Here are some great itineraries for each of the harbor towns. Whether you're visiting just one community for one day, or several communities for several days, here are the highlights you shouldn't miss.
| Kenosha | Racine | Milwaukee |
| Port Washington | Sheboygan | Manitowoc |
| Two Rivers | Kewaunee | Algoma |
| Green Bay | Sturgeon Bay | Door County |
| Oconto | Marinette |
| Bayfield | Washburn |
Enjoy a getaway to the Kenosha Area! A ride aboard one of Kenosha's authentic electric streetcars provides you with a scenic tour of Lake Michigan, as well as the downtown and harborside area. Whether enjoying a drink and a bite to eat at one of Kenosha's many downtown and harborside cafes and eateries, walking along the lakefront promenade or shopping at a downtown boutique, you can hear the tell-tale "clang" of the streetcar as it travels through the picturesque lakefront neighborhood called HarborPark. Within steps from the streetcar are the Kenosha Public Museum featuring the largest mammoth ever found in North America, Rhode Center for the Arts and its Pollard Gallery, and Harbor MarketPlace of Kenosha (mid May-October). Top off your lakefront visit with a charter fishing excursion, a tour of the Kenosha History Center and its Yesteryear and Rambler Legacy Galleries, a drive by the Southport Light Station and the red Pierhead Lighthouse, or an afternoon of fishing from the shore. Also in the Kenosha Area, you'll find golf courses, parks & nature areas, the Pike Bike Trial, four National Register Historic Districts, art galleries, Jelly Belly Center tours, outlet shopping at Prime Outlets at Pleasant Prairie, indoor recreation, greyhound racing, specialty & antique stores, and much more.
Arriving in the evening in revitalized Racine, relax at the historic English Tudor Lochnaiar Inn Bed and Breakfast. The Lochnaiar Inn sits majestically atop a bluff overlooking Lake Michigan and is restored to its original splendor. You will follow your good night sleep with an opportunity to visit the Racine Art Museum (RAM), one of America's largest contemporary craft collections. With the addition of RAM, the Downtown Racine district has bolstered its unique shopping experience and dining options. You will then be ready to set sail on the big lake. Don't worry, you won't need a sailboat... just hop on board the Great Lakes Sailing Charters boat and experience Lake Michigan. Be sure to bring a camera because you and your guests will enjoy the wind in your air and the thrill of gliding on the water. You can take a 2 day, half-day or full day excursions. Once you get your "land legs," head to the many restaurants and pubs that are walking distance from the Lochnaiar Inn. Enjoy Racine County!
Check in at any one of downtown Milwaukee's hotels, several of which are within walking distance of the city's theater and arts districts. One of Milwaukee's premier hotels actually houses an impressive art collection. The Pfister Hotel's art collection was started by the hotel's founder, Guido Pfister and contains works by prominent American and international artists. Head over to the Historic Third Ward with its unique shops and arts organizations. While you're there, stop in and see the world's only museum devoted completely to advertising. The William F. Eisner Museum of Advertising and Design offers an amazing, amusing and enlightening opportunity to explore the science and art of advertising and design that have helped to influence the way we see the world today.
Have lunch at any one of the trendy and delicious restaurants and cafes in the Third Ward. Next, enjoy a leisurely stroll through this historic neighborhood full of notable buildings and an intriguing history.
Enjoy a scrumptious meal at one of Milwaukee's downtown restaurants, featuring a taste for every palate, including German, African, Italian, Indian and Mexican cuisine. Then, take your pick of performing arts entertainment from the Downtown Theater District, offering music, theater and dance from many different places in the arts spectrum.
