Wisconsin Trails: 100 things to do in Wisconsin this summer

Wisconsin Trails: 100 things to do in Wisconsin this summer

[Note: check out #57 on this list]

April 2013 by Chelsey Lewis of the Journal Sentinel
Wisconsin has a fever, and the only prescription is more summer.

When parkas and shovels are finally put away for the season, even a 50-degree day draws vitamin D-deprived residents out to explore. From taking in the state’s natural beauty to traveling back in time at a historical site, Wisconsin offers plenty of opportunities for doing just that.

Here are 100 ideas for things to do across the state to get you started.

For the outdoor adventurer

1. Kayak the Apostle Islands

415 Washington Ave., Bayfield; (715) 779-3397

Tip: Wisconsin’s only national lakeshore is best explored by kayak, providing up-close views of the islands’ famous sea caves. Lake Superior’s winds and waves can be rough and unpredictable, so it’s best to go with a knowledgeable guide. Living Adventure (866-779-9503) offers half-day, day and overnight trips perfect for novice paddlers.

2. Camp on a sandbar on the lower Wisconsin River

Lower Wisconsin State Riverway, Prairie du Sac to Prairie du Chien

Tip: Put in at Boscobel for a trip free from crowds, even on weekends.

3. Raft the rapids on the Peshtigo

Kosir’s Rapid Rafts, W14073 County Road C, Silver Lake; (715) 757-3431

Tip: Plan a trip for late spring or early summer, when water levels tend to be the highest.

4. Climb to the top of Wisconsin’s highest natural point

Timm’s Hill County Park, W3206 County Road RR, Ogema

Tip: Views are especially grand in fall, but summer offers the opportunity to cool off in nearby Bass Lake.

5. Bike the Elroy-Sparta State Trail

Sparta Depot, 111 Milwaukee St., Sparta, or Elroy Commons, 303 Railroad St., Elroy

Tip: Don’t forget a flashlight for passing through three old railroad tunnels.

6. Chase Wisconsin’s tallest waterfall: Big Manitou Falls in Douglas County

Pattison State Park, 6294 S. State Road 35, Superior; (715) 399-3111

Tip: The three-mile round-trip hike to Little Manitou Falls is well worth it, and the waterfall is often less crowded than its big brother.

7. Spelunk at Cave of the Mounds

2975 Cave of the Mounds Road, Blue Mounds; (608) 437-3038

Tip: A constant 50-degree temperature year-round makes the caves a great spot to explore any time of year.

8. Hike a segment of the Ice Age Trail

Throughout Wisconsin

Tip: Yellow blazes signal you’re on an official segment of the trail, but not all segments are marked.

9. Kayak in an urban setting down the Milwaukee River

Urban Ecology Center, 1500 E. Park Place, Milwaukee; (414) 964-8505

Tip: Join the Urban Ecology Center for just $25 a year ($35 for families) and borrow (for free) from their wide selection of gear, including kayaks.

10. Stand-up paddleboard on Lake Mendota

Bishops Bay Country Club, 3500 Bishops Drive, Madison; (877) 473-1199

Tip: Learn basics at a beginners’ clinic during the Midwest Standup Paddleboard Festival July 12-13.

11. Rock climb at Devil’s Lake

Devil’s Lake State Park, S5975 Park Road, Baraboo; (608) 356-8301

Tip: Apex Adventure Alliance, (608) 434-3360, and Devils Lake Climbing Guides, (608) 556-1135, are both reputable climbing companies that offer guided trips in the park.

12. Surf on Lake Michigan

Deland Park, 715 Broughton Drive, Sheboygan

Tip: Fall and winter are the best times to catch a wave, but you can watch the pros at the Dairyland Surf Classic Aug. 31-Sept. 1.

13. Bike the CAMBA trails

Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest – trailheads and clusters located near Cable, Delta, Drummond, Hayward, Namakagon and Seely; (715) 798-3599

Tip: Wildlife and natural beauty abound on the secluded 15-mile Namakagon Trail, which opens for the season May 1.

