If Money Was No Object Here’s Where I Would Go for Spring Break in Wisconsin

Have you ever thought about taking a spring break with your closest friends? If so, I bet Wisconsin wasn’t even on your list.

But hear me out. What if, instead of squeezing into a questionable motel by the beach, you and five of your favorite people spent a long weekend living like mid-century modern royalty? What if, instead of wading through a sea of drunk 20-year-olds chanting over a beer pong table, you were clinking cocktails in a glass-walled hideaway, surrounded by towering trees and the kind of peace that makes you forget your inbox exists? Wisconsin might just be the unexpected, grown-up spring break you never knew you needed.

It has everything. Breathtaking natural beauty like the stunning quartzite bluffs of Devil’s Lake State Park, where you can hike off last night’s whiskey and feel like you accomplished something. Food that will haunt your dreams in the best way... like the perfectly executed tasting menus at Milwaukee’s Ardent, a Michelin-starred spot proving that Wisconsin cuisine is far more than cheese curds and bratwurst (which are certainly nothing to scoff at in this state). Just enough indulgent, borderline childish fun to make you feel young again, whether that’s mini-golf at Vitense Golfland, screaming on the wooden roller coasters at Bay Beach, or making questionable bowling choices at Holler House, home to the oldest sanctioned lanes in the country.

But the key to an elite-level, no-regrets, I will be thinking about this for years kind of spring break is the right place to stay. And I have found a rental that delivers big-time. A jaw-dropping mid-century modern house in River Hills that is basically the definition of a grown-up playground.

This is not just a house. It is a vibe.

Designed by the legendary John Randal McDonald, this mid-century masterpiece is all sharp angles, floor-to-ceiling glass, and the perfect blend of style and nature. With three bedrooms and two bathrooms, it sleeps six comfortably, so no one has to wake up on a half-deflated air mattress next to the fridge.

The entire house is wrapped in windows, making you feel like you are living in an ultra-stylish treehouse. Wake up with the sun pouring in, sip coffee while watching deer wander by, and unwind at night with a glass of wine and a view that makes you wonder why you don’t do this more often.

But the real magic is how effortlessly this house invites you to cut loose without losing control. Start the night with a perfectly mixed old fashioned (brandy, of course) while jazz crackles on the record player. Host a dinner party where everyone actually fits around the table, and the lighting makes you all look fantastic. And when the energy shifts, the living room practically dares you to throw on a questionable playlist and turn it into a late-night dance floor. It is private enough to get a little loud, classy enough to feel like an occasion, and cozy enough that no one wakes up full of regret - just good stories.

And when you are ready to leave the house, if you ever are, River Hills and the surrounding area have plenty to keep you entertained. If you want to keep the nature-loving energy going, take a morning hike through Havenwoods State Forest or a scenic bike ride along the Lake Michigan shoreline. If nature for you just means drinking on a patio, Milwaukee’s craft brewery scene has you covered. Places like Good City Brewing and Raised Grain serve everything from crisp lagers to bold experimental IPAs, best paired with good friends and a sunny patio. And if you are feeling a little cultured after your second round, the Milwaukee Art Museum is just a short drive away, offering world-class exhibits inside a building that looks like it could take flight.

And let’s talk about food because a good spring break needs good meals, and nearby Milwaukee delivers. Whether you are feeling fancy or in the mood for something casual but life-changing, I dare you to find a better burger than the one at Nite Owl Drive-In. This city knows how to feed you well. And if you are the type to close out the night with a strong cocktail in an impossibly cool setting, do not miss Bryant’s Cocktail Lounge, a dimly lit, no-menu spot where the bartenders mix drinks based on your mood. Because by this point in the trip, you deserve a little mystery.

So why should Wisconsin be at the top of your spring break list? Because it is the perfect mix of indulgence and relaxation, adventure and ease, high-end and completely unpretentious. It is a place where you can let loose without losing control, where you can eat, drink, explore, and unwind in a way that feels like a true escape. And this mid-century modern rental in River Hills is the centerpiece of it all.

If you are flying in like I would need to, keep an eye on Dollar Flight Club for inexpensive flights because no one wants to blow their budget before the fun even starts. But trust me, this trip is worth every cent. So text your friends, throw some clothes in a bag, and get ready for a spring break filled with killer views, late-night laughs, and just the right amount of trouble.