Start a second day in Milwaukee with a glorious view of Lake Michigan as you visit the Milwaukee Art Museum. The Milwaukee Art Museum's recent expansion includes a dramatic wing-like sculpture rising high above Milwaukee's lakefront, like a bird taking flight. Designed by architect Santiago Calatrava, the unusual design gives Milwaukee's skyline a unique signature masterpiece. In the afternoon, take a stroll on Brady Street, "where the ethnic and eclectic meet." This historic area was an early Milwaukee neighborhood that served as the main street for its immigrant community of Irish, German and Polish settlers during the 1840s, with the ethnic character of the area changing predominately to Italian during the 1930s and 1940s. This neighborhood is now one of the trendiest in the city with various ethnic restaurants, pubs and coffee shops and small, hip cafes and specialty food shops. Brady Street is known for its unique mix of eclectic shops, so stop in soon, sample its wares, view its art, and savor the flavor that is uniquely Brady Street.
A delightful combination of New England charm and Midwestern friendliness, Port Washington welcomes you. Nestled among seven hills, we are 30 miles north of Milwaukee, on the shore of Lake Michigan. The downtown is on the National Register of Historic Places, with the largest collection of pre-Civil War buildings in the state. Visit our many specialty shops, including antique and craft shops. Tour our microbrewery. Try any of our great restaurants, featuring memorable cuisine ranging from gourmet to sandwiches.
This is a town that you can walk. Take a self-guided walking tour, past and into many historic buildings, or along the the first man-made harbor in North America. Climb the hidden staircase tucked into the bluff, to the Historic 1860 Lightstation, and tour the museum inside. Around the corner is St. Mary's Church, built in 1888, rising above the highest land point in the city. Walk the ¼ mile-long breakwall to the famous art deco lighthouse. Along the Harborwalk, view exhibits commemorating shipwrecks off our coast. Stop by the commercial fisherman's memorial, and read about these hardy men who made their living from the lake, including the lost crew of the Linda E. This last commercial fishing vessel to sail out of Port Washington was mysteriously lost for a year, with the remains discovered by a minesweeper in 2000.
Want more ways to play? Take in a festival, or an outdoor concert. Venture out with a charter captain, representing one of the most successful charter fishing fleets on the lake, or try your own luck and drop a line. Walk the beach. Play golf on a highly-rated public course overlooking the lake or on one of the pro-designed courses nearby. Rent a bike, and hop on the 30-mile paved, county-wide recreation trail, The Interurban, that goes right through town. A state park and a nature center nearby offer trails for hiking or skiing, as well as other seasonal activities through the year.
You can't do it all in one day, so spend the night. Your choice of lake views, historic buildings, homemade breakfasts, luxury accommodations, or any combination of the four!
Located halfway between Milwaukee and Green Bay, Sheboygan boasts the Harbor Centre Marina, a 281-slip gem that has been called "the finest marina on the western shore of Lake Michigan." As if that weren't enough, Sheboygan County is ranked as one of the best golf destinations in the country by Golf Digest. Home to the Kohler Company's spectacular golf courses, Blackwolf Run and Whistling Straits, it has hosted the 1998 U.S. Women's Open and the 2004 PGA Championship and is the future site of the 2010 and 2015 PGA Championship, as well as the 2020 Ryder Cup.
Sheboygan County also offers world class road racing at Elkhart Lake's Road America, exciting water sports activities and the John Michael Kohler Art Center. For those who love to shop, the area offers Fish Shanty Village, Harbor Centre Downtown, and a wide variety of antique shops and much more.
Dubbed Wisconsin's "Maritime Capital," Manitowoc celebrates its illustrious past and present as a shipbuilding hub with displays of nautical treasures ranging from wooden sailing ships to the U.S.S. COBIA, a World War II submarine, at the Wisconsin Maritime Museum.
The harbor town is the hub for the S.S. Badger Carferry, which offers daily cruises between the maritime capital and Ludington, Michigan.
Browse the extensive Norman Rockwell collection at The Old School, a 1905 schoolhouse turned shops complex and no visit to Manitowoc is complete without a stop by Cedar Crest Specialties, an old-fashioned ice cream parlor offering everything from cones and malts to ice cream sodas and floats. Don't forget your camera; a photo in front of "The Big Cow" is a great keepsake.