14. Fly-fish (or paddle) the River of Presidents

Bois Brule River, Douglas County, many access points north of Highway 2; (715) 372-5678

Tip: Presidents Grant, Cleveland, Coolidge, Hoover and Eisenhower all fished this trout-filled river, which also is a favorite for canoeists and kayakers.

15. Battle Wausau’s white water

Wausau Whitewater Park, 200 River Drive, Wausau; (715) 203-1279

Tip: A dam provides a constant flow of water regardless of weather, creating the state’s (and one of the country’s) top destination for white-water canoeing and kayaking.

16. Glide like the wind in Whitewater

Twin Oaks Airport, N463 County Highway N, Whitewater; (608) 469-5949

Tip: A tandem hang-gliding ride is enough to get a taste of this free-falling sport, but you will need to sign up for lessons if you want to fly on your own.

17. Hike to the top of La Crosse’s Grandad Bluff

3020 Grandad Bluff Road, La Crosse; (608) 789-7533

Tip: The scenic overlook at the top of the bluff provides sweeping views of three states – Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa – and the Mississippi River.

18. Ride an inner tube down the Apple River

River’s Edge, 1820 Raleigh Road, New Richmond; (715) 247-3305

Tip: The float takes about three hours, and there is no turning back once you start down the river to the pickup point.

For the nature lover

19. Listen to the call of the crane at the International Crane Foundation

E11376 Shady Lane Road, Baraboo; (608) 356-9462

Tip: This is the only place in the world you can see all 15 species of cranes in one spot. Having trouble finding the ICF? Roll down your windows – crane calls can be heard from up to a mile away.

20. Watch more than 200,000 Canada geese migrate at Horicon Marsh

N7725 Highway 28, Horicon; (920) 387-7890

Tip: Visit during the Horicon Marsh Bird Festival May 10-13, and take part in bird-watching tours, hikes, demonstrations and more.

21. Take in the view from the top of Holy Hill’s scenic tower

1525 Carmel Road, Hubertus; (262) 628-4417

Tip: Be prepared to do some climbing – it’s 178 steps to the top of the tower.

22. Get some perspective at Parfrey’s Glen

County Highway DL, Merrimac

Tip: Floods took their toll on this gorgeous gorge a few years ago, washing away boardwalks and closing the natural area for a year. The landscape is different now, but still beautiful and worth the wet hike along the stream to the end of the gorge.

23. Do the dunes at Whitefish Dunes State Park

3275 Clark Lake Road, Sturgeon Bay; (920) 823-2400

Tip: Follow the 2.8-mile Red Trail to find the park’s tallest sand dune – “Old Baldy” – and great views of Lake Michigan.

24. Go wild at Crex Meadows Wildlife Area

102 E. Crex Ave., Grantsburg; (715) 463-2739

Tip: One of the state’s largest wildlife areas, the 30,000-acre Crex Meadows includes a multitude of unique landscapes and endangered species, including osprey, trumpeter swans and timber wolves. Photographers (and anyone else who wants to get close to the action) can reserve blinds in the wildlife area for a small fee.

25. Pine for the pines in the Kettle Moraine State Forest

S91-W39091 Highway 59, Eagle; (262) 594-6200

Tip: Take in the towering red pines on the Scuppernong trails, which feature three loops ranging from two to five miles.

26. Climb Lapham Peak’s observation tower for views from Waukesha County’s highest point

Kettle Moraine State Forest-Lapham Peak Unit, W329-N846 County Highway C, Delafield; (262) 646-3025

Tip: After climbing the tower, take in “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)” July 25-27 and Aug. 1-3 at SummerStage, within the park.

27. Find food on the Standish Price Nature Trail

Holly Hills Campground, W2706 Hultman Lake Road, Ogema; (715) 922-0089

Tip: A daily pass ($5) includes a loaner guidebook for this wild-food interpretive trail, the only one of its kind in the country.

28. Watch the sun set over the Mississippi River at Wyalusing State Park

13081 State Park Lane, Bagley; (608) 996-2261

Tip: Pack a picnic and settle in for great views from Henneger Point Picnic Area along the Mississippi Ridge trail (1.8 miles).

