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The state of Wisconsin, known for its booming dairy industry and mouth-watering cheese, offers many hidden gems, inviting travelers to uncover its treasures beyond the beaten path.

From the shores of Lake Geneva to the bluffs of Devil’s Lake State Park, the state provides ample opportunities for stunning views.

Read on to learn about the state’s best-kept secrets, must-do activities and notable sights.

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Places to stay in Wisconsin

Resorts and lodges

Guests at Wisconsin’s multitude of resorts and lodges can wake up to the sights and sounds of nature in full bloom.

The American Club Resort Hotel, located in the historic town of Kohler, offers a legacy of sophistication dating back more than a century. Guests can immerse themselves in accommodations such as golf courses and lavish suites fit for royalty.

The Grand Geneva Resort & Spa in Lake Geneva offers a beautiful landscape of rolling hills and pristine views. Guests can make fun memories at the resort’s indoor and outdoor pools, golf courses and spa. In the winter, the resort doubles as one of the state’s most popular ski destinations.

Wisconsin’s cabin resorts blend outdoor adventure with modern amenities. (Grand Geneva Resort & Spa)

For a family-friendly getaway, look no further than the Wilderness Hotel and Golf Resort in Wisconsin Dells. The resort offers water parks and arcade games for the kids and scenic golf courses and relaxing spa sessions for adults.

Cabins and cottages

Wisconsin’s cabin resorts offer a unique twist on family vacations, blending outdoor adventure with modern amenities.

Bayview Resort in St. Germain provides an escape for families with children, offering activities like fishing, kayaking and swimming in its sandy-bottomed lake. Each cabin, located close to the water, comes equipped with a canoe.

Garmisch USA Resort on Lake Namakagon in Cable surprises guests with its old-world charm and distinctive features, including the Blarney Castle, a miniature castle that accommodates up to 15 people.

Hawks View Cottages, Lodges & Suites in Fountain City is also a couple’s getaway location. It offers views of the Mississippi River from cozy cottages perched on bluffs. Guests can also explore nearby attractions such as a vineyard during their stay.

The Cliffside Lodge in Ellison Bay, Door County, could be an ideal setting for couples seeking an excursion with friends. The lodge offers five bedrooms and three bathrooms and a view of the sunset each evening.

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Things to do in Wisconsin

Outdoor activities

When thinking about Wisconsin, dog sledding may not be the first thing to come to mind, but the state offers unique outdoor adventures.

The Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, located in the state’s north, is made up of 21 islands, has more than 50 miles of hiking, 18 campsites and 240 bird species that pass through the area.

In the wintertime, visitors can go dog sledding around the islands, according to Travel Wisconsin, the state’s department of tourism.

Wisconsin’s Apostle Islands National Lakeshore has more lighthouses than any other site in the National Park System with nine historic towers on six islands. (Travel Wisconsin)

The Black River State Forest in central Wisconsin offers 33 miles of trails for backpacking, hiking and biking through the pine and oak forest.

Hunters will find their paradise in the state’s 5 million acres of public hunting land, which is home to wildlife such as bears, pheasants and deer.

For those seeking a challenge, Devil’s Lake State Park provides thrilling rock-climbing opportunities along its unique quartzlite bluffs.

Thrill seekers can also explore the Tri-County Corridor Trail located at the eastern edge of the city of Superior. The 60-mile gravel trail is lined with dining establishments awaiting the arrival of ATV and snowmobile enthusiasts.

For those who would prefer leisurely outdoor activities, Wisconsin has no shortage.

Anglers can indulge in the timeless pastime of fishing, with more than 160 species of fish inhabiting the state’s rivers and lakes. Wisconsin’s largest inland lake, Lake Winnebago, offers the opportunity to catch massive northern pike and large-mouth bass.

You can also surf in Wisconsin. Nicknamed the “Malibu of the Midwest2,” people have been coming to Sheboygan to experience freshwater surfing for decades.

Travelers in Wisconsin have been coming to the city of Sheboygan to experience freshwater surfing for decades. (Travel Wisconsin)

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Golf fans can also find opportunities to hone their craft, with more than 500 public golf courses across the state. Notable among them is the Brown Deer Golf Course, which is frequented by PGA champions.

Additionally, those with a desire for horseback riding adventures can saddle up to experience beautiful scenery east of the Rockies. Canyon Creek Riding Stables, located in Wisconsin Dells, offers an hour-long guided tour for the entire family.

