With coastlines on two Great Lakes, expansive and exciting state parks, and miles of pristine, sandy beaches, Wisconsin is a Midwestern state to put on your must-visit list. Although Wisconsin is best known for its big, bustling cities of Madison and Milwaukee, it’s the small towns that dot the map that make visitors feel at home. If you find yourself on a road trip through Wisconsin this year, take some time to explore these charming communities.
Located in the heart of the state’s beautiful and pristine Northwoods, Minocqua is named “The Island City” due to the fact that a small portion of town is only accessible by a bridge. The charming, outdoorsy town is home to about 45 lakes, 18 campgrounds, and nine sandy beaches for swimming and sunbathing. Minocqua also offers approximately 100 boat launches, so bring your own watercraft if you’re visiting in the summer, or rent one from a local shop such as Minocqua Lakeside.
Although the Minocqua area features several hiking and biking trails, the Bearskin Trail is the most popular one since its trailhead is located right downtown. The 18-mile crushed granite trail runs along a former train rail corridor, and gives outdoor enthusiasts to see local wildlife such as bald eagles and white-tailed deer. To see animals in a more controlled setting, check out the Minocqua Zoo, which is the second-largest one in the state and houses everything from parakeets to giraffes.
Dubbed “America’s Little Switzerland,” quaint New Glarus was founded by Swiss immigrants in 1845, and and has kept its its Alpine-inspired feel through its charming architecture, ethnic special events, and Swiss restaurants and shops. The town plays host to several popular annual festivals, including the New Glarus Family Fest, Swiss Volksfest, the New Glarus Polkafest, and the Beer, Bacon, and Cheese Festival.
Start your visit to this charming town by checking out the Swiss Historical Village Museum, which depicts life on an orginal Swiss settlement in Wisconsin. The New Glarus Brewing Company is known as Wisconsin’s “hometown brewery” and produces craft beer using seasonal local ingredients, such as cranberries and cherries. The brewery offers a tasting room and is open to self-guided tours. If you’re looking for a more family-friendly attraction, you can’t beat Swissland Miniature Golf during the warm summer months.
Beautiful Bayfield is nature’s playground no matter what time of year you visit. Conde Nast Traveler placed the quaint town on its “The 23 Best Places to Go in the U.S. in 2023” list, and USA Today voted it one of the 10 Best Coastal Small Towns. Located on the scenic shores of Lake Superior, Bayfield is known as the “Gateway to the Apostle Islands,” which are easy to boat and sail to from town.
If you’re visiting during the summer, spend some time swimming at one of the town’s beaches, or go kayaking along the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, which features unique carved arches and sandstone cliffs along the Bayfield Penninsula. You can also paddle along the peaceful Madeline Island Lagoon. If you need to rent a kayak or canoe, head to Big Bay Town Park and check a boat out on a first-come-first-served basis.
Stunning Hayward is another small Northwoods town known for its abundance of sparkling lakes, miles of pristine wilderness, and one-of-a-kind natural beauty. Hayward draws in anglers from all over, as it’s considerd a world-class fishing destination for those hoping to catch walleye, musky, bass, and northern pike. Lake Hayward Public Beach is a popular spot for locals and visitors alike in the summer, as it offers a soft, sandy beach and clear water for swimming.
One of Hayward’s most notable attractions is the Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame, which is a non-profit sport fishing museum and education organization. You can’t miss the world’s largest musky sculpture that sits in front of the complex, as it measures 143 feet long, and is four stories high. The 35-acre Wilderness Zoo and Recreation Park is another must-see, family-friendly destination. The nearby Cable Natural History Museum offers naturalist-led hikes and live raptor programs.
Arts, culture, history, and outdoor recreational opportunities combine to create a unique small Wisconsin town called Lake Geneva. Just over the Illinois border, this coastal town is situated on pretty Lake Geneva and has long been known as as summer resort destination. One of the town’s biggest draws is its beaches, including Riviera Beach and Williams Bay Beach. Big Foot Beach State Park offers 5 miles of hiking trails, a family campground, and a sandy beach.
