Winter in Wisconsin
You have to visit Wisconsin at least once in the wintertime. And we bet after one visit, you’ll be back every winter.
Frozen caves and snow-covered bluffs are just some of the must-see attractions awaiting you and your family here. Besides sightseeing, feel free to engage in a little friendly competition on the ski slopes or snow tubing hills. After a long day outside, warm up by the fireplace at a dreamy cabin or cottage with the people you love and play a board game or catch up on some reading. If cold weather isn’t your thing, you and your family can even enjoy a little summer in the wintertime at our waterpark hotels and resorts.
Book a winter getaway now and see the cooler side of Wisconsin.
Activities for the Whole Family
There are an endless amount of ways to enjoy winter fun on our scenic trails and slopes.
If you’re looking to spend a day outside snowmobiling, check out Eagle River, a Wisconsin city known as the World Snowmobile Headquarters featuring more than 500 miles of trails. For snow tubing and more, check out Cascade Mountain in Portage or Wilmot Mountain, which features 22 lanes, all 1,000-feet long, perfect for a day of family fun.
If ice skating is your family’s favorite winter activity, there are dozens of outdoor and indoor rinks across the state. Madison, for instance, has around 20 ice skating rinks and frozen lagoons in its park system. One of the top places to ice skate in Madison is on the outdoor rink at The Edgewater in the heart of our capital city.
Skiers, snowshoers and snowboarders will find gentle and challenging trails at scenic parks, like Tyrol Basin near Mount Horeb, and family-friendly ski resorts across Wisconsin. Granite Peak at Rib Mountain State Park has dozens of ski trails and snowmaking technology that allows the park to offer skiing winter fun for six months. Some of the best cross-country skiing is at our state parks and forests, like the Lapham Peak Unit in the Kettle Moraine State Forest, which features cross-country skiing, hiking and snowshoe trails.
Cool Attractions & Events
From man-made winter attractions to natural ones, we know how to celebrate the season and host memorable events.
Every year, the Ice Castles come to Lake Geneva. Fun for kids and adults, the attraction, made of thousands of icicles sculpted together, features tunnels, a maze, slides, illuminated sculptures and an alcove with a fire pit.
To see natural ice sculptures and frozen caves, visit the Cave Point County Park in Door County. During the wintertime, beautiful ice formations blanket the bluffs along Lake Michigan. Over on Lake Superior, hit up the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore and explore its frozen caves — a natural wonder that only happens when winter conditions are perfect.
And as Wisconsinites, we love any excuse to celebrate outdoors, even when it’s snowing. Head over to Merrill for the annual Winterfest Sled Dog Race. Cheer with your family from on the sidelines as you watch mushers and their dogs compete for the big prize. Over in Fond du Lac, the annual Sturgeon Spectacular draws large crowds for a weekend filled with a snow sculpting competition, a curling race, a chili crawl to help keep you warm and a cornhole competition.
Whichever adventure you choose, be sure to wear snowshoes or hiking boots and bring a camera to capture unforgettable family memories.