Notable sights in Wisconsin

Wisconsin is filled with notable sights, including natural wonders, cultural landmarks and historical attractions.

The Wisconsin Dells, known as the water park capital of the world, features rock transformations along the Wisconsin River, as well as numerous water parks, theme parks and outdoor recreational activities.

Home to the Green Bay Packers, Wisconsin’s Lambeau Field is a must-visit for football fans. The stadium offers tours that showcase its rich history and provides behind-the-scenes access.

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Wisconsin’s Lambeau Field, home to the Green Bay Packers, is the second-largest stadium in the NFL. (Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Wisconsin is also home to several buildings designed by the famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright. The Frank Lloyd Wright Trail, located in the state’s south, guides visitors to some of his most notable works, including Taliesin in Spring Green and the SC Johnson Campus in Racine.

The Harley-Davidson Museum, located in Milwaukee, celebrates the iconic motorcycle brand’s history and culture through interactive exhibits, vintage motorcycles and memorabilia.

House on the Rock, an eccentric attraction in Spring Green, features a unique collection of antiques, art and oddities. The Infinity Room extends 218 feet out of the main structure of the house, suspended over the scenic valley below.

These are just a few of the notable locations you can explore in Wisconsin, with each offering its own unique charm and attractions.

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Louisiana is a state with a rich cultural history and an irresistible charm.

While almost everyone has heard of Louisiana Cajun cooking and New Orleans’ Mardi Gras celebration, the Bayou State has even more to offer.

Louisiana is home to a litany of festivals all year round as well as nearly two dozen state parks and 10 state museums. And, of course, Cajun food and Creole food; as any Louisiana native would tell you, there is a difference.

Louisiana state parks

Louisiana’s 21 state parks are dispersed across its northern, central and southern regions. Water sports, hiking and fishing are popular activities in the parks, and many flock to the parks to witness the seasonal migration of diverse varieties of birds.

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Chicot State Park

Chicot State Park is the largest in Louisiana at 6,400 acres. The park is popular among canoeing, kayaking and fishing enthusiasts, and it has even been the site of state record-setting freshwater catches. Visitors can hike trails around Lake Chicot and keep their eyes peeled for wild creatures like deer and bobcats that call the rural park home.

The park is also the site of the Louisiana State Arboretum, a 300-acre forest that is a favorite of camping fans. Miles of hiking trails, including boardwalks over the water, are waiting to be explored, and boating around the cypress trees growing out of the water is an experience unlike any other.

A couple picnics in a canoe in Chicot State Park, which is Louisiana’s largest state park at 6,400 acres. (Ivan Dmitri/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

Fontainebleau State Park

Fontainebleau State Park is located about an hour from New Orleans. Inside the park, visitors can imagine the hustle and bustle of what used to be the sugar plantation on which the park is now built. Aged brick ruins still dot the landscape, and the park offers an educational experience with items such as old handcrafted tools on display.

Fontainebleau offers campsites, hiking trails and a scenic pier over Lake Pontchartrain, as well as swimming at the lakefront and cabins with beautiful lakeside views. Its 2,800 acres contain ample opportunities to see more than 400 species of birds and other wildlife that live or migrate through the park. Like most of the Pelican State, Fontainebleau State Park falls within the Mississippi Flyway, a bird migration route that stretches from central Canada to the Gulf of Mexico, so if you time your visit just right, you could be in for a show.

Cajun and Creole food in Louisiana

Though the terms are sometimes used interchangeably, a native Louisianian would never get them twisted.

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Cajun food

Cajun food comes from the French colonists who lived in the Acadia region of Canada before they were ousted by the British and subsequently moved to Louisiana. The term “Cajun” is derived from the name for this group in French, “les Acadiens.” 

Cajun food is known for its abundant seasoning, especially cayenne pepper, and using a base of celery, onion and bell pepper. The French colonists’ influence mixed with the other cultures of the bayou to produce what we today think of as Cajun-style cooking.

Creole food

It is sometimes said that Creole food is from the city and Cajun food is from the countryside. This may be because Creole food originated in high-society kitchens, where it was typically cooked by slaves who had access to a wider variety of ingredients and spices. As a result, the Creole cultural blend that includes Spanish, African, Caribbean, Native American, German and Portuguese influences seeped into the cooking and produced dishes that involved a greater number of components than most Cajun food. Cajun food is also less likely to contain tomatoes.

