26 Exciting Things to Do in Wisconsin in 2026 (You’ll Want to Save This List)

The Badger State is blessed with amazing people, bustling towns and cities, quirky attractions, incredible restaurants, and spirit-lifting natural beauty. I've visited a few times already in 2025, but I'm going back for more. If you ask me, these are the 26 best things I still have time to do in Wisconsin in 2026. How many will you partake in?

1. Explore Apostle Islands National Lakeshore in Bayfield, Wisconsin

Apostle Islands National Lakeshore is Wisconsin's premier National Park Service unit. Hike, paddle, and explore stunning sea caves, all in a wilderness of shoreline and islands surrounded by water. Summertime is the best time to visit, but the park reveals its dramatic beauty in every season. So, I plan to pick up my America the Beautiful Pass and start exploring!

2. Savor Freshly Cooked Fish at a Door County Fish Boil

There are a few Wisconsin traditions that could almost be considered rites of passage, and the communal experience of a Door County fish boil is one of them. Many places on the peninsula offer fish boils, and they all share the same essential components: drinking, a history lesson, a cooking demonstration, fire, and, of course, fish. Personally, I'm fond of the fish boil at the Old Post Office Restaurant in Ephraim.

3. Enjoy a Luxury Weekend at The American Club in Kohler

I'm not much of a golfer, but I do love incredible dining experiences, and The American Club in Kohler offers some of the state's finest dining at one of Wisconsin's best restaurants. A meal at The Immigrant, the Club's four-star, fine-dining restaurant, is an indulgent experience to remember. It also happens to be home to one of the best spas in the United States. So, I feel some water therapy may be in order, as well. Booking a room at The American Club sounds like an excellent way to spend a late winter weekend.

4. Celebrate Oktoberfest in La Crosse, Wisconsin

Wisconsin is one of the nation's top beer-producing states. To many of us, in fact, it's synonymous with three things: beer, cheese, and the Pack. That's why fall is so remarkable in the Badger State. Not only is it football season, but you'll find Oktoberfest celebrations throughout Wisconsin, and none is bigger than Oktoberfest U.S.A. in the Mississippi River city of La Crosse. If you're looking for me in late September, that's where you'll find me – at one of the best festivals in Wisconsin with a stein in my hand.

5. Sleep in a Pirate Ship in Lyndon Station, Wisconsin

This whimsical Airbnb near the Wisconsin Dells may just be the most interesting vacation rental in Wisconsin. It's available year-round and accommodates up to six sailors in its two staterooms. Visit the rental's listing on Airbnb to make your reservations.

6. Why Wausau Is a Must-Visit City in Wisconsin in 2026

Wausau is a beautiful up-and-coming city in the Northwoods. Perched on the banks of the Wisconsin River, the town is well situated to explore much of what this part of Wisconsin has to offer, including Rib Mountain State Park. The mountain is also home to Granite Peak Ski Area, one of the Badger State's top ski destinations, making the city a perfect getaway destination in any season. Stay at Jefferson Street Inn, a swanky boutique hotel right in the heart of the town.

7. Sip Classic Cocktails at Ishnala, Lake Delton

Ishnala is a beloved Wisconsin supper club just outside Lake Delton on the shores of Mirror Lake. Adjacent to Mirror Lake State Park, the restaurant offers up some of the best views in Wisconsin—views that are enhanced when you have an old-fashioned, Wisconsin's official state cocktail, in your hand. Ishnala is open seasonally, so I plan to kick back by the lake with a drink one evening this summer.

8. Experience Holiday Magic at Irvine Park Christmas Village

For many, the holidays wouldn't be the same without a visit to Irvine Park in Chippewa Falls during the festive season. The already-amazing park (it has a bison herd!) goes all-out for the holidays, using more than 250,000 lights and staging 200 life-size scenes. Even better? The event is absolutely free. If you ask me, it's one of the best holiday light displays in Wisconsin.

