Easy parking & entry. First time visiting. Worth the Easy 2 hour drive from Madison.

Jennifer Meier — Google review

We came during the day on a Saturday, even though parking lot was full, it didn't feel crowed on our walk. Not a large selection of flowers blooming, but was is there is set up beautifully. All the areas of the garden are themed to children's books. It was a fun, unique way experience some of the classics like 3 little pigs. With a general addition, you can go around as many times as you. My 5 year has a blast.

Olga Kirilchuk — Google review

Been meaning to go for some time but didn't with COVID. Kids are 6, 8, and 10 and were less than impressed than a toddler/preschooler would have been, but still had a good time. They really liked the Laura Ingalls Wilder area and the music/art area and were entertained for about 2.5 hours. I think it would be nicer for local families who could drop in, read the laminated book they provide and view the accompanying display casually. Honestly, most of the books in the displays I had never heard of and we're fairly well read; many are short children's books, so it would have been better to have gotten a bunch from the library and read them before the visit. Also, for adults, the garden itself doesn't feature many unique plants as a standard botanical garden and there's few labels, although it's well maintained and you can tell they are trying to expand the variety.

Bridget Van Laanen — Google review

I had no idea this place was a botanical garden, too! The flowers were GORGEOUS, the storybook spots were so cute, and the park was clearly designed with kids and interaction in mind. I didn't know most of the references, but was delighted to discover that I knew a few! It was fun to explore and to find so many little easter eggs, if you will.

Ximena Narvaja — Google review

This place was amazing! Even my stubborn 12 year old had a good time exploring. Tickets are $2 cheaper if you buy from their website, and they even recommend that as you are walking to the gate. I could spend a few hours here wandering and maybe actually reading a few of the books they have around.

Kate Reeves — Google review

This was a fun place to visit when my girlfriend and I were in town! Adults without children can even enjoy this amazing garden! Be sure to look all around, or you might miss something!

James Charmelo — Google review

We came here on a whim as a little family getaway and fell in love. I loved how there were stories to read around every corner. We will definitely be back when the weather is warmer. If you buy your tickets in advance you save $2 a person

Sarah Duda — Google review

This garden is super cute and homeschooler moms dream! There are a lot of interactive play areas and cute little activities to do. Each section of the garden represented a children's book. They had lots of little libraries to choose books to read to your children while you were browsing through the gardens. The plants were beautiful, the gardens were clean, and the new bridge is fantastic! I would highly recommend bringing your kids here no matter what age.

Becka Irving — Google review

What a lovely place that brings to life children books! To learn that over 1,000 volunteers helped bring the vision to life was jaw-dropping. Wow! Talk about a community project.Walking towards the entrance you see the Magic School Bus Garden and Picnic area. The archway welcomes guests into a space with picnic tables and of course The Magic School Bus. Please remember to take your trash with you if you eat here during your visit.And what’s a place based off literature without a Little Free Library. It’s located right across from the picnic grove.Small signs throughout the gardens inform visitors of the book which inspired the respective space. Stone towers hold books for families to sit and read.There were a number of groups visiting on the day we went, but we made the most of our trip.My baby shower theme was based on children’s books because of my love for reading so bring my twins here made it a full-circle moment.

Denise Chestnut — Google review

This place is so fun. It really brings certain aspects of popular books to life. My son loved it so much he wouldn't leave. Words can't really describe it.It's perfect for kids, but it's also adult friendly. The walkway is a soft texture with mulch on top. No hard pressure on your knees from standing or walking. There are also lots of benches and chairs to sit and read and enjoy nature.The price is also friendly and supports the park. For being in its 13th season, it's in great condition. You can tell people really love this garden. The landscape is also very appealing and well-kept. Very scenic.

Dianna Moua — Google review

An absolutely magical garden with lots of care and design put in. Fun for kids and adults, lots to do for little people (and grown-ups). The books available around every corner to read will bring you right back to childhood. Mostly shaded and easily accessible for all levels. Seriously, the best garden we've been to in a long time. Worth the stop! Buy your tickets online in advance for a discount, easy entry when you arrive.

Angela B Shopsalot — Google review

4.9

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5.0

(445)40 Best Stops Between Chicago and Glacier National Park (50)

1415 Campus Dr, Sheboygan, WI 53081, USA

(920) 287-7895

7

American Family Field

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Stadium

Sights & Landmarks

The American Family Field in Milwaukee, Wisconsin is a stadium that is home to the Milwaukee Brewers. The stadium has a retractable roof, making it one of the only stadiums in the United States with this feature. The atmosphere at the stadium is electrifying and always full of action when games are played there.

A night out at a ballgame is always a very fun and traditional American thing to do. So when visiting Milwaukee from the UK I was pleased to have the time to visit the impressive Brewers Stadium to watch they play the SF Giants. It is a great stadium with first class staff and facilities. Well worth a visit if you have not been.

Martin Roberts — Google review

Overall experience is very good (much better than Chicago ball parks). Very spacious and lots of food and beverage options. Nice seats as well and pretty clean. Friendly and helpful people all over to help. The Heavenly Roasted Nuts are AMAZING! $9.50 for a large was delicious; we got two! The Custard (ice cream) was very good as well. Always a fun time at the ballpark.

Nicole Wittkopp — Google review

I have to say I thought there would be more unique places to eat here. Besides that the place is massive a lot of waking ground but not too many concession stands. Also I have to say the Minnesota twins had better cheese curds than here in my opinion. Overall a beautiful ball park lots to see and it was so fun to see Bernie slide down the slide.

Kevin Drost — Google review

Absolutely love going to see the Brewers play. Pics and videos aren't the best, but I've been there 4 times this year. Never been there before and I'm 37 years old. Even though we lost 2 out of the 4. It was always a great time! 😁

Peter Parker — Google review

Brewers vs. Cardinals game! This was a nice treat for this put 9f state business traveler. Loved the ease of finding our seats at 3rd base. The food, beer, and novelty/memorabilia selections were awesome. The North Dog was scrumptious. The chocolate, strawberry lager was smooth and delicious, and the roasted cashews/almonds divine.

Debra Drake — Google review

First time in their suite! This was a 30 person suite and there was more than enough room for at least 40people!!! This suite came with chips, sweets, food, soda, beer and water. It was enough for 28 of us that attended. This suite also cost more than 4K and it does come with a concierge and a private restroom (the best part ever). The room did offer a lot. A couple of my favorite parts of the room was the glass doors that open to sit down on the bleachers/chairs. We did leave the glass doors open and the bleachers/chairs just made the room more enjoyable. Who doesn’t want the fun vibes of chilling on the couch or gaming on the bleachers/chairs?!!! I know I felt them fun vibes!! Overall, it was a fun and exciting experience. I definitely would do it again!!! Thanks a bunch Miller Park!!! 🙌🙌🙌

Nada View — Google review

American Family Field is a nice stadium to watch a baseball game. We had great seats, and they had cup holders. They had fun activities for the kids to practice pitching and hitting. There was also a small playground for the smaller kids near the kids' cafe. It was relatively easy to leave the stadium. It was a little long to enter the stadium, but that was because of a security check.

Alena S — Google review

This is a very nice ballpark to come visit and watch a game. There concessions are pretty standard but good (brats, nachos, sausages, burgers, etc.) with plenty of beer options.The seating feels pretty cramped in the lower sections, so I'd recommend 3rd or 4th deck behind home plate for a little more room. I would not recommend outfield seats, the views are very difficult and the only big screen in the park will be above you.The best parking tip we found was to hit up a bar/restaurant that runs a shuttle to the games. These bar shuttles get parking/traffic protection to help you get to and from the ballpark quickly.

Bartholomew Roland — Google review

Was raining outside, but since it is covered, no one got wet and no rain delays for the game. Acoustics sounded great. It was not expensive to get in. Food and beverages were pricey, but that is normal everywhere else, too. Was a great time watching the Brewers.

Manny Sergentakis — Google review

One of the better large stadiums that I have seen live music at, by far. Most large stadiums or ballparks are absolutely terrible for seeing a live musical performance. But I thought that American Family Field, or Miller Park as it was called when I visited it, was a very excellent live music experience. I had bought the cheapest seats available, and the view of the stage was still very good. The sound quality was amazing for being an open air ballpark. Most open air large venues like this have terrible acoustics, but I was pleasantly surprised by the sound quality here. The concessions were reasonably priced and so was parking.

B A — Google review

In my opinion, American Family Field remains a stellar ballpark. The wide aisles, comfortable seats, and the Brewers' efforts to stay current with technology make it a top-notch experience.One of the highlights for me is the open outfield, especially on pleasant days when you can catch a hint of the tailgating atmosphere outside. While there may be some minor nit-picking items, they do not detract from the overall ballpark experience.For those embarking on a ballpark pilgrimage like myself, American Family Field offers plenty to enjoy. It's a must-visit destination for any baseball fan.

Michael Ullmer — Google review

A very nice experience. Watching this game there was great for me, been my first time at this field. Cubs didn’t win as we expected but the game was filled with couple home runs from the Milwaukee-Brewers, making that stadium shake with its amateurs/fans.Very organize set up.

Jennifer James — Google review

As a major concert venue, they pulled off a great show! Preferred parking was clearly identified and pretty easy to get to from any direction. The weather was glorious and we made friends with others around us during our mini tailgate. Not much of a line to get in, and we found our way to the field entrance after noting where to get the wristbands in the welcome email. Plenty of room to move around and mingle in between shows which was a huge bonus. The sound was great! It got louder as the acts got bigger. Video screens were magnificent and were needed because everyone was at the same field level. A raised stage also helped. They could have used a few more port-a-potties on the field, but you could walk back into the general seating area and use those if needed. We waited about an hour to exit and didn’t have to wait too long. Would happily go back for another show.

Patrick Schommer — Google review

Great baseball field, great food, nice gift shop and friendly staff. Lots of fun! They have a Sunday Fun Day; 4 tickets, 4 hot dogs, 4 sodas and parking $59.

Joanna Hill — Google review

I have never been to any baseball game before. I was so impressed with everything this team and stadium has to offer. Lots for the kids to do and my Autistic son had a blast. More importantly none of the staff or other kids complained or did not let him do them. There was a large crew of Scouts kids there and that may have something to do with the respect and manners from the youth. We had great seats so I am sure that made a difference. My son seemed to be engaged the entire time with everything going on. We made it all 10 innings. When we go to a Packer game he last about 1 quarter. Thank you to the staff for their kindness and willingness to help and safety crew for making us feel safe. I am converted to a “can’t wait to go back” baseball fan!

Jeff Read — Google review

We thoroughly enjoyed our experience here at a Brewers game. People working here were very nice. Parking wasn’t as bad as we expected. We enjoyed food as well - cheese curds and sausages. The on field experience and site lines from our seats behind home were great.

Dave Donahue — Google review

Fun stadium to go too. Parking was easy, security was easy. Atmosphere was great.

Marshall Helms — Google review

Great baseball experience. Bring your gold credit card, no cash accepted. Parking is expensive too. However, the ballpark is tremendous. Great scoreboard and atmosphere. Parking is managed very well when departing. Oh, and eat somewhere else before going to the game. Your gold card will thank you.

Dennis Johnson — Google review

Set up Luke Combs in the Stadium. What a nice baseball stadium. The grounds do a remarkable job. They didn't like us on their field. I don't blame them. They are meticulous with the turf grass. The roof was incredible. I never heard it shut or open. I did learn about the tragedy of the 3 people killed in construction of the roof. So, sad. I pray for their families. The people that worked there are very kind. I would definitely go see a Brewers game.

Stephen Short — Google review

What a beautiful ballpark! I did the tour before the game, and the guide was very knowledgeable on the team and field. The Selig Experience gave me goosebumps! I also did the Bernie Slide Experience and was a hoot! We had a group of 5 people riding the slide, and we were able to get in 6 rides! Plus, there was a mini-tour included that was mostly different from the main tour. I highly recommend checking out a game here and taking at least the main tour.

Rachael Bliley — Google review

I got a cheap ticket in the right field bleachers (I think they called it "the lodge"). The food selection looked good they had some value options to keep the prices down (I'm always a fan of that). The drinks appeared to be cheaper than some of the other MLB stadiums I've been to. Overall, it was a cool atmosphere... I do prefer an open air stadium though.

Scott Reese — Google review

The concert was amazing, but the traffic parking, navigating/signage in the building was definitely frustrating. The AC was not working well either. Might be easier when the headliner (P!nk) isn't breaking attendance records, so we probably pushed the limits.Overall. It was clean, food readily accessible, we got through security easily, and the seating was comfortable. That concert was one of the best I have been to!

Melissa True — Google review

I could complain about how the Brewers played, but can't complain about the field. Had third row seats behind home plate and preferred parking. The facility is clean and maintained. Parking has attendants to keep traffic flowing. Security keeps the crowd moving. You can bring in a sealed bottle of water. The roof was closed because of rain, and it was comfortable.

Beverly K — Google review

I love American Family Field! I find it to be the best of the 6 parks I've been to. The look of the building is the updated classic look with a giant dome. They have plenty of parking with name to each so they are easy to remember. The food is great! With so so many choices. I had a chicken parmesan sandwich that came with chips and a pickle for $17. My wife got the Nachos Grande for $14. They were absolutely loaded with topping and they didn't charge for extra. I'm used to Chicago prices for food and the Nachos are more than $20. I saw the 2 Day Lumber Combs concert. It was a fantastic concert! The ADA seats where very good. I love coming up here and visiting Miller Park.

Micropops — Google review

Went to our first Milwaukee Brewers game of the year. Everything is now online, electronic payments, even in the Park. It's actually fine and probably reduces theft ECT. But yes, we went the second day for the season opener series against the Minnesota Twin's. We did not come out victorious but as always, American Family Field is a shining jewel of Milwaukee. We had great seats reasonably priced. It was fun!

Cheryl Ann Chapman-Cichy — Google review

Great stadium with retractable roof so the game goes on no matter the weather! Full bar on each baseline. Great place for baseball!

Brandon Stalzer — Google review

8

Volo Museum

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Museum

Specialty Museums

Classic, antique, muscle & Hollywood car displays plus antique malls & burger bar with beer garden.

Such a great experience! There are approx 10 museums all with a different theme. Antique cars, cars from movies, Disney theme, music hall, tractors, war, vintage mobile homes, trains, and a torture/gangster museum. Something for everyone's interest. Easy to walk through everything in about 6 hours if you're looking in detail or faster if you're just breezing through. The coolest part was the vintage arcade games in the Disney part of the car museum. I also loved the music hall with all the self playing live band vintage music machines.Bring $1 or $5 bills to get tokens for some of the interactive parts of the exhibits. There are machines to change out for tokens but the majority are cash only.There is a little cafeteria with pizza etc at the start!There is a path to follow but besides the car museum you go from building to building so you can break away if you don't want to do all the museums in one day.

Marie M — Google review

This place is awesome. They are open from 10am to 5pm, and there's plenty for the entire family to do. If you like antiques, the antique mall alone can take an entire day to go through. I didn't visit Jurassic Gardens this time but I spent pretty much open to close going through the entire museum and checking out some of the antique mall. There's games and an outdoor play area for the kids when the weather is warmer. There's some really cool movie cars on display and even snowmobile, boat, and bike exhibits. If you like military memorabilia they have a pretty well showcased section from various wars, there's a crime and punishment section that costs $2 extra and is well worth it. You'll get a lot of walking in so make sure to wear comfortable shoes. If you visit everything the museum offers you'll walk over 5 miles.I was really impressed with the way the cars were displayed by theme / era. Staff is very friendly and helpful. It's a drive from where I live but I plan on making it a point to come here at least twice a year if not more.

Dan Heffernan — Google review

This is quite possibly one of the coolest museums ever! Having lived/visited the greater Chicago area since I was a little one, I've never heard of the Volo Museum until...maybe a handful of years ago, and was absolutely blown away by this experience!The Volo Museum is dedicated to housing/maintaining classic cars, parade calliopes, old store displays, animatronics and more!I have to make up new words to describe how awesome this place is, because anything I write doesn't feel like it would do it justice.Pro-tip: I would recommend starting early so that you have enough time to visit and experience everything this museum has to offer. You can even pack a picnic and enjoy it in the picnic area.

Katy Z Dead — Google review

Went for birthday. I enjoyed the experience very much. Different care designs and growing up as a kid, I remember watching TV shows and liking the different cars. Brought back a lot of memories that is for sure. It is difficult to navigate through the 58 acre museum with not the best signs.They have old school cars that are for sale as well. Overall, it was a great experience. They even have an antique mall which has many interesting treasure in there.

Kerry Anderson — Google review

It's a really cool museum for all! Even if you're not a car enthusiasts you'll still appreciate everything that the museum has to offer. My only issue was there's a strong smell when you get to the Disney/kids area I don't really know how to explain it but also if you have allergies I would recommend taking meds as the military section can be a little dusty. Overall, it was a good experience! You can also check out their shops where they carry a lot of vintage/antique trinkets.

Lea Brecel Limon — Google review

Went on a Friday around noon and had the best time! I had no idea they had Showbiz Pizza animatronics, definitely gave off nostalgia. The restaurant is very cool with hanging lamps, bikes, movie memorabilia and more! The food available is pizza slices, hot dogs, chips, nachos, drinks and Mac n cheese. The women behind the counter were so awesome! There is also a gift shop selling desserts and ice cream. We did the Jurassic World and Auto Museum since we have kids of all ages. I was able to bring my stroller through. We loved all of the cars, scenes and displays. We ended up spending 4 hours there without even realizing it. Then the kids enjoyed the playground when we were done with all of the showrooms. We will definitely be back.

Helen Chancy — Google review

Such beautiful cars here. Plenty to do and see, definitely an all day trip. Only thing I wish was better is the flow of the buildings. There aren't to many signs directing you where you need to go in the beginning. Other than that it was a great experience. If you love cars and history this is the place for you. Lots to keep kids entertained too. Parking was free, they have some food and drinks on the premises. Oh and if you want to visit the antique shops, go there first. They close earlier than Volo. We did not know that and missed the chance to look around. I would highly recommend visiting.

Angela Morajka — Google review

An absolute must see! Everything is laid out so nicely and the collections are amazing. We spent 2+ hours here and didn’t do the titanic or Jurassic park exhibits. Make the time to go see this place, it’s totally worth it!

Mark Jacobsma — Google review

The museum was pretty massive. There are different kinds of tickets. We did the combo with the Volo museum and Jurassic gardens for $35. The Volo museum by itself has a lot to see so you can easily spend a few hours with that. You will see many classic cars as well as cars from movies. Jurassic gardens is a lot smaller and kids will enjoy that. We spent like 15-20 mins in there. It’s worth checking out.

Nicholas P — Google review

Lovely place with endless things to see and do! Great for all ages. The antique section really took me by surprise, and the museum itself had many exhibits! You can easily spend a few hours here. I highly recommend walking through it a few times because there may be some hidden gems you missed!!

Julia Dores — Google review

A little expensive for such an exhibition, but my son really liked it. Hot dog for 10$ also seemed overpriced, but the restored animatronic stage show smoothed the price a bit.Fun place for kids!

Elina Zhuravleva — Google review

A trip to the Volo museum was well worth the hike from the city. This is an attraction for all ages. Whether you a car enthusiast or a kid who wants to see the cars featured in popular movies and Disney displays. They have old cars restored cards, bikes, mopeds, pedal cars, snow mobiles, vaudeville puppet shows, Disney figurine makers, the ninja turtle pizza van, the terminator car, Johnny cash guitar car, the Barbie cars, all in various showrooms for you to walk through. Ending in an old decorated styled pizza parlor. They’ve put so much thought into every detail!

Alex Almazan — Google review

Very good museum for any car enthusiast, from timeless classics to famous movie cars to Tow Mater and Lightning McQueen, beyond even to brand new Corvettes and even Ralph Lauren's personal Lamborghini Countach the Volo Auto Museum has many sights to behold, one of my personal favorites was this 1923 Rolls Royce Silver Cloud II which I have attached a picture of. If you're a car enthusiast, movie nut, or just looking for something fun to do on a weekend the Volo Museum is a great option. The food served in the restaurant is also phenomenal. Great experience, cool cars, and friendly staff. I cannot recommend this place enough.

FinntheGamer42 — Google review

Took hubby here for his birthday. He loved it because he luvs cars. He wants to come back and me too. The dinosaurs were awesome ❤❤❤

Joanette Jackson — Google review

Went to the Volo Museum on a Saturday. Line moved quickly especially if you know what you want to do.Volo Museum (fun for all ages) Jurassic Gardens (geared towards kids), and Titanic - A Tribute to Tragedy (artifacts, and replicas from history) are the three passes to choose from. Combo passes are a available and discounts for each additional activity admission.There is a pizzeria, ice cream / coffee parlor and gift shop. The food available included pizza slices, hot dogs, chips, nachos, drinks, and desserts.In their eating area there is a vintage Pirate Stage Show animatronic that reminds me of the old school Chuck E. Cheese entertainment from the 80’s/90’s.There are also a variety of collectibles hanging from the ceilings of the restaurant.Overall, it was a great experience, and I spent many hours looking at the movie, modern, and classic cars. Majority of the cars on display are available for sale. (Beautiful cars but all out my price range. 😂)Before leaving, I stopped by the antique barn, where they have a variety of items on display from various vendors for sale.

L McGrew — Google review

OMG!! I was expecting a small car collection! These guys have hundreds of cars, plus military collection, tractors, vintage RV trailers, scooters, trains, airplanes, and yes even the "Family Vacation" car! Took over 3 hours and we didn't see everything. Highly recommend!! Also they have separate Jurassic Park and Titanic displays. AMAZING!

v111pilot V — Google review

This place is so cool! I loved everything and every section in the Volo Museum. I wish we had time to do the Jurassic Park part which is a separate museum section and u pay a fee as well there. They also have the Titanic part which they recommend older kids so we didn’t go to that section either, they also have a fee in that museum. But we were happy with just the Volo part, it was huge and so many different cars. They have very old model cars to cars used in Hollywood movies. I need to come back because we got there 2 hours before closing and we could of used more time but overall was so fun. They also have something in the Jurassic part for kids with sensory needs on specific Sundays I believe it’s every 3rd Sunday of the Month. I would double check and call in for the dates and times. Overall amazing place.

Tiffany Trncic — Google review

We did the tour of just the museum, and that was plenty to keep us busy. They had a lot of cars, of course. I enjoyed the old rv section. That was super cool. Also, all of the music boxes. U can spend an e tire day walking around here.

Beth Ervin — Google review

This place is pricey but fun for all ages. Unfortunately all the different attractions are separate (Cars, Dinosaurs , Titanic)So, if you are on a budget, or have a large family, it really adds up. That being said, it has some pretty cool stuff.

Lisa Le — Google review

This place is AMAZING!!! Great for people of all ages. They have an extensive super cool car collection, Disney theme displays, A Titanic exhibit, a military exhibit, a dinosaur exhibit, and even a torture exhibit! There is a little bit of everything and lots to see. Some exhibits are building to building so you do some outside walking but not much.They also have coffee, liquor and a cute pizza diner.

Priscilla Gonzalez — Google review

Went on a school trip. This was a great experience with a lot to see and do. Staff was so very helpful and students were engagedEvery time we turned the corner I heard "ohh that's so cool" or "take my picture." Our kids are still talking about it. They were very positive and excited about their experience.This was fantastic! I would recommend this to everyone!! We are for sure going again!

The Stork Got Lost — Google review

That place was amazing. It has so much to see. It had a lot of cool stuff it's not just car museum. If you're in the area, I would recommend going and checking it out.

CBU — Google review

I went to the museum with my older sister, 12, 10,9 and 5 year old kids. The museum overall was super cool. Tons to look at and see. We got the museum, Jurassic and Titanic. When we finally got to the Titanic, we thought we missed something. For the extra money they charged, we thought we’d see parts of the ship, other artifacts, etc. it was literally a room that took 5 minutes to get through and mainly clothes and dishes were displayed. I would not recommend this exhibit for the ridiculous extra they’re charging for. I would not recommend bringing emotional, younger children, as she couldn’t get through the first minute because of the sad depressing music and sad stories about the passengers passing on the Titanic.Also, the carousel only runs on weekends, so the kids didn’t get to participate in that feature.