New Orleans is known for its yearly Mardi Gras celebration. The festival is one product of Louisiana’s unique cultural blend, but there is much more to the rich history of the Pelican State than Mardi Gras alone. (Michael DeMocker/Getty Images)

Museums in Louisiana

Though Louisiana is home to more than 10 museums, its 10 state museums are some of its most popular.

1850 House

The 1850 House is a model of what an upper middle-class New Orleans home might have looked like in 1850, a prosperous time period for the city.

The Cabildo

The Cabildo is one of New Orleans’ most important historical buildings. It is where the Louisiana Purchase transfer ceremonies took place in 1803 and where the landmark Plessy v. Ferguson decision was given in 1892. Much more has happened here, but since 1908, the Cabildo has served as a Louisiana history museum.

Capitol Park Museum

This museum traces Louisiana’s unique cultural heritage, explaining how European colonists, Native Americans and enslaved Africans came together to create the culture of the Bayou State. Rotating and permanent exhibits expose Louisiana’s diverse history.

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E.D. White Historic Site

On the scenic Bayou Lafourche, this National Historic Landmark was home to Edward Douglas White, governor from 1835 to 1839, and his son, Edward Douglass White, the U.S. Supreme Court chief justice from 1910 to 1921. The museum explores the family’s history as well as that of the Bayou Lafourche region, featuring exhibits on the Chitimacha Indians, Acadian settlers, slavery and sugar cane plantations.

Louisiana Civil Rights Museum

The Louisiana Civil Rights Museum features three dynamic exhibits titled “the Right to Assemble,” “the Right to Education” and “the Right to Vote.” They bridge the gap between late-19th century events and the modern civil rights movement through videos, oral histories and an interactive virtual reality room.

Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame & Northwest Louisiana History Museum

Two museums were combined into one site. As you might expect, the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame lauds the achievements of Louisiana athletes and coaches, illustrating sports’ importance in Louisiana life. The Northwest Louisiana History Museum honors the history and culture of the region.

Madame John’s Legacy

Madame John’s Legacy is another National Historic Landmark and one of the best examples of French colonial architecture in North America. It is one of the few remaining Louisiana-Creole, 18th-century residential-style buildings.

The wrought iron fretwork seen on this building in the Garden District of New Orleans is one design element characteristic of French-Creole architecture. (Tim Graham/Getty Images)

New Orleans Jazz Museum at the Old U.S. Mint

The New Orleans Jazz Museum is in the heart of the city’s vibrant music scene, right on Frenchman Street’s live music corridor. The museum includes a state-of-the-art performance venue with a near-perfect sound environment used to record performances for historical archives. The Jazz Museum promotes the global understanding of jazz as one of the most historically pivotal musical art forms in world history.

The Presbytère

The Presbytère features a permanent exhibit on Mardi Gras, diving into the history and culture of the yearly festival, and another on Hurricane Katrina and the ensuing rescue, rebuilding and renewal. The building was designed in 1791 to match the Cabildo and was built on the site of the residence, or “presbytère,” of Capuchin monks.

Wedell-Williams Aviation & Cypress Sawmill Museum

The Wedell-Williams Aviation Collection tells the story of Louisiana aviation pioneers Jimmie Wedell and Harry P. Williams. The Cypress Sawmill Collection documents the history of the cypress lumber industry in Louisiana, the state’s first significant manufacturing industry.

Louisiana festivals

Aside from sampling regional cuisine, exploring natural wonders and learning American history, there is always a festival or celebration of some kind going on in Louisiana. The ever-popular Mardi Gras serves as the state’s calling card, but cultural enrichment opportunities abound all year round.

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Louisiana’s Red River Revel

In downtown Shreveport in autumn, the Red River Revel comprises musical performances all day for nine days in a row. Businesses and families alike take advantage of the lively atmosphere to network and bond as they admire the artwork on display by visual artists who congregate to sell their pieces.

Louisiana’s World Championship Gumbo Cookoff

This food festival is another fall favorite that includes live music and plenty of activities for the whole family. In downtown New Iberia, a weekend of local cooking competitions determine the yearly winner of the Gumbo Cookoff, Youth Gumbo Cookoff, Meanest Beans Competition and more.

A Taste of Covington Food, Wine, Music & Art Festival

Each June sees the monthlong Food, Wine, Music & Art Festival return to Historic Downtown Covington. The month is filled with special events like wine tastings and Vintners’ Dinners, during which participating restaurants cook gourmet meals served with wine pairings. Proceeds benefit marketing for local businesses through nonprofit organizations.

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