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7 Best Small Towns in Wisconsin to Visit in 2024

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7 Best Small Towns in Wisconsin to Visit in 2024


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.

Minocqua

Lakeside boat house in Minocqua, Wisconsin. Editorial credit: Jason Patrick Ross / Shutterstock.com

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.

New Glarus

Shops in New Glarus, Wisconsin.
Shops in New Glarus, Wisconsin.

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.

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Bayfield

Cityscape view of Bayfield, Wisconsin, as seen from the shores of Lake Superior.
Cityscape view of Bayfield, Wisconsin, as seen from the shores of Lake Superior.

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.

Hayward

Boating at Norman Lake in Hayward, Wisconsin
Boating at Norman Lake in Hayward, Wisconsin. Image credit RicoPatagonia via Shutterstock

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.

Lake Geneva

Lakefront hotels in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin
Lakefront hotels in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. Editorial credit: lito_lakwatsero / Shutterstock.com

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.

Fish Creek

Beautiful aerial sunset on the water in Fish Creek, Wisconsin.
Beautiful aerial sunset on the water in Fish Creek, Wisconsin.

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.

Baraboo

The Ringling Theater building in Baraboo, Wisconsin
The Ringling Theater building in Baraboo, Wisconsin. Editorial credit: lynn friedman / Shutterstock.com

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.

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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.



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Insider: Wisconsin Man Charged With Possession Of Virtual Child Pornography

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Insider: Wisconsin Man Charged With Possession Of Virtual Child Pornography


POLK COUNTY (DrydenWire) – An investigation by the Wisconsin Department of Justice, Division of Criminal Investigation, into multiple cybertips from Google about suspected child sexual abuse materials has resulted in felony charges for a Wisconsin Man.

Cody Struemke, age 27, of Amery, WI, is facing nearly a dozen charges for possessing child pornography, including Felony Possession of Virtual Child Pornography.

The criminal complaint against him alleges that Struemke saved a photo from Facebook of juveniles known to him, and digitally edited the photo to make it appear they were nude.

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Wisconsin health professionals share tips to protect against respiratory illnesses

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Wisconsin health professionals share tips to protect against respiratory illnesses


MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) -Respiratory illness season has begun in Wisconsin, with health professionals reporting increased flu cases and higher demand for medications and vaccines.

Over-the-counter medicines are flying off the shelves at Forward Pharmacy in McFarland, according to manager Tony Peterangelo.

“We’ve had to increase like how much of some of that stuff we’ve kept on hand,” Peterangelo said. “We had to make some special orders to really bulk up on some of it too.”

Forward Pharmacy manager Tony Peterangelo filling prescriptions as the respiratory illness season begins.(WMTV/Camberyn Kelley)

Upland Hills physician Benjamin Hecht said the respiratory illness season typically begins after Thanksgiving.

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“As of right now, we are just starting in the last week or two to see some Influenza A. Last year was a pretty tough flu year for us, influenza in Wisconsin. It’s still to be seen how severe of a year this is going to be in 2025-26,” he said.

Respiratory viruses are hard to avoid according to the Upland Hills physician.

“You can wear masks and wash your hands a ton, but you’re going to get exposed to these viruses at some point,” Dr. Hecht said.

RSV poses concern for young children

Dr. Hecht said another concern this season is RSV, particularly for young children with developing immune systems.

“The kids that get this, especially the really young kids, that don’t have a mature immune system, they can get pretty sick from RSV. That’s a particularly scary one. If you’re in a position where you qualify to get that vaccination or perhaps your kids do, please consider that,” Dr. Hecht said.

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Forward Pharmacy is meeting demand for vaccines, which Peterangelo said can help protect against viruses.

“All of that stuff reduces the need to scramble on the back end to get antibiotics and cough suppressants. It doesn’t completely reduce your risk, but it reduces it enough that your likelihood of getting that is down,” Peterangelo said.

Forward Pharmacy is meeting demand for vaccines, which Peterangelo said can help protect...
Forward Pharmacy is meeting demand for vaccines, which Peterangelo said can help protect against viruses.(WMTV/Camberyn Kelley)

The pharmacy has given out dozens of flu and covid shots in a day.