Stephanie Reffruschinni — Google review

4.7

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4.5

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27582 Volo Village Rd, Volo, IL 60073, USA

(815) 385-3644

9

Tristan Crist Magic Theatre

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Concerts & Shows

Magician

The Tristan Crist Magic Theatre is a small venue that hosts family-friendly magic and illusion shows. In addition to the performances, the theater features a gift shop and lobby. The show itself is captivating and engaging, with Tristan's presentation skills being particularly noteworthy. His assistant Shannon adds to the overall experience with her stunning presence on stage. The theater provides modern and comfortable accommodations for all guests while maintaining professional standards of service from its staff.

Excellent show. Tristan brought several people on to the stage and performed the illusions with their assistance and was available for pictures after with anyone. There are no bad seats but only about 120 seats available. Price was reasonable. My family and I enjoyed it a lot and I am sure you will as well.

Mark Boyd — Google review

Best Magic Show Ever!!!Tristan Crist is amazing. The Theate is small, but perfect because you get a more upclose and personal show. You get to meet and greet, plus take pictures with Mr. Crist since you can't take any pictures or videos during the show. Plenty of parking, plus handicap parking available too.

The Punisher — Google review

Our first time here and it was just amazing! Nothing bad to say about the show at all. Interaction with the crowd was fun and they even threw in a lot of funny humor which was great for us adults. Meet and greet at the end with pictures and autographs which was neat! Good memories made

Shelly W — Google review

Theater was clean and every seat had a great view! Tristan's illusions were fantastic and his great interaction was so fun!

Danielle Smith — Google review

I rarely give anything 5 stars but this place deserves it. Tritan Crist is an Excellent Illusionist and he has a great, fun personality. Brett Daniels who performs with him has great slight of hand. Well Well worth $40 good for all ages, clean place, free parking, beer ,wine,popcorn,candy sold onsight.

Dan G — Google review

I went to see Tristan Crist & Brett Daniels tonight for the first time and I was not let down at all. It was AMAZING! Every trick was so done perfectly and my eyes couldn’t believe what I was seeing. It was so much fun. A plus is that is very interactive and they loved involving the audience in their acts. The snacks were very fairly priced and the bathrooms were very clean. We got to meet the magicians after the show and they were so nice! I highly recommend going to this show, you will not be disappointed! I mean, who else just makes a giant helicopter appear on stage in just a few seconds?? It’s totally worth the $42. Go see this show, you will regret it if you don’t!

Emily — Google review

Absolutely fantastic show. The crew members were very polite and professional at will call, the waiting area was well maintained, and there were clear instructions on wait times, etc. The show itself was a wonderful experience! There was comedy, illusion, magic, and amazing stage lighting, and sound! The show is a work of art that I would enjoy experiencing again. The clothing style of the performers was visually appealing as well. A well put together show that was worth the time and money. No disappointment whatsoever. The owner seemed to appreciate his customers and was friendly and professional!

Moni — Google review

We had a great time for the show, we purchased tickets online and was able to pick up 1 hour before the show. They sell drinks and food to bring in. There are seats for only 100 or so people, feels small but can see from any seat. There is an intermission, if you are a larger person there may not be a good seat for you.

Heather Friedrich — Google review

I saw the Tristan Crist show this past weekend. This is the second time I have seen the show as I was in the area a year ago. The show is as good the second time as the first time. He has put in a number of new illusions so the show was fresh and as enjoyable. So if you have seen the show one time I definitely would recommend seeing it a second time. Tristan is crisp and engaging with his presentations, everyone is treated with respect. His performance skills are very well done. His assistant Shannon is stunning and is an amazing foil for Tristan. The theater is modern and comfortable. The staff is highly professional. I highly recommend.

Ev Gulick — Google review

Took my wife and 2 boys ages 7 and 8 years of age. The show was fantastic, which really makes you think of how was that's done and just very cool. My boys stay tuned througho the t entire show. Good times for all. The Magician slight of hand in between the main performances was excellent as well.

Peter Stocks — Google review

Our family had a magnificent time at the show. Amazing performance!

Nicole Riopelle — Google review

This is a show worth 3x the price! It is superb. Very family friendly. Entertaining and reminiscent of Vegas style entertainment. However, Tristan’s personality on stage is warm and engaging. His acts feature incredibly strong illusions that are unbelievably delivered. There is nothing negative to be said. Great job to Tristan and all the staff.

gina caballeros — Google review

Always fun for me to see a magic show ✨️ 😊 175 seat theater with great performances of comedy, slight of hand, & large stage illusions. As an avid fan of magic for all ages, I would definitely attend again 👍👍

Martonio Magic — Google review

First time going, loved the small venue. Tristan was so personable, funny and very good as an illusionist also had a wonderful magician some audience participation. 90 minute show thought the ticket price was very reasonable. They also come out in the lobby for pictures like a meet and greet after the show

Debbie Kummelehne — Google review

We absolutely loved the Show, and still trying to figure out how Tristan got that helicopter 🚁 on the stage...lol 🤔

Debbie Cecola — Google review

We loved tonight’s show! It was very fast paced and kept our attention throughout the entire performance. I especially liked Tristan Crist’s personality. He seems humble and was really funny. We enjoyed the acts by Bret Daniels so much also. Real professionals with high quality equipment and illusions. I would have paid three+ times the ticket price to see this show. Great venue with no wait to pick up our tickets or get snacks. It was an amazing night! Thank you.

Heather T — Google review

Absolutely astonishing and a terrifically fun time for the whole family! I would drive to Lake Geneva just to watch this show. My teenage son and my 7 year old daughter had such a blast! Highly recommend.

Samira Jimenez — Google review

Wow. When they say 'Vegas-style' entertainment, they aren't lying. Beautiful theatre, beautiful performers. Loved the opportunity to meet Tristan and Shannon after the performance. They're terrific people.

Nicholas Vorpagel — Google review

4.8

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5.0

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100 N Edwards Blvd, Lake Geneva, WI 53147, USA

(262) 248-0505

10

Lake Geneva Shore Path

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Hiking area

Nature & Parks

Hiking Trails

The Lake Geneva Shore Path is a historic public footpath that offers a glimpse into the area's rich history and showcases some of the Midwest's most stunning homes and gardens. The 21/22-mile trail features diverse terrain, including grass, dirt, brick, and concrete sections. Visitors can enjoy the perfect blend of small-town charm and urban entertainment in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. The path meanders through private properties, each section maintained by its owners, offering unique experiences at every turn.

If you're looking for a great hike.The North Shore portion of the path offers breathtaking views of the lake and incredible homes.

Dan Leunig — Google review

Drove up from Chicago for a little day trip in Lake Geneva. It is a cute seasonal town, but like most seasonal towns, doesn’t have a lot to do in off-season. We mainly came up to walk the lakeshore path. There are quite a few entry points, some with parking and some with parking about 1/2 mile away to access point.Trail is not accessible for all, it is narrow at most points with uneven ground mainly due to the type of stones or pathway the owners want. It varies from dirt, rocks, flag stone, cement, synthetic wood, etc.you do need to plan as you can’t simply exit wherever you want.One major negative to walking this in the off season is that almost all the owners have their docks and boat lifts scattered all along the path. It’s a major major eye sore. Very disappointing. We noticed the north side had them way closer to the trail and many more of them. South side has more space and most were somewhat out of eye sight and way.They really do interfere with you attempt at a pleasant walk. And during peak season I imagine the trial is packed and that would also make for an annoying walk.

Elizabeth Kirwan — Google review

It was a beautiful day. My English bulldog absolutely loves it. Going there I make it his day. I go shopping. He walks until he gets tired and then I put him in his stroller. We have lunch at a restaurant where we can sit outside

Cindy Kelley — Google review

Lake Geneva is a beautiful area to walk around. Beach is nice, but busy & they charge a fee for entrance. We went to the free nature preserve, and it was quiet and relaxing.

Robin Mistic — Google review

I love looking at the lake, boats and other people just having a good time with their families & pets. I feel safe there and it's a wonderful place to relax, enjoy nature and good food. Parking can be somewhat difficult but you can park in a side street and walk to park area.

NaturEli — Google review

I would recommend the west end of the trail for a comfortable walk. The east trail is more difficult and had some spots so overgrown that we were worried about what we were brushing up against. We turned back on the east trail. The west side is good for a casual walk. The east side is better suited for hikers.

Ana Carmona — Google review

Favorite place to go year round for the beauty, history, lush grounds and not to forget healthy long walks! Fall colors are gorgeous!

Danielle Smith — Google review

Awesome trail, lots of nice paths, beautiful houses to look at

Ross Wahlgren — Google review

Hiked the full 21/22 miles of shore path in one go on a beautiful day in May- so many amazing properties and gardens and mansions that were jaw-dropping. Honestly, something unique at every turn!Trails go through private properties and each portion of the trail is kept up by the owners- so even the trail itself is unique from section to section! Loved it.Total activity time (actual walking) was 8 hours 35 min, we took a break for lunch and a few hours later for coffee and stretched every hour. Started at 9:45 am and finished about 7:45 pm

Emily Ebeling — Google review

You could call this walk around the lake an architecture tour. The houses surrounding the lake are huge with some interesting designs. So if you want to ogle some nice houses while being close to nature and stretching your legs this is a nice route to take

Tyron Pretorius — Google review

We did about 3 miles out and back from the library NW. loved the walk and the diversity of the houses, yards and paths. Crazy big money on this lake and so amazing we can enjoy the path. Nice fall day so not many out. But can only imagine what it is like in summer if they are out there trying to enjoy their backyard. Respect their yards while you appreciate the walk. We are going to do another stint today.

Nikki — Google review

Enjoyable walking path!! Variety in scenery along the way. Each homeowner along the way is responsible for their section of path, so some path areas are much nicer than others. Be prepared to walk all types of terrain.

ShyGirl 4Life — Google review

This is a great path that circles all of Lake Geneva. There are lovely private homes to one side of the path and fabulous lake views on the other side. The trail is not completely flat but we did not encounter any steep inclines on the four miles we covered. However, we have been on this path in both Winter and Spring. We found Winter walking a bit rough. The ground cover changes as you go from grass, to gravel, to stones, to wood, etc... It is a narrow path in some places and it is necessary to step aside at times when people are going in the opposite direction. A local told us that the total path covers about 23 - 26 miles and takes about 8 - 9 hours for her family to cover in it's entirety. We're looking forward to trying it soon.

Miranda Steier — Google review

We love walking down the shore on the path in Lake Geneva. They have an area that is reserved for dogs only for them to enjoy the lake water. We enjoy watching the dogs swim and play fetch. Lots of things to do in Lake Geneva. Great town but it gets crowded on the weekends.

Mike S — Google review

4.8

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4.5

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Unnamed Road, Lake Geneva, WI 53147, USA

(800) 345-1020

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11

Starved Rock State Park

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State park

Nature & Parks

Hiking Trails

Starved Rock State Park, an area of historical significance, boasts canyons, trails and waterways suitable for hiking, fishing and boating. The park offers a lodge and cabins for visitors to stay in. One of the main attractions is the Starved Rock itself which is easily accessible via a short trek. There are numerous paths meandering through cliffs and rivers that provide scenic views throughout the park.

Starved Rock State Park is an excellent place to hike. The actual starved rock is a very cool place to look around and it is not a very hard or long path. There are plenty of good hiking paths that go throughout the cliffs and rivers. The restaurant and conference center are a good place to rest and have great views. The restaurant’s food is not exceptional but it is pretty good. The nachos are very good.Starved Rock State Park is a unique state park and one of my favorites.

Christian Tong — Google review

This is a good park. However, the visitor center and trails nearby can be very busy on weekends. We had to park in overflow parking and hike in.We had much better luck heading east to the other parking lots away from the main area.Huge rock formations and tons of places to explore. My kids loved it but we saw many frustrated parents trying to us a stroller. If you have someone to lift a stroller up and down stairs, it won’t be bad but overall the park is NOT stroller friendly.Beautiful bluff and great photo ops.There are lots of little places where the trail is not clearly my defined and you can go exploring a little.The staff was great and all the facilities were clean. There is nice restaurant and lodge if you need a bite to eat or place to rest.

Sailor Traub — Google review

What an amazing place to hike! The canopy keeps it very cool. I came early (6:45am) on a week day and did not see anyone until after 9am. Very cool to see the different Canyons and elevations along the hike. The stairs are no joke! It’s a moderate hike but lots of cool stops to see along the way, including waterfalls!

Lisa Meminger — Google review

What an incredible and beautiful state park! Might be the prettiest place I’ve been to in Illinois, it’s such a nice break from the city and it’s not a super far drive. The trails are very easy and beginner friendly, there are some steep staircases and a few uneven parts of path but mostly flat trails. I will say that if you are expecting to see waterfalls, you should go 1-2 days after a big rain storm otherwise they’ll probably all be dry, especially during the middle of the summer. I also recommend going early, even if it’s on a weekday. We got there at about 10:30 and it wasn’t super busy, but by the time we got back from hiking around 1:30 it was insanely crowded, and hiking is a lot more fun in my opinion when it’s empty. Overall, I would definitely recommend visiting here on a day trip, I can’t wait to return myself!!

Robbie Austin — Google review

We arrived early and saw St. Louis Canyon before the crowds arrived. We had lunch in the visitor center, which was decent. After lunch we started out to see the eastern part of the trails.The trails were very well marked and maintained. We covered west as far as St. Louis Canyon and east as far as Wildcat Canyon in about 18,000 steps on our step counter. There are a lot of stairs! The canyons are well worth the hike. We would like to return in the Spring when the falls are at their fullest.

Pam M — Google review

awesome!! the hike was very pretty. althought i don’t recommend going when its raining/was. it gets slippery and you have to take different parts of the trail to get around. especially the french canyon! hard hike but gorgeous. the lovers leap i think it was ? ; was also a very pretty view. wildcat is muddy but so pretty!

chxcolqte — Google review

STARVED ROCK STATE PARK is an Illinois hidden treasure. Camping was quiet and clean. However there was rain a few days prior and a few of the sites had water covering half the site.. was a nuisance for a few. So the park is alcohol free zone FYI! Be creams keep things quiet and you should be fine. Showers are good for a state park $25 a night fee with electric hook up. Thee are a both open and wooded sites. The trails are clean and marked fairly well. Be aware that there are many steep stairs to get to lookouts and canyons. Many only make it halfway. Bring plenty of water. We will return as it’s a quick 2hr trip.

Tim Stotler — Google review

Wonderful place, we have been seeing signs for this place for years and finally got to come and see it. The ice was just melting and it was a little muddy but man what a great place. Good walk ways great views of waterfalls and a historic place. This place has it all. Even the girl in gift shop was helpful.

Ryan — Google review

We visited Starved Rock December 10 2022. We stayed at Getaway which is about 20 min away for the weekend. Overall, our experience at this state park was excellent. The trails are well maintained even in the late fall. We hiked for about 4 miles seeing the river views and the canyon views over about 2.5 hours. It is difficult to navigate a stroller/wheelchair along most of the trails in this state park so I recommend getting information ahead of time if you need accessibility. The features and varied topography were amazing; we will definitely return here again. About half of the hike we took was along a wooden or paved path. There are a lot of stairs, many more than they explain. Be prepared to go up and own more than 9 flights over the course of your hike. We had mild weather at about 40 degrees overcast with little wind. Its a great time of year to hike if you don't mind cold weather!

Leah Sorensen — Google review

It is very peopley here. I did go on a weekend and expected it to be more populated but WOW. It’s not a holiday weekend thing, this is a popular place and local attraction that tons of people in the Midwest come to see (some even further) Either way, if you can stand bumping elbows every now and then it’s not too bad. It is very pretty. There are a lot of stairs on some of the trails. Definitely bring some water!!

Alexis Beran — Google review

I have a special fondness for this state park as it's a great place for outdoor activities. During our visit, we trekked for 3 hours, exploring both the Wildcat Canyon and the La Salle Canyon. Although there aren't any waterfalls in the summer, the hike remains incredibly enjoyable.

Justin Zhang — Google review

Great hike! It has quite a few stairs on different trails, but we had lots of fun. The visitor center has a nice food court, and you can get ice cream too. The camping ground is great! We stayed in a shaded camp, great for keeping it cool during the warm days. Great place for star gazing of you stay in the no shade campsites.

Fernanda Duque — Google review

I have lived in Illinois since 2007 and wanted to visit Starved Rock so bad. November 19,23 is the first time I have had the pleasure of visiting and I was so glad I did. It was a wonderful time. There's lots of stairs so bring water and even a snack. There's a gift shop with super cute items in it. I want to go back because it was such a great time.

Alexis Gaul — Google review

I’ve been to this place since I was very young. Starved Rock Lodge has had a special place in my life for most of my life. What I love about it is that unlike most things today, it still has it’s traditional, classic, and old school feel. It seems like one of the very few things that’s being preserved and rightly so. Most of the times I go on vacation there, my experience is generally quite positive. The staff are usually friendly and considerate. It has good fishing along the Illinois river despite the river’s pollution. The nature is also beautiful. The place itself is proof that Illinois is more than just Chicago and flat farmlands. I also always enjoy the pool and hot tub there too. No place is perfect but this is my way of trying to spread some positivity in a world of seemingly endless negativity. Thank you Starved Rock State Park for all of the joy you bring to people who enjoy visiting and thank you staff for your hard work and support. Hope you all can appreciate my new drawing.

Liam Crawford — Google review

Highly Recommend: very pretty, I think French canyon was the prettiest. I would recommend seeing all except walking the bluff trail between owl canyon and Ottawa - the trail is through forest and pretty boring, not much to see just treading along. I'd recommend just hiking to owl canyon and back and then driving and parking by Illinois or Ottawa canyon.

S. D. — Google review

Nice big park. Trails for hiking an a big waterfront for fishing or watching the boats. There was a picnic area an boat dock just down from the visitor center area. Port a John's there for when the center isn't open. We did the st Louis canyon trail.. beautiful spot. We saw cliff swallows flying around the top of the canyon. That was neat!!

S Hoover — Google review

Tremendous park and trails, amazing campground facility as well five minutes up the road. We hiked four of the trails and loved the clean landscape, variations in altitude, and river and woodland views.Staff are attentive and care greatly for the park.The campground is amazingly clean and quiet. Bathrooms are typical camp baths.A really fun weekend for the family with plenty of fresh air and exercise.

Jonathan Johnson — Google review

What a great state park to hike around and explore. The visitors center was clean and inviting. There is a little place to grab some treats and food called the trailhead.There had been little rainfall around the time we were there so sadly the waterfalls were not flowing 😞 the trails were well marked and the YOU ARE HERE maps were placed all over.Definitely a state park to add to your bucket list!

Denai C — Google review

Beautiful scenery in the state park along with decently maintained trails. In some parts there have been a few steps sticking out in odd places where rain has washed it away. Besides that, it is a very well maintained park. I easily spend 2-3 hours here. It’s a huge park to explore!

Brianna Cosgrove — Google review

Beautiful park to see the fall colors. Lots of hiking trail, the trail to LaSalle canyon has beautiful fall colors, restrooms are clean. Parking is easy during early hours, trail gets crowded later during the day. Would recommend.

Samruddhi Kapileshwar — Google review

We went when the waterfalls were dry so I was kind of disappointed but still had a good time. Spent over 3 hours walking the trails and enjoying the sites of nature. Very beautiful park. Loved the canyons and the views of the dam. Will definitely be back when waterfall season hits up again.

T. R. Justus — Google review

Starved Rock is a great state park for visitors to check out. It has pretty easy hiking so it's great for kids. Parking can be difficult sometimes in the summer as it's a popular place. It can also get a little crowded at certain times. My kids really like going and it's easy to let them wander because the paths are mainly boardwalks with railings and/or easy to follow. This park is dog friendly and, as all State Parks in Illinois, has a leash law. There are also cabins that you can rent and a hotel with a restaurant and pool. The fudge in the gift shop is a must. This is a great place for family photos and wedding photos. Have fun.

bob qualkinbush — Google review

Beautiful place to bring kids and family. This place is a challenging hike that will push the inner athlete in you. Even though it's beautiful, don't underestimate this park at all not for the faint of heart.

Manuel Arevalo — Google review

Located about an hour and half away from Chicago. This is a good place for hiking. In the spring and summer you’ll be able to see waterfalls up close. If you come in the winter, you’ll see like a winter wonderland because some of the waterfalls will be frozen and covered in snow. They have paved paths which makes things easier. Adequate amount of parking. You can pack a lunch and sit in the main picnic area. There is a visitor center with restrooms.

Nicholas P — Google review

Was a blast! The amazing rock structures are a view to look at! It was a little crowded but it was expected with how beautiful the weather has been. Remember to wear comfy shoes, lots of stairs and ups and down hills! Some of the steps are trick due to the condition, so be careful and take your time! If you're in the area, The Rootbeer Stand is up the road for a quick bite and a throwback feel!

Ryan — Google review

This is a great place to go for an extended hiking experience. The trails are very well marked and maintained. The historical aspect of Starved Rock is acknowledged and celebrated.We had lunch in the Back Door Grill. The veggie burger was excellent and the turkey blt wrap was very good too.

Nick Mahan — Google review

Came here on Thursday to this lovely outdoor hiking spot with a group of friends 🧡. We greatly enjoyed ourselves and enjoyed being outside. Just a warning ⚠️ If you are thinking of coming here, please come prepared. Make sure to bring enough water/snacks or food and whatever else you may need. Also, if you do not enjoy coming upstairs, be warned that there are a lot of stairs. Other than those minor things to let you all know about , I had an amazing time and will be coming back here soon.

Seilah Feliciano — Google review

Went on a rainy day, it was pouring. Really nice waterfall. Especially visit the Wildcat Canyon.Try to see all the Canyons and the Eagle’s Point. The dam is nice to observe from the Eagle’s point. Would like to visit again in summer to see how it is different. Nice to hike at. Some spots have a nice riverview. The lodge is very pretty with a bar, fireplace and serves food. There are one or two stores that sell souvenirs and gems/jewellery and collective items. Free entry to the park and free parking.

Amrita Mohini — Google review

Always packed and crowded on the weekends for hiking, but you'll still find moments to yourself. A nice scenic hike that's close to Chicago, yet remote. Trails are clearly labeled, and maps are accurate. Decent fishing off the dam, and friendly staff. Trails seem well maintained.

Nicholas Nocek — Google review

Did a 8 mile hike here in March and still the scenery was beautiful. For a moment its almost as if your no longer in the Midwest at all! All in all if your looking for beautiful scenery and a great workout Starved Rock is the place for you!

Connor Lundborg — Google review

Starved Rock has a great visitor center. As you can see from the pictures, I shared that there are quite a few informative displays. Showing great details on what you can find around the state park. Plus, they have a great volunteer book store with a lot of great nature books. The best thing is that the proceeds go to support the various educational experiences they offer. They also have a gift shop with a wonderful selection of Starved Rock souvenirs. You will also find an ice cream/fudge shop that serves homemade sweets.

Gina Turek — Google review

Nice place to hike! 13 miles altogether on the hiking trails. Went after a slight snow and it was beautiful! Lots of wooded paths. Very well marked and maps. Nice visitor center with restrooms and refreshments. Waterfall is super cool. Several lookout points overlooking the IL river and lock/dam. Dogs welcome! Everyone here was very friendly. Second time hiking here and will return again!

Brian J. — Google review

One of my favorite places in Illinois to visit. Breathtaking views and beautiful waterfalls if you’re lucky enough to spot one. I love the quaint little town and its friendly people there.

Erica Stromberg — Google review

Beautiful hike, we didn't park in the main parking. It was to crowded but found a spot down the road. We hike the whole thing in one full day. Got there befor 10 am and out by 530 pm. We enjoyed out hike!

Shellie Anders — Google review

This was my family's first visit to the park. I suggest going early in the morning to avoid crowds. Visitors from many nationalities were present, and nearly every family had a dog. The park has many stairs, so be prepared for some climbing. I recommend bringing a bag with water, snacks, and a first aid kit. Some areas can be slippery, so exercise caution. There are insufficient seating options for those who need them. I suggest adding a handicapped section along the trails with seating. I hiked the Pontiac and Wildcat Canyon trails, which took approximately two hours and covered almost three miles.

