Bay Beach Amusement Park
Green Bay

Back in 1892, this city park on the shores of Green Bay rented out swimsuits for 10 cents apiece. These days, we recommend bringing your own swimsuit. The park now includes a "vast" picnic area, several walking paths, a wading pool for children, and a large amusement park area with rides and concessions. Over the years, prices have remained "very low" with "25 cent ride tickets," so "families can easily afford it." This way, after you get off the bumper cars and tilt-a-whirl, you'll have money left over for cotton candy and sno-cones while taking in "beautiful views overlooking the bay." Read more.

Chocolate Fest
Burlington

Move over, Hershey, Pennsylvania. When late spring rolls around, this "humble town of 10,000 citizens becomes centered around chocolate" for four days filled with games, food, music, rides, contests, bakeoffs, parades, and much more. This "wonderful family event" also features live music from several local bands as well as a few notable headliners. However, the crowning achievement is a behemoth chocolate sculpture that is "carved up and sold off in pieces" at the end of the festival. All of this combined makes it "well worth a day trip" from Milwaukee for a "sweet taste of Wisconsin culture." Read more.

Ella's Deli
Madison

When you need a fix of matzo ball soup and French-fried dill pickles, this "crazy old deli" will oblige. Sit down at one of the glass-topped tables and feast your eyes on "amazing interior decorations," which include a collection of miniature circus-themed toys that "pop out of boxes and fly overhead." Kids will absolutely love it, plus they get their own two-page menu from which to choose. While some say "the desserts are better than the actual meals," you can't go wrong with one of the open-faced sandwiches, followed by the giant ice-cream-covered pound cake. Read more.

The Mount Horeb Mustard Museum
Mount Horeb

You have to figure that a town in which the "main street is lined with trolls carved out of wood" has a sense of humor. Mount Horeb sure does, and you'll find that humor on display, along with thousands of varieties of mustard at this unique and educational attraction that is "half mustard shop, half mustard museum." If you're a fan of this great condiment, this is the place to go--you'll find over 4,700 jars, bottles, and tubes of this golden paste from all 50 states and over 60 countries in the museum, and over 500 for sale in the shop. There are also free daily movies at the "Mustard Piece Theatre" along with mustard-related artifacts. As if that weren't mustardy enough, this is also the home of Poupon U., America's (dare we say, first) Mustard College. Note: the first Saturday in August is National Mustard Day, and yes, they hold a mustard festival to celebrate. Read more.

American Players Theatre
Spring Green

Only 45 minutes west of Madison, this wooded amphitheater just off the Wisconsin River stages live Shakespeare and other plays in its naturally scenic setting. Performing classics like The Merchant of Venice, Much Ado About Nothing, and Tennessee Williams’ The Night of the Iguana, the "really spectacular" stage company, founded in 1979, is not to be missed. Read more.