Center your compass over Milwaukee and use the city as a starting point to explore all the culinary corners of Wisconsin. As a food writer, I invited several travel authors to recommend the most delicious destinations in the state.
To the south, Racine beckons with its downtown marina, funky boutiques and house-brewed root beer at the Kewpie Café, and you can get lunch with a view at the Reefpoint Brewpub by the pier. Racine is also home to one of Wisconsin’s architectural treasures—the S.C. Johnson Research Tower, designed and built by Frank Lloyd Wright—as well as a lakefront zoo and the Racine Art Museum, specializing in American arts and crafts.
Next is the historical coastline city of Kenosha, home to the confectionery giant Jelly Belly and Scandinavian bakeries that offer the famous Danish kringle (a flaky pastry oval stuffed with fruit and nut fillings). Kenosha’s Big Star is a classic drive-in, famous for hand-cut fries, shakes and burgers. Mary Bergin, author of “Wisconsin Supper Club Cookbook,” suggests the HobNob, on the north end of Kenosha, for enjoying lakefront views and grasshopper cocktails amidst a lifetime of travel memorabilia. South of Kenosha, the Pleasant Prairie Premium Outlets features shopping and the Chancery Pub for burgers and pastas.
Less than 100 miles west of Milwaukee is Madison, the state capital, located on an isthmus between Lake Mendota and Lake Monona. The city’s capital square is flanked by food stores, such as Candinas Chocolates and the Old Fashioned Supper Club with its shareable lazy Susan trays, plus many shops and boutiques on State Street. Neighboring Middleton is home to Capital Brewery and the National Mustard Museum, with more than 5,000 mustards from all over the world and a kitschy gift shop with lots of mustard-themed merchandise.
Due west of Madison is historical Spring Green, the site of Frank Lloyd Wright’s summer home, Taliesin, where the gardens were recently restored to mid-century splendor. Nearby, The House on the Rock features founder Alex Jordan’s bizarre architectural treasures, such as the Infinity Room, the world’s largest carousel, the Sea Serpent, giant music boxes and more stuff crammed into overflowing rooms and hallways. Stretch your legs on the trails along the Wisconsin River and, in season, stretch your taste buds outdoors on the deck at the Riverview Terrace Café.
Southwest of Spring Green are Indian mounds, remnants of Native American memorials built as animal-shaped or “effigy” mounds; giant birds, bears and panthers are common forms. After hiking the mounds, follow the Sugar River Trail to New Glarus, which offers a taste of little Switzerland with an award-winning brewery and tours, along with small bakeries and restaurants. The Chalet Landhaus features some of the finest European cuisine at affordable prices.
Venture northwest of Madison and explore the Wisconsin Dells, a scenic area of lakes, bluffs and rock formations that’s dotted with family resorts and modern water parks. Visit the local historical supper clubs, such as the Ishnala on Lake Delton or the Del Bar, known for its brandy Old-Fashioneds. In Baraboo, the Driftless Glen Distillery serves up house-made spirits, tastings and tours.
Nearby, Roots Chocolates creates farm-crafted chocolates and confections using fruits, herbs and honey from the owners’ fourth-generation gardens, open for group tours from May through October. Other seasonal agri-based tours include a visit at the Rowley Creek Lavender Farm.
About 90 minutes northwest of the Wisconsin Dells runs the Great River Road, which winds through La Crosse, up to Minnesota. La Crosse is one of the little-known urban treasures of Wisconsin, according to Martin Hintz, author of “Wisconsin: Off the Beaten Path.” The riverfront city is home to the Heileman Brewery and one of the state’s biggest Oktoberfest celebrations, along with the Charmant Hotel, a former candy factory turned into a luxury hotel with a rooftop bar and plush fixtures. La Crosse also hosts several winter festivals, including a masquerade ball during its Mardi Gras.
Travel northeast of Milwaukee to explore the coast of Lake Michigan. The Kohler American Club and Whistling Straits golf courses offer many options for fine dining, as well as the chance to tour the tower of spa porcelain at the Kohler Design Center. Manitowoc is home to the SS Badger, a vintage vessel that ferries tourists across Lake Michigan.
Green Bay delights visitors with restaurants and brewpubs, including Titletown Brewery and Hinterland Brewing Co. According to Kathy Flanigan, author of “Beer Lover’s Wisconsin,” “Hinterland is across from Lambeau Field in the Titletown District. Seating is available in the Beer Hall, or, if the weather agrees, the Beer Garden. Upstairs, the High Gravity dining area is quieter and comes with a view.”
Drive east of Green Bay to discover Door County and its many parks, forests and beaches. In the winter, Door County offers lots of scenic trails for cross-country skiing, as well as country inns with fireside dining. The Door County Brewing Co., Hacienda Brewing, Magnolia Cheese and the Door County Music Hall also offer tours, tastings and cultural events.
You can visit circlewisconsin.com for photos and itineraries or email Wendy Dobrzynski.
Lucy Saunders is the author of five cookbooks and loves living in Milwaukee near Lake Michigan.
Top Photo: Charmant Hotel in La Crosse, Wisconsin
Photo by Charmant Hotel