Robert G — Google review

4.7

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4.5

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Oglesby, IL 61348, USA

(815) 667-4726

12

Fireside Dinner Theatre

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$$$$affordable

Dinner theater

The Fireside Dinner Theatre, situated in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin, began as a summer theater and has since grown into a year-round dinner theater. It offers a wide range of productions, from classic musicals to contemporary hits, providing an immersive and entertaining experience for its audiences. With a focus on delivering high-quality performances and culinary excellence, the Fireside Dinner Theatre has become a cherished cultural establishment over nearly six decades.

I would give Fireside Dinner Theatre more stars if I could. I love that place. Yes it's pricier than I like to pay but the experience is so worth it. The restaurant is beautiful, the food is amazing, the staff is so friendly and helpful, and the shows never disappoint. The talent is phenomenal.OK the seats are not generous in size, and it got hot in there, but that's the only negative I can add.The gift shops are fun, always with unique items.I would love season tickets. I would go see every show if it was in my budget. As it is, it's a very special treat once in awhile.

Margie Smith — Google review

First visit, amazing! Food was excellent, pretzel chicken. Drinks were very unique and great! Get the big volcano. Service was top notch from Gavin, fantastic on all accounts! And the. The show, Grumpy Old Men. Cast was incredible and venue is old fashioned throw back to 1960! A must experience.

Bikes Boats Boots WI — Google review

I went to the Fireside Dinner Theatre in Fort Atkinson, WI with my family to see the Jersey Boys! I had never been to the Fireside Theater, and I was very excited about going here for the first time. The show was amazing, and the story was very interesting. The singing and dancing of these actors was so wonderful, and the choreography was so incredible! My feet and hands were tapping during the entire show, and I enjoyed every moment of it! I had an awesome view of the stage, and the lighting was amazing! The food here is so delicious, the servings are very generous. We had soup, salmon, rice and New York style cheesecake, all of it being cooked to perfection! There were some cute shops here with unique items for sale. I will definitely be back here for another show, and I highly recommend a visit to this theatre.

Mary Ehr — Google review

Fantastic, beautiful theatre in the round. Super nice staff, very friendly. I'd give it ten stars if that were possible Everyone is great from the restaurant staff to the people running the theatre.The food in the buffet is to die for so if you visit and don't eat there, you are really missing out. I'm already looking forward to going back for dinner tonight! Saw my favorite Rolling Stones show, Mick Adams and The Stones and as usual, they did not disappoint. Really cool stage in the round! Great show, standing ovation!

Erin O — Google review

Yesterday, we went to See the Wizard of Oz. From the moment we stepped into the building we felt like family. I haven't been there since I was in high school in the early 80's. My husband and I were in awe. The staff was fantastic! The food was AMAZING! The drinks were top notch. Watching the staff work together was incredible. The facility is beautiful and incredibly clean. Not only did we see the General Manager working just as hard as every one else, but at the end of the performance, the owner was greeting people as they came out of the theater. I can't wait to go back. We were so very happy we chose those for the last day of our vacation. It was a perfect ending to an amazing week. Thank you to all of the staff of the Fireside!

Paula Loomis — Google review

Fantastic as always ! My mom loves the Thursday night buffets. It was her 81st b-day and my cousin’s soon to be 75. They offer pre-paid b-day surprise gift packages and wish their b-day guests “Happy Birthday” At the start of concert. :) Service is great with friendly attentive servers. We saw The Legions in Concert 🎵 and it was so entertaining. Dusty Springfield, Rod Stewart, Freddy Mercury, Adel and Elton John.

Kathern Paige — Google review

My husband and I visited April 6th to watch the evening show of Fiddler on the Roof. The food was amazing, and so was the performance!Our only gripe was when we arrived at the recommended arrival time, the previous show was just getting out and made getting disability parking (and unloading) very tricky. Unfortunately we didn’t have time to shop in the gift shops, due to the lost time.

Elizabeth Nowak (QueenBrimley) — Google review

Amazing experience! Took my daughter and mother in law to the show today. The meal, show and service was so wonderful. We went to Cinderella and it was very well put on! My daughter told me she can't wait to come again!

Sara Bender — Google review

The service here was excellent! We were there for the Friday night buffet. The baked fish with peppercorn sauce was very good. The haddock had a pretty heavy breading, which made it a bit more greasy than we prefer. The chicken wasn't too bad either. The breading was soft vs. a little crisp or crunchy but had good flavor. Other items that were good were the Yukon gold potatoes, potato pancakes, and mac and cheese.

Aaron Seiser — Google review

This was my first time to the Fireside, although my daughter and my parents have been attending for years. The service was outstanding, the food was tasty, and well thought out although the variety of options are not enormous. The theater in the round experience after the meal probably varies depending on the show, but the one we saw was really fun, and I've only heard good reviews from the shows I didn't get to attend. We will definitely be back.

Scott Hartman — Google review

SUPERCALIFRAGILISTICEXPIALIDOCIOUS!!!!! Is all i can say about FIRESIDE. I Went to see MARY POPPINS tonight with my lovely wife of 2 years. We were celebrating our 2nd anniversary and The show was outstanding. The cast phenomenal. It was my first time seeing a Broadway type show and I was floored. I did not need a 'SPOON FULL OF SUGAR' to help the delicious food to go down in a very delightful way thats for sure. Executive Chef J. Cook and his kitchens cooking was 'PRACTICALLY PERFECT' in every way. The wait staff were 'STEP IN TIME' with 'PRECISION AND ORDER'. I can't say enough about my experience. What I will tell you however is that I do plan on going again. Maybe not for MARY POPPINS but I will go again.

Larry Redmond — Google review

My Mom and I went here on Saturday to celebrate her birthday to have lunch and see the Titanic. I have been here many times over the past 20 years, and it never gets old. The food is always great, the drinks are delicious, the waitstaff are very friendly and professional and the actors/singers are oh so talented. We loved it, and we definitely will be back!

Jennifer Hiemer — Google review

Always enjoy going to the Fireside! It's really a good time! Great performances & a lovely brunch on Sundays! The staff is very friendly & helpful too. Nice bar/lounge to relax with a co*cktail & plenty of shops with all kinds of special items to buy. You won't regret purchasing some cheddar bread to take home either...it's delish!

Bonnie McGraw — Google review

Thoroughly enjoyed dinner and the play. The food was amazing!! I loved the layout of the Fireside. Cute little shops. Every seat was a great seat in the theater! Highly recommended.

Christine Smith — Google review

A wonderful way to have a magical evening with friends or family. We went on a Thursday buffet night. Servers were very attentive and efficient giving us enough time to browse in the shops before the show started. The performance was entertaining and ended a perfect evening.

D K — Google review

I typically don’t rate 5/5 stars, but this was very well deserved. Beginning with the service, our waitress was friendly, polite, and professional. She was helpful answering questions regarding the menu, and was highly efficient. The pace that the food was served was timed out perfectly, and the portions are well calculated. Tasting the food was on another level… the food was cooked at their respective rates. Posted is the appetizer, tomato soup. It was creamy and flavorful it came out hot, but not burning your mouth hot. The strawberry daiquiri was dangerous as little alcohol was tasted and the strawberry was very heavy. That being mentioned, it was delicious as it wasn’t too icy where I had to wait for it to melt. It was a perfect amount of slushy and hit the spot for an alcoholic drink before a show! The salmon, potatoes, cauliflower, and broccoli, with melted butter in a small side bowl is also pictured. The salmon was flakey, melted right in your mouth, and the seasoning was blissful. Potatoes were cooked just right, crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Broccoli was buttery and savory along side with the cauliflower. Lastly, there was the black cherry chocolate cake. It was very most and fluffy. It was a nice light touch after a hardy meal and it definitely was the cherry on top! I’m not a huge fan of cherries, but the sauce did it justice. The temperature of the building was comfortable. The restaurant is a tad chilly, but after you sit for a while it gets warm. The theatre definitely gets warm with all the body heat, but it cooled down in the second half and made it for a pleasant second act. Overall the temperature of the building is comfortable, and I’m one to get cold easily and had no issues. Moving onto the show, it was something like no other. A square theatre, and intimate for actors and the audience to kind of “interact” with each other. It’s always laughter, smiles, light and warm conversations before and after!

Olivia Freitag — Google review

I am SO happy with our visit! I got to bring my 6 month old with me and it was our very first time here and I just fell in love with this place! The shops are so adorable, the staff is extremely friendly and our waiter was just absolutely amazing. But the absolute best thing was the scrooge musical. Every single one of those cast members performed from their hearts and you can just tell how much they love to entertain just by how hard they have worked to put on such an amazing show. My little girl was just dancing away with the first song and the very last song, plus she got to wave to “the ghost of christmas past” at the very end and she had the biggest smile on her face. Thank you all so much for a great way to remember my daughter’s very first christmas! The pamphlet is going in her baby book for it being her very first musical. ❤️ Merry Christmas to you all!!!

Brianna Carli — Google review

The Fireside is a fantastic dining and entertainment experience in Wisconsin. I have been there many times over the past 25 years, and every visit was really good. The food stresses a quality over quantity approach, but you will be full by the final course. The theater is a unique experience, with audience seating on all four sides of the stage. There are no bad seats. Likewise, the quality of the performances is consistently excellent. This is a great place to celebrate an anniversary or birthday.

Scott Noseworthy — Google review

4.8

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4.5

(444)40 Best Stops Between Chicago and Glacier National Park (93)

1131 Janesville Ave, Fort Atkinson, WI 53538, USA

(920) 563-9505

13

EAA Aviation Museum

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History museum

Museums

Specialty Museums

The EAA Aviation Museum is a fascinating museum that showcases a wide range of historic airplanes and offers hands-on exhibits for children to enjoy. Visitors can learn about the evolution of flight, from its origins with the Wright Brothers to modern space travel. The collection includes personal homebuilt aircraft as well as commercial planes. During summertime, visitors can take advantage of trolley tours that explore outdoor hangars where they can see even more planes up close.

Great place to learn and see all types of planes. The children's spot is cool for everyone and you can sit in a jet! If you live in the area and haven't gone, I suggest a trip. In the summer it's better because they open the outside hangers and you can take a trolley and see even more planes.

Rob Wetzel — Google review

Self guided tours with staff walking around to answer questions. Friendly staff, nice gift shop area. Even if you don't have kids, go to the kid zone and go up to the 3rd floor Control Tower. Have your picture taken with you in the Raptor (Maverick not included 😄). Really a cool place for kids and adults. Plan to spend minimum 3 hours if you enjoy reading about the planes. The only negative was many of the hands on activities were out of order (most of them, actually). Great museum...Highly recommend!

WI Explorer — Google review

It was a cool place. Well it was a cool place for my husband who loves aviation. Some of the exhibits in the kids discovery area were out of order so it was somewhat disappointing but overall pretty cool. They need to upkeep the place better.

J Sheldon — Google review

This museum is a must see for anyone who likes airplanes or history! It shattered our expectations in the best way. We had heard it was big and interesting. Wow, it was huge! There are so many planes of all shapes and sizes. We loved reading the history of how things evolved in aviation. We spent way longer than expected just taking it all in. We enjoyed that the displays were dynamic, planes at crazy angles, displays that moved or were interactive. It was a hit with both young and old. The areas showed different aspects of aviation history, from the Wright Brothers, through wars, and into space. Highly recommend it!We went on a Saturday morning and they were not busy. A few families but we didn't have to cross paths there was so much to see. I can't wait to go back!

Tonya F — Google review

I love this museum! There is a collection of airplanes here that will excite and satisfy anyone curious about the origins of flight and personal homebuilt aircraft. They have exhibits that cover everything from the Wright Brothers up to modern space flight. Very cool and worthwhile if you're in the Oshkosh area.

Jim Pfarr — Google review

Awesome museum that focuses on amazing aircraft of general aviation. Makes you want to make a plane! Really want to see the EAA Adventure this summer despite living 14 hours away!

Rush Rank — Google review

One of our stops in 2022 when touring Wisconsin on a father son road trip! The city of Oshkosh is well known for its amazing Air Shows but the museum is just as good! My son and I were here for hours taking in everything it had to offer! There is so much to see and do, it felt like it never ended! No matter your age, from 9 to 92, you will find plenty to do and see! They have a top notch kids play area! Interactive displays! Flying simulators! Live science stations! Film presentations! A vast miniature model display! Planes and heirlooms dated throughout history! And so much more!!! The facility is very clean, nice and cool and very easily handicap accessible. A family could easily spend the afternoon here and go home with smiles and dreams of flight! I know I did! I wanted to get my pilots license right then and there! You would be missing out on an absolute treasure by not coming here! Highly recommend!!! 10 stars!

D-Rock T — Google review

There is tons of things to see, watch, playland explore. From old to new and all between. Space exploration to military, there is something for everyone. Flight simulators and many other things await you at EAA!

Mason Barnett — Google review

Wow!!!! This blew me away! The amount of different planes they have on display is amazing! They have done a wonderful job making it all flow together! My kids enjoyed running around seeing all of the different planes and loved the kids zone!

Anne Sturm — Google review

Amazing place if you're into flight history. Lots of information on flying and space flight. Kinda disappointed that a lot of the hands on simulators weren't working. But overall, a good time

Ron Klein — Google review

Ok so I went during the EAA Oshkosh Air Show so they let me in for free because I was wearing the wrist band. Even if you had to pay, it is still good value.There is a room dedicated to early flight including a replica Wright Brothers 1903 Flyer and Charles Lindberg's Spirit of St Louis. There is a racing/air stunt room which was great, too, a record setting section with a replica of the Voyager aircraft plus a library and a kids room.It was crowded, although that was due to the airshow.The restrooms were clean and the staff were friendly. They had a gift shop with great caramel fudge!

James Flynn — Google review

Great museum, the displays are well spaced with seating areas throughout. The displays themselves are well thought out, and the majority of them are focused on the evolution of aviation and the record-breaking aircraft that have been used to do it. There are also exhibits for space and military programs as they also helped shape the history of aviation. You can tell that the museum and its members care about the history of aviation.

JD Zakerski — Google review

Very fun! It's definitely worth going to. It shows how men and women were able to fly these airplanes and even gives you simulators for kids or even adults to have fun in!

Celeste S. — Google review

Great museum with knowledgeable docents. The history and variety contained in this museum is impressive. Aviation is not a hobby or interest of mine but I really appreciated the museum and would visit again. We got a lovely guided tour and learned about the Wright brothers, to military planes, to planes that have been into orbit. The gift shop was nice as well. This is a well maintained museum that is captivating for all ages including lots of historical details on the placards and interactive demonstrations for kids.

Philip Yazbak — Google review

Amazing experience when we held our banquet here. Rob the AV guy was so helpful, all of the staff was amazing. The room was awesome and perfectly set up. Food was catered by LaSures and was great. Highly recommend for your next event.

Jeremy Thompson — Google review

Went with my husband and enjoyed looking at everything. I took massive pictures but there's too much to look at to take that many pictures. Place is massive and has two stories. I enjoyed the interactive displays and looking at all of the lego builds of airplanes. We looked at military planes and novice prototypes.I don't recommend high heels or flip flops unless you have strong feet because there is a lot of walking involved and every direction you can look, there is something to see.

Heather Holden — Google review

Very cool museum with tons to look at. My kids especially enjoyed the space area where you could hold an asteroid and touch the moon. Lots of great planes to look at and some fun exhibits too with lots of video to watch. Place was pretty much empty but could be just that it was New Years eve (shocked they were even open).Taking off a star though as most of the kids exhibits were broken or out of service - Hot Air Balloon was offline, one of the robot hands lifted but didn't grab and the other grabbed but did not lift, the RC flier exhibit was out of service, the flying simulator joystick was broken. But of course if you don't have kids this is pretty much a non-issue.

Robert Vincent — Google review

I'm rating this not because I visited the amazing EAA Aviation Museum, but because I attended the Oshkosh Celebration of Lights held on EAA grounds, and Google automatically tagged this location. The museum is always 5 stars, but the holiday drive thru was spectacular! Pics from 12-16-23

James Charmelo — Google review

Young Eagles flights!!!!We went to this aviation museum with a group of friends, and 5 out of the 6 kids got to do the Young Eagles flight experience! The pilot they got to fly with was the gentleman on the Young eagles flyer. He has flown with over 1000 students. Great people 10 out of 10 we will definitely return if we are in the area. They museum also has lots of other things to see and learn about.

Jeremy Tellier — Google review

If you come to Wisconsin you can't miss a visit to this museum. The volunteers are great and there are so many things to see. In summer season they also offer a tour on a 1929 open co*ckpit biplane

Floreen Vanille — Google review

4.8

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5.0

(719)40 Best Stops Between Chicago and Glacier National Park (99)

3000 Poberezny Rd, Oshkosh, WI 54902, USA

(920) 426-4800

14

Anderson Japanese Gardens

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Garden

Nature & Parks

Anderson Japanese Gardens is a peaceful and expansive 12-acre garden in the traditional Japanese style, complete with a delightful farm-to-table cafe. Though not the largest of gardens, it boasts stunning beauty that makes it well worth visiting. The gift shop offers a diverse range of items for visitors to peruse, and the walking trail is enjoyable for all – particularly as certain sections are handicap accessible.

Beautiful time to go see this garden. Worth the drive! The vibrant colors of the leaves starts from the parking lot. Gorgeous place to just take your time and breathe in nature. Restaurant was ok. Regular restaurant. I wish they would up the Japanese experience with getting more authentic food. But still good I definitely recommend making a reservation. And they accommodate gluten free allergies.

Jacqueline Jablonski — Google review

Beautiful little gardens feels very authentic. There. There are lots of little spots off the path where you can sit and just enjoy the serene beauty. Highlights include the little buildings themselves that are very oriental and make and seem quite authentic. Unfortunately these gardens are quite small and for $11 entry it almost is a little too expensive. It's more like a $5 entertainment for maybe an hour maybe an hour maybe an hour maybe an hour Max

Wisco Simple — Google review

Incredible Japanese garden tucked into a suburban area of Rockford. One of the most beautiful, well maintained, and thoughtful gardens I have been to in a long time. Full of amazing little areas to discover. There is also a restaurant on site and an amazing gift shop selling all kinds of cool Japanese items including snacks. This place is well worth a visit even if you have to go out of your way a bit. The craftsmanship and care is incredible. Admission is 13 dollars for adults.

Susannah Ball — Google review

Enjoyed feeding the fish and birds, the gardens were breathtaking, and the buildings were so nice. There was a lot of musty smell to the buildings, but they were absolutely gorgeous. I loved the little hidden gems, too.

Amaya Okazaki — Google review

What an amazing space inside of Rockford! Meticulously maintained gardens that are lush and full of calming water features. Really great way to spend a few hours.

Scott Mitchell — Google review

We visited on the last weekend of October and had a wonderful time. The grounds were well-maintained and there was lots to see and experience. The map was helpful since it was our first visit. There are frequent benches and seating areas which makes the route as peaceful and restful as you want it to be. We spent about an hour and half strolling the gardens. I will say, drinks at the coffee bar near the restaurant were super overpriced and serves in an unprofessional way, but everything else was top notch!

Beth Carter — Google review

The Rockford Japanese Gardens is truly a gem worth exploring. As an avid garden enthusiast, I can confidently say that it ranks among the finest I've encountered. Located in the beautiful Rockford area, this garden offers an exquisite blend of tranquility and natural beauty. From the meticulously designed landscapes to the captivating water features, every aspect exudes a sense of serenity. The attention to detail is remarkable, showcasing the mastery of Japanese gardening techniques. Walking through the garden feels like stepping into a serene oasis, providing a much-needed escape from the bustling world. A visit to the Rockford Japanese Gardens is a must for anyone seeking solace in nature's embrace.

aidanjeffrey — Google review

The organizational flow in the garden is very efficient. There was a shortage on parking, so extra parking lots were sourced from the area, with two shuttle going back and forth all day long.The restaurant offers a fair variety of foods and drinks, that were really great! Little events were staged all afternoon, and some were really educational, apart from the entertaining aspects and soothing live Japanese instrumental music. The garden itself, though not styled to present many flower types, was full of exquisite greenery, calming areas, flowing streams, waterfalls and ponds. lending itself to peaceful, contemplative states of mind.We were also able to purchase beautiful kimonos and garments for men and women.A full experience that we will return to, for certain!

Johann Smit — Google review

These gardens are absolutely gorgeous and so well maintained! I highly recommend visiting here as well as the nearby Laurent House (designed by Frank Lloyd Wright). This was my first visit, and I would love to come back in the spring to see everything in bloom.

R P — Google review

Garden was beautiful. It is not the biggest garden out there, but definitely worth the visit. The gift shop has a nice variety of items. The walking trail is great, and having certain parts handicap accessible is a plus. Make sure you buy some fish food to feed the fish and ducks, it's a fun experience to have.

I. S. — Google review

Love this place, they even have little sections where you can take photos. Its breathtaking and gorgeous.Got some neat pictures with my fiancé and my brother. We chose this location because it sounded cool and it was amazing! Ive only met my brother twice and I am so glad that me and him got to see this place as one of our meet ups!!! 💗

Jinx Truce — Google review

It's been over 10 years since I visited Anderson Gardens and it's just as lovely as I remembered. The volunteers in the garden were helpful and the gift shop was filled with items ranging from tea sets to candies and treats that your anime loving friend would enjoy.Despite the heat and lack of significant rainfall everything looked great and there was plenty of areas to get out of the sun.

Kristen — Google review

It is an excellent place for relaxation with the family. If you are a fitness conscious individual, you will definitely get your steps here while enjoying nature.If you plan on staying for a couple of hours and you'll hit lunchtime, try to eat first before strolling so you won't have to join the crowd at the cafe during lunch hour. They have good food at a reasonable price. Expect to spend at least $20-$25/person for food.Once you are energized after a visit to their cafe, you are ready to enjoy the beautiful scenery.

sophia ruiz — Google review

The gardens are well-maintained and easy to walk around. There are plenty of benches where you can sit and relax and enjoy the scenery. The gardens are a great place to visit for a peaceful walk, a romantic stroll, or a family outing.It is a lovely place to visit. It is a great place to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life and enjoy some peace and tranquility. I would highly recommend it to anyone visiting Rockford, Illinois

Jasper JD — Google review

Anderson Japanese Garden is a beautiful out door setting that inspires the mind and energies the soul.The Anderson Japanese Gardens is a 12-acre (4.9 ha) Japanese garden located in Rockford, Illinois.Established in 1978, its home to many species of colorful fish, minks, and ducks. In the "Garden of Reflection" beetle traps hang over the water to encourage these fish to surface for food. Professional photography is only permitted after hours with management approval, but amateur photography is encouraged. There are also many forbidden paths that lead up to the Anderson home.March to May is best time to visit. All the beauties you can capture during this period only.Entrance fees is very very reasonable for spending whole day.In weekdays its $12 max. kids below 5 are free.In weekends its $13 max. and kids below 5 are freeSpecial rates for seniors and students on all days.Anderson Japanese Gardens evolved from an individual’s vision to create a unique amenity for the Rockford region into an internationally renowned public garden. The founder’s principals of authentic design, first-class craftsmanship and world-class maintenance have led to the Gardens’ reputation as one of the finest Japanese gardens in the world

Praween Kumar — Google review

This is a hidden gem out in the suburbs. Located in Rockford which is quite a drive from the Chicago area. Tickets for an adult are $11-13. I only came here once just because of the distance but I wouldn’t mind coming back in the summer. They have alluring, breathtaking waterfalls here and koi in the ponds. Just a reminder, this place is for relaxing and being stress free. They do have a restaurant but I didn’t eat there. On their online menu, I noticed it’s not very Japanese oriented. Parking is sufficient, it doesn’t really get busy here.

Nicholas P — Google review

Totally worth the time to stop by here. The gardens are lush and well-tended and it makes for a nice outing with anyone, or all by yourself. The attached restaurant is quite nice and delicious though a bit pricy and there’s a gift store you can get some interesting things in.

Ben Herman — Google review

Perhaps the most extraordinary garden I have ever had the privilege of visiting. I cannot believe this is in Northern Illinois--I felt like I was back visiting Japan so many years ago. We visited in May of 2022 in what may have been one of the best seasons to visit. I've been itching to go back and see what else they accomplish in other seasons. One can get peacefully lost for hours in this place.

