The Don’ts of Visiting Wisconsin
Hey there, fellow travelers! Today, we’re talking about what NOT to do when you visit Wisconsin. While many travel blogs will tell you all the fun things to see in Wisconsin, we want to be sure you know about the things you should NOT do when you plan a Wisconsin trip.
Don’t Miss Out on Wisconsin Food
Wisconsin is known as America’s Dairyland, and the residents are lovingly known as cheeseheads. So that gives you a hint of what the state is known for. If you are lactose intolerant, I’m sorry because you are going to miss out on some of the best Wisconsin food!
When you visit Wisconsin, these are some of the foods you have to try!
- Cheese curds – they can be eaten plain, deep-fried or in poutine (the good ones squeak when you eat them!)
- Beer cheese soup is also a popular Wisconsin dish, combining two of the state’s most popular products. You might also see beer cheese on a burger – get it, it’s delicious!
- Maple syrup is also made in Wisconsin. If you get local butter and local syrup, it’s better than the pancake it’s served on!
- Bratwurst is another Wisconsin staple; if you drive in from Chicago, you’ll see the Brat Stop and the Cheese Castle shortly after you arrive in Wisconsin
- Frozen custard in Wisconsin is delicious! You might even have a Culver’s near you where you can try this tasty treat. (Try their butter burger too, yum!)
- Cream puffs are another tasty dessert you might see in Wisconsin
- Cranberries are grown in Wisconsin, so you’ll see a lot of fresh cranberry products.
- You’ll see a lot of Scandinavian influence in Wisconsin, including in the food.
- Norwegian meatballs are a larger version of Swedish meatballs
- Swedish pancakes are thin like a crepe, often served with lingonberry sauce
- Danish Kringle is a pastry similar to a coffee cake, that is baked in a large circle. They freeze really well, so it’s a nice souvenir to take home.
Fish Fry Friday is a huge Wisconsin tradition. You’ll see churches, event centers, bars, and restaurants all advertising their Friday fish fry. The tradition started with Lent, a religious holiday when Catholics abstain from meat on Fridays. There’s also an abundance of fish in Wisconsin, particularly walleye. The tradition continues today with fish fries throughout the state; stopping at a fish fry is a great way to meet locals.
Wisconsin beer is also a must! The Major League Baseball team is the Milwaukee Brewers, so beer brewing is a major part of Wisconsin history. Miller, Schlitz, Pabst, and Leinenkugels all come from Wisconsin. I rate Wisconsin as one of the best states for beer. There are dozens of craft breweries in Wisconsin and a lot of fantastic beer that you can’t get outside of Wisconsin. Every time we visit Wisconsin, I stock up on New Glarus Brewing Company’s Spotted Cow; it’s only available in Wisconsin.
If you prefer cocktails, the Wisconsin drink is a Brandy Old Fashioned. Typically, an Old Fashioned is made with whiskey, but in Wisconsin, they use Brandy so it’s even sweeter.
In Wisconsin, it’s not only what you eat, but where you eat. The best food in Wisconsin is found at the bars and the supper clubs. This is where you’ll find the best version of these Wisconsin specialties. Supper clubs are totally a Wisconsin thing; you have to check one out during your trip!
Don’t Forget to Engage the Locals
People in Wisconsin are super friendly, so be sure to ask them the best way to get where you are going. Or maybe you want to know the best supper club or custard shop. The locals love sharing their favorite spots, so don’t miss out on the best insider knowledge. The key to getting along with the locals is to be friendly. If you are friendly, they will be friendly right back. That also means waving if somebody lets you cut in while driving!
If you’re from Illinois, you might hear FIB tossed around. It doesn’t mean Friendly Illinois Buddies! There is a not-always-friendly rivalry between Wisconsin and Illinois, and FIBs are F@#$% Illinois B#$%^ – we’ll let you fill in the blanks on that one!
Five Things You Will Love & Hate About the Midwest USA
Don’t Expect Speedy Service
This is the Midwest; people are friendly and chatty. So, it’s not that the service is bad, but it’s slow because the servers and customers like to chit-chat. Don’t be the guy from Illinois who is impatient and demanding service. Take the time to slow down and enjoy a calmer pace.
Don’t Underestimate the Size of Wisconsin
If you are planning a trip to Wisconsin, make sure you are realistic about how much ground you can cover. It is over five hours to drive from the south of Wisconsin to the north. And don’t always trust Google Maps to properly calculate the time or distance to your next destination.
Don’t Think Water Parks Are Just for Summer
Wisconsin Dells used to be a summer resort area known for huge water parks. At some point in recent history, they started building indoor water parks, so now the Dells are a year-round destination. There’s Kalahari, Great Wolf Lodge, Mt. Olympus, and many more! Many of these parks have on-site lodging and dining, so you don’t ever have to leave the property.
Don’t Miss Door County
Door County is the favorite weekend getaway for Wisconsin residents. It’s the little thumb-like peninsula that sticks out into Lake Michigan. There are over 300 miles of shoreline, with cute little resort towns all along the peninsula. When you talk to the locals, they all have their favorite town to recommend, whether it’s Fish Creek, Sister Bay, or Washington Island.
Don’t Hit a Deer!
The Milwaukee NBA team is called the Bucks for a reason. There are a LOT of deer in Wisconsin. It can be hard to avoid deer, but the best you can do is pay attention and obey the speed limits, especially at night!
Don’t Worry if You Don’t Speak Wisconsinese
This is still the United States, but they seem to have their own vocabulary in Wisconsin, and they definitely have an accent. Some strange words you might hear in Wisconsin include:
- Bubbler: a drinking fountain
- Stop-and-Go light: a traffic light
- Ope: the Wisconsin “oops”
Don’t Think Kwik Trip is Just a Gas Station
Kwik Trip is like the Bucees of the North. Yes, it’s a gas station. But they sell everything! I had mashed potatoes and gravy with turkey from a Kwik Trip! It’s part convenience store, part grocery store, part gas station.
Don’t Trust the Weather in Wisconsin
Wisconsin weather can be all over the place. Especially if you are near Lake Michigan, as the lake sometimes makes its own weather. Summer is generally hot and humid, and winter is typically pretty cold and snowy. Spring and fall weather are unpredictable, so it’s best to be prepared for anything. And don’t forget the bug spray in the summer months – the bugs here are thirsty!
Don’t Forget that Orange is the State Color of Wisconsin
Whether it’s blaze orange during hunting season or orange traffic cones for road construction, there’s orange everywhere in Wisconsin! If you do go hiking in Wisconsin, make sure you know if it’s hunting season and wear blaze orange if it is.
The fall colors are pretty spectacular, as well!
Don’t Make Plans During a Packers Game
The state practically shuts down when the Packers are playing. If you get a chance to go to a Packers game, don’t miss it! It’s super fun. Just know that if you’re not at the game or watching the game on TV, everyone else probably is.
Don’t Pass Up a Trip to “the Lake”
Minnesota may be the “Land of 10,000 Lakes” but Wisconsin has around 15,000 lakes! Every Wisconsin family has their favorite lake they go to in the summer. If someone from Wisconsin invites you to “the lake” don’t pass it up! Whether it’s boating in the summer or ice fishing in the winter, they love their lakes in Wisconsin. (Just don’t be surprised if you can’t pronounce the names of the lakes!)
Grab Some Wolters World Travel Gear!
Don’t be surprised if you fall in love with Wisconsin! Between the food, the friendly people, and the beautiful lakes, it’s a great state to visit! We visit often and there are always new reasons to plan a Wisconsin trip! Want more USA travel tips? Check out some of our other blog posts: