Everyone remembers field trip days. Freedom from boring school work and droning teachers and getting to escape the confines of your school building were enough to get you excited, no matter where you were headed. You may not have gone to all of these exact places as a kid, but you probably went somewhere similar. The best part of this list, though, is that you can fill in any gaps in your childhood education or revisit any of these places – these Wisconsin field trips aren’t just for kids!

  1. Old World Wisconsin - Eagle

Facebook/Old World Wisconsin An open-air museum, Old World Wisconsin’s more than 60 historic farm and village buildings comprise the world’s largest museum dedicated to the history of rural life. Old World Wisconsin, W372 S9727 WI-67, Eagle, WI 53119, USA

The museum sits on 480 acres and depicts rural life in the late 19th century in Wisconsin.

Facebook/Old World Wisconsin Furthermore, the museum also seeks to show how the different ethnicities that settled in the area may have lived. In addition to field trips, they host adventure camps, workshops, and historic baseball games.

  1. State Capitol Building - Madison

Flickr/Basharat Alam Shah The current building, the third capitol building in Madison, began in late 1906 and was completed in 1917 at a cost of $7.25 million. Wisconsin State Capitol, 2 E Main St, Madison, WI 53703, USA

The Capitol is 284 feet, 5 inches tall from the ground floor to the top of the statue on top of the dome. A 1990 state law prevents any building within one mile of the capitol from being taller than the base of the columns surrounding and supporting its dome.

Flickr/Justin Kern From 1988 to 2002 the capitol underwent a renovation and restoration project costing $158.8 million. The project converted the capitol into a modern working building, while undoing some work done in previous decades in order to restore it to its original 1917 appearance.

The statue on top is called “Wisconsin” and it wears a helmet with a badger on top. It is made of hollow bronze covered with gold leaf. The statue is 15 feet, 5 inches tall.

Flickr/Edward Stojakovic Many people think that statue is called “Forward” - the state motto - but there’s a separate statue with that name on the Capital ground. The capitol building is located at 2 E Main St, Madison, WI, 53703.

  1. Havenwoods Environmental Center - Milwaukee

Flickr/Michael Pereckas A 237 acre forest that contains grasslands, woods and wetlands, Havenwoods Environmental Center was created as an urban green space and environmental education center. It is managed by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Services. Havenwoods Environmental Awareness Center, 6141 N Hopkins St, Milwaukee, WI 53209, USA

  1. House on the Rock - Spring Green

Flickr/niXerKG Opened to the public in 1960, House on the Rock is an architectural marvel that dates back to 1945 when a man named Alex Jordan decided to build a retreat as awe-inspiring as the view from the rock upon which the House would eventually be built.

It went on to become an intricate mix of displays and architecture. The House on the Rock, 5754 WI-23, Spring Green, WI 53588, USA

Jordan never meant to turn the house into a museum. He just bought and built things for his and his guests’ amusement. And the house continued to grow.

Flickr/Justin Kern

  1. National Railroad Museum - Green Bay

Flickr/Larry Darling The Wisconsin train museum houses a massive collection of rolling stock including 11 steam locomotives, 14 diesel locomotives, 20 passenger cars, 15 freight cars, six cabooses and an electric locomotive as well as a large archive, artifact and photograph collection. National Railroad Museum, 2285 S Broadway, Ashwaubenon, WI 54304, USA

The museum is one of the oldest institutions in the United States dedicated to preserving and interpreting the nation’s railroad history. It was founded in 1956 by community volunteers in Green Bay.

Flickr/Andrew Phelps

  1. Milwaukee County Zoo - Milwaukee

Flickr/Rob Zschernitz One of the best parts of visiting the Milwaukee County Zoo are the peacocks that roam free on the grounds. Milwaukee County Zoo, 10001 W Bluemound Rd, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA

With more than 200 acres and 2,200 animals representing 330 species of animals, there’s plenty to see at the Milwaukee Zoo.

Flickr/vigilant20 The zoo has seasonal hours, so be sure to check their website for specific dates and times.