Kriz Rbsn — Google review

Had a wonderful time at their Illuminated event. From the light display, to hot chocolate and woodfired pizza - it was a great way to kick off the holiday season! Love coming here!

Michael Tesluk — Google review

Beautiful park. It is smaller than maybe some other gardens but definitely worth checking-in and strolling around, especially now that the fall colors are so spectacular!

Svetlana Shiyka — Google review

4.7

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4.5

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318 Spring Creek Rd, Rockford, IL 61107, USA

(815) 229-9390

15

Olbrich Botanical Gardens

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Botanical garden

Nature & Parks

The Olbrich Botanical Gardens is located on Madison's scenic waterfront and features a wide variety of themed gardens with plants from all over the world. Highlights include the glass-enclosed Bolz Conservatory and an elaborate Thai pavilion called a sala which is the only one of its kind in the continental United States.

Beautiful Gardens and their Conservatory is also really nice! Loved seeing tropical plants, water ponds and quails! The Gardens are free which is very nice, they do accept donations. The Conservatory is not free, but the ticket entrance is not expensive at all. Parking is also free which is nice. Will definitely be back once everything has bloomed.

Jen Romero-Stentella — Google review

This is a great botanical garden - my family has had a membership for years. We love walking around the outside areas when it's warm, and the indoor conservatory it's great in the winter.Additionally, there are a few times a year when we always stop by:- in the spring/summer they have a butterfly event where they raise butterflies and release them into the conservatory. You can walk around the area full of butterflies, if you're lucky one may land on you!- in December they have their holiday express event, where they put together displays and incorporate model trains from enthusiasts in the area. It's always a ton of fun, and they generally have a search and find page for the kids.This year's holiday express was carnival themed, which was a ton of fun.

John K — Google review

Was beautiful. The walk through of the orchids took about 1 hour. Was hot and humid inside because that's the natural habitat for the orchids, so dress in layers that you can remove.The flowers were awesome! There was also some orange trees, trees, berry trees, cocoa trees and other little surprises. We'll worth the price of admission!Check out the many photos!

Rusty Shelby — Google review

This botanical gardens is the best!! On Saturday mornings from 10am-12pm the garden is FREE! When you enter the dome, be prepared for your jaw to drop! It is amazing! Tropical trees yielding fruit, birds flying around, quail running around, flowers I've never seen before, koi fish pond, a waterfall and so very much more! We were there in winter, but we're told that in May-ish the outdoor garden walk is stunning!This place will not disappoint!! Definitely a must experience when visiting Madison!

Sarah Dennis — Google review

I wish I could give more than 5 stars. These gardens are BEAUTIFUL! Very nice environment outside to walk around, plenty of plants to see as well as wildlife. There are some areas that may be inaccessible for visitors in wheelchairs, but the paths in general are very well kept! Stopping by the Thai gardens is a MUST - stunning architecture and design. Gift shop has fun items as well!

Victoria Schwutke — Google review

Great place to visit on a pleasant day. The outdoor gardens are free and great for a slow stroll through when the weather is nice. The indoor conservatory is worth the $6 as there are unique and rare plants to observe. You can spend as much or as little time here as you please.

Ryan Kuchenmeister — Google review

The Thai garden was definitely our favorite part. The black ponds are really cool. Could visualize many spots for wedding of family pictures. The main building has bathrooms, gift shop, water, and vending. The staff is friendly and helpful. Unbelievable this place is no charge , except for the dome, but please donate to keep this good thing going

Jered Koslowski — Google review

Given the time of the year I visited it, there wasn’t much to see outside, but it was still nice and peaceful (I would definitely visit again during spring or summer).The bright side was the indoor tropical exhibit, where there are different plants and birds. Don’t forget to visit the rooftop! Free parking.

Ana I. Romero — Google review

This place is wonderful! It's well setup walkthrough of trees, flowers and plants. Most have identification on them, it's very educational and pretty. We also saw a baby owl!! Highly recommend a visit👍👍

Michael Kangas — Google review

We had a great time listening to music, walking around, and exploring the gardens both inside & out. It was a special fundraiser that was relaxing and fun. The music was just the right, you could hear each other talking, not to loud. There were little pockets to sit in, with just a few others. They also had a cash bar for drinks. All in all, fun, friends, and helping raise money for a worthy cause.

Partly Cloudy — Google review

Went here to a rare second bloom. It just so happens I was in town. It only blooms 4 to 5 times in its 40-year life span. The Garden itself is free to get into. Beautiful day to enjoy some nice flora. Nice little gift shop that is worth checking out to grab something to remember the trip.

Drew Tj — Google review

Flowers are in full bloom and the Blooming Butterfly located inside the Blotz Conservatory was a big hit with visitors, young and old. Olbrich Botanical Gardens is a 16 acre outdoor botanical garden and 10,000-square-foot conservatory in Madison, Wisconsin. Founded in 1952 and named for its founder, Michael Olbrich, the gardens are owned and operated jointly by the City of Madison Parks and the non-profit Olbrich Botanical Society.

David Hesterly — Google review

The information desk representative was an exceptional gentleman and very informative/helpful. Great place for family’s and tourists to see a beautiful garden. I was able to get a lot of amazing photos of the plants and they put a lot of love and effort into their establishment. I would say be warned as one of the younger female staff looked tired/bored and seemed to have a tiny bit of an attitude when I asked her a question. Beyond that, some people I had the displeasure of crossing paths with seemed to be bothered with people taking photos, when the website actually encourages you to bring your camera for memorable photos. It seems like some of the visitors here think they are above other people and incredibly snobby. No fault of the staff but would just recommend to watch out for the rude pretentious people that visit this establishment.If you can ignore people acting a little weird/rude, this place is an absolute gem. Outside garden are free, the conservatory was $6/person. Great value and great memories!

Amanda (Venom) — Google review

We only had time for a quick visit in January so we spent about 30 minutes in the conservatory and did not get to walk outside. They conservatory was great! It's such a peaceful atmosphere. It's very relaxing to look at plants, hear the birds and waterfalls, and feel the tropical climate. A little smaller than other similar places we've visited, but still enough to see. The birds were a great touch. We got to see a quail poke around and the canaries were quite vocal. You can also see a few koi in the water. Many orchids and bromeliads and other interesting plants with great color.

Paul and Lillian Bruns — Google review

A scheduled stop on a road trip with my son back in 2022. First, this place was a lot bigger than I had expected! We visited in early June and unfortunately, it was too early for the flowers. There were some but not many in bloom yet. That was a bummer. However, the weather was beautiful and we wanted to see the Thai Pavilion and Conservatory. Well, we got handed our second strike and the Conservatory was booked for a wedding and closed to the public. On a positive note, it saved us the cost of entry because the grounds were free to enter. So, we walked the park grounds and took pics of the few flowers we did see and made our way to the Thai Pavilion. Wow! The pavilion is spectacular! It shines in the sun like a palace! We got some great photos of it. We walked through some of the trails in the park but came to the realization that the flowers just aren't going to bloom for us and decided to go. The park is beautiful and I'm sure the Conservatory is great. I bet July & August are the best times to visit. All the flowers would be in bloom by then. I highly recommend this place!

D-Rock T — Google review

I enjoyed coming here with my family even during the fall time. it was our first time coming here. We loved the tropical green house and walking around. I give this a 5 star for the sweet ladies who helped my father who was hard time walking. they were so helpful and accommodating. I would love to come back during the summer time!

Millie TV — Google review

The Orchid Escape exhibition is the best! I love the tropical setting and dinosaur theme, the gorgeous flowers and plants, and the friendly animals. 10/10 best experience for friends, family, and lovers 🦕🌴

Aosai Liu — Google review

The Gardens had a beautiful orchid show when we visited in the Conservatory. The outside gardens were still a nice walk even in February.

R. M. Zita Feist — Google review

The gardens were a breath of fresh air to walk through and get to learn about some of the plants and flowers. A great activity to do with family. The light displays are always so pretty too.

Amanda Seefeldt — Google review

Is it possible to give more than 5 stars? This place is drop dead gorgeous and the entrance fee is paltry. I came well past the prime season and they still had great things for me to see. I spent 2.5 hours here.

Michael Miller — Google review

4.8

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5.0

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3330 Atwood Ave, Madison, WI 53704, USA

(608) 246-4550

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16

Wisconsin State Capitol

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State government office

Sights & Landmarks

The Wisconsin State Capitol is an imposing and elegant Beaux-Arts building that dominates the central skyline of Madison. Completed in 1917, its marble and mahogany-clad interior is full of magnificent murals and mosaics. The dome atop the building is bested by Daniel Chester Frenchs exquisite overlaid bronze statue, Wisconsin.

The Wisconsin State Capitol is simply a stunning building. Everyone that is able should take a half hour to walk through this incredible structure. Photos don't do the majesty justice, and you really need to see it for yourself. I highly recommend a visit if you are in the area or passing nearby.

Nick Chill — Google review

Today, we had a tour of the Capitol Building in Madison, Wisconsin. The tour was awesome, and the tour guide was awesome! It was very interesting, and I learned so much. Street parking was available, and the tour group was small. I highly recommend a visit to this place.

Mary Ehr — Google review

This building is so beautiful. They offer free guided tours and I definitely recommend going on one. Our guide was able to take us to places we didn't know about, told us all kinds of interesting facts, and was really friendly. I had no idea we could go up to the observation tower, or that there was a small museum up there! So much fun for free!

Ziva Gunther — Google review

This is an absolutely gorgeous building, I haven't had a single moment I walked into the Capitol Building and it hasn't felt like the first time. The details are all absolutely perfect and if you're able to pet the nose of the Badger outside the Governor's office, please do! They also offer FREE tours during the weekdays along with being able to go up to the observation deck!

Cassandra Wilcox (Cass) — Google review

We had a lovely afternoon visiting the Capitol building for one of the free tours! Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and we saw a ton of badgers along the way! The building is magnificent, especially with the Christmas tree and holiday decorations up! The holiday choir was performing as an added plus. Don’t miss the observation deck under the rotunda for even cooler views!

Pallavi Aggarwal — Google review

This place is as gorgeous and interesting to explore as it is important to our state. Marble from floor to ceiling, some imported and not without stories! Take the guided tour and they'll tell you all about it! The capital is extremely impressive, every detail is meticulous. It is a state treasure! Coming in at $7.2 million dollars back in the early 1900s. This is a must see if you are visiting Madison, WI.

Sarah Dennis — Google review

I love that you can come in and look around for free. I highly recommend going to the top and taking a look outside. There are stairs leading to the very top after you take an elevator to the 4th floor. Public restrooms available inside as well. During the holiday season they have a beautiful tree lit up with children’s ornaments. It’s beautiful. Definitely worth checking out!

Faith — Google review

The Capitol building was the most beautiful building that I have seen it was very big and wide, ayo. And the inside of the Capitol was very nice and had lots of pictures of religious images.

ItzScorpy — Google review

Capitol building of Wisconsin state is open from 8 am till evening. Open for public . No entry fee. Architectural work is amazing. Grandeur is visible once you enter inside.Very well maintained and clean interior as well as exterior.

seema prakash — Google review

The architecture is beautiful with breathtaking interior design. It is also open to public for free.

Ayaz N — Google review

Breathtaking views!!! Madison offers a variety of things to do and I’m so grateful I got to see this beautiful sunset stretching above the capitol building.

Sunny P — Google review

The architecture of this state capitol building is nothing short of impressive! The design of both the exterior and interior was stunning, and the view from the observation deck is excellent! The best place inside the capitol building to stand and take pictures is at the very center right underneath the dome. This is a must see when you’re visiting Madison!

N Duncan — Google review

What a unique place! I discovered quite a bit of United States history here. And the paintings are beautifully painted. Lots of architecture to take a look at. And plenty of bathrooms on every floor. If you're looking for a place to sit down, there are leather chairs outside the supreme court courtroom on the second floor, in addition to benches outside the Capitol itself

Golden Monkey Farm Farm — Google review

Free and open to the public. During December there is a big Christmas tree with ornaments from school children throughout the state that is fun to see! The architecture is fantastic.

Isaac Teuscher — Google review

Just gorgeous! Free to visit, guided tours are also offered. Full of history and architectural details

Ana I. Romero — Google review

Insanely beautiful building, gorgeous stone throughout. My family decided to go on the free tour. Our tour guide was absolutely wonderful. My husband uses a wheelchair frequently when going out, and this gentlemen let us know where to go to meet and always made sure we were at the right elevator to rejoin the group. He was very very knowledgeable and informative. The observation deck was outstanding as well, definitely recommended going up there

Taylor Haile — Google review

Several times I've wanted to stop here but just didn't have a lot of time. Finally had a chance to take a stroll around the perimeter. It's an interesting capitol building where you're not quite sure where the front is (maybe there is none). There was some renovation going on but nothing too bad. We were able to find street pay parking immediately but one with a very short time limit.

Patrick Villacorta — Google review

The state capital building is phenomenal.I enjoyed the magnificent views with an amazing architecture. The ceiling, interior design with huge pillars and with vintage ceiling equipment can't make our eyes even to give a blink

Akshay — Google review

4.7

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4.5

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2 E Main St, Madison, WI 53702, USA

(608) 266-0382

17

Henry Vilas Zoo

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Zoo

Zoos & Aquariums

The Henry Vilas Zoo is a great place to visit with kids if you're in Madison, Wisconsin. It has animals from all over the world, plus a variety of gifts and food options for visitors.

What A Amazing Free Zoo, That’s Correct It’s 2022 And There Is Still Something That’s Fun To Do And Free🤘You Can Do The Right Thing And Donate Anything You Can Afford To Give - They Still Enjoy Giving Extra Care To Their Animals!! So Many Different Animals In Such A Beautiful Layout!! Keep Up The Great Carr And The Great Work Of Running Such A Beautiful Zoo!! I Went Multiple Times As A Kid And Now I’ve Taken My Kids To This Zoo!! Great Place To Spend The Day Or Days!! There Is A Lake Near By You Can Enjoy As Well!! Give Those Donations To Them Please And Thank You, This Is What Keeps Them Going!!

T (Frank Dukes) — Google review

I love this little zoo!! It's on the smaller side, but there are plenty of animals to visit. The updates and expansions they've done over the past few years to the enclosures have been great to see. It's a free zoo, but always still plan to bring a donation, because of course taking care of all these beautiful creatures is not free!

melody — Google review

We visited in May before the season started. The zoo wasn't very crowded. Some of the animals were not visible, but it was a nice day for a walk anyway. Depending on the time of year, time of day, feeding schedule, and sleeping times, it's not always possible to see all the animals in most zoos. The Henry Vilas Zoo could perhaps be considered a mid-size zoo, and that is an advantage, making the zoo easy to navigate, and not exhausting to explore. There seem to be plenty of friendly staff assisting visitors and caring for the animals. Visiting the zoo is free, but donations are welcome.

Greg Johnson — Google review

It’s the perfect size zoo. I wish there were more animals but what we did see looked to be enjoying themselves. Grizzlies foraging for bugs. The polar bear was swimming and then rolling in mud. The tiger was taking a nap in the sun. The lions were roaming. The river otter was swimming. I didn’t like seeing that the orangutan was all by itself though. I think some of these animals need company.The carousel is lovely. The gift shop is extremely expensive now but, inflation. All in all this is a nice zoo and it’s free. Parking is free as well. We had fun.

A — Google review

It is amazing how the zoo has changed over the years. No more giraffes, camels, penguins. But they still have a lot of other critters to see. A bottle of water was $5.26. Yikes. Kids still love the zoo but I suggest a nice picnic before going in.

Barry Dean — Google review

We love coming to this zoo. It's the perfect size for little kids to be able to walk and not get too worn out. It's nice in the winter too, if you bundle up and it's not too cold you can still have a great experience. The lions are often active and roaring. The polar bear is very active and likes to swim. There is a family of 5 otters to see too. We miss being able to go into the monkey and reptile area that has been closed to the public since COVID started. In the summer time the playground is open and is a great place to run around and play.

J Hyttsten — Google review

I was glad to see that they have more animals now, there's more places to eat/snack inside the zoo. Last time we were here(6 yrs) they were doing some construction and they didn't have a lot of animals. We all had a great time. My personal favorite was the tiger. There is no fee to enter the zoo, they just ask for a donation. The parking lot is small so I would recommend going early. You can also park on the street around the park.

Maria Fernandez — Google review

Henry Villas Zoo is definitely one of the best zoos in Wisconsin. First of all, it's FREE. Yes, you read that correctly. There's no cover charge. The exhibits are well laid out and there are some pretty unique and amazing creatures here. Our favorites are the orangutan family (and a baby orangutan, she's so adorable!!), Tiger, lions, rhinoceros, giraffe, polar bear, otters, anaconda, and MORE! The park isn't excessively large & is well laid out. There's an amazing kids plaza area (seriously, it's incredible). The store is a must see and definitely purchase some stuff to help them keep up the park and superb animal care.

Lex Lynne — Google review

We always have an absolutely great time at this zoo. There us a wide array of animals, as well as a few buildings with other animals. Wonderful playground and children's zoo. There were lots of baby animals when we went today. Also Joe near the exit at guest services was THE NICEST person ever. My kids loved interacting with him and getting a stamp

Taylor Haile — Google review

Really nice zoo. We went on a weekday and it wasn't too crowded. If recommend going early in order to find parking. The animals seemed well cared for and appeared to have appropriate enrichment and good conditions, as well as places to escape the crowds. I would definitely visit again and enjoyed this zoo significantly more than many of the highly recommended commercialized zoos in the country. The zoo staff were friendly and knowledgeable as well.

Liz Thompson — Google review

Great place to take our animal loving children on vacation! A 4 yr old and a 6 yr old found a lot of things to be joyful about even in the cold of March and the rainy/snowy weather! Great playground, cool art/sculptures, and great animal views!

Sally Riccardi — Google review

Nice place to visit during weekend. Lots of animals. Kids will enjoy for sure. There is no entry fee. But you can donate at the entrance for your visit. Rhino, giraffe, tiger and lion were very active during our visit.

kabil jacob — Google review

If you want to have a nice little walk around a beautiful park with the family and see some animals while doing so this is a great place to go. It's small but quaint with a nice variety of animals and plenty of fun things for your little ones to do. Entrance is free which is another plus. Only issue was parking which is why I gave it a 4 star rating.

Cynthia Melendez — Google review

This Zoo has a surprisingly good selection of animals and exhibits for a free to public zoo. The weather was a little cool that day, but it seemed to have been favorable to most of the animals, too. I wanted to give it 5 stars because for a free zoo (they do take donations), they do a good job overall with the animals and exhibits. The only thing that seemed it could be better was some basic maintenance here and there, especially with cleaning up the glass on some of the exotic animal exhibits. This is a great little getaway for half a day or so with the family or just anyone who appreciates the animals and nature. I'd love to see what they could do with this place should the city pump some money into the zoo. You'd think with all those taxes in the Madison area, they could put some of it to use for the public by investing in public spaces like the zoo. Overall, I definitely recommend this place, and they have some land and picnic tables out by the parking lots as well, so pack a lunch or snacks it's a great little half day or so getaway.

Austin Waddick — Google review

This zoo is just the right size for a day trip. Very manageable to navigate and see a wide variety of animals. The only place it gets crowded is inside the reptiles exhibit. The primates building is probably the highlight especially if you are able to catch the monkeys playing.I would recommend coming through the back entrance that is on Vilas Park Drive. Much more available parking back there.

Sydni Foley — Google review

large variety of animals, well-kept and clean grounds, free entry, variety of food spots (including a chocolate shoppe ice cream). I have such great memories of coming here when I was a little toddler and it’s nice to see that the quality of this zoo has stayed consistent. I love how close you can see all of the animals, especially the giraffe. We ate at mickies dairy bar then spent the afternoon here. What a great day!

Mira — Google review

Very nice layout and decent amount of animals that we saw for the zoo's size. Wished the avian flu outbreak wasn't around which quarantined all their birds but we did get a glimpse of the Flamingos.Recommend for all ages.

Walter Fritz — Google review

Our family has gone here for years. Very clean and so much to do and see. I love the fact that it’s free (we usually like to donate anyways) worth coming and checking it out. It’s one of our favorite Madison spots

DeeAnna Straub — Google review

I am impressed that this zoo is free. They have cool animals. Both adults going on a date or for kids with family, this is a must visit!

Apple H — Google review

Always good animals here. Less to see in winter but so happy it's a free zoo. Sad that Eddie the giraffe got moved elsewhere. Highly recommend!

Belle Bunny — Google review

My family and I travel quite a bit and have been to many zoo's, with that being said I didn't have high expectations for this zoo - especially since it's free. I was seriously so impressed, it is one of the cleanest zoos I have been to! It's not huge, but it's a perfect size for my kiddos to manage without being exhausted. There's a good variety of animals and all enclosures are well maintained and clean. We had a wonderful time and I would highly recommend it!

M W — Google review

Having traveled all over the USA, coming back to Madison has showed me how great this zoo really is. Not only is it free, but it is clean, friendly, and fun for the family. The animals all look happy, healthy, and taken care of with clean enclosures. For a free zoo… this zoo is a must see when you come to Madison!

Jake Pelaez — Google review

This zoo is free. Is a smaller zoo. We had fun although not too many active animals. Would be a better option in summer when more activities are open.

Melissa Rose — Google review

KIDS LOVE THIS ZOO!It’s a nice place to look at wild animals in the wilderness. Lots of animals and fun for the little ones. They have carousel, playground and train as part of many other activities. We had a wonderful time here.

Akila Iyer — Google review

Very nice zoo with active, happy animals! It has lots of exhibits, bathrooms, eating areas, and a huge playground area, I also love the goats.

Amber Roberts — Google review

4.7

(8698)40 Best Stops Between Chicago and Glacier National Park (133)

4.5

(1700)40 Best Stops Between Chicago and Glacier National Park (134)

702 S Randall Ave, Madison, WI 53715, USA

(608) 266-4732

18

New Glarus Brewing Company

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$$$$cheap

Brewery

Food & Drink

Craft brewery featuring a tasting room, gifts, self-guided tours & reservation-only hard hat tours.

This is one of the best breweries we have ever visited. The buildings are so beautiful with the Swiss theme. The outside tasting area is so relaxing, & beautiful! You good stay there all day and enjoy the great tasting beer while relaxing & enjoying nature. Clean & beautiful. Looking forward when they can be fully open on the weekends for more people to enjoy. The gift shop has something for everyone. Love the home of the Spotted cow! Thank you to all the staff who make it a great place to visit.

Maggie81 — Google review

For years I have been giving people money if the get to visit here. Well now it's my turn! I loved it here! The self tour was fun as it allowed us to see everything at our own pace. The tap room and beer room were fun too! So many great flavors and old standards. I will always be a supporter of New Glarus Brewing.

Marc Gregory — Google review

Had a day off so I went to the New Glarus Brewing Company, I wanted to come here before I left Wisconsin, really kool place. Unfortunately I didn’t get a chance to take the tour but I bought some really nice souvenirs to take back with me, which I thought were reasonably priced, also taking a case of spotted cow back with me. 👍🏽

Dagoberto J Rodriguez — Google review

One of my favorite breweries of all time. I’ve been drinking their beer for 2 decades. We finally made a trip to visit the brewery and were not disappointed. The tour and tastings were great. I wish I could have bought more souvenirs to bring home. We had a great visit and will come back any time we return to the area.

Lane Milde — Google review

It's one of my favorite breweries ever. Have been here twice in my life, and both have been the capstone of amazing road trips to get here. The tour is fun, people are friendly, and the beer is downright amazing. Amazing enough, I accidently told my coworkers where I was going, and well, the cases ordered almost didn't fit in the car.

Jakob Barker — Google review

So glad we FINALLY made it down to New Glarus to see the brewery and have some fresh and tasty brews! So cool to be able to walk the grounds at our own pace. We did not do the guided tour but I'm sure it would be amazing! Had some snow falling when we were there which made for awesome pictures of the exterior of the building as well! Highly highly recommend! Note: brewery only open during the weekday

Anthony Harrington — Google review

Been wanting to come here for a long time. Bulk ordering area is nice. Self guided tour is cool. All the cool places to walk and sit is awesome. The beer serving area could be better… I’m sure they were transitioning to another area. Love it. Excited to mule 3 cases of spotted cow home to Texas!

