Wisconsin
A Scenic Waterfall Anchors Wisconsin’s Idyllic Milwaukee Suburb With Shops, Trails, And Creative Charm – Islands
For an easy getaway from Milwaukee filled with gorgeous natural scenery and artistic spirit, this charming pocket of Wisconsin has it all. Like Westby and its unique Scandinavian flair, Menomonee Falls is one of the best hidden gems in Wisconsin, thanks to its small town charm brimming with history, a thriving local community bursting with artistry, and even a stunning waterfall or two. To reach this adorable suburb, fly into Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport, which is a 35-minute drive from town. Be sure to also spend some time in Milwuakee, which is a lively Midwestern city with beaches, breweries, and bliss. Buses also operate from the airport into the Menomonee Falls area, leaving every 20 minutes and requiring just under an hour ride. However, the closest bus stop is a few miles outside of town, meaning you will then need a taxi or Uber ride into Menomonee Falls.
Menomonee Falls is also easily accessible from other major cities like Madison, which is an hour-and-a-half away by car, and Chicago, which is a roughly two hour drive. Accommodation options are somewhat limited right in Menomonee Falls — but the 3-star Home2 Suites by Hilton Menomonee Falls Milwaukee is a well-rated choice. Here, enjoy amenities like free breakfast, free parking, a fitness center, and a pool. You’re also just about 30 minutes from Grafton, Wisconsin’s growing Milwaukee suburb with a vibrant downtown, giving you a chance to explore more of the charming Midwest.
Scenic nature in Menomonee Falls
Nature is abundant around Menomonee Falls, so be sure to spend some time outdoors while you’re here. One of the area’s best green spaces is the 16-mile Bugline Trail, which stretches from Menomonee Falls all the way to North Lake in nearby Merton. Along this paved trail, you can still see some of the limestone quarries that date back to the town’s early years.
You don’t need to venture far to see Menomonee Falls’ waterfalls — right within the downtown district, on Main Street, find one of the town’s highlights, the Leper Dam. First constructed in 1851 for a flour mill, the current dam dates back to 1954 and is a must-see. Tucked within the 2.5-acre Mill Pond Park, you’ll also find a picturesque gazebo and occasional outdoor events in this local cornerstone. To visit the town’s namesake falls, head to the 19-acre Lime Kiln Park — apart from the falls, find preserved lime kilns which date back to the late 1800s. And if you’d like to get a more complete look at Menomonee Falls’ rich history, head to Old Falls Village Historical Park and Museum, an 18-acre historical park that features historic homes and buildings, and often other events ranging from reenactments to beer gardens and orchestra concerts.
Menomonee Falls’ vibrant downtown
Tucked within Menomonee Falls’ downtown, you’ll discover an array of enchanting shops and creative corners. One of the town’s most delightful spaces is Poppy & Thyme, where you’ll find all sorts of handmade goods ranging from home goods to bath products. And if you haven’t found exactly what you’re looking for, why not make it yourself? Here, you can make your own custom perfume, candle, or even nail polish, meaning you’ll walk away with a Menomonee Falls souvenir that’s truly perfect for you.
As long as you’re with less than four people total, no need to make a reservation — just feel free to drop in and grab a seat at the make and take bar. If you’re planning to visit on a Saturday though, you still may want to make a reservation, as seats are first come, first served. The Art Lounge is another gem. Here, you’ll get to enjoy a cafe serving up flatbread pizza, cheesecake, beer, wine, and more, alongside an art gallery that offers numerous classes, workshops, and other lively events like music nights. The Art Lounge is closed on Sundays and Mondays. For even more options, take a quick stroll down Main Street, as it’s home to an assortment of boutique stores, restaurants, and other eclectic shops.
In a bit of a surprise, Wisconsin Badgers starting center Jake Renfro is using a medical hardship year and entering the transfer portal for his final season of eligibility.
Renfro, a sixth-year senior in 2024, battled numerous injuries this season, limiting him to only four games after having season-ending surgery. He was a full-time starter for Wisconsin in 2024 after missing the entire 2023 season except for the team’s bowl game due to injury.
Prior to his time at Wisconsin, Renfro had played for head coach Luke Fickell at Cincinnati for three seasons. He played in seven games as a freshman in 2020, making six starts at center. He then was the full-time starter as a sophomore in 2021, earning All-AAC honors before missing the entire 2022 season due to injury.
Now, he’s set to come back to college football for a seventh year, rather than turn pro, and will look to do so at another school.
“I want to thank Coach Fickell, the entire coaching and training staff, my teammates, and the University of Wisconsin for everything over the past three seasons,” Renfro wrote. “I am grateful for the support, development, friendships, and memories I have made during my time in Madison. After much prayer and consideration, I have decided to enter the transfer portal and use a medical hardship year to continue my college football journey. I will always appreciate my time as a Badger.”
Renfro was one of the biggest supporters of Fickell publicly, being a vocal leader on the team as the starting center.
With his departure, Wisconsin could need a new starting left tackle, left guard, and center next season, depending on whether Joe Brunner heads to the NFL or returns for another season.
Wisconsin volleyball coach Kelly Sheffield discusses tournament win
Wisconsin volleyball coach Kelly Sheffield commented on the Badgers’ ‘huge’ win over North Carolina in the second round of the NCAA tournament.
