State · Grandes Lagos e Meio-Oeste (Chicago)

Wisconsin

Wisconsin, between lakes Michigan and Superior: Milwaukee and the Harley-Davidson Museum, the water parks of Wisconsin Dells, the Door County peninsula and the caves of the Apostle Islands.

In the photo: Apostle Islands

Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.

The state

Get to know Wisconsin

Wisconsin is in the northern Midwest, between Lake Michigan to the east and Lake Superior to the north, with the Mississippi River on its western border. It’s the dairy state, known for cheese, and for its German heritage, visible in breweries, bratwurst and festivals. The interior has farms, forests and more than 15,000 lakes.

Milwaukee, on the shore of Lake Michigan, has the Milwaukee Art Museum, with a Santiago Calatrava pavilion with moving wings, the Harley-Davidson Museum about the motorcycle maker born in the city, and Summerfest, a lakeside music festival in June and July. Madison, the capital, sits between two lakes, with the capitol on an isthmus.

Wisconsin Dells brings together indoor and outdoor water parks and boat tours through the sandstone canyons of the Wisconsin River. Near Spring Green, Taliesin, Frank Lloyd Wright’s home and studio, is part of the architect’s UNESCO World Heritage works, and the House on the Rock is a house-museum of eccentric collections.

In the northeast, the Door County peninsula juts into Lake Michigan with lighthouses, cherry orchards, fishing villages and the fish boil—fish cooked outdoors in a cauldron. Up north, the Apostle Islands on Lake Superior have sea caves visited by kayak or boat in summer. On the table, fried cheese curds and the Friday fish fry.

When to go

From June to September is the season for the lakes, Door County, the Apostle Islands and Milwaukee festivals, with highs near 27 °C (about 80 °F). From late September to mid-October the forests in the north and Door County change color. Winter is long and cold, with snow from December to March; the indoor water parks in Wisconsin Dells operate year-round. Wisconsin is 3 hours behind Brasília (2 hours during daylight saving time).

Getting there

Milwaukee (MKE) and Madison (MSN) airports have domestic flights, and many visitors arrive via Chicago O'Hare, about 1h30 from Milwaukee. From Brazil, trips usually include a connection; check before booking. The Amtrak Hiawatha train links Chicago and Milwaukee in about 1h30. Wisconsin Dells is about a 3-hour drive from Chicago, and Door County about 2h30 from Milwaukee.

Your questions

Frequently asked questions about Wisconsin

Can you see Milwaukee on a day trip from Chicago?

Yes. The Hiawatha train takes about 1h30, and the downtown, the Art Museum, the lakefront and the Harley-Davidson Museum fit into a day. In summer, lakeside festivals may warrant an overnight stay.

What is Wisconsin Dells?

A city in the center of the state with many water parks, some indoor and open year-round, and boat tours through the sandstone canyons of the Wisconsin River. It is popular with families with children, especially in summer.

When to visit Door County?

From late spring through fall: cherry trees typically bloom in May, cherry harvest runs from mid-July to August, and fall colors appear in October. In winter, much of the commerce closes or reduces hours.

How to see the caves of the Apostle Islands?

In summer, by guided kayak or boat, departing from Bayfield or Meyers Beach, depending on the wind and waves on Lake Superior, which change quickly. Apostle Islands National Lakeshore provides conditions on its website.

Tap a state to see its destinations. Limites: U.S. Census Bureau / geoBoundaries (domínio público). Adaptação do Cidade Turismo.