  1. Cave of the Mounds - Blue Mounds

Filckr/JoshuaSmith The Wisconsin caves were discovered in 1939 by working mining limestone. Now a National Natural Landmark, the Caves have welcomed millions of visitors in their 75 years. Cave of the Mounds Road, Cave of the Mounds Rd, Blue Mounds, WI 53517, USA

It takes approximately 100 years for cave onyx, or calcite, to grow one inch. The Cave is more than 1 million years old

Flickr/e_bass The caves have a seasonal schedule, so check their website for specific hours.

  1. International Crane Foundation - Baraboo

Facebook/International Crane Foundation The largest crane conservatory in the U.S., the International Crane Foundation works to conserve cranes and the ecosystems, watersheds, and flyways on which they depend. International Crane Foundation, E11376 Shady Lane Rd, Baraboo, WI 53913, USA

The facility in Baraboo is 300 acres and is home to a captive crane population of 15 different species.

Facebook/International Crane Foundation

  1. Yerkes Observatory - Williams Bay

Flickr/Sandor Weisz Yerkes Observatory is a facility of the Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics of the University of Chicago. From the time it was established in 1897 until the mid-1960s, it housed all of the Department’s activities. Now it is provides laboratory space for research and instruction. Yerkes Observatory, 373 W Geneva St, Williams Bay, WI 53191, USA

  1. Wisconsin Maritime Museum - Manitowoc

Wisconsin Maritime Museum/Google Local The Wisconsin Maritime Museum combines the history of Manitowoc as a submarine manufacturer during World War II along with preserving the maritime history of Wisconsin and the Great Lakes region. Wisconsin Maritime Museum, 75 Maritime Dr, Manitowoc, WI 54220, USA

Though the USS Cobia wasn’t one of the 28 submarines built in Manitowoc, it’s a National Historic Landmark. It’s billed as the most intact WW II Submarine in the nation and as having to the oldest working radar in the world.

Flickr/jcox5432 The museum has seasonal hours, so check their site for exact information.

  1. Peshtigo Fire Museum - Peshtigo

Flickr/Jenni Konrad On October 8, 1871, a firestorm roared through Peshtigo and surrounding areas, killing over 2,000 people and destroying the entire city. It was the deadliest fire in U.S. history. Peshtigo Fire Museum, 400 Oconto Ave, Peshtigo, WI 54157, USA

The Peshtigo site is the first registered historical marker in the state.

Flickr/Jenni Konrad

  1. Mitchell Park Domes - Milwaukee

Flickr/Jenni Konrad A series of three domes connected with a central lobby, the Mitchell Park Domes are a conservatory, each with a different climate and setting for the plants they house. There is a floral show dome, an arid dome and a tropical dome. Mitchell Park Domes, 524 S Layton Blvd, Milwaukee, WI 53215, USA

A conservatory has been in this location since 1898. The Domes were completed in 1967.

Flickr/Brian Moore

  1. University of Wisconsin Arboretum - Madison

Flickr/Brian Ranck The University of Wisconsin Arboretum is widely recognized as the site of historic research in ecological restoration, the Arboretum includes the oldest and most varied collection of restored ecological communities in the world. University of Wisconsin–Madison Arboretum, 1207 Seminole Hwy, Madison, WI 53711, USA

The arboretum is 1,200 acres on site and 513 acres in outlying areas.

Flickr/Richard Hurd

  1. Horicon Marsh - Horicon

Flickr/chumlee10 Horicon Marsh was formed from an extinct glacial lake and is the largest cattail marsh in the country. The marsh is on the migratory path of Canada Geese and can see upwards of 200,000 geese in fall. There are also egrets, pelicans, herons, reptiles, amphibians and marsh mammals. Horicon Marsh, Wisconsin, USA

  1. Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church - Milwaukee

Flickr/Keith Ewing The Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in Milwaukee was as designed by architect Frank Lloyd Wright in 1956. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The church is one of Wright’s last works. It was completed in 1961, after his death. Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, 9400 W Congress St, Wauwatosa, WI 53225, USA

At the time of its completion, the building cost was estimated at $1.5 million. It has seating for 1,000.