Jonathan Oetken — Google review

Took the self guided tour of complete processing amazing set up very clean and well planned set up. staff quite courteous.Bear testing is very exciting though changeable one must go for tasting. we spend about 2 hours enjoying everything.

Sunil Thaker — Google review

Enjoyed the self guided tour and the beer tasting. As a hard core fan of spotted cow beer, this was an informative tour that was on our list for the last 3years.Tours allow you to see the brewing process, fermentation tanks, bottling, labeling and packaging.Self guided tours are offered on weekdays up until 5pm. Hard hat tours are limited to Friday for a max of 20people.The beer depot offers all their beer ranges to take home.

Pruthvi Ks — Google review

Old-world charm .... good place to tour to see how beer is produced.On weekends, the alphorns play.Beer tasting & buying along with a gift shop & small museum about the history of beer. It was a very nice experience... like being in Europe!

Mary Soddy — Google review

New Glarus Brewing Company offers amazing beers of highest quality and taste. Spotted Cow is the flagship beer, and probably the best beer available. The hard hat tour is pretty amazing, for the pride and passion that goes into every bottle, keg, and can is inspiring.

Clinton Stumpf — Google review

Fun brewery to tour and a great gift shop. Unfortunately they are currently not open on the weekends. The beer garden is really nice. You have to buy tickets for beers. They have some common stuff on tap but also some you don't see often. With your first beer you get a souvenir glass and a drink token for one of the fun local bars so if you plan on stopping in town it's a great deal.

M D — Google review

Amazing Brewery, with an Amazing story!Gorgeous property, with a great experience!Self guided tour was really great with plenty of information to make it a great experience. There’s a video about the entire history of the brewery, the family, and how “Spotted Cow” came to be. ADA accessible. Plenty of restrooms so you can take your time and be casual on your time here. There’s a sampling area, where you can buy a 3 drink sampler, or your favorite pint. You get to keep your glass, and a free drink token to enjoy a beer at participating locations. Gift shop with a great selection of local items, including Bobs B*tchin BBQ sauce! Absolutely love this brewery!!

Daily Driver — Google review

The brewery is great with a great story along with it. They let you walk around in a self-guided tour, and the grounds are great too! It's a cool town, too... check out downtown New Glarus, they call it 'little Switzerland'

David Renard — Google review

This is a quaint brewery to tour. It looks like a German village. The success story of the owners is wonderful. We were not able to get tickets for the hard hat tour since they were sold out. We enjoyed the self guided tour and a sample

Adele — Google review

Really like the grounds, location and the tour and take home beers. Tasting room could be improved. Just 3 standing tables. Add some seating and tables to make it more welcoming.

Mike Shilko — Google review

4.6

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4.5

(689)40 Best Stops Between Chicago and Glacier National Park (140)

2400 WI-69, New Glarus, WI 53574, USA

(608) 527-5850

19

Cave of the Mounds

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40 Best Stops Between Chicago and Glacier National Park (143)40 Best Stops Between Chicago and Glacier National Park (144)

Nature & Parks

Event venue

1-hour guided tours are offered of this cave with stalactites & stalagmites, plus a souvenir shop.

An exceptional cave, displaying the earthly wonder world and teaching us the geological and evolution history.It’s thrilling to walk in a relatively large cave. Display boards and the stationed staff provide more educational insights !Don’t forget to see the colorful display of the “time machine and transformation of various minerals” while in the dark.An educational exhibit, no the geological history, for the entire family.Good approach roads and plenty of car parking at the facility.

T RS — Google review

It was a beautiful setting. A few different hiking trails with beautiful scenery as well. They make it fun with little scavenger hunts you can do and all of it is self-paced. You may have to get creative in entertaining yourself if you're trying to stay there for more than an hour to hour and a half as there is not much to do other than the cave and the gift shop. Still worth the trip because the cave was beautiful! I love that they had workers stationed throughout the cave and giving the guests little tidbits of information. Especially the freedom to walk past if you were not interested or to stay and get more insight.

Hannah Jost — Google review

This really is a fun inexpensive place to visit. It was my first time here. So much to learn and do. Staff is really knowledgeable and friendly. Facility was clean and well kept. The cave itself is pretty incredible and the story on how it was discovered. A definite must see in Wisconsin. Ticket prices are very reasonable and the all year pass is $6.99 for unlimited visits!!! Highly recommend!

Court Hutsen — Google review

This was undoubtedly the best cave I’ve visited in recent years! I was especially impressed with the amount of stalagmites, stalactites, and underground ponds of water that were prevalent throughout the cave. Also, occasionally keep an eye out for a couple fossils embedded on the roof of the cave!

N Duncan — Google review

Excellent experience, very fun and instructive. You will learn or recall your knowledge about different kinds of rocks, minerals, and more. My favorite part... experiencing almost absolute darkness and then the fluorescent minerals. Don't forget to bring or rent an UV flashing.... for sure you will be one of the coolest in the excursion and everyone will try to stay close to you.... 70 feet under ground temperature is very stable.... bring a light jacket, or you will be sweating.... If you have a young kid (my son is 2)... there are tons of stairs and wet, so it will be slippery. The entire tour is around 30 minutes.

Carmen Morales Rico — Google review

Excellent experience, very fun and instructive. You will learn or recall your knowledge about different kinds of rocks, minerals, and more. My favorite part... experiencing almost absolute darkness and then the fluorescent minerals. Don't forget to bring or rent an UV flashing.... for sure you will be one of the coolest in the excursion and everyone will try to stay close to you.... 70 feet under ground temperature is very stable.... bring a light jacket, or you will be sweating.... If you have a young kid (my son is 2)... there are tons of stairs and wet, so it will be slippery. The entire tour is around 30 minutes.

carmen Morales — Google review

My first cave, was a very pretty cave. I highly recommend getting a black light and a bag, worth it in my opinion. Not very claustrophobic place, there was only one spot we needed to turn sideways to get through but most of it is very open and the whole thing has a walkway. Staff was very friendly. Our guide was knowledgeable.

Brittany Traeger — Google review

Went on double date here on a Saturday at 3. It was a really cool experience and wasn't packed. The guides along the tour were very knowledgeable and clearly enjoyed their work! Great place to check out as an adult or especially with the kids!

Alexandra Ferguson — Google review

Such a great place to visit. Of you haven't been there before, I would recommend it! There are a lot of fun things to do for the kids as well. Just make sure to dress accordingly unless you like cooler temperatures!

Thomas H — Google review

This is the teeny-tiny version of Carlsbad Caverns. If you've never, ever seen a cave, then go here. The guide we had was informative, but couldn't answer all my questions, one of which was do you go permanently blind if you come out of a cave after getting cave-blindness. Which you supposedly get after being in a pitch-black cave for an extended period of time. Does that last forever? He didn't know, but I hope he finds out so the next person who asks will get an answer. The tour is pretty short, less than an hour. You do get interrupted by other groups going past, and you do hear other guides talking when you're trying to listen to your guide, but again, this is a teeny-tiny version of a huge cave, so I guess it's to be expected. The grounds are beautiful, the hillside garden is pretty, and the beer garden is very pleasant. If you have seen a huge cave, skip this. If you have kids under 15 that you need to entertain, go here.

Marilyn Besasie — Google review

We were the only ones on the tour, probably because it was in the 20s today and the Monday after Thanksgiving. Plan your visit on a day when it's not busy. That's the best! So cool! And the stories and history are really interesting. Definitely worth the visit!

Suzy Keidel — Google review

We went on a day when lots of families were there on spring break, but the staged entry times kept it from getting crowded in the cave. The new visitor center was nice, although it seems as though they have yet to move most of their operations there.I have been in some spectacular caves, so this was not as impressive as I have seen, but it was very well lit and developed. It was both intimate and spacious.

Tom Wanamaker — Google review

This was a fun experience that is worth a day trip for! We went on a cold and rainy day, which prevented us from having a picnic and hiking around the park like we originally planned, but the cave was tons of fun and still made the trip worth it. We spent about an hour in the cave on the self guided tour.

Taylor Beck — Google review

This place is super cool. Literally! There's so much to do one could plan a day trip. Parents can sit in the beer garden as the kids go sift rocks or play in the gardens. The bathrooms were nice and clean and the line to get tickets wasn't very long at all. Highly recommend! It's a beautiful experience.

Caasi Heckman — Google review

Well-managed, clean, and educational. The guides are polite and knowledgeable and the bathrooms easily accessible.The tours are spaced apart and self-paced. The cave is quite cool (we visited in summer) and a sweatshirt was pleasant. The cave is well-lit and the paved path is even and easy to traverse.There are some narrow points and places where taller folks might need to tilt their heads down. I had a few brushes with anxiety, and I would not bring anyone with more than mild claustrophobia down. There are some large areas at the beginning of the tour that should be fine for those who don't love enclosed spaces, and it is very easy to turn back if you start feeling overwhelmed.Wear shoes you're comfortable traversing wet concrete in. The cave gets pretty wet as you go deeper.If underground isn't for you, there are some nice above ground trails for easy walks and some lovely gardens planted around the buildings. Botany nerds will rejoice in the variety and the rock-inclined will have a variety of geode displays and the standard rock shop to poke through.

Elizabeth Phillippi — Google review

First ever experience visting a cave and this cave didn't disappoint. We visited as a family with young kids and everyone loved it. The staff members are present at various points inside the cave to answer any questions or share cool facts. All staff was very friendly and the gift shop is also great. Parking was not a problem at all.

Maninder Kumar — Google review

Fun and educational half day experience right here in Wisconsin! Go down 70 feet and back in time 100 million years to see some earth level history up close and personal. Please be aware there are a few tight spots and a lot of stairs as you navigate the cave's twists and turns. Fantastic and affordable gift shop with all kinds of cool geological stuff too.

Nate London — Google review

Very cool place to take the whole family! They have black lights available and you can see some areas in the cave glowing. The scenery is just beautiful. There's a cute gift shop and relaxing beer garden. We bought one of the treasure buckets and you are able to sift through the sand to find your own treasures. My kids are 4 and 5 and they had so much fun exploring the cave and then finding goodies afterward.

Tatiana Lang — Google review

I took my 5 year old nephew here today and we had SO MUCH FUN. Our tour guide, Chris, was fantastic. He was super knowledgeable, friendly and great with the kiddos. Renting the UV Flashlight was the best investment, my nephew loved that.My nephew loved the little “mining station” they have out front. I got him a $15 bag of sand with gems and he had a blast sifting through it to get all of the gems. He could have done that all day.

Mandi Clemmons — Google review

Last time I visited the cave was in the sixties. It's changed since. It's an easy self guided tour or with a tour. Excellent gift shop too. I'm knocking one star due that the entry fee is a tad steep for a roughly 45 minute tour of the cave, that really not that huge compared to other caves I've visited. But for a Wisconsin cave, it's worth the visit.

Jim Groat — Google review

This is one of the smaller caves I’ve been in. Tour is short but I did enjoy seeing everything. This is a short drive if you want to get away from Wisconsin Dells for a bit. I took off a star because $22 is kind of pricey for such a short experience. I’m sure people know this but it’s actually warmer in the caves than it is outside especially when it’s winter. They have a small souvenir shop if you want to pick up something. Tour guide was informative and knowledgeable.

Nicholas P — Google review

I love these caves. Great tour and excellent guides that answer questions and have fun. The new visitor center is looking great. The beer garden and surrounding activities are fun. The Christmas lights are on display and look cool. When you take the tour rent the the blacklight it adds to the fun of the tour.

Paul Sahy — Google review

Very amazing . Bought a large dirt bucket for my son to pan for gems . 50 dollars but hey my son loves looking for this stuff he had fun . Bucket is probably your best buy if you have several kids. They have smaller bags too.

David McClernon — Google review

Fantastic cave tour. Informative and friendly guide (Abe) on our tour. We had a great time with the family going through here. Would definitely recommend, well worth the price of admission in my opinion! Thank you for the excellent tour Abe!

Josh Caine — Google review

When we got there we were moved to a different time 30 minutes away because of our large group.It was a very fun experience and I enjoyed looking at all of the different types of stones and different other materials, I got a lot of different photos without being rushed.Got a container of rocks, strawberry soda, a large stuffed bat, a star crystal, and a medium bat I got earlier before we went in and the guy at the cashier was really nice. He taped up the container of rocks for us and he told us about people who said the strawberry soda tasted like strawberriy or cherry pie. We named the medium bat Larry after the cashier we had.

Roxy Raspberry — Google review

4.7

(4063)40 Best Stops Between Chicago and Glacier National Park (145)

4.5

(589)40 Best Stops Between Chicago and Glacier National Park (146)

2975 Cave of the Mounds Rd, Blue Mounds, WI 53517, USA

(608) 437-3038

20

Devil's Lake State Park

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State park

Nature & Parks

Campground

Devil's Lake State Park is a vast recreational area that features a 360-acre lake, sandy beaches, campgrounds, and food stands. Visitors can enjoy scenic hikes around the lake on rocky paths or climb up for breathtaking views of the stunning blue-green waters. The park is also pet-friendly but requires dogs to be leashed at all times. In addition to outdoor activities, visitors can challenge their minds with riddle-solving in escape rooms located nearby.

A beautiful hike around the lake. One can hike low and follow the path through the rocks or you can climb up. We climbed up both sides and it was worth it. Fantastic views, gorgeous blue green water. Turkey vultures soaring overhead with a slight breeze. Had a picnic on a rock ledge over looking the lake. Dog friendly but you need to keep them on a leash

Marilyn Kolander — Google review

I was delighted to find a last minute tent site, actually there were multiple options on the day off to reserve. I got a late recommendation to explore this park while on a road trip and I fell in love. As a local said on the trails “best place in WI” and from what I was able to experience on my travels, I agree! What a gorgeous park. The campground was quiet and well maintained. Bathrooms were clean. Lake water was warm (mid August). I will be recommending this to anyone I know heading to WI. I am grateful to have been able to explore the trails and camp here.

Kai Cimmino — Google review

My wife and I stopped in during our honeymoon for a hike. We also stopped in the gift shop to pick up a map and stickers. The employees were very friendly, the bathrooms were clean, and the hike was just absolutely gorgeous.It was pretty busy, but during the time we were there, everyone was respectful and in good spirits.

Rebecca Lynn Stewart — Google review

Devil's Lake is the most popular State Park in Wisconsin for good reasons.Want to circumnavigate a beautiful lake, you've got it. Climbing rocks on the West side, walk a railroad track on the East side, and the North and South side have beaches.Want to swim? Two beaches, clear water, and motored boats allowed.Hike on a National Scenic Trail? Part of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail passes through the Park. And the Ice Age Trail has no usage fee.And make sure to set aside time to make use of the rest of the Park's other activities.A great park in a great state!

Karl Wise — Google review

Came here early Saturday morning and we found a great spot under a tree that had great shade. We BBQ and then went for a dip in the lake. The water was super clear that you could see small fish. We made the way to the trail to go up and see the balanced rock. We only made it half way because it is a difficult trail to do with smaller children. Next time I’ll make the trek with just my husband and I because the views are amazing!

Steph Gore — Google review

Great place to recreate! Highly recommend showing up early. The Balanced Rock trail is a fantastic hike for the adventurous. Wear something with good traction, the rock/boulder terrain is slippery at times when its completely dry. Elevation gain is roughly 400-500ft over half mile. Take the time to stop and enjoy the views!

Gary Dornbush — Google review

Devils lake is so beautiful! The trails are amazing! Some are easy some are really difficult the trail maps are marked as to which ones more challenging. The ones up the bluff will make you sweat quite a bit but the view is so worth it! Each trail has a something unique and special to be found along it. It’s so exciting! The photos you can take and the time you can spend at this park is extensive! It would take a whole weekend to experience it all. So if you’re going up for a day pick and choose what you most want to do, because time goes by quick when you’re handling this much fun! By the lake there’s kayak rental, canoe rental, paddle boat rental, swimming, a beautiful gift shop, ice cream, snacks, a bath house. Plus you can’t forget about the fact that they have a campground. That’s the best way to go if you’re gonna go all out is to come here and camp for a whole weekend or longer! I can’t wait to go back!

Nikki Weber — Google review

Very geologically unique state park! We greatly enjoyed hiking up the rock pile hill and walking around the beautiful blue lake. Quite busy on a summer Sunday, but park officials have a good system. Follow the signs for directions. So many things to enjoy here. Neat to see so many people enjoying all of them.

K UU — Google review

Beautiful park! I would recommend to be there no later that 9:00-10:00am since it gets packed! At least during holidays. It has a north and a south area for parking. I liked more the north area since we were with our dogs, and I found the south more hiking with heights!

Geraldine Campos — Google review

It is possible to hike around the lake in a single day. It took us about 4 hours at a leisurely pace. Highly recommend starting from the south park area and taking the Grotto's Trail to the East Bluff Trail, walk across the North Shore Beach and take the Tumbled Rocks Trail and then back to the south park area. It was well worth the trip from the Chicago suburbs! Also, I recommend the Tumbled Rock Brewery and Kitchen afterwards. It's just north of the north park entrance.

Todd Lohenry — Google review

Such a fun place to go! The beach is very nice, sandy, not a lot of rocks on the beach or in the water close to the shore. They have plenty of activities for a family to do, paddle boats, other rentals. Water is friendly warm and you can go out a good distance in the lake before you are fairly deep. Would definitely recommend if you want a lake experience!

Robert Brown II — Google review

My timing for this trip could not have been more perfect. The fall colors were in all their splendor. This is a short drive from Madison and has beautiful views, walking paths and yes a dog park as well. Worth the effort and highly recommend.

Chris Domenico — Google review

Wisconsin provides a lot of hidden gems that many outsiders wouldn't know of & Devil's Lake State Park is one of them. Devil's Lake is a perfect spot to spend your summer day. You have the options to relax by the water or hike up the mountain that overviews the lake. The trails themselves are well kept & the hike isn't too difficult even for those who are casual hikers. Once you get to the top, there are beautiful panoramic views of the lake in each direction. Devil's Lake is in a remote area so parking & traffic are challenges when visiting so I recommend arriving earlier rather than later. There is a large picnic area to dine which is well kept for the most part. If you're looking for a great way to spend at a park, I highly recommend considering Devil's Lake State Park!

Stephen Bazzano — Google review

Devil's Lake is a pretty amazing state park to have in the back yard of Madison. That being said I don't think I'd ever want to go there in the middle of peak season or on a weekend. Early April on a Monday was an amazing time to go. The trails were not too crowded and my wife and I easily managed to do a loop around the lake. The views were gorgeous and most of the trails were rather pleasant. That being said the southeast has some vertical rock step trails that are a bit more technical and would make me rather nervous with our small children and potentially our pre-teens (depending on their awareness-levels that day). However, as an adult I really enjoyed it, but am glad my wife and I went when we did, as we got to see everything without having to manage crowded trails. Definitely worth a visit, this gem of a park will not disappoint and offers some great hiking.

Matthew Kuikman — Google review

A beautiful park, which offers a variety of activities for all ages.We hiked around the east trail, starting uphills from the east bluffs wood trail. The walk was really pleasant, on a comfortable path. We then passed through the devils hole and balanced rock and went down on the east bluffs trail, which was more challenging, but definitely worth the effort. The views from the mountain peaks were stunning, displaying a wild scenery of the huge rocks, woods and shiny lake. It is highly recommended!

G BN — Google review

My happy place.... I have been here an average of twice a year every year for over ten years. The lake is beautiful, the hiking is amazing and unique, the campsites are great if you know which to get.The place is dog friendly but only kind of. There is only one beach that allows dogs and that beach is all rocks so make sure you have some water shoes.Unfortunately over the years I've noticed more and more people leaving garbage everywhere... what is with this. There are garbage cans and dumpsters... use them! Oh and clean up after your dogs! I like laying on the grass!!

eddie gramma — Google review

It's a great place to relax and enjoy nature alone or with family, friends & pets. The trails offer breathtaking views. You can bring your kayak, paddleboard, canoe, inflatable boat or other floatation devise and enjoy the crystal clear lake. There are plenty of picnic tables and charcoal grills throughout the picnic area. Get there early to secure a spot and parking because this a popular place and it fills up quickly. It's just a beautiful place.

NaturEli — Google review

The scenery of the park is very beautiful. If you go to the park in the morning, it will be better to go up the mountain from the east, because the sun rises from the east, and it will be better to take pictures like this. There are many parking lots in the park, and parking is very convenient, but the downside is that the parking lot is charged, but I didn't see an obvious notice of the fee, and there is no self-service payment machine in the parking lot. When I came down from the mountain, I found a payment slip posted on my car, but the payment cannot be settled immediately, and I need to go to a specific place to pay the fee. This is a very troublesome thing. It is hoped that the managers of the park can improve the charging problem, and it is best to install self-service payment machines in the parking lot.

陈中贤 — Google review

Love hiking here! Many steps to view Balanced Rock and Devils Doorway from the South beach! You can hike from the North beach to view these but it will take longer! Recommend taking East Bluff trail there and East Bluff Woods trail back from the North beach! Get there early if you don't like crowds! 8am!

Lisa Zurbey — Google review

10 out of 10! Stopped here during a road trip with my son in 2022. Place was absolutely gorgeous! However, my son and I were not prepared for the climb ahead of us and worse...the climb down! Ok, not trying to spook anyone here! It's not a sheer cliff we were climbing. The trails are very easy to follow and clearly marked. However, we wanted to see the Balancing Rock and Devil's Doorway. Well, that trail is all up hill...literally! Not only is it all uphill but incorporates many, many stairs! The good news is, once you make it to the top, the trail levels out into a nice dirt road. Then, you walk that for a ways and you've made it! Oops, not quite! Now, you must descend the mountain down to the Balancing Rock. My knees were shot by this point but I was determined to make it there. We did and the view was incredible! We took our pictures and on to the Devil's Doorway. Another good distance away and unfortunately, we were running out of time on our schedule and had to turn back. Only way back is the way we came or the treacherous decent down the side of the mountain on make shift stairs created out of the rock shelf itself. The rock shelf was the quickest way down. It took about 35 minutes to the bottom, legs almost gave out dozens of times and we hustled the mile long walk back to the car! I'll say this, its a must for visiting but if you aren't an avid hiker or climber, you WILL be exhausted taking on this mountain! Be sure to pack a jug of water cause you will need it! However, there are other trails that go around the lake that are very easy to venture. A beautiful beach to swim or catch some rays. All kinds of picnic areas. Both public or private. A great big pavilion, if you prefer tables and the indoors. Plenty of bathroom access all over the park and plenty of parking. Keep in mind, this is a state park. So prices are higher if you're out of state. I picked up a WI park pass for the year. So we only had to pay to park. Come to Devil's Lake, its definitely worth it!

D-Rock T — Google review

Easily my top favorite of Wisconsin State Parks. Love the length of trails and the elevation. Beautiful place with great views. We travel almost 3 hours here just for day trips. With stops to take in the view and getting ice cream at the North Shore in the summer, it takes us about 3-4 hours to complete a loop on various trails.

Haley B — Google review

First time visiting with family! Trails and views were amazing, especially now that it's starting to warm up. Parked in the south lot, took the route up to devils doorway and balanced rock, then headed through the east bluff trail and tumbled rocks (got too tired for the west bluffs). Wish they had signs showing which bathrooms are open and more accessible water in the off-season.

Eva Muller — Google review

Amazing hike! Fall is the perfect time to visit to see the vibrant colors of the turning leafs. We got really lucky with that, considering we visited second half of October.The climb was a bit steep, but with a few rest breaks I made it up. Took me about 25-30 minutes.The view was really beautiful, the skies were gray and the lighting for photos was just right.The lake itself looked too manicured, that is too say, the edges drawn in a smooth line, which took away a bit from experiencing nature, but still a pleasure to look at.Lots of big rocks at the top, where you could sit and snack, while looking down on the water.There were many people when we were climbing up at about 11:30 am, and it got even busier when we were making our way back.Lots of dogs and all seemed very friendly.

Masha Kalmanovich — Google review

There are so many amazing hiking trails! Definitely the place to go for aesthetic camping pictures. The restroom are fairly nice and the beach is great.