29. Take in sweeping views of Lake Michigan at Schlitz Audubon Nature Center

1111 E. Brown Deer Road, Bayside; (414) 352-2880

Tip: Grab a trail map from the main building for help with navigating to the observation tower.

30. Find rare Karner blue butterflies in Waupaca

Waupaca Field Station, E110 Emmons Creek Road; (715) 258-7247

Tip: Bob Welch, and his late wife, Deb, have been working for more than 20 years to preserve habitat here and across western Wisconsin for the federally endangered Karner blue butterfly.

31. Observe Sandhill Wildlife Area’s bison herd

1715 County Highway X, Babcock; (715) 884-2437

Tip: Drive the 14-mile Trumpeter Trail for up-close views of wetlands, wildlife – and the bison.

32. Ride a Wisconsin Duck for a unique look at the Dells

1890 Wisconsin Dells Parkway, Wisconsin Dells; (608) 254-8751

Tip: These amphibious vehicles are one of the best ways to see the Wisconsin River’s rock formations.

33. Walk the land that inspired Aldo Leopold’s “Sand County Almanac”

Aldo Leopold Legacy Center, E13701 Levee Road, Fairfield; (608) 355-0279

Tip: Guided tours are only offered on Saturdays in the summer. Self-guided tours (but no access to inside the shack) are permitted as long as there isn’t snow.

For the history buff

34. Find a badger in Mineral Point

Pendarvis, 114 Shake Rag St., Mineral Point; (608) 987-2122

Tip: No city pays better homage to Wisconsin’s mining past than Mineral Point, on the National Register of Historic Places. Follow a costumed guide through Pendarvis, a collection of restored homes from the city’s first Cornish immigrants.

35. Tour Wisconsin’s first state capitol building

19101 County Highway G, Belmont; (608) 987-2122

Tip: The building is only open Wednesday-Sunday, June 12-Sept. 2; admission is free.

36. Peer out from Pottawatomie Lighthouse, Wisconsin’s oldest

Rock Island State Park, 1924 Indian Point Road, Washington Island; (920) 847-2235

Tip: Be prepared for the trek to this historic lighthouse, which includes a drive to the northern tip of the Door County peninsula and two ferry rides.

37. Travel back in time at Old World Wisconsin

W372-S9727 Highway 67, Eagle; (262) 594-6301

Tip: Help get the farms and homesteads ready for spring with hands-on seasonal chores during Spring into the Past, weekends in May.

38. Explore the USS Cobia, a World War II submarine

Wisconsin Maritime Museum, 75 Maritime Drive, Manitowoc; (920) 684-0218

Tip: Ask museum volunteer Tom Aschenbrenner to fire up the Cobia’s radar, the world’s oldest functional radar.

39. Go on the lam to discover Lake Geneva’s gangster past

Watersedge Bed and Breakfast, W4232 West End Road, Lake Geneva; (262) 245-9845

Tip: Spend the night in the Bugs Moran Suite and rest easy behind a heavy-duty door and 15-inch concrete reinforced walls.

40. Puzzle over Wisconsin’s prehistoric past at Aztalan State Park

Highway Q, Aztalan; (920) 648-8774

Tip: Two mounds and sections of the stockades built by the American Indian population between 1100 and 1300 have been restored here, and a friends group hopes to build a permanent interpretive center soon.

41. See how American theater’s “it” couple lived at Ten Chimneys

S43-W31575 Depot Road, Genesee Depot; (262) 968-4161

Tip: The museum’s popular Conversations at Ten Chimneys event features Alan Alda, the 2013 Lunt-Fontanne Fellowship Program Master Teacher, on July 26.

42. Take a stroll through Wisconsin’s last original covered bridge

Covered Bridge Park, 1700 Cedar Creek Road, Cedarburg; (262) 284-8257

Tip: Motorized vehicles are not allowed on the bridge, but bicycles are.