If you’re seeking a thrilling experience, spend a day at Lake Geneva Ziplines and Adventures, which features zip line tours, a climbing tower, high ropes excursions, and other heart-pumping attractions. Safari Lake Geneva is fun for the whole family, as it allows you to view herds of exotic animals,such as giraffes, from the comfort of your vehicle.
Situated in idyllic Door County, picturesque Fish Creek is Wisconsin’s ultimate summer vacation destination. No matter if you want to spend your getway on a sunny Lake Michigan beach, out on the water, or immersing yourself in local arts and culture, you’ll find it in this lakeside enclave. Fish Creek offers easy access to Peninsula State Park, which offers more than 460 campsites, hiking and biking trails, an 18-hole golf course, a lighthouse, eight miles of Lake Michigan shoreline, and sweeping Niagara Escarpment bluffs.
You can either rent a watercraft from a local outfiiter such as Nicolet Beach Rentals or Northern Door County Boat Rental, or sign up for a ride with Fish Creek Scenic Boat Tours. Other family-friendly activities include the Skyway Drive-in Theatre, Evergreen Miniature Golf, and Segway the Door Tours.
Situated at the crest of Wisconsin’s Driftless Area amongst the Baraboo Bluffs, historic Baraboo is a small Midwest town like no other. Baraboo is the hometown of the world-famous Ringling Brothers Circus, and delights visitors with the unique Circus World Museum. The colorful attraction offers seven buildings of exhibits, as well as live shows.
Nature enthusiasts will fall in love with nearby Devil’s Lake State Park, which is located along the Ice Age National Scenic Trail and offers breathtaking views of the lake from 500-foot quartzsite bluffs. The park also features 30 miles of hiking trails, sandy swimming beaches, quaint picnic areas, and opportunities for fishing, cross-country skiing, rock climing, and much more. At the end of a action-packed day in nature, treat yourself to a glass of wine at the Balanced Rock Winery.
No matter what time of year your find yourself traveling through the dynamic Upper Midwest state of Wisconsin, you’ll come across a charming small town just awaiting exploration. Although Wisconsin is known for its pristine lakes and wilderness areas, as well as opportunities for fishing and swimming, its quaint communities also come to life with no shortage of history, arts and culture.
Storms Friday night but a dry weekend ahead in SE Wisconsin
More storms are likely Friday night before our weather quiets down for Easter weekend in SE Wisconsin
RIGHT AFTER WORLD NEWS WITH DAVID MUIR AT 530. THANK YOU DIANA. SHOWERS AND STORMS ARE MOVING IN, BUT IT WILL NOT BE A REPEAT OF LAST NIGHT. THAT’S GOOD NEWS, MARK. THE CHANCE OF SEVERE WEATHER IS VERY LOW. IT IS VERY GOOD BECAUSE NO, I WOULDN’T WANT TO HAVE A REPEAT OF LAST NIGHT. THANKFULLY, WE’RE NOT GOING TO DO THAT. WE DO HAVE SOME SHOWERS ROLLING IN. IT’S A ROUND OF EVENING SHOWERS, BUT A LOT OF THIS IS FALLING APART. I THINK IT’S MAINLY GOING TO