Hannah Shore — Google review

Spent the day at Devil's Lake with my boyfriend and our family yesterday, and it was a wonderful trip. We hiked to the top, and the view was absolutely breathtaking!The park was very clean and well maintained. The restrooms were also clean. We used the picnic area by the south beach to eat and swim. The water was clean and cool but there were a lot of rocks so you have to be careful when getting in the water because it's a bit rough on your feet. Swim shoes recommended.

Michelle Washington — Google review

4.8

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(608) 356-8301

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21

Noah's Ark Waterpark

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Water park

Water & Amusem*nt Parks

Noah's Ark Waterpark is the largest water park in Wisconsin Dells and America, with 47 to 51 water slides and over a dozen of other attractions. It is family-friendly and suitable for all age groups, making it a must-visit destination on your vacation to the Wisconsin Dells.

We LOVE Noah's Ark ~ there are so many pools and rides to go on. My kids and I had a blast there! The weather was most gorgeous which was helpful of course. The facility is cashless but you are able to convert cash into a card to use there. Otherwise bring your credit or debit card. The food and drinks are pricey but this is expected at touristy attractions unfortunately. Parking was 20 dollars for general parking and 30 dollars for preferred parking. We used general parking. We got into Noah's Ark with wrist bands from a hotel we stayed at. Plenty of bathrooms and shower and changing areas ~ bathrooms were mainly cleaned aside from wet floors. There are lockers to rent as well as free life jackets to use. Plenty of lifeguards. You can rent tubes for the wave pool ~ costs 5 dollars. We didn't do this though as the wave pool is fun regardless. Friendly staff. No carry ins beside water bottles. They do check bags. You can get a hand stamp and come back in though. Lots of seating and picnic tables. Smoking areas as well. Has gift shops and plenty of food and beverages (adult beverages too). I definitely recommend going here. It's worth the money. Lots of memories to be made!

Melissa Rose — Google review

We spent the whole day here. There are so many attractions to entertain anyone. It was disappointing that some of them were either closed or not operating at their full capacity. After discussing later, I'm sure they were not able to staff everything due to the employment shortage. We rented a Cabana and thought it was worth every penny. It gave us a place, guaranteed, to go back to and rest for a bit. We kept dry towels and sunscreen there.We will definitely come back, if the opportunity presents itself.

Clint Smith — Google review

Noah's Ark was right off the main strip, easy to access parking lot. Good variety of food, however this place is HUGE! We were only able to get to half the park because the other activities were so far away that we were too tired from doing all the slides and rides by the entrance. You almost need a 2 day pass to get through it all. Highly recommend going on a week day because place looked packed on the weekend. Weekday the lines were a little long but most worth the wait or went fairly quickly. I only gave it 4 stars though because there were lots of bees (I mean lots of bees, everywhere) and there wasn't an easy way to get from one side of the park to the other so it was hard to get to everything on the backside. Overall a great experience and we will be back. Also the Raja ride was awesome but you definitely get airtime! Not for the faint of heart!

Tonya Frank — Google review

It’s a great place with amazing water rides, half the park is closed so that sucked and of course fatties like me have issues with rides and of course I was too big for several of them unfortunately including the raja witch was a huge disappointment considering it was the one ride I wanted to go on while I was there but that’s what I get for enjoyed those cheeseburgers 🍔 😂😂 otherwise it was great, staff and lifeguards were so friendly and helpful. Only thing I will say is it could use a little more for the younger water goers lol but they have the tadpole bay witch my kids loved and they have an amazing wave pool like one of the best I’ve been in!

Phillip Hilleshiem — Google review

Noah’s Ark Waterpark was a fun place to visit. Today was our first time at the park and it was a great experience. The staff was very nice. The park was super clean. It wasn’t overly crowded. We will definitely be back. We would recommend.

The Adventures of Laurie and Robin — Google review

Our experience at Noah's Ark, the largest water park in the US, was absolutely fantastic. The park offered a wide range of thrilling water slides, lazy rivers, and wave pools that kept us entertained throughout the day. The variety of attractions catered to all ages, ensuring that everyone from our family had a memorable time. The cleanliness and well-maintained facilities added to the overall pleasant experience, making Noah's Ark a must-visit destination for water park enthusiasts. During our visit to Noah's Ark, the lines for most of the rides averaged around 20-30 minutes of wait time. This was expected as it was the Fourth of July weekend, and the park was understandably busy. However, we were fortunate to have three days to explore the park and ride the attractions multiple times, which made the wait times more manageable. One tip we discovered was that after 5 pm, the crowds began to disperse, and the lines significantly reduced, allowing us to enjoy the rides with minimal wait times before the park closed at 7 pm.

Gene Ivanov — Google review

Great place for the whole family. Very clean ,staff was professional and fun. Lines were a little long at peak time but there is plenty to do.

Kelly Ambrose — Google review

My family went to the Dells. The main thing we went for was Noahs Ark. We had fun, but we had to make the most of it. We only found 1 location with heated pool. It was the section for small kids. The water was so cold it made it hard to ride anything. One recommendation is to bring empty water bottles. They have water fountains you can fill them. We bought 2 waters for almost 8 bucks.

K D — Google review

We loved all the waterslides. My kids had a blast. Some things weren't open or were short staffed, making the lines longer than they needed to be, and we wished it were open a couple hours later, but overall it was a great experience.

Kari Layland — Google review

We had a blast. Some rides have strict rules like the scorpion. My daughter couldn't take her swim shorts off so they refused to let her ride. I found a manager and she said that was a mistake. She walked her right up to the top and talked with the lifeguard about how her shorts were her bottoms and not an issue. There were no grommets and they were not loose or cotton shorts. It was a simple mistake and they made it right. I commend them for listening and resolving an error promptly. We had a wonderful time!

Meagan Haupt — Google review

Positive first-class water park that was fun for the whole family. Really enjoyed that several rides had no minimum height requirements so our family of five could go on raft rides. Lines were fast with little wait times and the wave pull was a blast. Ended the day in the lazy river, time went by too fast.

Kenneth Knudson — Google review

Visiting America's largest waterpark was an absolute thrill! From the moment I stepped in, the excitement was non-stop. With a vast array of water slides, wave pools, and lazy rivers, there was never a dull moment.What impressed me the most was the park's commitment to safety and cleanliness. Lifeguards were attentive, and the facilities were well-maintained, ensuring a worry-free day of fun.For families, it's a paradise of aquatic adventures, and for thrill-seekers, there were adrenaline-pumping rides that didn't disappoint. The variety of activities and attractions catered to all ages and preferences.It's a must-visit destination for anyone seeking a splashy, entertaining day out. Whether you're young or young at heart, this waterpark guarantees an unforgettable, watery adventure!

Caglar Ozdemir — Google review

We went when we were kids, on family vacation years ago. We had a blast taking our kids. It brought back great memories and my sister and my kids all had a blast. Kids are ages 16 to 7. Highly recommend if you are at the dells.

Samantha Craft — Google review

So much fun even though the weather changed we made the best of it. Consider adding weight requirements to brochure my kids were tall enough for everything but didn't weigh enough and if I hadn't been paying attention we would have wasted an hour in line just to get turned around at the top as some people found out as well. Also parking is either $30 or $20 depending on which lot you want to be in.

Ashli Kacalek — Google review

We have come here many times over the years and love it!! We stayed at a hotel that gave us free passes. We were able to walk to the water park so we saved on parking fees as well. It's $20 and $30 for parking. Lockers are $15 ( I think) Cabanas are available for rentals as well.

Sarah Sievers — Google review

4.4

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4.0

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1410 Wisconsin Dells Pkwy, Wisconsin Dells, WI 53965, USA

(608) 254-6351

22

Mt. Olympus Water & Theme Park Resort

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Water park

Water & Amusem*nt Parks

Mount Olympus is a water park with attractions for all ages that is perfect for summertime fun. The park features unique rides, including a 360-degree loop and a steep 110-degree turn, and its indoor theme park has plenty of activities to keep visitors entertained all summer long.

One of my favorite water parks!! The wait in line wasn't bad either. Love how there is more than 1 wave pool! The theme park was also amazing!! Love all the roller coasters and the Trojan horse go kart track!! We will definitely be back when visiting the Dells again!!

Jamie D'Amico — Google review

Awesome place to go to during the summer, but not so much after Labor Day. Indoor waterpark have less things to do especially for lil kids. Nice staffs.

Joy Cabanlong — Google review

The tickets were a great price! The food was okay, you would have thought for the price you’d gotten more burger or condiments. Finding a table on the other hand was hard. People had set their towels, cups, or shoes on a table so people couldn’t eat on them. People would hog the tables leaving none to actually sit and eat. The life guards were not friendly, not one of them smiled back at me or my son. One life guard was sitting with his feet propped up on the controls while kids were getting on the tube for the medusa slide. The light was flashing red and he still let them get on and go. Seen one life guard dozing off as we were floating in the lazy river. The bathrooms had tiny stalls and no privacy for showers or mothers. I had to change my son in front of a bunch of other people. I’m a single mom so there was no giving him to his dad. I was disappointed with the customer service, locker/bathrooms, dinning and staff. The locker rental was $30 for all day, kinda expensive so I could see why people set stuff on tables. Will possibly return but with less expectations.

Sara — Google review

I went last summer and if you’re thinking of going this year, just don’t waist your time or money. Every line to each attraction was ridiculously long. The wave pool, which is literally huge, had people in it standing shoulder to shoulder. There were absolutely no free chairs. I get that places can be busy but there should be a standard for how many people can even buy tickets for the day when there’s that many.

Kasandra Keller — Google review

Went here because my daughter loves greek mythology and insisted we visit. We stayed in the resort rooms and it was less money that way. Wasn't sure if it was worth it, but we really enjoyed it. Cool shops and nice places to eat. The funnel cakes are great! The 9ft wave pool was by far our favorite. Only stayed for two nights, so we didn't see everything. Great stop and fantastic for kids

James B — Google review

My ten year-old son and I just returned from three most enjoyable days at Mt. Olympus. Unfortunately, Mom was recovering from the flu, so it was a boys-only vacation, but huge fun nevertheless. We had booked at the Hotel Rome which included access to the resort. Being March, all the outdoor attractions were closed, but we were able to fill a couple of days at the indoor water park.First off, the rooms are nothing like as grim as reported by other reviewers. Having checked in at a remote location and fighting off the insidious peddlers of timeshares, we headed to the Hotel Rome, building 1. We were easily able to park a few yards from the main entrance and quickly found our way to the third floor. Somewhat perturbed by some raucous parties in rooms close to the elevator, things seemed to quieten down the further away we headed.Our room, equipped with two queen beds and a bunk, seemed perfectly adequate. Sheets were nice and soft and everything was as clean as could be expected for a room that sees hundreds of visitors a year and, best of all, there were no bedbugs. We had been concerned about noise levels, so had brought a white noise machine which we used every night in spite of our room being as silent as a tomb after 9pm.Storage space in this room was a bit of a joke, so we essentially lived out of our suitcases for the entire visit. Similarly, the TV had little to offer, so we either read or gamed when we returned in the evenings.Just off the lobby, the hotel offers an arcade that I would frankly not recommend to anyone who isn't keen on the prospect of bankruptcy. The claw machines are a total ripoff (as they usually are) and the tickets buy practically nothing at the shop. Think of Steve Martin in The Jerk. Similarly, the indoor theme park is a waste of time, as only the bumper cars are free, the arcade games are rigged and the whole thing is a bit tawdry.As for the water park, this is the place to go, offering a couple of really great rides and plenty to keep a ten year old occupied for almost an entire day. My son rode the Hydra 21 times and queued up eight times for the absolutely thrilling (and incredibly scary for this older gent) Medusa's Waterwheel. This is a marvel of water park technology, and should not be missed. Unless you have a pacemaker, that is.If you can visit the Hotel Rome when the rates are good, this is a great value. You will need to eat and drink off-site, though, as the catering here is abysmal. Otherwise, go for it!

Neil Charles — Google review

This place was a blast, great fun for the entire family. They have pools, water slides, roller coasters, go karts, and kiddie rides. They also have the normal theme park foods as well as a dime in restaurant, bars, candy store, and gift shops. Lines are long but not as long as great America.

Bradley Ott — Google review

We bought tickets last year 5 for $20. If you pay more then that it isn’t worth it. Very very small indoor water area. A lot of construction. Rollercoasters are very jerky. Worst then last year. Indoor theme park closed.Tons and tons of walking. $25 for parking is outrageous considering how much walking you need to do from the lot to even reach the water area. Food was overpriced like other waterparks in the area. Overall unless you get a great deal on entrance I would go to Noah Ark instead.

Megan Biggs — Google review

Booked and paid in advance, got to the resort the day of check in and price was much less to pay the day of check in. Spoke to staff how offered a credit, much appreciated. Building 16 - not close to the water park we had to drive down each time. The beds were horrible, room lacked enough towels, no paper towels near sink, no iron. The parks indoor area with the hot tub closed for Saturday and could not find towels for the outside water areas right away; communication was lacking.Still a much needed memorable experience for my family just not as good as 8 years ago when we came.

Davianna Yahudah — Google review

I booked my tickets online. When I checked the room that I was given I was highly disappointed the carpets were disgustingand the room smelled funky and you could tell they didn’t even cleaned the windows or mirrors. I went to complain to one of the persons that checks in people and she gave me another room at a different location that they had and I was happy with the outcome. They didn’t give me a hard time at all and were able to find a resolution to my problem. I was happy and my family had fun at the water park and the roller coasters. I had a great time here. Just remember not to book a standard room because those normally have carpet. It would also be nice if the other buildings had a guest laundry the one we stayed at didn’t have one.

Itzel Lopez — Google review

We stayed over Xmas weekend and honestly, it's the little things that made not give 5stars. We stayed on property which was nice and we had a 1st floor room which was also really nice and easy and close to the main door. Booking wasn't exactly clear or easy online and I got nervous at first. I've heard horror stories about staying off property and wanted to make sure we were staying at hotel Rome where the actual Waterpark was. Figured out when I called, no big deal. Check in was off property which was actually kind of nice because as soon as we got there we just got out of the car and went straight to out room and didn't have to worry about chasing excited kids around the lobby. Got in the room and it was a decent size room! But... no true storage area. Our things were somewhat scattered throughout the room the whole stay... which again, no big deal but would have been nice to have even a small dresser or table other then a shelf thing under the TV... but couldn't use it as a table because we used it as a storage area... disappointing, especially for how much dead space there was as well as money we spent, but again, no big deal. The beds were a bit small but were comfortable, the TV was very small and I wish there was some kind of guide page to know what the chanels were but again, no big deal, we spent most of our time out of the room anyway.Where I did get upset was when we opened the fridge... we did store food like lunch meat, milk (lactose free so almost $5/half gallon) , cheese, mayo... a few other things. I did notice that the temp was a little warm but it was also set to 1 out of 5.... thought maybe it's just set to the warmest setting. Left to the water park and came back ready to make sandwiches and realized we forgot bread, thought we could get some from the little store but they did not carry any food Iike that! Remember that when staying, you will not find old and ends there. We ended up getting McDonald's... went to sleep, woke up ready for cereal and come to find out..THE FRIDGE WAS UNPLUGED THE WHOLE TIME!!! We lost maybe $30 in food and ended up eating out again!! Which is fine... but there was nothing I could do at the point we were at.When on the bumper cars, 2 of the cars we rode on didn't work but we had to wait until our time stopped until we can get up and change, fine, it happens. I ended up sitting on the sidelines when we had a chance to ride again. My daughter got hit kind of hard and hit her teeth on the stering wheel.. the girl running it was very sweet but did not stop the ride right away. She ran over to around where she was and just started asking from a far if she was OK. My daughter was crying and holding her mouth saying no and finally after a min or so, she ran back over and to stop it but at this point I opened the gate and started looking at the controls trying to figure out where the emergency stop at so I can get her... I don't understand why she didn't stop it to begin with because my daughter was screaming and my other daughter started freaking out for her. She was OK for the most part but did hit it enough to start bleeding... no one came to check on her, which is fine, like I said shewas okay, I got her an icee but feel like it should have just been given to her...The rest of our trip was great! The Christmas lights were amazing.I just couldn't help thinking about these little things where I felt cheated or wronged... not enough to say it was a bad trip but I spent extra money or wasted money where I didnt need to or shouldn't of... not that I didn't come prepared but how was this fair?This was our first time visiting Mt. Olympus but we visit the Dells every year. Other resorts we've stayed at have an area to rent games or movies which I wish this had as well but I didn't see anything saying they did but I also didn't ask.Might say again but better prepared knowing what to expect now...1-check the fridge2- they don't have odds and ends3-movies/games4- no storage area

Jessica Diaz — Google review

Bought tickets in advance and got lucky on a weekday that wasn't too busy. The line to the new slide was still too long and none of the other new indoor attractions were completed. One of the main rollercoasters was also under construction so we didn't get to do 2 of the main things we wanted to. Everything else had decent lines though. Food is about what you would expect. We got a whole pizza which was the best deal by far but not even on the menu. They could use a few more restrooms and "you are here displays" since you have to ask for maps now and they are only available at the gate. Also somewhere outdoors to just rinse off, some mist fans and a few more food carts would be nice. Fair warning, their underground rollercoaster can be scary even for adults, not to mention loud underground & jerky as it is wooden but worth trying just worth a long wait. Overall not a bad choice if you're going to the Dells.

Amanda Burns — Google review

Of all the things to do in the Dells Mt Olympus was by far the most fun for the money. Bout 35 bucks a person for the whole day of both theme park and water park. The roller coasters were a blast of fun, such a thrill ride felt like my heart was ready to jump out of my chest, like we hit the reset button felt great. The water park was a great follow up, the lazy River really booked quick. Getting to the big wave pool was the best, rather than a bunch of waves it does one huge 4 foot wave every couple minutes. Everyone gets close as they can to feel the giant wave pick them up and drive them back 20 feet. So much fun, highly recommend making Mt Olympus a day trip while in the dells.

Tyler Bowers — Google review

Room wasn’t checked on during stay. Had to get our own towels/washcloths. Hair in clean towels was super gross. Beds were super uncomfortable. We woke up every morning with terrible back pain. Toilet ran every time you flushed it. Water at the water park was not warm. Overall first stay was just ok.

Kerri White — Google review

Theme park was great! Waterpark was basically not usable due to the water temperature being torturously cold. And this was in the middle of June. Luckily the kiddos, four to fourteen, loved the rides at the theme park. Parks were nice and clean. Employees were very courteous and helpful.

Capt** Kirk — Google review

Me and my parents stayed here for two nights, the rooms were okay. There really cool but need to be updated and cleaned a bit better. We accidentally bolt locked our door then got locked out and staff was absolutely so sweet about it and not rude at all. My mom met the owner and he was super amazing, also not rude at all. The staff is extremely nice here and the slide lines seem to go by fairly quick. It was quite packed but that’s really any waterpark you go to. Even though nothing outside was open they actually had go karts open, the track was fun and really no wait at all It was quite hard to breathe inside of the waterpark though. All the chlorine makes it super hard to breathe other than that, I’ll definitely be coming back this summer so we can come when everything outdoors is open!

l0v3ly laney — Google review

I supposed to stay tonight. Me and Kids. First night my kids don’t like it the bed a horrible no room service the staff had a bad. Experience Ask them if can have a service room. They said it. No even I didn’t finish two night. Ask manager if can get my money back because kids don’t like it the hotel room beds a horrible.

Hagar Logistics llc — Google review

The kids had a lot of fun. But very long wait lines, and way over crowded. We went on a Saturday. Over all it was a great trip we just didn't get to do much because the lines were so long and we only had about 5 hours and waited an hour to ride go carts. The wave pool was AWESOME, I'd say that was all of our favorite part.

Kylie Johnson — Google review

3.9

(2530)40 Best Stops Between Chicago and Glacier National Park (170)

3.0

(3237)40 Best Stops Between Chicago and Glacier National Park (171)

1701 Wisconsin Dells Pkwy A, Wisconsin Dells, WI 53965, USA

(800) 800-4997

23

The House on the Rock

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Sights & Landmarks

Architectural Buildings

Specialty Museums

The House on the Rock is a one-of-a-kind architectural gem that features a sprawling, Japanese-inspired home built into a massive 60-foot rock formation. Visitors will be amazed by the vast collection of unique exhibits and displays, including impressive robotics and other fascinating curiosities. The museum offers something for everyone, with its full-scale replicas and quirky items sure to keep visitors entertained for hours.

This is truly a once and a life time experience. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen. It’s weird, yes, but it’s unique and interesting. It’s a lot of walking, but I made it through with not many problems. As someone who has a hard time walking due to health problems it wasn’t too bad until the end. I was very tired as I went through the last few rooms but it was so worth it. My favorite exhibits were the heritage of the sea, the carousel, the tribute to nostalgia, and the music of yesterday. We also met some cool and nice people during our time there :) If you are staying in the area overnight I recommend the House on the Rock Resort. It’s beautiful, nice rooms, and a cute little gift shop. We stayed 2 nights and visited some cool shops and enjoyed the nature and scenery. This was an amazing experience.

Mikayla Cogley — Google review

This is such a unique place to visit, both the home and the other buildings. The original house is full of interesting architecture and a mix of interior design elements I haven't seen combined like this anywhere else.The other sections host a variety of collections, giant automated musical performance displays, whimsical scenery, and a lot of near-magical surprises. Like my personal favorite since I was little, the indoor carousel.If you want to see all three sections arrive at least 3 hours before closing time.

Elizabeth Fehring — Google review

Some are saying it's the Versailles palace of Wisconsin. Super fun way to spend an after. A good amount of walking, but well worth it. So many rooms and cool collections. You could easily go back 10+ times and notice something new each time. A great hidden gem is Wisconsin. If people come to visit and want to do something unique, I would highly recommend it to anyone.

Drew K — Google review

This was one of the coolest experiences of my life. I went in with expectations and they were blown away within the first hour. I went on a weekend and while it was busy I definitely didn't feel like I was waiting/navigating around people. Definitely not a friendly place for wheel-bound persons as some areas are straight up inaccessible without using the stairs. I was offered coins in the beginning but I declined because the lady just described them as 'music boxes' when in reality some of the operated entire automaton rooms so that was disappointing, although it appears that multiple did not work anyways. The place is well kept and while some areas have an odor I feel like the overall state of the place fits the atmosphere. It feels antique but lived in and loved. I will definitely come back many more time. The gift shop hardly has anything that relates to the location, and what they do have isn't very attractive/well made.

Faux — Google review

When walking into this home turned attraction, you are greeted by a man with devil horns. This is by no means what to expect in your experience here. The house was absolutely amazing, how well it all flowed and yet still had a lot of craziness from a creative mind. I could only imagine what it would have been like back in it's early years to actually be a party guest here and see how all of the spaces and rooms were actually used.Very fun experience, will most likely return or at least recommend it for something to do.

Alec Cepak — Google review

Amazing! Be prepared for at least 3 hours, but you could stay for years and not take in everything. Arrive early for beast opportunity for photos.We bought a Alex Jordan’s book, well worth a read and opportunity to learn about the man behind the art.

Liam McLauchlan — Google review

I have visited the House on the Rock probably 6 or 7 times over the last 40 years. Every time I go it is even more spectacular. There is so much to see and everything is so very interesting. It is great for both kids and adults. If you are looking for a memorable family outing, this is the place to go.

Olen Pepple — Google review

This was my second trip to The House on The Rock. I consider it a must-see attraction and I'm not one for tourist attractions. No words or photos can explain the magnitude of the impact this place will have. I have been telling people about it for years after having seen it the first time and my partner and I have discussed it for hours on end since visiting this last time. Couple of got tips: she's dark, musty and dusty so don't head out there expecting pristine museum vibes. This is not kid- friendly due to it being a HUGE place that takes at minimum 3 hours to get through- the kids we saw were bored and running around like crazy for entertainment. Definitely plan to buy $3-5 worth of tokens- the musical contraptions are worth the spend.

