- Milwaukee is an easy drive or train ride from Chicago
- Door County is the Midwest's answer to Cape Cod
- Wisconsin is famous for cheese, beer and friendly supper clubs
- Lake Superior's Apostle Islands have sea caves you can kayak through
- Airports
- Chicago O'Hare (ORD), direct from the UK, about 1.5 hours' drive to Milwaukee; Milwaukee (MKE) via a US hub
- Best time to go
- June-September; late September-October for foliage
- Type
- State
Wisconsin sits between two Great Lakes, Michigan and Superior, and its thousands of inland lakes, forests and farmland make it a favourite holiday destination for Midwesterners. It is proudly known as America's Dairyland, famous for cheese, and for a beer culture built by German immigrants.
Milwaukee is a lively, underrated city on Lake Michigan, Madison is a lake-ringed college town, and the north is a playground for paddling and hiking. For the wider picture, see our USA guide.
Things to do
- Milwaukee – the striking Milwaukee Art Museum, the Harley-Davidson Museum, brewery tours and a summer festival every weekend.
- Door County – a peninsula of orchards, lighthouses, fish boils and pretty harbour villages.
- Madison – the state capital on a narrow isthmus between two lakes, with a big farmers' market and university life.
- Taliesin – Frank Lloyd Wright's home and studio at Spring Green, with guided tours.
- Apostle Islands National Lakeshore – kayak through Lake Superior's sea caves in summer.
- Wisconsin Dells – waterparks and river sandstone formations, popular with families.
- House on the Rock – one of America's most eccentric attractions, near Spring Green.
- Cheese and supper clubs – visit dairies, try fresh cheese curds and enjoy a Friday fish fry.
Where to stay
- Milwaukee – downtown and the Third Ward, a historic warehouse district.
- Door County – inns and cottages in Fish Creek, Ephraim and Sister Bay.
- Madison – hotels near the Capitol and lakes.
- Bayfield – the base for the Apostle Islands.
- Wisconsin Dells – family resorts with indoor waterparks.
Getting there
Most UK travellers fly direct to Chicago O'Hare, around eight and a half to nine hours from London, then drive about an hour and a half to Milwaukee or take the Amtrak Hiawatha train. Milwaukee and Madison airports have connections through US hubs. Door County is about two and a half hours north of Milwaukee by car, and the Apostle Islands are about five to six hours. A hire car is essential outside the cities. You will need an approved ESTA.
Best time to visit
Summer is the best time, with warm weather, lake swimming and festivals such as Milwaukee's Summerfest. Autumn brings colourful forests and harvest festivals in Door County. Winters are long, snowy and very cold, though the Apostle Islands' ice caves can sometimes be visited when Lake Superior freezes solid.
Try a traditional Door County fish boil, where the cook throws kerosene on the fire to make the pot boil over, in a dramatic blaze.
Top attractions in Wisconsin
NatureCentral Park
Manhattan's 843-acre green heart, with lakes, meadows, bridges and woodland stretching for 51 blocks between Midtown…
LandmarkStatue of Liberty
The copper colossus in New York Harbor, a gift from France in 1886, visited by ferry with Ellis Island on the same trip.
Wisconsin on the map
Frequently asked questions
Can I visit Milwaukee as a day trip from Chicago?
Yes, it is about 90 minutes by train or car, so a day trip is easy, though staying a night gives you time for the museums and breweries.
How long should I spend in Wisconsin?
A long weekend covers Milwaukee and Madison. A week lets you add Door County or the Apostle Islands.
What is a supper club?
A traditional Wisconsin restaurant, often in the countryside, serving brandy old fashioneds, relish trays, steaks and Friday fish fry in a retro setting.
Is Wisconsin good for families?
Very. Waterparks, lakes, farm visits and beaches make it a classic Midwest family destination.
Written by
Anna Beach, family & practical travel editor
Anna knows which beach has shade at 3pm and which car hire excess is a rip-off. She covers sun, islands, family trips and practical travel tips.
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