Being Wisconsin born and raised, I’ve spent most of my summers at home with family and friends, exploring Milwaukee and other parts of the state. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve found that my summers have changed from three months of vacation and relaxation to three months of work and summer classes. It’s sad to see these kinds of changes, and I’m sure I’m not the only one who wishes they were 8 years old again, but these changes are also exciting. They're part of growing up. Lately, I’ve had this on my mind, and I’ve realized just how fast summers like this can go by. I can’t do everything that I want to do. With all of these changes happening at this point in my life, I’ve come up with a Wisconsin summer bucket list of activities I try to do and places I try to go to before school starts again.
1. Summerfest
I had to start with the "World’s Largest Music Festival." If you’re from Wisconsin, you’ve at least heard of Summerfest, or go every year like a lot of people I know. The anticipation for the next year starts even before the previous year’s fest finishes up. While the festival is known for its numerous musical acts, I find myself going for other reasons like the food, the lakefront view, meeting new friends and reconnecting with old ones. It’s also not a bad place to sit and people-watch either.
2. Wisconsin State Fair
I have to admit, the main reason this is on the list is because of the food. You get one time a year to pig out on deep fried Oreos, chocolate-covered bacon, cheese curds and, of course, cream puffs! So why not? For the roller coaster fans, there’s a bunch of them, along with cute farm animals, and an Expo Center with lots of free samples. There are also some great concerts to go to with a group of friends. I’ve been going to the State Fair with my family for as long as I can remember, so it’s always on my list.
3. Wisconsin Dells
This is another one on the list that I consider a family tradition. With plenty of hotels and water parks, the Dells can be a great weekend getaway. The Wilderness is one of my favorite resorts there. They have their own water parks, an awesome Lazy River and laser tag! Plus, there’s the downtown area with lots of fun stores, candy shops, restaurants and other attractions. Otherwise, you can always take a day trip to Noah’s Ark. This year, I went and finally got the courage to go on the water coaster Black Anaconda. Maybe next year I will face the Point of No Return, but probably not.
4. Madison Farmers Market
I love this farmers market for its size as well as the fact that you get to walk around the beautiful capital building. There are delicious baked and homemade goods, fresh vegetables and fruits, and flower bouquets in all shapes and sizes. Afterwards, you can explore Madison or sit outside on the Union Terrace on the lake. If you don’t get a chance to get to this farmers market in the summer, I would recommend trying to find a local one near you.
5. Brewers Game
You don’t necessarily have to be a big baseball fan to go to a Brewers game. Half the experience is tailgating with friends, grilling out some good food and playing bean bag toss. Once the game starts, you have Bernie Brewer going down the slide and the Racing Sausages to look forward to. It's another fun activity for families and friends.
6. Door County
Door County is one of my favorite places in Wisconsin. I will always remember the trips I took there with my girlfriends in high school. Since then, I try to go back every summer. Each town has its own signature restaurants and shops. Wilson’s Ice Cream Parlor is one of those shops. If you’re looking to move away from the tourist areas, Peninsula State Park is the place. Yes, there are many tourists here, too, but you wouldn’t know once you started on the hiking trails. There are beautiful cliff sides and views of the clear blue water surrounding you. The state park also has plenty of beaches where you can kayak, or just lay out and relax in the sand.
Most of these places on my list can be considered “touristy,” and I agree. For me, though, these places are on the list because of the memories I’ve made there and the people I shared those memories with. It allows me to look forward to more summers with new memories and experiences, and maybe some new bucket lists.
