Wisconsin is great for enjoying winter activities like skiing, sledding, hiking in the snow, and warming up by a fire. Here are some of our recommended winter activities you should take advantage of this year.
Travel To Local Communities
Wisconsin's little villages in the wintertime have all the warm and fuzzy appeal of a Hallmark movie. You'll find old-fashioned warmth and kindness that's hard to come by in today's fast-paced world whether you visit Ephraim, Cedarburg, or Bayfield.
Rush Down a Hill in a Tube
Wisconsin's snow tubing slopes are accessible to people of all ages, heights, and sizes. Snow tubing combines the excitement of winter sports with the low barrier to entry, requiring no prior experience or training.
You can take the whole gang tubing at Badlands Sno-Park, which has six different hills ranging in difficulty from Bunny to Turbo, or at Sunburst Winter Sports Park, which has over forty tubing lanes drop riders from ten stories at speeds of up to forty miles per hour.
Do you think you have a winning team? Race one of these family-friendly tubing sites and decide once and for all who the top dog is.
Try Some Special Holiday Beers
When the weather turns chilly, it's comforting to have a tasty beverage on hand, and several independent breweries have crafted seasonal beers to help you warm up. Central Waters' Brewers Reserve Bourbon Barrel Stout, aged in oak bourbon barrels and flavored with traces of vanilla, is the most sought-after beer of the year. At the same time, New Glarus' Cabin Fever, brewed for the winter season, features naturally sweet Clover Honey to enhance warm notes on the tongue.
Relax in a Log Home
Spend a Wisconsin winter in a cabin and embrace the Danish hygge (coziness) concept. You have your pick of charming houses in every corner of the state, but if you want to get into the spirit of winter, I recommend heading to the Northwoods. The region is known for receiving heavy snowfall, and its many lakes and dense forests provide a picturesque setting for a relaxing cabin vacation.
Fire Up the Sled
Instead of driving, why not ride a sled? Snowmobile season is in full swing in Wisconsin this time of year, and our state-wide system of trails reaches every corner. Eagle River, known as the "Snowmobile Capital of the World," is a terrific place to begin your adventure across the Northwoods. You may access 500 miles of groomed trails from here that link to other regions.
Check out the Ice Caves!
The event's fate rests solely in Mother Nature's hands, but if she plays along, you may see a once-in-a-lifetime spectacle. In the winter, Bayfield's famous Apostle Islands Sea Caves freeze over and transform into glistening ice caverns.
Once Lake Superior has frozen over, visitors may walk directly from the beach into the caverns, where ancient, unearthly rock formations are draped in hundreds of brilliant icicles. Find out whether there is up-to-date information on the caverns' accessibility.
Attend a Water Park to Get Toasty
There isn't much longer till the temperature hits 80 degrees. If you're looking for a quick winter getaway, pack your swimsuit instead of your snowsuit and travel to a Wisconsin waterpark. Indoor theme parks like Tundra Lodge maintain a year-round summer climate.
In contrast, the Kalahari's indoor/outdoor hot tub is open all through the winter and is the coolest way to enjoy the outdoors while still keeping toasty.
So that everyone may enjoy the winter activities without barriers, both resorts include wheelchair-accessible accommodations and waterpark amenities. Enjoy some of the top attractions and slides in the country at one of Wisconsin's indoor waterparks.
Enjoy a Romantic Getaway
Winter is the best time for a romantic holiday, while summer is best for taking the whole family out of town. Those interested in culinary arts may take classes at the Lake Geneva School of Cooking, those interested in the outdoors can trek through Amnicon Falls State Park and observe frozen waterfalls, and those interested in adventure can zipline through the Northwoods. Taking a weekend to relax in a cabin is a certain way to feel refreshed and ready to take on the next year.
Aim For The Mountains
Wisconsin has the third-most ski resorts in the United States, so seasoned downhill skiers and beginners alike may find terrain that suits their skill level without going far. Whitecap Mountain has five spine-chilling double black diamond runs for adrenaline junkies. In contrast, Granite Peak has about a third of the runs rated as simple for the novices, and Tyrol Basin has a beginner-only magic carpet leading to two mild slopes.