Carrie B — Google review

Had a great time here. Staff were excellent by making you feel at home. Well directed with directions. The place was very clean and smelled fresh with air fresheners. Hadn't been here since I was 12yrs old now I'm well in my late 50's, but by far the carousel is still my favorite. The room with the long view was cool as well. I also enjoyed all the playing instruments and the mechanics behind them, super cool. If you haven't been here it is definitely a must see! Lots of history as well. You may even see a toy you had as a child or recognize during your era.

kookie s — Google review

A must see. So many amazing robitcs. Huge displays. A full house within a rock. This place is amazing best kept secret. Museum of unique items and displays. Could spend hours in this place. Small cafeteria in the middle with great pizza.

David George — Google review

Great place to check out with lots of unique items and things all collected and put in one location for everyone to see. Highlights of the trip would probably include the whale, the carousel, the infinity room,(provided you don't mind heights) the Japanese garden, as well as other rooms with many treasures to be seen, and it is even worth your while to check out the bathrooms on your way though as some have hidden treasures as well that are easily missed. Only bad thing is a very large museum and requires a lot of walking, so plan on almost a full day on your feet if you want to see it all!

David Vande Vyver — Google review

The house on the rock is still a cool interesting place to visit. I used to go as a kid and have fond memories.So many cool automated instruments! This is fun to watch.. you can't help but wonder how they did it. My kids had fun sitting on all the fuzzy couches and benches.The gallery with the whale and giant octopus is pretty fantastic. We enjoyed the gardens. they aren't super large which the kids appreciated.All in all a pretty good time. We bought the ultimate pass online and spent between 4 and 5 hours there. The place is full of curiosities and collections so get ready to see thousands of objects!There is a place to eat in the middle. My kids liked the hot dogs but would not eat the pizza. It's food but not the best. Next thing I will try to have a big meal first.Two critiques:Take this for what it is but some of the items seem like they do not get the maintenance they require or have collected so much dust. A few times we used tokens and things were partially our completely broken.There are a number of culturally insensitive items.. and pretty appropriative displays. I was finding myself explaining these things to my kids a lot.. even the use of whale bones and ivory. I think we are at a point in history where this deserves recognition. But I do appreciate talking about those things with my little people.

Sarah L — Google review

One of the coolest experiences ever! We spent 4 1/2 hours walking through the whole thing, because there was so much to look at. I was in awe with all of the collections and art pieces, and plan on going back to see things I missed! It was fascinating talking to the workers to further the learning of the history of the buildings. Everyone was very kind and the scenery was fabulous.

Calli — Google review

Pretty cool place. Make sure you leave enough time. Lots of walking: ramps, stairs, narrow passageways. What a fascinating collection. Carousel is not rideable, just so your kids aren't disappointed like mine were!

Carolyn Cianfarani — Google review

Amazing collection of eccentric things from doll houses to guns to a car covered in tile. There are musical exhibits that play all on their own and the 2 story carousel was fantastic. Some of the rooms are 3 stories high with walls of collections all neatly housed and displayed. The amount of time and effort is amazing. The doll houses all have little lights in them so you can see everything inside. The sheer size of some of the displays is just incredible. It took about 3 hours to walk through the entire place. Once you’ve completed the walk through you can spend some time in the Japanese garden too.

Melanie Hausen — Google review

This place is the best place to go visit in the whole United States if you want to see some interesting and wild collections.I went I was a teenager about 30 years ago and couldn't wait to go back as an adult! I felt like a kid again and was excited about the instruments that play on their own.For about $35.00 to see this huge collection is well worth the price.I look at this attraction like Willy Wonka's chocolate factory 🏭.You don't be disappointed!

peter gieblewicz — Google review

Always one of my favorites. Definitely a must see. Can take 2 hours or longer to walk through depending on your pace. Little ice cream and pizza parlor about half way through. First section of the original home is not wheelchair accessible, other 2 sections are. A lot of ramps and some can be steep.

Duranda Rose — Google review

This place is so amazing! I went when I was a kid and finally got to bring my kids. It's a lit of walking but you can have food and drinks on the premises. And there are lots of benches and rest stops. It is a must see place!

Jacky Day — Google review

I don’t know where to start…fortunately you will because there’s plenty of signage! Amazing place, a must see when in the area. By far the most interesting attraction in Wisconsin! Just be sure to give yourself at least 6 hours to see and enjoy. There are a few cafe areas, one was open, which is nice since we were 3 hours in and only halfway through. Definitely take your time, soak it all in!

Chris Fellure — Google review

If you ever have a chance to visit, I highly recommend it. My mind is seriously blown by the eclectic collections that are housed in this place.Plan to spend the entire day because there’s so much to see!!Wear comfy shoes as you’ll do lots of walking!! It gets pretty warm inside and it’s a little dark.Pictures don’t do it justice but you can find plenty online. Be sure and peek inside the bathrooms - they have interesting stuff too! And get several tokens to use throughout.If you enjoy oddities and excess, this is a place you need to go!

Lynn Ringis — Google review

The House on the Rock is a "must see" for any eclectic/vintage collector at heart! The complete tour included the whole property that took at least 3.5 hours which I highly recommend! Make sure you get tokens to play the music anamatronics throughout the property!

April Warner — Google review

This is truly an amazing and weird place! I am glad we went as an outing with my Dad who had never been although he has lived in WI for over 50 years. There are things to know before going: it is very cold (and I am rarely cold) so bring a sweater or jacket. Also it is a lot of walking, ramps and steps. My father had a hard time of it (being 80+) and we missed a lot of the house trying to find the fastest way out. Even as they point you to the fastest way out you have to do a lot of walking on ramps that wind around (Ada compliance maybe) so it still takes another 15Min of walking to exit. Knee replacements, hip replacements, or just weak cardio vascular systems will make this a less fun experience for some. It was for me as I was worried about my Dad. Also the only hot beverage they serve in the cafe is really bad hot chocolate. No coffee or cider or tea. I wanted to give this 5 stars but I can’t for the reasons above. Maybe you could do the house in two separate days. There is certainly enough to see!

Roxanne Maier — Google review

We have been here before but this was our first time coming when it has been decorated for Christmas. Definitely worth the visit. A bit bummed sections are closed during the Christmas experience, but it's not like they don't tell you that in advance. Really fun how much the place is changed with so many Christmas decorations everywhere!

Josh Caine — Google review

2 words...HOLY COW! This place is unbelievable and mind boggling! A stop on a road trip my son and I took in 2022. There aren't enough words to explain this place! It IS a must see to believe! There is an unbelievable amount of things to see here that it is likely you won't see everything! They were not kidding on the website when they said the tour could take up to 4 hours! We made it in about 3 hours because we were absolutely exhausted from visiting Devil's Lake State Park just a few hours earlier! This place is magnificent and so very worth every penny to tour it! The endless sights are overwhelming to a point and you kinda leave the place stunned! Don't get me wrong, this IS good! You wanna leave with this buzz of excitement thinking, "what did I just do" or "what did I just see?" The whole experience is just that...an experience! It is definitely one you should! This place is a treasure to the man who helped create it, Alex Jordan! There are plenty of pics online so I'm only going to show a few but seeing is believing! You got to see this place! A great family outing!

D-Rock T — Google review

Wow! What a unique crazy fun place! You could spend all day checking out the artifacts and enjoying the beautiful area. There's something in the house for everyone. Some rooms are creepy, some are calming and some are funny. Be prepared for lots of walking but there are ample places to sit and rest.All the staff is super friendly and helpful!

Brianna Harte — Google review

We visited this place for our daughters 12 birthday. I was very worried that my kids would think this place was boring...boy was I wrong. This is one of the few places I have ever visited where there is so much to see and something for everyone.We spent about 4 hours in the location (I take a lot of photos and videos). This gave us about the right time to take everything in.The staff was so amazing. They explained the history, the items, and made sure we knew where we were going the whole time.The House on the Rock feels like you are really inside the imagination of the builder and you leave with so many things to talk about.The little food area was decent for a quick bite to keep us going with the basics of pizza, hot dogs, and nachos. With the limited time in the attraction the speed of the food was helpful.I would highly recommend putting this on your bucket list.

Shane Lundberg — Google review

This is worth a visit if you’re in the area or you just want to have a day trip. It’s about $36 if you want to do the ultimate experience in the regular season. I went during the regular season. There are 3 sections plus the Japanese garden. They also have a place inside if you want to grab food. It’s a huge collection of different items. You’ll see a giant sea creature, a carousel with 20,000 lights and 269 animals, and an infinity room. Plan to spend 3.5-4 hrs here if you want to look at everything. It was busy not crowded.

Nicholas P — Google review

This place exceeded all my expectations .It is marvelous and impressive in its gigantic size .The museum is incomparably superb and unique. I advise everyone to visit it if possible and open new horizons of their versatile vision.The ticket costs 38$The time for inspection is not less than 4 hours.In a relaxed state 5-6 hours.This is an unforgettable emotion and the feeling that you are in a movie of fiction.

IVANNA ANDREICHYNA — Google review

This was my first visit to The House on The Rock. We were there for the Christmas Experience. This place is very interesting. You never know what you'll see. It's also pretty creepy at times, so be forewarned. Additionally, if you're not a fan of old things and buildings, this is not the place for you. It's like a creepy old grandma house times 1000. It smells old, too. It's worth visiting at least once, because you'll likely never see anything like it again

Nick Chill — Google review

My friend and I went for the first time. It was amazing. There's a lot so be prepared to spend a few hours if you want to see everything. There's a cafeteria at the half way point which is helpful

Christine Reardon — Google review

4.6

(6498)40 Best Stops Between Chicago and Glacier National Park (176)

4.0

(1993)40 Best Stops Between Chicago and Glacier National Park (177)

5754 WI-23, Spring Green, WI 53588, USA

(608) 935-3639

24

Blaum Bros. Distilling Co.

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Distillery

Food & Drink

Brewery

Liquor store

Great tour, Bar, and social area. Their Whisky, Gin, Vodka, and Rum are all excellent. Definitely a must stop if you’re coming to Galena!

Tim W. — Google review

Fantastic place. We went about 2 hours before close. Not a lot of people in there but enough to have fun. We sat at the bar and were promptly greeted by Lexy. We perused the menu and I ordered a smoked old fashioned. My wife didn’t know what to have and Lexy suggested a co*cktail that she liked. Both drinks were amazing. It was definitely the best old fashioned I’ve ever had. I then wanted to try their gin, and Lexy suggested 50 shades of your mom. Lexy wins again. Smelled EXACTLY like a lemon shake-up. Tasted so good I limited myself to one because I think I could have tried to drink 30 of them. The .5 oz flights of spirits are great for sampling without committing to one you may not like (but they’re all great so that won’t happen) We had an awesome time chatting at the bar with Lexy and I absolutely would come back here again!

Patrick Supan — Google review

We enjoyed the tour of the distillery with Richard. He is knowledgeable and approachable. The bar keep were friendly and offered suggestions. The seating area was comfortable but the majority of the tables are too high for an individual using a wheelchair; everything else was accessible.

Dina Perkins — Google review

So many delicious co*cktails to try and the bartenders are super friendly! Did the tour a couple years ago and it was very interesting/informative

Taylor Loewen — Google review

This is my second time at Blaum Bros. The staff is always friendly and there is just a good vibe there. They added a lot of new games and decor. Wish I lived closer because this would be my go-to place!

Busted Classic Garage — Google review

Stopped in here with a group of friends on my wife's birthday weekend. To say the least this place didn't disappoint. Delicious drinks served by both knowledgeable and attentive bartenders for an affordable price. Everyone we dealt with was friendly and quick to answer any question we may had. Our battender explained the drinks in question and offered advice in regards wo which ones we'd probably like based on our normal drinking habits. We all tried several different drinks and even came up with a few of our own. My absolute favorite though was one that was made with their very own Hellfyre Vodka and blood orange... We all had such a good time and we're already planning a return trip in the near future.

Bradley Hull — Google review

It's really nice, comfortable seating in an upscale vibe establishment. The drinks were a decent pour. Try it!

Katherine — Google review

Gary was a wonderful guide and we enjoyed the tour. We had a couple drinks and they were good. My husband enjoyed watching them smoke his old fashioned drink. The bartenders are knowledgeable and gave me good recommendations.

Katydid Bug — Google review

Blaum Bros. has amazing beverages. Each one I tried was very good. I was pleasantly surprised by the Hellfyre vodka- it wasn’t one I would have tried if I had been given it on the tour and I ended up loving it. Dennis the tour guide was great! He was informative and friendly. I appreciate that kids are welcome. Mark the cat was a hit on the tour. The signature drinks at the bar were delicious. The facility is clean and very nice.

Cadence Giddings — Google review

We went to Galena for a quick weekend getaway and signed up for a tour at Blaum Bros. Fun atmosphere and very cool bar area! Gary, our tour guide was so friendly and made it so much fun! Very fascinating process to see! And we had some really good drinks! Highly recommend stopping here if ever in Galena!

Chana Evans — Google review

We went to the location on Main Street in Galena. The place has a great atmosphere. We got You Too, Brutas drink and it was like an orange dreamscicle. We also got to see someone get a smoked Old Fashioned which was fun! Would be interested to go to the other location for a tour and tasting

Bailey Felter — Google review

Fantastic co*cktails and a tour to boot! The tour guide is incredibly knowledgeable about spirits, and history of spirits which added a nice touch to our experience. Samples at the end!We enjoyed a couple rounds from the co*cktail menu, and nothing disappointed. Highly recommend just about everything in the menu. One in our party stated it was the "best damn chocolate martini she's ever had ".Ya'll, the bourbon and the hellfire vodka are worth the visit!

Brandy Jay — Google review

The tour was great. Gary did a wonderful job of explaining the history of the business and the process. He made it a fun tour.

Sonia S. — Google review

Wow what a place! I had never been to a distillery before so I’m glad my husband suggested a tour of this gem while visiting Galena. All of the staff were extremely friendly and kind and helpful. Our tour guide was great and gave information and a very fun way. I had zero idea going in how any booze was distilled and when I left I understood the process of the things that they distilled!Needless to say the things that we tasted at the end are not my cup of tea so I cannot say whether or not their alcohol is great from a personal standpoint, but so many of the people were commenting how excellent things were and my husband told me his drinks were smooth and flavorful. I love the story of how the distillery came to be. I definitely think that you should check this place out if you are ever in the area!

Denai C — Google review

4.7

(455)40 Best Stops Between Chicago and Glacier National Park (182)

5.0

(2492)40 Best Stops Between Chicago and Glacier National Park (183)

9380 US Hwy 20 W, Galena, IL 61036, USA

(815) 777-1000

25

U.S. Grant Home State Historic Site

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Historical place

Sights & Landmarks

The Ulysses S. Grant Home is a historic mansion built in 1859 which was given to President Ulysses S. Grant. The home features original furnishings, including chairs and tables that were used by the General and his family, making the history of the home come alive. Visitors can take guided tours led by knowledgeable guides who are passionate about the history of the Grant family and their home.

It really helps to understand more about Grant as a person. One gets the impression that he was a homebody. The house is very well kept. The guide was well informed and answered all the questions.

A Crowd of One — Google review

The tour is free but donations are recommended. Tours run about every 10 to 15 mins. You wait on the porch for a guide to get you. You can take all the photos you want. About 90 percent of the items in the home are original to the Grant family. Plenty of parking.When you are done here head downtown to see an amazing Main street that looks like a movie set from the old days and then head to the Grant/Galena museum. There is a charge as it is separate from the Grant home but very much worth visiting.

Ashley Howerton — Google review

Our tour guide was awesome, very informative, was a nice step back in time. So glad Galena appreciates it's history and preserves it so well, and teaches the generations of now the glorious history of then. Thank you for having us and educating us on your rich history! All of Galena was a pleasant experience, Grant House was our favorite stop of all. Check it out and see for yourself! You won't regret it, just kind the back stairs of the Grant House, I feel for whoever had to frequent those stairs they're a dandy.

No One — Google review

It's so rare that a historic home still has the original furnishings, but that's what you find in the Grant Home. Yes, the General sat in those chairs. Yes, the family gathered at that table. It makes history so real.Our very knowledgeable tour guide, Katherine, displayed a real passion for the home, the Grant family, and their history. I highly recommend this stop on your next visit to Galena.

Peggy E. Graves — Google review

If you're a history buff. This is a must see. There's a lot of great history here. All of the tour guides are great. You can tell that they're really passionate about the history of this home. It's just a really nice place to visit. Make sure to bring cash, because they have some cool things you can purchase.

markus russell — Google review

Great history this house is in the middle of a neighborhood that you would never expect that a US president lived there. Guide was very knowledgeable and learned a great deal. Need less than 30 minutes to see the entire thing. Great way to stretch your legs out on a ling trip. You don't need to buy a ticket but a $5 donation is suggested money goes towards the up keep.

Doug Ainsworth — Google review

This was a place that I had seen mentioned for years but had never visited. I am glad that I waited as they have added air conditioning to the property! The entry cost is by donation and the suggested amount is $5 for adults and $3 for children. The staff are incredibly knowledgeable about everything Grant! I learned so much more about our 18th president during this visit. It is truly amazing how people were able to operate without the amenities that we enjoy today and I truly respect the Grant's even more for foregoing slaves!

Brooke Trail — Google review

I had an absolutely awesome time here the other day while there was all the snow blowing in. The tour guide was beyond informative and had just the amount of dry historian humor I always look for and can appreciate. It was a pleasure being able to tour the Grant home, and I recommend it to anyone visiting Galena to stop by and look at everything in the house. I especially loved being able to see it all decked out for Christmas.

Hoosieronthemove — Google review

Beautifully preserved and well maintained with an informative staff. Tours are at top and bottom of the hour (from my memory) so be sure to get in line at the front porch on time. :)

Andy Chandler — Google review

Learned so much from this tour, which was partially guided and partially self-guided. Our tour guide was friendly and very knowledgable!The home was relatively small, but ornate, and featured over 90% original items. The grounds are lovely and also offer a great view of the historic downtown.The house is up on a hill so walking/going up a few flights of steps may be needed.

Elizabeth Fehring — Google review

A cool (as in, both interesting and air conditioned!) visit on a hot summer day. The tour is informative but doesn't overload you with too much information. It's a well maintained and carefully preserved historical gem of the area. There are steep stairs, so be aware if you have mobility issues. Free entry but remember to donate!

Katy Pine — Google review

The pride and joy of Galena, Illinois! This location is definitely worth a visit. I’d recommend taking the tour of the home. The tour takes you around the inside of the entire house and you can see important items/rooms of the ex-president. The tour guides are incredible at their job and invite curiosity. The tour is free, but they do expect a donation. You can wait at the front door and up to 15 minutes for the tour to start. Afterwards, you can walk around the grounds and see other artifacts and buildings.

Ryan Sutter — Google review

We visited Thursday afternoon. It was a beautiful day. Our tour guide was extremely knowledgeable. He led us through the Grant home with stories and facts for each area. It was amazing! I highly recommend a visit!

Michele Kempfer — Google review

Excellent tour ! Only takes about 20-30 minutes and is really cool to peek into the past and learn the History of the 18th President and family. Its free but there is a suggested donation box… however they do not accept cards so if you want to donate or buy any souvenirs bring cash 💰

Melba Lee — Google review

Great stop in historical Galena. The tour is free, but they have a donation box for facility upkeep. The tour guides are incredibly knowledgeable and work on a volunteer basis. The tour takes 30 minutes and it is well worth the stop!

Kelly — Google review

Spur of the moment stop ended up being in my top three favorite things we did! Our tour guide Chuck was phenomenal, and answered my many questions, and made history feel fun and tangible.

Grace Nied — Google review

To be honest, I didn't know much about President Grant, but this home was so nice and the tour guide was amazing. I would absolutely recommend this tour to anyone coming to the town.

Douglas Cole — Google review

Excellent stop while in Galena. The history told by the tour guides is great and only takes about 15 minutes. Our kids loved it too seeing all the antique furniture and way houses were furnished back then. Grant was a fascinating person and anyone who likes history should make this a stop. Runs completely on donations.

James O'Shea — Google review

A very interesting historical stop. The Grant Home grounds have several buildings to see, including a general store that you can peek inside. The Grant Home has a beautiful view. Our tour guide was very kind and knowledgeable and patient with questions from children. He shared so much information. The house is fascinating. The grounds are clean and in good repair.

Cadence Giddings — Google review

4.7

(1263)40 Best Stops Between Chicago and Glacier National Park (188)

4.5

(1403)40 Best Stops Between Chicago and Glacier National Park (189)

500 Bouthillier St, Galena, IL 61036, USA

(815) 777-3310

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26

National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium

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Museum

Zoos & Aquariums

The National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium is an attraction located on the waterfront in Dubuque, Iowa that combines a history museum, science center and state-of-the-art aquarium. The aquarium has a variety of habitats which allows guests to experience different aspects of ocean and freshwater life. The location is perfect for weddings since it offers a fun atmosphere combined with everything the museum and aquarium have to offer.

Fun for the whole family great place buy the year pass saves money for Multiple trips. There's another larger building where you can feed the stingrays. New exhibit featuring otters! Huge aquariums great hands activities & educational fun. They have a huge metal workshop that was used to build boat engines over a 100 years old that still works. They have a craft room featuring 3-D printers

Dustin Bair — Google review

INCREDIBLE PLACE!!! We (two people in their mid-20s) spent almost 4 hours there. With kids you could easily spend more. MANY hands-on science activities, animals to see, and PLENTY to learn about. Staff INCREDIBLY knowledgeable with questions. A FANTASTIC place to spend a morning :)

Abbie Chronister — Google review

Great museum. Two buildings, both two floors and both have aquariums. Loved the touch pools for sting rays and one for starfish, and sea cucumbers. There was also an outdoor section for a wet land exhibit and birds. They also had a large boat that you could explore. Lots of information and interactive exhibits it's. All staff we meet was very friendly and helpful. I would recommend bringing quarters outdoor pond to feed the fish.

Stephanie Vollmer — Google review

We loved it! We enjoy walking through the museum, petting the stray fish, learning of the Mississippi River history, it’s beginning and the development of the area around it. Really great experience for me and family

Jenn James — Google review

Great place for the family! So much to see and do. The museum and aquarium is very interesting. It’s two separate buildings and an outside part. My daughter really enjoyed coming here. Our favorite part was the aquarium/seeing the fish.

Martinez — Google review

Lots to see, inside and out. I personally loved the historical, natural history, environmental displays. My kids really had fun with the interactive displays, and of course the stingrays. Be prepared to have your kids get wet!Most of saltwater area was closed when we were there, unfortunately, so I can't comment on that.From their website, and view from the parking lot I actually thought it would have even more to see and do. But there is plenty the way it is.Cost is fairly high in my opinion, but I'm a cheapskate. No worse than going to a movie, or out to eat for a family. They need to pay the bills too, and you're supporting an educational gem in the process.They periodically have traveling displays that visit to add to the amount you can see and do.We would definitely go again!

Rich Krueger — Google review

Amazing science, natural history, and history museum. Excellent. I've had the privilege to visit the big museums in DC, New York, Chicago and elsewhere, and the Mississippi River Museum punches well above its weight for an establishment located in a small out-of-the-way city. The quality, variety, depth, and curation of all parts of the museum and its grounds are excellent. Well worth the trip!

Joshua Clements — Google review

Great way to spend the day! Our group all had fun (kids aged 3, 6 & 15 + adults) with plenty to explore in each area. The aquarium tanks in both buildings were the favorite of all. The STEM labs had truly engaging & fun activities and the water table was a nice play break.The space is beautifully designed and easy indoor outdoor transition- seemed very wheelchair/stroller friendly.Don’t miss checking out what’s on board the William M. Black 🛳️ we had fun talking about what life on a boat would be likePleasantly surprised at cafe offering and gift shop 🛍️ The entire staff was kind and welcoming and the space was clean. Despite going on a Summer Saturday and it was busy, it didn’t feel crowded.We will be back again!

Emily Wirth — Google review

Will definitely not get tired of visiting aquariums! Staffs are very approachable and knowledgeable! One of the best aquarium I’ve been too, great service! Their stingrays are very social as well and we definitely enjoy it! They have a large area as well and another building so there’s really too much to see!