43. Explore the country’s brewing past at the National Brewery Museum

209 S. Main St., Potosi; (608) 763-4002

Tip: After seeing brewery memorabilia in the old Potosi Brewing Company building, enjoy a Good Old Potosi, a golden ale, on the complex’s beer garden.

44. Visit the home of Wisconsin’s original frontier girl: Caddie Woodlawn

Caddie Woodlawn Historical Park, Highway 25, Downsville; (715) 232-8685

Tip: Read the Newbery Medal-winning book about Caddie before visiting.

45. See the work of the photographer who made the Dells famous

H.H. Bennett Studio, 215 Broadway, Wisconsin Dells; (608) 253-3523

Tip: Don’t miss one of Bennett’s most famous photos, “Leaping the Chasm at Standing Rock.” Bennett captured this stop-action shot, the first of its kind, with a rubber band-powered shutter he invented.

46. Learn about the birth of the Republican Party at the Little White Schoolhouse

303 Blackburn St., Ripon; (920) 748-6764

Tip: Pick up a historic walking tour map at the schoolhouse or the Ripon Chamber of Commerce Office and explore the city’s other historic sites.

47. Travel part of the underground railroad at the Milton House Museum

18 S. Janesville St., Milton; (608) 868-7772

Tip: While visitors today can walk through the 6-foot tunnel linking the former cabin of Joseph Goodrich to the Milton House, runaway slaves had to crawl through the hand-dug tunnel, which was just 3 feet high at the time.

48. Walk through the backyards of stately homes around Geneva Lake

Lake Geneva, Walworth County

Tip: In a town where even sunbathing will cost you ($7 at Riviera Beach), this walk is a free treat. Crowds fill the town on summer weekends; a weekday visit is best for tranquility.

49. Learn about America’s deadliest forest fire at the Peshtigo Fire Museum

400 Oconto Ave., Peshtigo; (715) 582-3244

Tip: Visit the nearby Fire Cemetery, which includes a mass grave housing 300 unidentified fire victims.

50. Seek a moment of solace at Joan of Arc Chapel at Marquette University

1415 W. Wisconsin Ave., Milwaukee; (414) 288-6873

Tip: Note the temperature of the Joan of Arc stone compared to the ones surrounding it.

51. Visit Milwaukee’s historic North Point Lighthouse

2650 N. Wahl Ave., Milwaukee; (414) 332-6754

Tip: Tours of the lighthouse are only offered 1 to 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.

52. Interpret the petroglyphs at Roche-A-Cri State Park

1767 State Highway 13, Friendship; (608) 565-2789

Tip: Climb the stairway to the top of the 300-foot mound for great views of the surrounding landscape.

53. View effigy mounds at Lizard Mound County Park

2121 County Highway A, Farmington; (262) 335-4445

Tip: The park is home to one of the best collections of effigy mounds outside of Iowa. It is currently closed for renovations; check the website for updates before heading out.

For the hungry

54. Sip award-winning wine at Wollersheim

7876 State Road 188, Prairie du Sac; (800) 847-9463

Tip: In 2012, Wollersheim was named winery of the year at the San Diego International Wine Competition, and this year, its Dry Riesling took home wine of the year honors. This month, the winery released its first brandy, made from Wisconsin white grape wine and aged two years in Wisconsin oak barrels.

55. Find a new favorite ice cream flavor at Kelley Country Creamery

W5215 County Road B, Fond du Lac; (920) 923-1715

Tip: The creamery produces more than 200 flavors of farmstead ice cream throughout the year, including such unusual combinations as Brandy Alexander, Mexican Hot Chocolate, Blue Cheese Pear and Sweet Corn (with real corn).

56. Eat fresh-caught Lake Michigan whitefish and cherry pie at a Door County fish boil

White Gull Inn, 4225 Main St., Fish Creek; (920) 868-3517

Tip: Making reservations early on weekends is a must in the summer months.

57. Feast in a forest at Delta Diner

14385 County Highway H, Mason; (715) 372-6666

Tip: While out of the way, this diner isn’t much of a secret anymore – be prepared to wait during prime dining hours. Try the PBLT – perch, bacon, lettuce, tomato – served on fresh bread from nearby Ashland Baking Company.