MADISON — It did not take long for Alicia Andrew to text her younger sister after watching the NCAA volleyball selection show with her Wisconsin teammates in a lounge area in the south end zone of Camp Randall Stadium.
“I was like, ‘Girl!’” Andrew said. “She’s like, ‘I know! I’ll see you in Texas! And I was like, ‘I’m so excited!’”
Andrew will not see her younger sister in the Gregory Gym stands like any other family members, but rather on the court as an opposing player in the Badgers’ NCAA tournament regional semifinal match against Stanford.
Alicia Andrew is a 6-foot-3 redshirt senior middle blocker for Wisconsin. Lizzy Andrew is a 6-foot-5 sophomore middle blocker for Stanford. The sisters will play against each other for the first time with a spot in the NCAA regional finals on the line.
“Certainly when you’re having two high-level Division I starters on teams that are top five, top 10 in the country playing the same position, that’s pretty unique,” Wisconsin coach Kelly Sheffield said. “They’re both talented and competitive. But I also know that the players aren’t going to make it about themselves or the person that’s on the other side of the net. They’re parts of teams that are trying to move on and move forward and play great volley.”
Alicia has naturally fielded questions about the sibling rivalry, but she is “not reading too much into rivalry stuff and just playing this sport.”
“It’s another game,” she said after a recent UW practice. “Yes, it’s her across the net. But it’s a business. We both want to move on to the next round.”
Both players have played key parts in their respective teams’ path to this stage.
Alicia, after transferring from Baylor, is the only UW player to appear in all 98 sets this season and one of five to appear in all 30 matches. She is second on the team with 111 blocks, barely trailing fellow middle blocker Carter Booth’s 119.
“Really wants to be good for the people around her,” Sheffield said of Alicia. “Wants to do her job. Takes pride in her job. There’s a maturity, but yet there’s a playfulness that is a really good balance for her. Love coaching her. She’s wired the right way. She really is.”
Lizzy, meanwhile, ranks seventh in the country with a .441 hitting percentage in 2025 after earning a spot on the all-ACC freshman team in 2024. She also has experience playing with the U.S. U21 national team.
“I’m so proud of how hard she worked and her journey to Stanford,” Alicia said. “She puts in so much work, and she just loves the sport of volleyball. And I have loved watching her grow. It’s been fun to see her get better and better every year. And this past season, she’s been playing lights out.”
That pride has turned Alicia into a frequent viewer of ACC volleyball, of course whenever it has not conflicted with the Badgers’ own matches.
“We try to watch as many of each other’s games as we can, and I always just love watching her play,” she said. “I’m so proud of her. She’s just worked her tail off at Stanford, so to see her excel has been so fun.”
The Andrew sisters — Alicia, Lizzy and Natalie, who is on the rowing team at the U.S. Naval Academy — competed together in high school. (They also have a younger brother, William.) Competing against each other is a new concept for them, though.
“We’re not huge trash talkers, neither one of us,” Alicia said. “So I think that she’s going to play her game. I’m going to play my game. We’re going to have our heads down. There might be some looking across and smiling because we make the exact same expressions and quirky faces and reactions.”
The sisters don’t look the same – Lizzy has blonde hair and Alicia has brown hair. But Alicia quickly sees the resemblance with those on-court mannerisms.
“If there’s a silly play or if there is like a really unexpected dump or something, she’ll turn around and make the exact same face that I will,” Alicia said. “And it’s funny watching her on TV because I’m like, ‘Wow, that looks scary familiar.’”
They have some similarities off the court, too.
“We’re just goobers,” Alicia said. “We just like to have a good time together. Obviously she’s my little sister, but we have always been a close family — like all the siblings — so I feel like we’ve done all the things together growing up in all the sports.”
The Andrew parents are perhaps the biggest winners of the NCAA tournament bracket.
“My parents were super excited,” Alicia said. “They don’t have to split the travel plan, so they can save some frequent flyer miles there and both be in Texas. … They’re always trying to coordinate all the schedules.”
The Andrew family made T-shirts for the unique sisterly matchup. (Alicia thinks she is getting one considering they asked her and Lizzy for their shirt sizes in the family group chat.) The shirts are black, too, so there is no favoritism between Wisconsin and Stanford’s variations of cardinal red.
“They have a Stanford ‘S’ and a tree on it and then a Wisconsin ‘W’ and a little Badger on it, too,” Andrew said. “They’re really excited about these shirts. They’re being non-biased; they’re repping both daughters.”
RICHMOND TOWNSHIP, Wis. (FOX 9) – A crash in western Wisconsin killed an 8-year-old boy and seriously injured a 27-year-old Wednesday morning.
Fatal crash in Richmond Township, Wisconsin
What we know:
According to St. Croix County, just before 10 a.m., deputies responded to a crash on the 1500 block of County Road A.
Authorities say that a 27-year-old woman was driving a van southbound, and lost control on an icy curve and collided with another vehicle.
The woman suffered serious injuries from the crash and was taken to the hospital to be treated, law enforcement said. The boy was critically injured, and was also taken to the hospital, where he later died.
Both were wearing seat belts during the crash.
The driver of the other vehicle was treated for minor injuries at the scene and was released.
This is the 10th traffic fatality in St. Croix County.
What we don’t know:
The current condition of the woman is unknown.
The Source: A press release from St. Croix County Sheriff’s Office.
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