Flickr/Keith Ewing

Depending on where you grew up, your field trips varied. Where else did you go as a kid that you think would be amazing to revisit as an adult? What were your favorite Wisconsin field trips as a kid?

Facebook/Old World Wisconsin

An open-air museum, Old World Wisconsin’s more than 60 historic farm and village buildings comprise the world’s largest museum dedicated to the history of rural life.

Old World Wisconsin, W372 S9727 WI-67, Eagle, WI 53119, USA

Furthermore, the museum also seeks to show how the different ethnicities that settled in the area may have lived. In addition to field trips, they host adventure camps, workshops, and historic baseball games.

Flickr/Basharat Alam Shah

The current building, the third capitol building in Madison, began in late 1906 and was completed in 1917 at a cost of $7.25 million.

Wisconsin State Capitol, 2 E Main St, Madison, WI 53703, USA

Flickr/Justin Kern

From 1988 to 2002 the capitol underwent a renovation and restoration project costing $158.8 million. The project converted the capitol into a modern working building, while undoing some work done in previous decades in order to restore it to its original 1917 appearance.

Flickr/Edward Stojakovic

Many people think that statue is called “Forward” - the state motto - but there’s a separate statue with that name on the Capital ground. The capitol building is located at 2 E Main St, Madison, WI, 53703.

Flickr/Michael Pereckas

A 237 acre forest that contains grasslands, woods and wetlands, Havenwoods Environmental Center was created as an urban green space and environmental education center. It is managed by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Services.

Havenwoods Environmental Awareness Center, 6141 N Hopkins St, Milwaukee, WI 53209, USA

Flickr/niXerKG

Opened to the public in 1960, House on the Rock is an architectural marvel that dates back to 1945 when a man named Alex Jordan decided to build a retreat as awe-inspiring as the view from the rock upon which the House would eventually be built.

It went on to become an intricate mix of displays and architecture.

The House on the Rock, 5754 WI-23, Spring Green, WI 53588, USA

Flickr/Larry Darling

The Wisconsin train museum houses a massive collection of rolling stock including 11 steam locomotives, 14 diesel locomotives, 20 passenger cars, 15 freight cars, six cabooses and an electric locomotive as well as a large archive, artifact and photograph collection.

National Railroad Museum, 2285 S Broadway, Ashwaubenon, WI 54304, USA

Flickr/Andrew Phelps

Flickr/Rob Zschernitz

One of the best parts of visiting the Milwaukee County Zoo are the peacocks that roam free on the grounds.

Milwaukee County Zoo, 10001 W Bluemound Rd, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA

Flickr/vigilant20

The zoo has seasonal hours, so be sure to check their website for specific dates and times.

Filckr/JoshuaSmith

The Wisconsin caves were discovered in 1939 by working mining limestone. Now a National Natural Landmark, the Caves have welcomed millions of visitors in their 75 years.

Cave of the Mounds Road, Cave of the Mounds Rd, Blue Mounds, WI 53517, USA

Flickr/e_bass

The caves have a seasonal schedule, so check their website for specific hours.

Facebook/International Crane Foundation

The largest crane conservatory in the U.S., the International Crane Foundation works to conserve cranes and the ecosystems, watersheds, and flyways on which they depend.

International Crane Foundation, E11376 Shady Lane Rd, Baraboo, WI 53913, USA

Flickr/Sandor Weisz

Yerkes Observatory is a facility of the Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics of the University of Chicago. From the time it was established in 1897 until the mid-1960s, it housed all of the Department’s activities. Now it is provides laboratory space for research and instruction.

Yerkes Observatory, 373 W Geneva St, Williams Bay, WI 53191, USA

Wisconsin Maritime Museum/Google Local

The Wisconsin Maritime Museum combines the history of Manitowoc as a submarine manufacturer during World War II along with preserving the maritime history of Wisconsin and the Great Lakes region.