58. Test your taste buds on a tour of the Jelly Belly warehouse

10100 Jelly Belly Lane, Pleasant Prairie; (866) 868-7522

Tip: Although jelly beans aren’t actually made here (this location is just a warehouse), the company’s full range of flavors is available for tasting.

59. Crown a Milwaukee custard king – Leon’s or Kopp’s?

Leon’s, 3131 S. 27th St., (414) 383-1784; Kopp’s, three Milwaukee-area locations

Tip: Leon’s is a family-owned Milwaukee institution, while Kopp’s gigantic burgers pair perfectly with creamy custard.

60. Create your own frothy concoction at Leinenkugel’s Brewery

124 E. Elm St., Chippewa Falls; (888) 534-6437

Tip: Try Honey Bear, a combination of Honey Weiss and Berry Weiss.

61. Treat yourself to an ice cream sundae in the dessert’s hometown

Two Rivers

Tip: Dig in to a 25-cent sundae on June 27 during the city’s 33rd annual Sundae Thursday.

62. Have a slice (or two) of Wisconsin’s best apple pie in a bag

Elegant Farmer, 1545 Main St., Mukwonago; (262) 363-6770

Tip: That heavenly smell? It’s coming from the Doughnut Shack – don’t leave without buying a dozen (or two).

63. Sample a Danish kringle in its American birthplace

Racine Kringle, 2529 Golf Ave., (262) 633-1819; O&H Danish Bakery, four locations; Bendtsen’s Bakery, 3200 Washington Ave., (262) 633-0365

Tip: Three bakeries rule the Racine kringle world.

64. Tour the state’s first urban cheese factory

Clock Shadow Creamery, 138 W. Bruce St., Milwaukee; (414) 273-9711

Tip: This new legen-dairy tour includes cheese samples and a mini ice cream cone from neighbor Purple Door Ice Cream.

65. Hunt for morels in the state’s Driftless Area

Grant, Iowa and Trempealeau counties; muscoda.com for festival information

Tip: There’s a reason morels are expensive: They’re hard to find. Sample some fried morels during Muscoda’s Morel Mushroom Festival, May 18-19, or visit the message boards on morels.com for hunting tips.

66. Stock up on fresh produce at the country’s largest producers-only farmers’ market

Dane County Farmers’ Market, 2 E. Main St., Madison; (608) 455-1999

Tip: Get there early (before 8 a.m.) and walk counterclockwise around the Capitol for the best selection.

67. Fill up on an all-you-can-eat lumberjack breakfast at Paul Bunyan’s

8653 U.S. Highway 51, Minocqua; (715) 356-6270 (also has a location in Wisconsin Dells)

Tip: The food is typical diner fare, but the jumbo buttermilk doughnuts are an unexpected delight.

68. Gape at the goats on the roof of Al Johnson’s Swedish Restaurant

10698 N. Bay Shore Drive, Sister Bay; (800) 241-9914

Tip: The goats make their seasonal rooftop debut at the end of May and are out daily until mid-October, weather permitting.

69. Fill up on good beer and good food at the state’s oldest continually operating brewpub

Stone Cellar Brewpub, 1004 S. Olde Oneida St., Appleton; (920) 731-3322

Tip: This brewpub might be the oldest, but it’s not behind the times. Stone Cellar sources many of its ingredients locally and offers vegetarian and gluten-free choices.

70. Dig in to pizza in a pasture

The Pizza Farm – A to Z Produce and Bakery, N2956 Anker Lane, Stockholm; (715) 448-4802

Tip: The farm opens up for pizza night on Tuesdays only. Bring your own chair or blanket and prepare for a long wait during peak months (June, July, August).

For the cultured

71. Blast into the future at Dr. Evermor’s Park

S7703 U.S. Highway 12, North Freedom; (608) 219-7830

Tip: The towering metal sculptures, made from small and large-scale salvage yard materials, are the work of Tom “Dr. Evermor” Every, who worked in the salvage business before turning to art. You can’t miss his most well known sculpture, the 300-ton, 50-foot-tall Forevertron, a science-fiction spacecraft that Every claims includes the decontamination chamber from Apollo 11.