The Harbor Town of Two Rivers, where seagulls still follow the commercial fishing fleet into the city, has experiences for both the outdoor and laid back individuals and families. There are miles of bike or hike trails that parallel stretches of beach and lake and also traverse into the 2,900 acres of Point Beach State Forest. Charter captains can help you catch your "trophy" fish or you can canoe or kayak peacefully down the "two" rivers and through the meandering countryside.
A "must stop" for bird enthusiasts is the The Woodland Dunes Nature Center, a wetland and forest treasure where 260 species of birds have been sighted and 11 species of birds on the endangered or threatened list have been observed.
Two Rivers has four museums; The History Museum, Hamilton Wood Type Museum, the Farm Museum, the Historic Washington House, (Did you know Two Rivers is the Home of the Ice Cream Sundae? Try some during your visit there) and Rogers Street Fishing Village/Great Lakes Coast Guard Museum (housing artifacts from the nationally known Christmas Tree Ship wrecked off our shore along with 100 other vessels.) Shops, restaurants, B&B's (including former houses built by Frank Lloyd Wright and Al Capone!) and motels, make your stay with us comfortable and memorable.
As you would expect from a "Harbor Town," picturesque and operational lighthouses dot the seascape. There are two historic lighthouses in Two Rivers. The 1886 Pierhead Lighthouse, (the only wooden pierhead light on the Great Lakes which is publicly accessible)and the Rawley Point (Two Rivers Point) Light which is still operational and the brightest light on the Great Lakes.
Located 25 minutes east of Green Bay, Kewaunee is renowned as one of the state's greatest fishing communities. The harbor town is the site for several annual festivals targeting anglers including the hugely popular Trout Fest held in July.
Popular for outdoor activities, the area offers many boating, canoeing and mountain biking opportunities in addition to an ATV park, marsh walk trail and DNR fish station. Kewaunee is also home to numerous shops, fish markets, art galleries and lodging options along the shoreline.
Built in 1876 as the sheriff's residence and county jail, the County Historical Jail Museum is three floors of fascinating local history exhibits and displays, including a group of life-size basswood statuary depicting Pere Jacques Marquette's 1674 landing in Kewaunee and a model of the U.S.S. Pueblo, an electronic surveillance ship built and launched in Kewaunee in 1944 and captured in 1968 by the North Koreans.
Start your adventure with a scenic walk along the half-mile Crescent Beach Boardwalk. As you reach the public marina and Heritage Park, site of Algoma's Wednesday evenings "Concerts in the Park" series (July & August), you'll find the Farm Market Kitchen…a shared use food processing incubator for specialty products. You can tour the facility and purchase any of the unique products processed there.
Walk another block and you'll enter the von Stiehl Winery, Wisconsin's oldest winery. Spend time in the "tasting room" and explore this historic structure on the daily scheduled tours. From the winery, you can stops at downtown gift shops, galleries, and restaurants.
Looking for something a little more adventurous? The Ahnappe State Trail provides the hiking and biking enthusiast 15+ miles of scenic countryside. If you'd like to head East onto the "big pond", you can book a charter fishing experience. Algoma is the Midwest's premier port for salmon fishing. You can sample the catch at Bearcat's Fish House…a must see as well during your stay.
The oldest settlement in the Midwest, Green Bay is home to a variety of sports, cultural and shopping opportunities.
Home of the Packers, Green Bay offers many great recreational activities including golfing, boating, hiking and fishing for active individuals. Not forgetting its youngest visitors, Green Bay has an excellent zoo, old-fashioned amusement park and wildlife sanctuary.
The harbor town is home to many great cultural attractions including more than 40 acres of historic buildings at Heritage Hill State Historical Park, the chance to ride the rails at the National Railroad Museum, opportunities to explore Native American culture at the Oneida National Museum or tour the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame at the renovated Lambeau Field.