Wisconsin Maritime Museum, 75 Maritime Dr, Manitowoc, WI 54220, USA

Flickr/jcox5432

The museum has seasonal hours, so check their site for exact information.

Flickr/Jenni Konrad

On October 8, 1871, a firestorm roared through Peshtigo and surrounding areas, killing over 2,000 people and destroying the entire city. It was the deadliest fire in U.S. history.

Peshtigo Fire Museum, 400 Oconto Ave, Peshtigo, WI 54157, USA

A series of three domes connected with a central lobby, the Mitchell Park Domes are a conservatory, each with a different climate and setting for the plants they house. There is a floral show dome, an arid dome and a tropical dome.

Mitchell Park Domes, 524 S Layton Blvd, Milwaukee, WI 53215, USA

Flickr/Brian Moore

Flickr/Brian Ranck

The University of Wisconsin Arboretum is widely recognized as the site of historic research in ecological restoration, the Arboretum includes the oldest and most varied collection of restored ecological communities in the world.

University of Wisconsin–Madison Arboretum, 1207 Seminole Hwy, Madison, WI 53711, USA

Flickr/Richard Hurd

Flickr/chumlee10

Horicon Marsh was formed from an extinct glacial lake and is the largest cattail marsh in the country. The marsh is on the migratory path of Canada Geese and can see upwards of 200,000 geese in fall. There are also egrets, pelicans, herons, reptiles, amphibians and marsh mammals.

Horicon Marsh, Wisconsin, USA

Flickr/Keith Ewing

The Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in Milwaukee was as designed by architect Frank Lloyd Wright in 1956. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The church is one of Wright’s last works. It was completed in 1961, after his death.

Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, 9400 W Congress St, Wauwatosa, WI 53225, USA

Looking for more underrated Wisconsin day trips? Here are some of our favorite places to take out-of-towners when they visit Wisconsin!

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.

The OIYS Visitor Center

Wisconsin field trips December 29, 2022 Sarah M. What are the best Wisconsin day trips? The above list of Wisconsin field trips are all perfect day trip destinations, and if you’re looking for more unique day trips, check out these places:

Daggett Memorial Park. Boasting as much history as beauty, the park, more specifically its granite, gained worldwide fame after being named the world’s strongest. A visit to this amazing park is one of the most unique things to do around Wisconsin. Cherry Train Tours. The best way to see all Washington Island has to offer is the Cherry Train Tour, which operates seasonally from mid-May through mid-October. Fun for all ages, the two-hour open-air tram tour takes passengers to some of the island’s best features and attractions. Wegner Grotto. Dubbed a “sculpture complex,” the Paul & Matilda Wegner Grotto is small town gem is hiding in Sparta. A real feast for the eyes, it’s filled with incredible pieces of artwork – all of which are made from shards of glass. This really is an amazing spot to experience in person and definitely among the best day trips in Wisconsin! Witches Gulch. Witches Gulch is an incredible spot worthy of exploring. And while many choose to hike through the area, it’s not the only way to explore it. You can also take a horse-drawn carriage ride through the scenic canyon. If you’re searching for unique things to do around Wisconsin, a trip to Witches Gulch should definitely be on your day trip list. St. Peter’s Dome. Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest is a Wisconsin treasure that’s beautiful all year-round, though especially stunning in autumn when it’s drenched in vibrant foliage. And the best place to soak in the seasonal hues that fill the forest is St. Peter’s Dome, the highest point in the area. All in all, according to locals, Wisconsinites, and tourists alike it is one of the best places to visit in Wisconsin! The Dells. The Wisconsin Dells is the self-proclaimed “Waterpark Capital of the World” and it’s a top destination in the region for good times and family fun. If you’re looking for some adults-only fun, however, there’s one special spot that caters specifically to adults. It’s a waterpark within a waterpark and the perfect place to go if you feel like escaping to the Caribbean without leaving Wisconsin!