72. Catch a double feature at the Hi-Way 18 Outdoor Theatre

W6423 Highway 18, Jefferson; (920) 674-6700

Tip: One ticket will get you admission to two movies; the first one starts at dusk (about 20 minutes after sunset).

73. Share a pitcher and listen to live tunes at the Terrace

Memorial Union Terrace, 800 Langdon St., Madison; (608) 263-2600

Tip: Snap an obligatory photo in one of the Terrace’s oversized sunburst chairs.

74. Take a ride through history at the Harley-Davidson Museum

500 W. Canal St., Milwaukee; (414) 287-2789

Tip: Harley-Davidson celebrates 110 years this summer with parades, rallies, concerts and more at the museum and Milwaukee’s Henry Maier Festival Park, Aug. 29-Sept. 1.

75. For just a buck, ride Elvis Presley’s favorite roller coaster, the Zippin Pippin

Bay Beach Amusement Park, 1313 Bay Beach Road, Green Bay; (920) 448-3365

Tip: Before being moved to Bay Beach in 2010, the Zippin Pippin was in Memphis, where Elvis would sometimes rent out the entire park to ride the roller coaster unimpeded.

76. Watch artists work on a Northwoods Art Tour

Throughout northern Wisconsin; (715) 385-3334

Tip: For one weekend every July and October, more than 30 Northwoods artists open their home and studios for a behind-the-scenes look at the creative process.

77. Tally the wall of toilets and tubs at the Kohler Design Center

101 Upper Road, Kohler; (920) 457-3699

Tip: After seeing the apex of bathroom design, splurge on a spa treatment at the nearby Kohler Waters Spa.

78. Visit the home of world-renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright

Taliesin, 5607 County Road C, Spring Green; (608) 588-7900

Tip: The privately owned estate is accessible only via tours, which often sell out. Make reservations early to ensure a spot.

79. Celebrate Ojibwe culture at a Lac du Flambeau Indian Bowl Pow-Wow

603 Peace Pipe Road, Lac du Flambeau; (715) 588-3333

Tip: Pow-wows are held Thursdays beginning June 21.

80. Get silly at the Circus World Museum

550 Water St., Baraboo; (608) 356-8341

Tip: Don’t miss the museum’s collection of restored circus wagons, the largest in the world.

81. Watch Shakespeare under the stars

American Players Theatre, 5950 Golf Course Road, Spring Green; (608) 588-2361

Tip: The APT season begins in June, and this summer includes Shakespeare’s “The Two Gentlemen of Verona” and “Hamlet,” among other plays.

82. Take in music and more under a tent at Big Top Chautauqua

32535 Ski Hill Road, Bayfield; (715) 373-5552

Tip: Hop on a free shuttle from Bayfield, Washburn or Ashland to see local, regional and national acts, such as Trampled by Turtles (June 15), Brandi Carlisle (June 30) and The Beach Boys (July 14).

83. Get lost at 7 Mile Fair

2720 W. 7 Mile Road, Caledonia; (262) 835-2177

Tip: This Wisconsin flea market is like a seven-layer salad: some good, some bad, but a rite of passage for every Wisconsinite.

84. View masterpieces at the Milwaukee Art Museum

700 N. Art Museum Drive, Milwaukee; (414) 224-3200

Tip: Get in free the first Thursday of every month, thanks to Target.

85. Discover where comedy and condiments collide at the National Mustard Museum

7477 Hubbard Ave., Middleton; (608) 831-2222

Tip: Try some wacky creations at the tasting bar, and purchase your favorites in the gift shop.

86. Explore architect Alex Jordan’s massive collection of kitsch at House on the Rock

5754 State Road 23, Spring Green; (608) 935-3639

Tip: Opinions about this top Wisconsin tourist attraction vary – cool, creepy, bizarre – but boring is not one. Don’t miss the world’s largest carousel, complete with (cool? creepy? bizarre?) plastic riders and blaring carnival music.