On the arrival of your first morning to Sturgeon Bay, the county seat for the Door Peninsula, enjoy a breakfast at your leisure at the Inn on Cedar Crossing, located in our downtown shopping district. It's an easy jaunt across the Historic Downtown Bridge to the Door County Maritime Museum on Sturgeon Bay's west side. Enjoy your morning learning about Door County's rich maritime history. Just outside the Maritime Museum on the waterfront, step aboard the Chicago Fireboat for lunch and a tour of Sturgeon Bay's ship canal, and see for yourself an exciting working waterfront. In the afternoon, take a drive to the Sturgeon Bay Coast Guard Station and Lights to see a lighthouse that is a beacon to seafaring travelers. For your dining delight, of course, a Door County Fish boil must be experienced. Your evening stay will be a pampered retreat in one of our beautiful waterfront resorts where luxurious amenities are at your fingertips.
An early morning call starts your day with a Sturgeon Bay Fishing Charter. The water around Sturgeon Bay is a fishery like none other in the state. The experience is exhilarating, the sunrise is breathtaking! After your catch is secured, it's time for a light lunch on the patio of the Stone Harbor Waterfront resort as you enjoy the sights and sounds of the waterfront around you. Up for a little afternoon activity? Enjoy strolling the unique shopping districts of Sturgeon Bay. As your day comes to a close, experience an incredible sunset over the waters of Sturgeon Bay. Enjoy Sturgeon Bay, Door County, All the reasons, all the seasons!
With 10 different lighthouses to explore along 300 miles of rugged coastline, the Door County Peninsula and surrounding islands are a Mecca of sorts for lighthouse enthusiasts. Start your Door County Lighthouse adventure tour by walking on the pier of the Lake Michigan Canal Station Lighthouse, located on the grounds of a working U.S. Coast Guard station near Sturgeon Bay. Here you'll see the bright red pierhead light out in the lake and will also have great views of the Canal Station light only a few hundred yards to the northwest. Your lighthouse tour continues with a scenic drive up the Lake Michigan shoreline to Cana Island, where your next stop will be the frequently photographed Cana Island Lighthouse. Pack a picnic lunch and explore the small island and the lighthouse keeper's quarters within the lighthouse. Your next stop will take you on a 20 minute drive across the peninsula to Peninsula State Park where you'll take a guided tour of Eagle Bluff Lighthouse. Enjoy the scenic views of the bay from atop the bluff and the refurbished lighthouse keeper's quarters.
If you've got an additional day to explore and are up for some serious adventure, enjoy a ferry trip to Washington Island where you'll pass by the Pilot Island Lighthouse and the Plum Island Range Lights. Once on Washington Island, head for Detroit Harbor and catch the Karfi Ferry over to Rock Island State Park, where you can hike to Pottawatomie Lighthouse, Lake Michigan's oldest lighthouse (established in 1836). Enjoy a tour of the recently refurbished keeper's quarters and even get up into the lantern room for some amazing views and a look at a replica of the original Fourth Order Fresnel Lens.
Or enjoy a two hour lighthouse cruise aboard a retired Chicago Fireboat. Embarking from downtown Sturgeon Bay next to the Door County Maritime Museum, the Door County Cruises lighthouse cruise takes passengers on a water tour of the Sherwood Point Lighthouse, the Canal Station Lighthouse and pierhead light, and the Sturgeon Bay ship canal which was dug back in the late 1800's and is now used by recreational boaters and 1,000 foot great lakes freighters.
Located at the mouth of the Oconto River as it enters the waters of Green Bay, Oconto is a classic Wisconsin harbor town rich in history.
Fishing has been a mainstay from early archaic people fishing the Oconto River, to settlers arriving via steam-powered boats to settle and fish the area commercially to the many recreational opportunities available for anglers today. In addition to fishing, the lumber industry took root in this coastal community with logs floating down the Oconto River in the mid-1800s and shipped to growing cities on Lake Michigan. Oconto's unique location along the Oconto River and the waters of Green Bay provide a variety of recreational opportunities to fisherman, powered pleasure crafts and sailing vessels.
