Top 10 Foodie Things to do This Fall in Wisconsin
Wisconsin's fall colors can't be beat—and the same is true for Wisconsin's fall flavors. From food festivals to wine trails and new seasonal treats, harvest season in Wisconsin makes for exceptional culinary experiences. Take a food excursion this fall season and taste it all for yourself!
Travel the Door County Wine Trail
There's no better time than fall to get out and experience Wisconsin's beautiful wineries. Why not make a foodie-themed trip out of it? The Door County Wine Trail encompasses nine wineries throughout the Door Peninsula. As you taste your way through the wineries, take in the beauty of the season. Door County offers a gorgeous backdrop of fall color.
The Door County Distillery is a must-stop on the trail. Opened as an expansion to the Door Peninsula Winery, it's one of the few hand-crafted distilleries in the state of Wisconsin and the first in the region to produce vodka and gin.
Reap the Harvest of Bayfield
Bayfield hosts a number of tasty culinary celebrations each fall—many of them centering around the region’s abundant apple harvest. Start the season by attending the Apple Pie and Dessert Contest and sample all the sweet treats. Then in October, enjoy fresh seasonal produce, apple-flavored treats and a lively parade at the Bayfield Apple Festival.
Bring Frozen Tundra Wine to a Tailgate Party
Sure, it's acceptable to bring wine to a Packer's tailgate party, just so long as it's Parallel 44 Winery's Frozen Tundra Wine. In time for football season, the wine, which comes in Tundra Red, Tundra White and Frozen Tundra blush, is named after – you guessed it – Lambeau Field. Order online or purchase at Parallel 44's Winery in Kewaunee right near Titletown.
What goes well with wine? How about some chocolate from Seroogy's in nearby DePere? Seroogy's chocolate is homemade, hand-dipped and delicious. In the store, foodies can find free samples of both chocolate and Seroogy's signature coffee. For something seasonal, try the cranberry clusters: Wisconsin-grown cranberries dipped in chocolate.
Celebrate Wisconsin's Famed Sausages
Head to American Family Field for a Milwaukee Brewers game and you may find it difficult to decide which of the five Klement's Racing Sausage varieties to pick from: chorizo, Polish or Italian sausage, a hot dog or bratwurst. But no matter who wins the race, you and your group can sample a selection by ordering the Best of the Wurst Platter featuring three kinds of bratwursts, or the Tipsy Polish Sausage topped with French fries and Bavarian sprinkles.
If you can't make it to a game, do Milwaukee proud and watch one while savoring some delicious Usinger's Sausage, which has been made in the city for more than 125 years.
Enjoy the Fruits of Wisconsin's Harvest, Literally
Stop by Discovery Cranberries in Warrens to tour a museum dedicated to Wisconsin's state fruit. Interactive exhibits display the state's unique connections to the cranberry, from a staple of Native American life to its importance today as Wisconsin's top fruit crop.
The best way for a foodie to appreciate the cranberry is by sampling, of course. Visit the test kitchen and ice cream parlor to taste cranberry creations. We recommend the cranberry ice cream, cranberry pie, cranberry bread, cranberry scones, cranberry cookies … well, you get the idea.
Try Some Wisconsin Cheese
This foodie list wouldn't be complete without a mention of Wisconsin's pride and joy: cheese. A trip to Green County provides you with endless cheesy options, as more than a dozen factories are located in the area.
Visit during Green County Cheese Days in September for the ultimate selection of samples. With cheesemaking demonstrations, live music and a parade led by a herd of Brown Swiss Cows, this is truly a one-of-a-kind fest.
While you're in the area, also stop by the Chalet Landhaus Inn for some Swiss specialties. This Chalet in "America's Little Switzerland" is known for its authentic fondue made with all locally-produced cheeses, including Roth Kase's famous Gruyère cheese.
Attend the Kohler Food and Wine Fest
Kohler is known for its world-class resorts, golf courses, top-notch spa and now, food and wine. The Kohler Food and Wine Experience is the ultimate foodie event held every fall. The celebration includes nationally-renowned chefs offering dozens of seminars, demonstrations and tastings. More than 60 types of wine and upwards of 20 cooking classes give visitors a chance to learn from the pros and become experts themselves.
Travel the Great River Road for a Homemade Meal
Bask in the glory of delicious homemade food along the Great River Road National Scenic Byway. Following the Mississippi River along the western border of the state, the road has a number of stops on the way – some for eating, some for photo opportunities.
Head to Pepin for slow-cooked food at Harbor View Café, which uses the freshest local ingredients available. Fall menu items in the past have included braised pork, apple-flavored sauces and more.
Also along the Great River Road is the Freighthouse Restaurant in La Crosse, a National Register of Historic Places site. Today, they serve up top-quality steaks, seafood and seasonal vegetables along with an extensive wine list. Hint: grab a seat at the Freighthouse's impressive bar on a Friday or Saturday night to listen to the region's finest musicians.
For dessert, a trip to Stockholm Pie and General Store is a must. We recommend the Stockholm Pie fall specialty: the apple dumpling. You also can't go wrong with any of the seasonal apple pies to choose from: regular, apple crisp, caramel apple crunch and sour cream apple.
Attend the Ultimate Foodie Halloween Party in Lake Geneva
Who says Halloween is just for kids? Head to Lake Geneva for Beer and Spirits. Held at the Ridge Hotel, this is the place to sample the region's best beers. The event includes unlimited beer tasting from 35 Midwest craft breweries and distilleries, as well as samples from multiple food vendors. Limited tickets for a VIP Beer Tasting held one hour before the event allows foodies to sample the beer early and get some one-on-one time with the beer distributors. Tickets also are available for designated drivers, which include unlimited tasting of gourmet sodas and mocktails.
Nosh in the Northwoods
This fall, take a drive along the Great Divide National Scenic Byway through the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest. The scenic route, nearly 30 miles long following Highway 77, winds through forests, lakes, swamps and small Wisconsin towns, offering views of some of the most vibrant fall color in the state.
Wisconsin's Northwoods are home to a variety of one-of-a-kind eateries. Start with breakfast at Delta Diner, serving up tasty fare from a 1940s East Coast diner car. Next, get a sample of the region’s classic supper clubs at Hayward's original steakhouse The Ranch, which boasts great food, classic cocktails and one of the coolest bartops in Wisconsin. And in Tomahawk, be sure to stop in at Bootleggers Lodge which combines vintage flair with modern cuisine using local ingredients.
Need to stretch your legs after so many delicious eats? Try one of these 15 fall color hikes from easy to challenging and see some of Wisconsin's most gorgeous autumn scenery.