BE A COUPLE OF SPRINKLES BY THE TIME IT GETS TO MILWAUKEE. RAIN AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE LIKELY OVERNIGHT. A COUPLE OF STRONG STORMS POSSIBLE. YES. RAIN MOVES OUT BY EARLY SATURDAY. MOST OF SATURDAY IS DRY. IT GETS BREEZY. TEMPERATURES. NOT BAD THOUGH. WE’LL MAKE IT INTO THE MID 50S. ALL RIGHT. FOR THE REST OF TONIGHT YOUR SEVERE THREAT LEVEL ONE AGAIN. LAST NIGHT WE ARE LEVEL THREE ON THE SEVERE THREAT INDEX. WE’RE NOT THERE. ANY KIND OF THREAT WOULD BE HAIL. THAT’S THAT’S OUR ONLY WORRY. I’M NOT WORRIED ABOUT TORNADOES. ANYTHING LIKE THAT. SO A LOW CHANCE OF SOME HAIL. ANY OF THE THREATS ARE VERY LOW. VERY LOW THREAT OF DAMAGING WINDS THAT SHOULD STAY WAY SOUTH. VERY, VERY, VERY, VERY LOW THREAT OF TORNADOES. I’M ALWAYS SCARED TO PUT ZERO THREAT OF TORNADOES, BUT IT’S CLOSE TO ZERO FLOODING. WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT? WE ARE WATERLOGGED. AND SO IT’S NOT GOING TO TAKE THAT MUCH RAIN. WE COULD GET UP TO AN INCH OF RAIN AND THAT WOULD CAUSE SOME ISSUES. NOTICE HOW THIS CONTINUES TO FALL APART. IT’S A STEADY RAIN THOUGH IN WESTERN WAUKESHA COUNTY. IT’S STARTING TO MOVE INTO THE CITY OF WAUKESHA AND INTO PEWAUKEE AS WELL. THUNDERSTORMS BACK OUT TO THE WEST OF US. THE SEVERE THREAT REALLY, I THINK IS WELL, SOUTH. THAT’S WHERE THE WARMER AIR IS LOCATED. IT’S NOT HERE. SO AS WE HEAD THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT, THAT MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, WE BRING IN SHOWERS AND SOME THUNDERSTORMS, MAYBE A LITTLE SMALL HAIL IN THERE AS WELL. THE COLDER AIR STARTS WRAPPING BACK IN AS WE HEAD INTO SATURDAY NIGHT. MAYBE EVEN ENOUGH TO GET A PASSING FLURRY JUST IN TIME FOR EASTER MORNING. BUT THAT’S NOT GOING TO LAST LONG. EASTER IS OKAY. I WOULDN’T SAY IT’S GREAT, BUT IT’S ALL RIGHT. IT’S 49 DEGREES, A FEW SPRINKLES EARLY, EARLY, EARLY ON SATURDAY. IT’S GONE BY 8:00 AT THE LATEST. THE REST OF THE DAY IS FINE. HOW ABOUT EASTER? WELL, WE START OUT PRETTY CHILLY, 33 AT 7 A.M. IF YOU’RE GOING TO DO EASTER EGG HUNTS. ONE. IF IT’S OUTSIDE, YOU BETTER DRESS FOR IT AND ALSO BE READY FOR THE MUDDY BECAUSE IT IS GOING TO BE WET. WE’RE WET ALL OVER, BUT WE’RE GREENING THINGS UP PRETTY QUICKLY HERE, THANKS TO THE FACT THAT WE’VE HAD ALL THAT RAIN YESTERDAY. 1.8IN OF RAIN IN MILWAUKEE 39 RIGHT NOW IN ELKHART LAKE, 46 DEGREES IN DELAVAN, WHERE YOU’VE HAD A PASSING SHOWER, BUT THAT HAS MOVED ON. NOT EXACTLY SEEING ANYTHING WARM UNLESS YOU GO HERE 81 DEGREES DOWN IN SAINT LOUIS. YOU CAN CLEARLY SEE WHERE THE FRONT IS LOCATED. ALL RIGHT, EARLY SPRINKLES. A BREEZY DAY FOR TOMORROW. MOST OF THE DAY IS DRY, AND I DO THINK WE’LL SEE SOME SUNSHINE OFF. AND ON EASTER SUNDAY DRY, WHICH IS NICE. 49 IT’S KIND OF NICE BECAUSE MOST OF THE STRETCH AFTER WE GET THROUGH TONIGHT IS QUIET. MONDAY AND TUESDAY ARE QUIET. TUESDAY, OF COURSE, IS ELECTION DAY HIGH OF ONLY 38. SO DRESS WARMLY HEADING TO THE POLLS AND THEN WE WARM RIGHT BACK UP IN THE 50S. CHANCES FOR SHOWERS AS WE HEAD INTO THURSDAY AND FRIDAY. IT’S OKAY.
