On Wisconsin’s Scenic Byways, river landscapes, cliffs and valleys give way to coastal views and historic sites. One route follows the Mississippi through river towns; others lead through the Driftless Region or provide access to sandy beaches, cliffside trails and museums on Lake Superior. These differences give your trip its own focus: the scenery and route can be just as interesting as the individual destinations.
Scenic Byways with Different Perspectives
The Wisconsin Great River Road National Scenic Byway follows the Mississippi for 250 miles and passes through more than 30 river towns in Wisconsin. The 100-mile Lower Wisconsin River Scenic Byway offers a different kind of landscape, leading through cliffs, valleys and streams in the Driftless Region. Together, the routes offer a clear contrast between river towns and a landscape of ridges and waterways.
The 70-mile Door County Coastal National Scenic Byway can be explored by car, motorcycle or road bike. Along the route are panoramic views of Lake Michigan, historic lighthouses, craft wineries and Peninsula State Park. The Lake Superior National Scenic Byway is also 70 miles long; the road provides access to sandy beaches, cliffside hiking trails, the Apostle Islands and museums.
The 145-mile Nicolet-Wolf River Scenic Byway runs through northern Wisconsin. Along the route, the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest offers opportunities for hiking, kayaking and mountain biking. U.S. Bicycle Routes 30 and 230 also provide a longer cycling connection: they link Milwaukee with Minnesota and run along more than 170 miles of Wisconsin State Trails. Wisconsin has 44 public State Trails with more than 1,700 miles of land-based routes, as well as the Lake Michigan State Water Trail.
Hiking Trails and Landscapes
The Wisconsin State Park System offers more than 2,700 miles of hiking trails. A notable part of this network is the Ice Age Trail: it is a National Scenic Trail located entirely in Wisconsin and runs for more than 1,000 miles along the edge of Wisconsin’s last continental glacier. Most of the trail is a hiking and backpacking route away from paved roads.
Apostle Islands National Lakeshore has more than 50 miles of maintained trails. The six-mile Lakeshore Trail runs along red sandstone cliffs and through forests above Lake Superior to a reservable wilderness campsite. Horicon Marsh offers a different natural landscape: the wetland covers more than 33,000 acres and is recognized as a Wetland of International Importance.
Culture, Technology and History
Taliesin brings together several aspects of Frank Lloyd Wright’s work in one place: the 37,000-square-foot Taliesin was his home, studio and school on an 800-acre Wisconsin estate. In 2019, Taliesin was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Harley-Davidson Museum offers a different perspective on design and technology. Across two floors, it presents more than 120 years of motorcycle history through motorcycles, rare memorabilia, interactive exhibits and immersive storytelling. One-hour tours with specially trained museum guides are also available.
Circus World is dedicated to restored historic circus wagons: its 64-acre site houses the world’s largest collection of these wagons, and seven structures there are designated National Historic Landmarks. Historic rail vehicles are the focus of the National Railroad Museum in Green Bay. Its collection includes more than 70 vehicles, and visitors can explore historic trains on self-guided walks or during group tours.
The EAA Aviation Museum in Oshkosh has more than 200 historic aircraft. The KidVenture Gallery adds 16 interactive stations to the collection. During the summer season, visitors can see historic aircraft up close in flight from Pioneer Airport. Check the schedule in advance if you’re planning this seasonal experience.
Regional Experiences and Trip Planning
Wisconsin’s culinary offerings range from classes with a master cheesemaker to farm tours, tastings of fresh food made on-site and shops selling aged cheese. Cranberry bog tours and hands-on harvest experiences are also part of agritourism. The supper club experience includes a relaxed atmosphere, a friendly setting, homemade menus and Old Fashioneds.
If you’re looking for a hotel in Wisconsin, first decide what you want to focus on during your trip: Scenic Byways, hiking trails, museums or culinary discoveries offer different starting points. You can then plan around the experiences you’d like to explore further in Wisconsin.
Discover more destinations: Rock, Dane, Milwaukee, Columbia, Monroe, Brown, Marathon, Walworth, Ozaukee, Eau Claire, Waukesha, Winnebago, Taylor, Washington, La Crosse, Outagamie, Dunn County, Shawano County, Portage County, Waushara County, Sauk County, Fond Du Lac County, Racine County, Kenosha County, St. Croix County, Marinette County, Langlade, Oneida County, Chippewa County, Jefferson County, Vilas County, Sheboygan County, Crawford County, Barron County, Sawyer County, Jackson County, Rusk County, Lincoln County, Bayfield County, Grant County, Manitowoc County, Door County, Dodge County, Clark County, Waupaca County, Lafayette County, Iowa County, Calumet County, Oconto County, Wood County, Vernon County, Iron County, Polk, Burnett, Pierce, Juneau County, Douglas County, Trempealeau County, Ashland County, Kewaunee County, Green County, Washburn County, Richland County, Price County, Marquette County and Crandon.
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