The OIYS Visitor Center

Wisconsin field trips

December 29, 2022

Sarah M.

What are the best Wisconsin day trips? The above list of Wisconsin field trips are all perfect day trip destinations, and if you’re looking for more unique day trips, check out these places:

Daggett Memorial Park. Boasting as much history as beauty, the park, more specifically its granite, gained worldwide fame after being named the world’s strongest. A visit to this amazing park is one of the most unique things to do around Wisconsin. Cherry Train Tours. The best way to see all Washington Island has to offer is the Cherry Train Tour, which operates seasonally from mid-May through mid-October. Fun for all ages, the two-hour open-air tram tour takes passengers to some of the island’s best features and attractions. Wegner Grotto. Dubbed a “sculpture complex,” the Paul & Matilda Wegner Grotto is small town gem is hiding in Sparta. A real feast for the eyes, it’s filled with incredible pieces of artwork – all of which are made from shards of glass. This really is an amazing spot to experience in person and definitely among the best day trips in Wisconsin! Witches Gulch. Witches Gulch is an incredible spot worthy of exploring. And while many choose to hike through the area, it’s not the only way to explore it. You can also take a horse-drawn carriage ride through the scenic canyon. If you’re searching for unique things to do around Wisconsin, a trip to Witches Gulch should definitely be on your day trip list. St. Peter’s Dome. Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest is a Wisconsin treasure that’s beautiful all year-round, though especially stunning in autumn when it’s drenched in vibrant foliage. And the best place to soak in the seasonal hues that fill the forest is St. Peter’s Dome, the highest point in the area. All in all, according to locals, Wisconsinites, and tourists alike it is one of the best places to visit in Wisconsin! The Dells. The Wisconsin Dells is the self-proclaimed “Waterpark Capital of the World” and it’s a top destination in the region for good times and family fun. If you’re looking for some adults-only fun, however, there’s one special spot that caters specifically to adults. It’s a waterpark within a waterpark and the perfect place to go if you feel like escaping to the Caribbean without leaving Wisconsin!

The OIYS Visitor Center

The OIYS Visitor Center

The above list of Wisconsin field trips are all perfect day trip destinations, and if you’re looking for more unique day trips, check out these places:

  • Daggett Memorial Park. Boasting as much history as beauty, the park, more specifically its granite, gained worldwide fame after being named the world’s strongest. A visit to this amazing park is one of the most unique things to do around Wisconsin.
  • Cherry Train Tours. The best way to see all Washington Island has to offer is the Cherry Train Tour, which operates seasonally from mid-May through mid-October. Fun for all ages, the two-hour open-air tram tour takes passengers to some of the island’s best features and attractions.
  • Wegner Grotto. Dubbed a “sculpture complex,” the Paul & Matilda Wegner Grotto is small town gem is hiding in Sparta. A real feast for the eyes, it’s filled with incredible pieces of artwork – all of which are made from shards of glass. This really is an amazing spot to experience in person and definitely among the best day trips in Wisconsin!
  • Witches Gulch. Witches Gulch is an incredible spot worthy of exploring. And while many choose to hike through the area, it’s not the only way to explore it. You can also take a horse-drawn carriage ride through the scenic canyon. If you’re searching for unique things to do around Wisconsin, a trip to Witches Gulch should definitely be on your day trip list.
  • St. Peter’s Dome. Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest is a Wisconsin treasure that’s beautiful all year-round, though especially stunning in autumn when it’s drenched in vibrant foliage. And the best place to soak in the seasonal hues that fill the forest is St. Peter’s Dome, the highest point in the area. All in all, according to locals, Wisconsinites, and tourists alike it is one of the best places to visit in Wisconsin!
  • The Dells. The Wisconsin Dells is the self-proclaimed “Waterpark Capital of the World” and it’s a top destination in the region for good times and family fun. If you’re looking for some adults-only fun, however, there’s one special spot that caters specifically to adults. It’s a waterpark within a waterpark and the perfect place to go if you feel like escaping to the Caribbean without leaving Wisconsin!