9. Hike Billion-Year-Old Rock Formations on the Ice Age Trail

The Dalles of the St. Croix River were formed approximately 1.1 billion years ago during a volcanic upheaval now known as the Mid-Continent Rift. And you can hike across the rocks on a trifecta of public lands, along the Ice Age National Scenic Trail within Interstate State Park until you reach the trail's western terminus at the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway: two NPS units meeting inside Wisconsin's first state park on some of the earth's oldest rock formations. Does it get any better? Go in the fall when the foliage is spectacular.

10. Get Spooked by Halloween Legends and Lore – Eagle

Every October, Old World Wisconsin, a historical site near Eagle, hosts its Halloween Legends and Lore events. Each night brings spooky stories and haunted history to life – to the fright and delight of audiences. Hot food, warm drinks, and eerie after-dark adventures await you and your family at this kid-friendly event.

11. Explore Frank Lloyd Wright’s Studio – Spring Green

Renowned 20th-century architect Frank Lloyd Wright was a Wisconsin native who maintained a presence in the state for much of his life. In fact, he built his first primary home, studio, and atelier, Taliesin, in the bustling town of Spring Green, about an hour west of Madison. Taliesin is open for tours and occasional events, and I would love to visit this year.

12. Find Some Cheer at a Holiday Market – New Glarus

New Glarus, Wisconsin's "Little Switzerland" and home to the cult-favorite Spotted Cow beer, also happens to be a delightful spot to visit during the holidays. The town's annual Christkindl Market offers dozens of Christmas and holiday-themed events, food, and activities, all with the feel of an old-world, European Christmas market.

13. Celebrate the Cranberry – Warrens

Warrens, Wisconsin, is the undisputed cranberry capital of the Badger State, and the community shows off its prominence by hosting the world's largest cranberry festival every year. The Warrens Cranberry Festival has been a late-September staple for more than half a century. It attracts tens of thousands of people to this otherwise sleepy town in the heart of Wisconsin Cranberry Country.

14. Tuck Into a Steak at Richards of Dunbar – Dunbar

I'm a big fan of hidden gems and off-the-beaten-path eateries, and one of my favorite recent discoveries is Richards of Dunbar, a combination restaurant and motel with a retro vibe and mouthwatering meals. Richards serves classic supper club fare and excellent cocktails in a quaint Northwoods setting. Dunbar is about five hours from where I live, but I hope to find an excuse to pass through again this year.

15. Make a Pilgrimage to Lambeau Field – Green Bay

There is perhaps no greater temple in Wisconsin than the home of the Green Bay Packers: Lambeau Field. It's one of the most iconic sites in the Badger State, and it's a rite of passage for Packers fans to make the trip to the "house that Vince built" to see a game or visit the Packers Hall of Fame. I have a friend who's a team stockholder, so I'm hoping to get an invitation to the annual shareholder meeting this July. Lodge Kohler, an upscale hotel that's practically next door to Lambeau, seems like the perfect place to stay.

16. Hike a Cliff Above Lake Winnebago – Sherwood

One of my favorite hikes in Wisconsin is the Lime Kiln Trail at High Cliff State Park. The trail winds through woods and past the fascinating ruins of a lime kiln (hence the name), all the while offering fantastic west-looking views out over Lake Winnebago. Hit the trail just before sunset to enjoy stunning views out over the water on the way back. I also happen to think it's one of the best winter hikes in Wisconsin.

17. Hit the Beach – Wilson

Wisconsin is home to many incredible beaches, some quite popular, such as Bradford Beach in Milwaukee and the renowned beaches of Door County. I tend to prefer a beach with a wilder, more natural feel, though. And that's why I think the shoreline at Kohler-Andrae State Park near Sheboygan is home to some of the best beaches in Wisconsin. I definitely look forward to grabbing a book, some sunscreen, and my towel and spending an afternoon there this summer.