“I would say maybe in the 60 to 80 range,” Peterangelo said.

Dr. Hecht said influenza B will come later in the season. He recommends people with severe respiratory symptoms like breathing troubles to see a doctor.

“The big thing is just living a healthy lifestyle, staying well hydrated, getting good sleep, doing what you can with physical activity and exercise to make sure your immune system is in tip top shape,” Dr. Hecht said.

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According to new CDC data, doctor visits for flu-like symptoms rose to more than 3% in the last two weeks. The majority of flu cases are caused by a mutated strain that causes more severe illness, particularly among older adults.

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Former Trump aides appear in Wisconsin court over 2020 election fraud charges

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Former Trump aides appear in Wisconsin court over 2020 election fraud charges


MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Two attorneys and an aide who all worked on President Donald Trump’s 2020 campaign appeared in court Monday for a preliminary hearing in Wisconsin on felony forgery charges related to a fake elector scheme.

The Wisconsin case is moving forward even as others in the battleground states of Michigan and Georgia have faltered. A special prosecutor last year dropped a federal case alleging Trump conspired to overturn the 2020 election. Another case in Nevada is still alive.

The Wisconsin case was filed a year ago but has been tied up as the Trump aides have fought, unsuccessfully so far, to have the charges dismissed.

The hearing on Monday comes a week after Trump attorney Jim Troupis, one of the three who were charged, tried unsuccessfully to get the judge to step down in the case and have it moved to another county. Troupis, who the other two defendants joined in his motion, alleged that the judge did not write a previous order issued in August declining to dismiss the case. Instead, he accused the father of the judge’s law clerk, a retired judge, of actually writing the opinion.

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Troupis, who served one year as a judge in the same county where he was charged, also alleged that all of the judges in Dane County are biased against him and he can’t get a fair trial.

Dane County Circuit Judge John Hyland said he and a staff attorney alone wrote the order. Hyland also said Troupis presented no evidence to back up his claims of bias and refused to step down or delay the hearing.

Republican U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson asked the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate the allegations.

The same judge will determine at Monday’s hearing whether there’s enough evidence to proceed with the charges against the three.

The former Trump aides face 11 felony charges each related to their roles in the 2020 fake elector scheme. In addition to Troupis, the other defendants are Kenneth Chesebro, an attorney who advised Trump’s campaign, and Mike Roman, Trump’s director of Election Day operations in 2020.

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The Wisconsin Department of Justice, headed by Democratic Attorney General Josh Kaul, brought the felony forgery charges in 2024, alleging that the three defrauded the 10 Republican electors who cast their ballots for Trump in 2020.

Prosecutors contend the three lied to the Republicans about how the certificate they signed would be used as part of a plan to submit paperwork to then-Vice President Mike Pence, falsely claiming that Trump had won the battleground state that year.

The complaint said a majority of the 10 Republicans told investigators that they were needed to sign the elector certificate indicating Trump had won only to preserve his legal options if a court changed the outcome of the election in Wisconsin.

A majority of the electors told investigators that they did not believe their signatures on the elector certificate would be submitted to Congress without a court ruling, the complaint said. Also, a majority said they did not consent to having their signatures presented as if Trump had won without such a court ruling, the complaint said.

Federal prosecutors who investigated Trump’s conduct related to the Jan. 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol riot said the fake electors scheme originated in Wisconsin.

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The Trump associates have argued that no crime took place. But the judge in August rejected their arguments in allowing the case to proceed to Monday’s preliminary hearing.

Trump lost Wisconsin in 2020 but fought to have the defeat overturned. He won the state in both 2016 and 2024.

The state charges against the Trump attorneys and aide are the only ones in Wisconsin. None of the electors have been charged. The 10 Wisconsin electors, Chesebro and Troupis all settled a lawsuit that was brought against them seeking damages.

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This story has been corrected to show that the attorneys who are charged formerly worked on Trump’s campaign, but are still practicing attorneys.

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