13 Winter Attractions For The Family In Wisconsin That Don’t Involve Long Lines At The Mall
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Nicole
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Wisconsinites know what they’re in for when it comes to winter. Sometimes we dread it, but we also know what we signed up for and we love to get out and enjoy the brisk air and snow. We’re not afraid of a little of the fluffy white stuff and we know how to enjoy winter here. Here are a few of the ways you and your family can get outside and away from the masses to celebrate and enjoy winter in Wisconsin.
Way up north in Birchwood, about 75 miles north of Eau Claire, you’ll find one of the best sleigh rides you could ever imagine. Far from the simple rides in towns over the holidays, this sleigh ride lasts 90 minutes and heads out into the gorgeous Northwoods area surrounding the small town. This isn’t a novelty ride, but a long and fabulous way to experience this wonderful holiday tradition. To learn more about this awesome ride click here.
Wisconsin has more than 80 wineries and many of them stay open year round. You'll love sampling the wares and taking a few bottles home to cozy up with in front of the fire. To learn more about Wisconsin vineyards in winter click here.
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These jaw-droppingly amazing ice castles made their first Wisconsin appearance two years ago in the Wisconsin Dells and this year they return, this time in Lake Geneva. You definitely do not want to miss out. These amazing ice castle structures look like they come straight out of a Disney movie. The structures are fully dependent on the weather and the company says they hope to open in late December or early January. To learn more about Wisconsin vineyards in winter click here.
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Minocqua Winter Park has more than 50 miles of trails for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, an outdoor ice skating trail, sledding and more. There's something for everyone and your family will have a blast. To learn more about this awesome winter park click here.
Lake Geneva is home to one of the last mail boats in the country and in the winter, that awesome boat turns into a holiday lights cruise. It's one of the most unique ways to see holiday lights and your family will love it. To learn more about this boat trip click here.
Cedarburg is one Wisconsin's most quaint and beautiful small towns. It's chock full of historical architecture and they know how to do Christmas right. To learn more about this fabulous Christmas town click here.
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The same folks that put on the spectacular Christkindl market in Chicago have created a satellite location taking place right here in Milwaukee next to the city’s new Fiserv Forum arena. Opening on November 17 and staying open every night through New Year’s Eve, the market promises to be everything you loved about the Chicago version but much closer to home. To learn more about this German Christmas Market clickhere.
Sometimes the best way to appreciate nature is to get out in it. Winter horseback riding could be just the right way to get out into the wilderness to experience all the winter beauty has to offer. To learn more about this horseback ride through the snow click here.
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One great way to spend time with your family and be reminded of the magic of the season is to drive through Oshkosh’s Celebration of Lights. This massive display has more than a million sparkling lights spread out of over more than a mile. It’s a little bit of holiday magic right along the shores of the Fox River and Lake Winnebago and you won’t want to miss the twinkling beauty as it reflects off the water. To learn more about this light display click here.
Lake Geneva's Winterfest is two weeks of wintery events and it's also home to the US Snow Sculpting Championships. You'll love seeing what these artists create and exploring this cute little town. To learn more about this snowy festival in Lake Geneva click here.
One of the best ways to get outside and have a ton of winter fun is to grab a sled and spend some time with the wind in your face as you travel down a hillside. But those lucky enough to be near Stevens Point have an even better option. Tucked into Iverson Park are not one but two 300-foot toboggan runs just waiting for you to come enjoy them. To learn more about this toboggan park click here.
One great, family-friendly way to enjoy the snow is tubing. There are a bunch of great tubing spots across the state, but Badlands Sno Park in Hudson is one of the best. It really is fun for the whole family, from little ones or beginners on up to the biggest daredevils. While other mountains might have tubing runs alongside snowboarders and skiers, Badlands caters to snow tubing. To learn more about this awesome tubing spot click here.
With the three MILLION lights in Rotary Park and the other displays all over town, it's impossible to not get in the holiday spirit in this sparkly, bright town. To learn more about LaCrosse's light displays click here.
What other ways do you love to go out and celebrate winter? Let us know in the comments!
Wisconsin has a ton of winter festivals that you should check out in the new year. Just make sure you check out each festival’s website for dates in 2019!
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