18. Stroll down State Street – Madison

If you're in Wisconsin and looking for a vibe, there's no better place to find it than State Street in Madison, especially when the University of Wisconsin is in session. It's a great place to bar-hop, eat, shop, or just people-watch. I really enjoy all of it. Want to see more? Expand your exploration of our capital city with a walking tour that'll take you to some of Madison's best spots.

19. Indulge My Desire to Get Away From It All – Fond du Lac

This charming, tiny lake home in Fond du Lac boasts its own peninsula with views of Lake Winnebago for days. It's one bedroom and one bath sounds perfect for a weekend away from everything, just me (and perhaps a lucky friend) and the trees and the water. Sounds like an ideal way to kick off the summer. If you're interested in reserving this lakefront charmer, visit its Airbnb listing.

20. Climb Inside the World’s Largest Muskie Sculpture – Hayward

There is a massive, fiberglass statue of a muskie – the world's largest, in fact – outside the Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame in Hayward. It measures in at 143 feet long and 41 feet tall, and you can walk inside it, entering from the tail and walking up to the teeth in its open mouth. I intend to have a photo taken of myself in that muskie's mouth this year.

21. Make a Pilgrimage to the Mars Cheese Castle – Kenosha

This is Wisconsin. We make, eat, and talk about cheese—a lot. It's only fitting, then, that we would erect a regal castle in its honor. You'll find this amazing homage to fromage in Kenosha, just off Interstate 94 north of the Illinois line. The Mars Cheese Castle is a must-stop for any red-blooded cheese lover on the freeway and a bucket list destination for Wisconsinites.

22. Relish a Glimpse of One of the Country’s Rarest Birds – Necedah

The whooping crane is one of the rarest birds in North America, with just a few hundred individuals left in the wild. And one of the best places in the United States to see them is right here in Wisconsin: Necedah National Wildlife Refuge. The cranes that visit the refuge are here from about April to November as they breed, nest, and get ready to migrate south for the winter. Late spring offers some of the best opportunities to see them, and it's when I hope to visit.

23. Taking in a Brewers Game – Milwaukee

You know how brats and beer are as big a part of baseball as baseball and apple pie are to America? Well, if there's an epicenter for brats and beer in this country, it's Wisconsin. So, that means there's no more quintessential baseball experience than enjoying a beer and a brat in the warm evening air while the Brewers play baseball in the great city of Milwaukee. I am definitely looking forward to this one!

24. Find Inspiration at the Birthplace of Laura Ingalls Wilder – Stockholm

I've only visited the wayside near the birthplace of Laura Ingalls Wilder once. It was just before sunset, and the Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum in nearby Pepin was closed. So, I feel a need to go back to spend a little more time learning about the woman who is, arguably, the most famous writer from Wisconsin.

25. Check out Fred Smith's Wisconsin Concrete Park – Phillips

A quirky roadside attraction near Phillips, in northern Wisconsin, Fred Smith's Wisconsin Concrete Park is – like so many other wonderful things – the result of one man's vision to create a concrete village. This Badger State marvel just popped up on my radar in the last few months, and now I'm dead set on laying eyes on it for myself.

26. Chase the Tallest Waterfall in Wisconsin at Pattison State Park

Want to explore the tallest waterfall in Wisconsin? Pattison State Park is the place to be for all nature lovers! When here, you will experience scenic picnic areas, dramatic river gorges, or even go on hiking trails. I have been here in 2024, but I intend to visit again in 2026. I plan to see in the fall, when waterfalls are at their most potent, and the forest is full of color. Consider adding a visit to Pattison State Park to your 2026 Wisconsin bucket list.

These are my plans for visiting the Badger State in 2026, and I hope to get to all of them. How about you? What do you think are some of the best things to do in Wisconsin in 2026? We'd love to hear about them.

Ready to start planning? Remember to use our itinerary planner to map out these Texas adventures and make the most of 2026.