Pam Rama — Google review

Great museum and aquarium. There were a lot of interactive visits for my 2 and 4 yo I clouding two different water tables. There was a free makers space with basic art supplies and a bunch of interesting 3-d printers which were not available for use but neat to see and an informative employee was there to answer questions. Lots of cool animals to see including otters, alligators, snakes, an eel, fish, and raptors. We were there for 2 hours and there was still more to see. We skipped over most of the more adult stuff but there was planeta to read and learn for a more mature audience.

Jamie Rogalla Lyons — Google review

We loved our experience! So much to see and do for all ages. Our kids (5 and 3) had a blast. A lot of educational, interactive and live animals to enjoy. Highly recommend. We can't wait to visit again and check out the 4D theater and pet the sting rays.

Sarah Pittner — Google review

Buy tickets in advance and save a couple of dollars to use in their cafe. So much to do and see and touch. This is a real hands-on educational gem. We've been here many times and every time there is something new to explore, and older to re-explore The stingray touch and see tank is always a delight. Be gentle and the stingrays will come back for more touches. The cozy IMax like film theater allows everyone a phenomenal seat. The (at least 3D) films are worth the slight extra cost... Especially film #2 when purchased together with film #1. Marvelously they can both be 4D!! Films change frequently and they're always interesting and educational. Visit both indoor sides and it's outdoor middle. History and the future come alive behind every door and the information might be presented by a person, video, computer, well designed display or some other way. Additionally we met Tom and Becky there. They are wonderful to watch; however, you have to go to know how well they are doing what they otter.

Charles Morrison — Google review

Great place for all ages!! Very large complex, and you have the opportunity to see it over 2 days included in the price of admission. Pet the rays, see the fish, tour the riverboats, see a short 4D film, and explore some science themed exhibits.

Jason Ellis — Google review

The River Museum was not only very educational but all very interactive. As soon as you walk in you’re greeted by the nice attendants in the front. They inform you where certain exhibits are located and what’s located in the other building (as this place is HUGE) . For any pressed penny collectors out there , there is one machine in the main building and one in the second. The second building contains all the salt water fish along with the child play area. My favorite was the otter and the sting rays. On their website they have a live camera to view the otter from 8am- 5 pm alongwith a live camera to view the Mississippi River. Definitely recommend for all to visit.

Marisol Munoz — Google review

A smaller aquarium but still very enjoyable. I loved the otter, the octopus, and the raptures! The boat museum was an added bonus. Even though we went on the day there were many little kids dressed for Halloween, we still enjoyed ourselves. We were able to see everything. The added Halloween decor and band playing made it extra fun!

Jean Bringgold — Google review

Great place to go. My kids LOVE petting the sting rays and the sea anemones. There used to be another play area upstairs I thought but I don’t know what happened to it. Your ticket is a 2 day pass, my kids only spent about 2 hours there before they were ready to leave. I have a 6 year old and 8 year old. The boat was put away for the season so that usually takes about 30 minutes and they were too cold to go to the marsh area. But they had a lot of fun. We went the next day to pet the stingrays again and play in the kid area. We were also members with out zoo so we were able to get a discount!

Brittany I — Google review

My kiddos love it! Been there 3 times every time I find something different I haven’t seen on my previous visit! Must go! A lot of history! Fun activities for the kids !

Nick Webster — Google review

Great place to visit grand kids loved it, indoor and outdoor bits to visit. Outdoor you can wander round the dock and explore the old dredging paddle steamer. Indoors there's the aquarium with fish, alligators touch pools, displays on the Mississippi and it's flood plains. There's a kids discovery area with pools too play in, with an activity room.There's a old line shaft driven machine shop with lathes, planner, grinding and polishing wheels radial drill. In the second building there's more of the story of the Mississippi it's captain's and the natives.There a restaurant with a good clean bathroom.A good gift shop with a good range of bits and bobs.There's offers on the entry prices depending on the mix of the group visiting we got two seniors, two adults and one child in for 109.75 adults are 23.95 seniors 21.95 youth 17.95 under 3 are free

nicholas Titley — Google review

Really well curated museum, fun aquarium. Can easily spend half a day here. Especially if the weather is good--get outdoors!

Mark Ells — Google review

So much fun! We took our kids for a day adventure and got to see a lot of cool aquatic life we spent about three hours here and there was so much to see!

Megan Neeley — Google review

This was a marvelous family adventure. Everyone learned a lot about engineering, tools, pioneers of innovation, conservation, Native Americans, trades, floods, stingrays, & a lot more!! I encourage everyone to make this visit, so worth it!!We were even able to touch sting rays, starfish, & sea anemones😆😆😆 totally Fantastic experience!!

Merry Trotter — Google review

We had an amazing experience - even as 3 adults with no children in our group. We were very pleasantly surprised by the amount of things to see and do here. Our favorite part was walking around the boat. Highly recommend for families and adults alike

Leah Grigas — Google review

4.7

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4.5

(1636)40 Best Stops Between Chicago and Glacier National Park (202)

350 E 3rd St, Dubuque, IA 52001, USA

(563) 557-9545

27

Fenelon Place Elevator Company

40 Best Stops Between Chicago and Glacier National Park (203)40 Best Stops Between Chicago and Glacier National Park (204)

40 Best Stops Between Chicago and Glacier National Park (205)40 Best Stops Between Chicago and Glacier National Park (206)

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Elevator service

Sights & Landmarks

Points of Interest & Landmarks

The Fenelon Place Elevator Company operates a funicular railway connecting 4th Street & Fenelon Place in downtown Dubuque. The railway is a popular tourist attraction, with views of the cityscape from its upper station. It was built in 1893 and is powered by counterbalance.

Such a fun little experience when visiting Dubuque! The view from the top is beautiful! They accept cash only, so come prepared.

Kelly Greer — Google review

Really enjoyed going and checking out this place. It said it is the world's shortest and steepest, so when I found this, I had to go and ride it. It was worth the 4 dollar round trip. I rode it from the top down and checked out the shops at the bottom.

CBU — Google review

Fun little tourist stop, worth the time if you like the views of Dubuque. Would probably be even more beautiful when the leaves change. Check the dates of operation, and they only accept cash.

Chris Myers — Google review

The funicular is a fun way to get from top to bottom of the hill. The ice cream shop at the bottom of the hill is also worth the stop for good treats and cute decorations.Scenic view from the top and the old time feel of the elevator make this a notable stop while visiting Dubuque

BourbonJohnson — Google review

Such a neat experience in Dubuque with wonderful views at the top!The trolley is open air, so if it is rainy or cold, or potentially if you have really small children, it may make sense to wait.Really neat to see it in action and ride to the top. And the fares are extremely reasonable (fyi - pay booth is at the top)!

Elizabeth Fehring — Google review

Very beautiful views and a wonderful experience! Do yourself a favor and start at the bottom. Look for Sweet Memories Ice cream shop. There is no public restroom at the lookout point. Be aware they only accept cash. No cards.

Sofia Simcox — Google review

Looking for something different to do on a Sunday afternoon, we packed up the “Twenty-Paws” in the PupBus and headed to Dubuque. A somewhat scenic, hilly drive from Cedar Rapids and only about an hour away and we were there. The Fenelon Elevator Company. I had never heard of it, but my husband had been there many times as a child. (About 50 years ago). Since it was so late in the season, (we went the Sunday in November) we were able to park on the street right next to the station and there was no waiting to get on board. The round trip fare was $4, and you can board from the top or bottom of the hill. The ride is not long, but quite steep. The videos are not shot in slow motion. Since the staff was not too busy, she shared a little history with us before we left. Very friendly! Fun little adventure. Something you could do with the family. Open April to November.

Laura Zeadow — Google review

They trolly ride is a historic site. The project started in 1882. If you arrive at the trolly station on the top of the hill which is the south gate, you will have a very good view of the Mississippi River and Illinois and Wisconsin in addition to the two bridges that connect Iowa to those two states.The trolley itself is two dollars For one-way ride and four dollars for round-trip. The trolly car has limited seats— 4 to 6 people can fit comfortably inside it. It travels slow. There’s some wildflowers on the path down the hill but it is mostly grass and trees.It would have been nice if there were more flowers on the path down the hill.

Sara Kahn — Google review

Very cool experience. Would give five stars, but we used the address listed on Google and it gave us the address to the top. Lots of searching and searching we never did find the address to start below, which is what we wanted to do. Another couple there experienced the same thing. Overall, would definitely go again.

Synnova Olson — Google review

Great views! We parked at the bottom of the hill and took a round trip. It's cash only. The little cabins are very cute. It was a nice, slow ride.

Wendy Hedrick — Google review

Great experience. We loved learning about the history of the elevator. Parking was fairly easy, and the shops around it were fun, too.

Deborah Everson — Google review

I love this elevator! It’s cash only but only $8 for 1 adult and 2 kids. It’s a pretty short ride but is super fun.

Brittany I — Google review

It was so cool. I am so glad I did it it was kind of scary when you leave to go down the hill. Even got a picture of the elf. 4.00 dollars round trip we'll worth it.

CBU — Google review

A cool little cable car. The view from the top is very pretty. It was a nice stop on our way through the area.

Jen Zaets — Google review

We drove to the top station parked up and took the elevator for a round trip just so we could say we had been on it.From the top there's some good views over the city with a platform for photo shoots.We then went and got some shots of the elevator from down the street.The ride only takes a couple of minutes but it's a good novelty ride grand kids loved it.The step into the car at the top may bother some people and due to the angle of the car the steps to the seat are quite high.The fare is cheap so just go and do it.

nicholas Titley — Google review

SUPER cool experience! I didn't know this was here but GLAD we found it! This one-of-a-kind ride up the hill was absolutely worth the wait in line! We got a GREAT view of the city and had fun meeting some new people in the process! I definitely recommended doing this if ever in the Dubuque area!

MJ — Google review

Very unique experience! Great views of Dubuque and the Mississippi River. Had lots of fun

Casee Richards — Google review

$4 round trip ride on this historic funicular, located in Dubuque. The attraction holds significance for my family and we’ve been visiting regularly for over 30 years. Hope the 4th Street elevator is around for many years to come.

Mr Krueger — Google review

Unique rail elevator. $2.00 one way or &4.00 round trip. Uses 2 elevators that run in tandem. As one goes down, the other goes up. The middle rail is shared except where it's critical that the cars collide. Very steep. The view at the top is amazing.There may be a line but the wait isn't too long. You can start the rail from top or bottom. Payment is made at the top.

Henry Eicher — Google review

The lady who has worked on both of my visits is super nice! The view is beautiful. The ride itself is smooth. Having gone both ways (starting at the top vs. base), I would recommend riding top to base and then walking around the little shops and even the downtown shops a couple blocks away. Even if just for a ride, do it! $4 round trip can't be beat!

Kari Cihlar — Google review

Had a wonderful time!We were traveling through Dubuque, and discovered the Funicular on a painting. A quick Google search helped us find it's location.The trip takes 3 minutes up and another 3 minutes down the hill. Slow, pleasant, no stress, and the views from the top are fantastic!There is a wonderful shopping area surrounding the lower end of the Funicular. Unfortunately, we were on a time schedule, so did not have time to enjoy that area.There is an interesting story about its history, and past owners. Be sure to ask for info!

Molly Zabrowski — Google review

4.7

(1109)40 Best Stops Between Chicago and Glacier National Park (207)

4.5

(1197)40 Best Stops Between Chicago and Glacier National Park (208)

512 Fenelon Pl, Dubuque, IA 52001, USA

(563) 582-6496

28

Grandad Bluff

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Cliff

Nature & Parks

Geologic Formations

Grandad Bluff is a scenic overlook located in the Mississippi River Valley that provides far-reaching views of La Crosse and the surrounding area. Visitors can enjoy the view from a viewing platform and shelter on top of the bluff, which also offers shady spots to rest and restrooms for convenience. The site also includes wonderful displays of history that add to its appeal. The location is worth the drive up for those seeking beautiful views and a glimpse of historical significance.

We came to visit and explore the La Crosse area over spring break and were told by many of the locals to visit Grandad Bluff during our stay. I can see why, the views are breathtaking! My family and I would love to travel back up in the fall. I can’t imagine how beautiful it must be that time of the year!

Kendra Schultz — Google review

Beautiful views up on Grandad Bluff. The wind can get rather cold, especially in March so dress accordingly and bring binoculars if you want to get a close up on the stunning valley views.

Crystal Petrey — Google review

Beautiful views, shady spots to rest, restrooms and wonderful displays of history. Worth the scenic drive up for sure!

Inspired2RV — Google review

Best place to visit during fall. Amazing view and trails.

Vinay Panchal — Google review

Very beautiful and such a large park. There are gorgeous overlooks and trails everywhere. I'm a photographer and this was an awesome spot to take engagement photos in Wisconsin!

Elizabeth Meyer — Google review

It was a cool, windy day, but still beautiful! The pathways are always kept clear of debris and the Fall foilage is at its peak. You can see for miles. Worth checking out!

Renee Pletzer Dykmann — Google review

Really great view of La Crosse and surrounding area up here. It's been a few years since I've been to this spot but I have some classic photos to add. Was here on a date and it went well, partially due to this location where we had to snuggle up since it was somewhat cold and windy that day. I am trying to make it back here this summer so I may be back with some updates once I can find myself a date. haha. But seriously I will be back soon.

Hank Zane — Google review

Worth the 10 minute trek up the bluff for a spectacular view overlooking La Crosse and the Mississippi River Valley.

Bishop Media-Ken — Google review

Beautiful trail system with challenging trails and amazing views, didn’t see many others as we enjoyed a lovely lacrosse day in the fall!

Chris & Linda Lee — Google review

Beautiful views and historical landmarks. Trails were hilly and well kept. It is very warm in June—90s, humid and limited breeze on the trails. Keep this in mind when planning your hike. There were bathrooms up at the top.

Natasha Girard — Google review

Love the views. Easy to walk to. Bathroom cleanThe park was well maintained. A must see land mark ‼️

Victoria Cook — Google review

Fantastic views of the city and surrounding area. Well kept up park and worth the visit.

Rick Dzielinski — Google review

This was my 2nd trip but my families 1st time to visit. Love the beauty of the area!

Tyler & Sue Riddle — Google review

Absolutely beautiful view and great new trails recommend for meditation or nature vibes…. Enjoyed and I will be back 😃

Natalie Jo Baker — Google review

4.8

(193)40 Best Stops Between Chicago and Glacier National Park (213)

4.5

(1089)40 Best Stops Between Chicago and Glacier National Park (214)

La Crosse, WI 54601, USA

29

Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company

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Brewery

Food & Drink

Wonderful tour! Ethan was fantastic! You could tell he loves his job. He thrived on the history and enjoyed taking questions! We very much enjoyed our tasting. The Chocolate Dunkel is fabulous!

Debbie Weslow — Google review

#1 Tour. A MUST do! We had a wonderful day visiting the Leinenkugel Brewing Company. My husband and I did the Legacy Tour and Pilot Brewery Tour. Both tours were so awesome! It was so neat to see inside brewery on the Legacy Tour! Our tour guide Cindy was so knowledgeable and funny! We enjoyed a flight of beers before going on our next tour of the Pilot Brewery. It was fun seeing the small batches being made and talking with Matt Leinenkugel. We would highly recommend doing both tours to everyone!

K N — Google review

Fantastic experience taking a tour. So much history and a really good walk through of the process. Thanks for making the trip worth it!

John L. — Google review

We did a brewery tour and our tour guide was absolutely amazing. Cade was extremely knowledgeable and made our tour an absolute blast. Afterwords he stopped by our table and answered even more of our questions. We were there for my birthday and I can honestly say this is a must see if you are passing by!Also… Mix and match your beers!

Ethan Koenig — Google review

A great place to visit for a tou, a flight or just a beer. Did a tour and very informative and personal. Thanks Shelby. The gift shop has something for everyone. Beers on tap are great and different from what is in my beer store. Spent about 2 hours here and had a great time.

Jeff Sullivan — Google review

Fun touristy spot. Exclusive flavors, merchandise for days, polite staff, and brewery tours. Book tours in advance as they sell out.Only complaints would be the small parking lot, smaller bathrooms, and the lack of wasp control in the outdoor patio.Would probably go again, but maybe not on the weekends.

Coco LaFousfous — Google review

Wonderful tour! Nancy was our tour guide, and she was fantastic. She only works on Saturdays, but I highly recommend asking to be on her tour. The only bad part about touring on a Saturday is that the factory is not in operating, but I don't think that really took away from our experience. We would definitely come back. The 5oz sample tickets are a great way to taste different beers in the lodge you might not normally try. For around $15 a person for the tour and 4, 5oz beers, I thought it was definitely worth it!

English Teacher — Google review

Just happened to stop for gas and saw a sign on the way into town, decided to take a road break and stopped in for the tour.Informative, guide was great, didn't just throw a bunch of facts at ya, even let one of the guests lead the tour for a minute with some information they knew...then the samples !! Very Nice ! great gift shop, lots to choose from, would love to go back when they have the food trucks !

Tyler Erdmann — Google review

Awesome brewery in a beautiful location. Very cool staff and delicious cheese curds. Love their brewology recipes, too.

Andrea Review — Google review

Love Shandy... What a cool place! Too soon for Christmas, but still awesome. I wish I had more time to take the tour.

Gary L. Shaw — Google review

Super fun brewery to check out. It’s a must do in Chippewa Falls. Lots of areas to order beer inside. Tons of souvenirs and clothing options. Indoor and outdoor seating. Limited food, they did have a food truck parked outside to order from. Parking lot and free on street parking available.

Brook S — Google review

Stopped in early on Saturday. The bar was empty, but the beer was tasty. Clothing is a bit expensive but fun to browse.

Chris Turner — Google review

Touristy destination brewery, but they fully embrace it. All of their beers on tap is nice, but the 50/50 mixes they have are the real attraction. A lot of them combine the sweetness of their shandies with darker beers which works incredibly well. We got a 50/50 pint and 2 small pours for $10 which was a welcomed price tag compared to west & east coast breweries.They offer brewery tours and merch if that's your thing. As far as destination breweries go, it's done well.

Nate Larson — Google review

A must stop for all beer fans and even non-beer fans. Historic brewery with incredible welcome center featuring fantastic servers/bartenders. Employees really seem to enjoy working there. Almost 1 dozen beer styles on tap, including new releases. Tours are fun and well paced. Outside grounds are well maintained.

Patrick Hartel — Google review

We took a tour of the brewery. Our guide, Shelby, was amazing and super knowledgeable. Beer was amazing and ice cold, awesome for a warm day. $15.00 well spent on an awesome experience and with (4) 5 ounce tasters included.

Heather Sutera — Google review

4.7

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4.5

(707)40 Best Stops Between Chicago and Glacier National Park (220)

124 E Elm St, Chippewa Falls, WI 54729, USA

(888) 534-6437

30

Minnesota Marine Art Museum

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40 Best Stops Between Chicago and Glacier National Park (223)40 Best Stops Between Chicago and Glacier National Park (224)

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Art museum

Museums

Expansive museum offering classic & contemporary marine-themed paintings & sculpture, plus a garden.

Wow! I can't believe I've never been and it's right in my back yard. So nice! I took pics of what I could, but there are a few rooms where no photography is allowed. We got there late so we could really only take in a small bit but we will definitely be going back.

Chad Clark — Google review

Today was the first time ever that our 9-yr old and 6-yr old granddaughters visited an art museum. I anticipated spending at most one hour at the museum and prepared them for their first visit to understand what they would see and what behavior expectations were. Thanks to a little preparation and the Bingo Scavenger Hunt the museum has ready in 3 different difficulty levels, my girls had an incredibly successful and rewarding visit they will not soon forget! We came ready with sketch pads and a pencil to draw a favorite piece of art. The museum offered a pencil bag with a full colored pencil set, a variety of pencils in different hardnesses for shading, and a pencil sharpener for their use! My granddaughters were quite excited and enthralled by the Bingo activity, and the other few activities set up for children, such as the table with the paper shredder, the art table to take a photo of their artwork and display it in a virtual quilt projected on the wall, and learning how to be an "artivist". Furthermore, they sat on the ground to sketch a photo and a painting, and learned what Impressionism is as well as the immense talent the makers of these pieces of art have. The girls and I have painted together oh so many times and started to understand the magnitude of skill of these artists. I cannot thank the museum staff enough for truly understanding how to help children interact with art! This was a gift that continued to give: Once at home, they grabbed their colored pencils and finished their sketches, took photos of them, shared them with their friends, and proudly showed them to their parents. The older granddaughter told her mother how much she LOVED the art museum and she'd like to go to more art museums. I wanted to cry when I heard this!! They are planning their next visit to a nearby art museum they have never made the time to see. I plan on the many art museums in the Twin Cities in the next year. Thank you for having had such a positive influence on these children.

C Sturm — Google review

This museum was way above and beyond my expectations. The incredible diversity of extremely well-known and internationally recognized names in art, particularly in impressionistic art, was unbelievable. This was an incredible gem - I am still legitimately surprised that their collection is so amazing. It cost approximately $9 per adult to get in ($3 if you are a student) and the setting is really pretty – you can see barges and Bluffs and there is lots of outdoor seating. This is certainly one of the nicest private collections in the Midwest. Five stars, but only because I can’t give it six!

Jason Christenson — Google review

What a surprise this was. I had no idea it existed until I drove by. Entry is $10, $8 for seniors and less for kids. Cool building overlooking the river. They had one gallery just loaded with classic painter's works...Cezzane,Gougin,Picasso, Manet. Don't expect a big city collection but for a small town museum, this one is very impressive!

Andrew Hayman — Google review

Autistic and sensitive friendly. Beautiful pictures and able to take pictures.Garden art is interesting outside as well

Christine Goatley — Google review

This art museum has six galleries with a variety of community-engaged activities integrated into it - very engaging. Plus, a lovely gift shop and location. A great road trip from the Twin Cities!

Rebecca Froehlich — Google review

Stunning art exhibits inside the museum and natural beauty outside the museum. The art, permanent and temporary exhibits, are worthy of the absolute best big city museums, and yet we can find them here in rural Minnesota.

Tami Groth — Google review

Great exhibition! Very friendly and helpful staff. In my opinion a must when you visit this area. Be careful not to miss the turnoff .

Thomas Droll — Google review

Super cool place. They have student ticket prices. Lots of friendly staff, and they really put in the work to make your experience a good one. They also had a kids area, and miscellaneous interactive things to do. My boyfriend is a marine life nerd, so this was a perfect place to spend the day. We will be back!

A. Marie — Google review

A wonderful museum -- I'm a member. It's worth the drive from the Twin Cities to visit. There is always something new and wonderful.

Douglas Shambo II — Google review

This museum is surprisingly nice, well done, and large. There are six different exhibits inside that are very different but relate to marine life or nature in some way. At the time of visit, there was a special exhibit from the New York Historical Society called The Poetry of Nature. The worker in the room went above and beyond to give us recommendations on where to start, a little background, and some other small but significant details that would not have been known without him. The museum is right along the Mississippi which is also very nice and convenient. There is lots of parking and offer discounted prices for many groups of people such as elderly, students, and kids. Wheelchair accessibly is also great with wheelchair accessible parking, first floor entrance, and ADA-compliant bathrooms.

Jacob Kobilarcsik — Google review

The museum is an amazing experience. You don't expect something like this in a small town. This was my second time and the art always takes my breath away. So many unique artists come through. There are current unique pieces and some amazing classical paintings. This time there were paintings from the Hudson River historical society and sculptures by Courtney Matteson and her work was powerful. You know how she feels about the coral reefs health in this world. Her art makes you stop and take stock of our responsibility to our planet. I highly recommend.

Deb V — Google review

I love this museum!!! The events and galleries are fantastic. They added this accessibility cart, which I love! There's a wonderful spot outside with tables for enjoying the river or enjoying a picnic outside of the building. See the gyotaku exhibit while there's still time!

Mj — Google review

Attended the Winona garden tour & the MMAM participated. Beautiful gardens surround the property and are an extension of the galleries. The path was pea gravel and this offered some complexities for mobility but it was found some areas were more difficult than others. Took the opportunity to see the art galleries offerings. This was an unexpected delight. Work this into your travel plans.

J Higgins — Google review

4.8

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5.0

(513)40 Best Stops Between Chicago and Glacier National Park (226)

800 Riverview Dr, Winona, MN 55987, USA

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40 Best Stops Between Chicago and Glacier National Park (2024)
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