The city of Marinette has many points of interest including, Marinette County Historical Museum - artifacts of the trading posts, Indian culture, logging and lumbering history, farming, fishing, etc. Picnicking - Red Arrow Park with extended beach and beautiful marshy area, City Park, Stephenson Island and several municipal parks, Golfing - Little River Country Club on Shore Drive, Marinette. Sail the Green Bay or boat in the Menominee River - marina, boat landings; boat charter Fish Tales Scenic Boat Cruise. Join in the fun of biking with Spokes and Folks biking club. On Riverside Drive, see the historic lumber baron homes, and commercial buildings, Statues and Monuments including our "Queen" Marinette and Senator/Pioneer Lumberman Isaac Stephenson. In downtown Marinette, visit the variety of shops and stores including Pine Tree Mall which has a 9-screen theatre. Marinette Civic Center Domes features indoor artificially cooled ice rink, indoor tennis courts and outdoor swimming pool. Michiels Dome Lanes offers bowling, volleyball, lounge, snack bar, pool tables, video games. Marinette is on the Green Bay and Menominee River either of which provides for great fishing. Enjoy performances at the Theatre-on-the-Bay at UW-Marinette or the Stephenson Islands Marinette Chamber Performing Arts Pavilion. And, finally, don't miss Marinette County Waterfalls.
Situated on the south shore of Lake Superior, the Ashland area represents Wisconsin at its very best. The city's rich history is depicted throughout the town. Six beautiful murals located in the city's downtown area illustrate the heritage and history of the coastal community. Additionally, the Historic Main Street, with renovated brown stone buildings, houses quaint and unique businesses and gift shops.
No more than 15 minutes from Ashland's city limits, the Chequamegon National Forest provides 850,000 acres of scenic landscapes, outdoor recreation and is home to several hundred wildlife species. Located just 30 minutes north of Ashland, the Apostle Islands, a 22 island archipelago, provides dramatic scenery and great angling, sea kayaking and boating opportunities.
Located on the Bayfield Peninsula at the southern gateway of the Apostle Islands, Washburn lies in the midst of a four season recreation area. Whether it be summer cruising of the Bay, exploring the historic attributes of the Apostle Islands or diving area shipwrecks Washburn provides a convenient base for exploring the heritage of Wisconsin's north coast.
Visitors can explore the many rock formations, lighthouses and pioneering settlements of Wisconsin's only national park, the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. Here's where divers will find the exploration of one of the areas many marked shipwrecks in the crystal clear waters of Lake Superior.
Escape to Bayfield, a picturesque small town on Lake Superior that is considered the gateway to the Apostle Islands. Stay at one of Bayfield's fine bed and breakfasts such as The Artesian House, a contemporary and eclectic B&B on 24 secluded acres. Then, enjoy a day of sailing on one of Bayfield's many charters, such as the Dreamcatcher, a 33' Pearson sailing yacht where you will experience the beauty of Lake Superior and the Apostle Islands. If you are looking for a more physical activity, there is the Apostle Highlands Golf Course overlooking the islands or ride on the Ferry to the island and play a round of golf on the Madeline Island Course. You could also go kayaking with Living Adventures or Trek and Trail Adventures.
Did you know that Bayfield has more than 15 fruit and flower orchards? They offer everything from fresh apples, raspberries, strawberries, and blueberries to flowers and vegetables. Take a tour of one and experience the side of Bayfield that makes it the Berry Capitol of Wisconsin. Get to know Bayfield by taking a Heritage Walking Tour or learn about the rich maritime history of this commercial fishing village by visiting the Maritime Museum or Bayfield Heritage Center. After working up an appetite, you'll want to sit back, relax and enjoy a lunch or dinner at one of Bayfield's fine restaurants. Like Maggie's, a fun restaurant with a casual atmosphere and great American cuisine.
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