Storms Friday night but a dry weekend ahead in SE Wisconsin
More storms are likely Friday night before our weather quiets down for Easter weekend in SE Wisconsin
Updated: 6:30 PM CDT Apr 3, 2026
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More storms are likely Friday night before our weather quiets down for Easter weekend in SE Wisconsin
More storms are likely Friday night before our weather quiets down for Easter weekend in SE Wisconsin
We found no evidence that liberal Wisconsin Appeals Court Judge Chris Taylor has supported allowing noncitizens to vote.
Taylor and conservative state Appeals Court Judge Maria Lazar are running in the April 7 Wisconsin Supreme Court election.
A Lazar ad claimed Taylor is “pushing for noncitizen voting.”
Lazar’s campaign cited:
Taylor’s opposition, while a Democratic state lawmaker, to the Republican-backed 2011 state law requiring identification to vote.
Her introduction of a 2017 bill, which did not become law. It would have provided driver’s licenses to unauthorized residents, but the licenses would have been labeled: “Not valid for voting purposes.”
Taylor’s opinion, in a 2024 appeals court ruling, which said absentee ballots count even if voters’ witnesses fail to give election clerks their full address. Citizenship is required to vote in Wisconsin, but Wisconsin election officials generally do not verify citizenship when a person registers.
This <a target=”_blank” href=”https://wisconsinwatch.org/2026/04/wisconsin-supreme-court-candidate-taylor-lazar-noncitizen-voting-election-campaign-ad/”>article</a> first appeared on <a target=”_blank” href=”https://wisconsinwatch.org”>Wisconsin Watch</a> and is republished here under a <a target=”_blank” href=”https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/”>Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License</a>.<img src=”https://i0.wp.com/wisconsinwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/cropped-WCIJ_IconOnly_FullColor_RGB-1.png?fit=150%2C150&quality=100&ssl=1″ style=”width:1em;height:1em;margin-left:10px;”>
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The president of Wisconsin’s largest mosque was detained by federal immigration agents, drawing accusations from local officials and religious leaders that the arrest was motivated by his statements against Israel.
Salah Sarsour, a Palestinian-born legal permanent resident of the United States, was taken into custody by nearly a dozen US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents on Monday in Milwaukee after he left his home, according to the Islamic Society of Milwaukee.
Supporters called for his immediate release on Thursday and his attorneys said he was detained on the grounds that he is a foreign policy threat. His attorneys say the claims have no merit.
Instead, they believe Sarsour, 53, was targeted for speaking out against Israel and for a conviction as a minor by Israeli military courts, which have faced scrutiny over allegations of limited due process and high conviction rates of Palestinians. Israel rejects those claims. The offenses included allegedly throwing rocks at Israeli officers, according to attorney Munjed Ahmad.
“Our government should not be doing the bidding of a foreign government,” Ahmad said of Israel. “There’s no question in my mind is that this is to stifle the discourse on the Palestinian narrative.”
Attorneys said Sarsour, born in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, has no criminal record in the US.
Sarsour’s attorneys have likened the case to that of Mahmoud Khalil, a former Columbia University activist who faces deportation because the federal government said he was a foreign policy threat.
An email message left on Thursday for ICE and the Department of Homeland Security was not immediately returned.
Sarsour has been the president of the Islamic Society of Milwaukee, the largest Islamic organization in the state, for five years. His attorneys say he’s held a green card for years and lived in the Milwaukee area. His wife and four adult children are US citizens.
His arrest prompted outcry from top elected officials, including Milwaukee’s mayor, Cavalier Johnson, who called it “an outrage”.
“He is a legal permanent resident. There is no substantive evidence he has done anything wrong,” Johnson said in a post on X. “This is another example of overreach and harm from the U.S. Immigration authorities.”
Sarsour is being held at county jail outside Indianapolis. His attorneys have filed a petition seeking his release.
“He is ready to fight tooth and nail to make sure that he’s not drug through the mud,” Ahmad said. “He wants to stay in this country.”
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