87. See art within art at Milwaukee’s Charles Allis and Villa Terrace museums

Villa Terrace, 2220 N. Terrace Ave., (414) 271-3656; Charles Allis, 1801 N. Prospect Ave., (414) 278-8295

Tip: Visit the Charles Allis Thursday nights in May for the museum’s Allis After Hours series, featuring traditional blues music this year.

88. Let your creative juices flow at Splash Studio

184 N. Broadway, Milwaukee; (414) 882-7621

Tip: Check this trendy painting bar’s online calendar for a painting that piques your interest. Once there, however, you’re free to paint whatever you want.

For anyone and everyone

89. Batten down the hatches for a trip on the Denis Sullivan

500 N. Harbor Drive, Milwaukee; (414) 765-8625

Tip: The S/V Denis Sullivan, a re-creation of a 19th-century three-masted schooner, docks for the summer at Milwaukee’s Discovery World Museum. Tour the ship’s deck or take a turn at the helm during a two-hour day sail.

90. Tailgate and watch the Brewers win at Miller Park

1 Brewers Way, Milwaukee; (414) 902-4000

Tip: The general parking lot north of Miller Park (Molitor Lot, off W. Blue Mound Road) is easier to get in and out of and is often tamer than the larger general lot east of the stadium.

91. Stand in the mouth of a musky

Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame & Museum, 10360 Hall of Fame Drive, Hayward; (715) 634-4440

Tip: The 4.5-story, half-block long fiberglass musky houses the museum’s “Shrine to Anglers” and boasts views of Lake Hayward from its observation deck.

92. Find a slice of paradise at Milwaukee’s Domes

Mitchell Park Conservatory, 524 S. Layton Blvd., Milwaukee; (414) 257-5611

Tip: The Desert and Tropical domes remain unchanged year-round, while the center floral dome features changing exhibits. This summer: Blue Bayou and Milwaukee Yards.

93. Watch pro lumberjacks hack, saw, climb and log roll their way to trophies

Lumberjack Bowl, 15642 County Highway B, Hayward; (715) 634-2484

Tip: Can’t make the Lumberjack World Championships (July 25-27)? The Sheers Lumberjack Show showcases the same 10 events at the same location, Tuesday through Saturday during the summer.

94. Find the North Woods’ infamous hodag

450 W. Kemp St., Rhinelander; (715) 365-7464

Tip: There are a few mythical hodags lurking around town, but the biggest is by the Chamber of Commerce on Highway 8.

95. Drive the Great River Road

Western Wisconsin, along the Mississippi River; (800) 658-9424

Tip: The 250-mile Wisconsin segment of the national Great River Road is the state’s only National Scenic Byway.

96. Lambeau leap on the frozen tundra

Lambeau Field, 1265 Lombardi Ave., Green Bay; (920) 569-7500

Tip: Add on a visit to the Packers Hall of Fame to see memorabilia from 90 years of Packers history, including old jerseys, a re-creation of Vince Lombardi’s office and the team’s Super Bowl trophies.

97. See a piece of Sputnik in Manitowoc

Rahr West Art Museum, 610 N. 8th St.; (920) 686-3090

Tip: The museum’s piece is a replica, but look for a metal circle on the street outside the museum, which marks where the hunk of metal from the Russian satellite Sputnik IV crash-landed. The community celebrates this piece of history every September with Sputnikfest, a festival full of spacey diversions.

98. Roll uphill on Gravity Hill in Shullsburg

County U, Shullsburg

Tip: Two miles outside of town, stop just shy of the speed limit sign near the bottom of the first of two steep hills on County U. Put your car in neutral and be amazed.

99. Play a round on the same course the pros do: Whistling Straits

N8501 County Road LS, Sheboygan; (800) 618-5535

Tip: Playing one of America’s top public courses isn’t cheap, but it will set you back less than a trip to Ireland.

100. Fly without wings on a hot-air balloon ride

Majestic Balloons, Ripon; (920) 748-3464

Tip: Rides are very weather-dependent so it’s necessary to be flexible when scheduling.