While cities like Milwaukee, Madison, and Green Bay helped put Wisconsin on the map, some small but wonderful towns have put Wisconsin into people’s hearts. These towns offer equal doses of charm and character, and they welcome visitors with an experience that’s as timeless as it is vibrant. A small-town getaway could be just what you need – here are Wisconsin’s most charming small towns.
- Port Washington
Facebook / Visit Port Washington This lakeside city welcomes walkers – go ahead and park your car and explore Port Washington’s vibrant downtown shops and restaurants. There’s a lot to discover right along the waterfront.
Facebook / Visit Port Washington If you’re up for a longer walk, some lighthouses can be visited on foot – one requires a bit of a climb, but it offers panoramic views of the city.
- New Glarus
Facebook / New Glarus Chamber of Commerce When you arrive in this little town, you might feel like you’ve arrived in Switzerland. New Glarus holds its Swiss heritage close and it’s a destination that foodies love. The town’s dining scene serves up old-world favorites as well as craft beers that you won’t find anywhere else.
- Mineral Point
Facebook / Mineral Point Chamber of Commerce This town is about as historic as they come – Mineral Point is filled with buildings constructed in the 1800s when Mineral Point was a booming mining town. Today the mines are all closed, but it’s a good place to prospect for art in Mineral Point’s varied art galleries.
- Mount Horeb
Facebook / Mount Horeb, WI In Mount Horeb, you may run into some unusual residents. The town is filled with troll statues that are practically begging to be photographed. As you stroll the ”trollway,” you’ll also find some great shops and restaurants.
- Portage
Facebook / Portage Area Chamber of Commerce Portage grew up at a strategic spot between the Fox and Wisconsin rivers – it allowed paddlers to reach the Mississippi River from the Great Lakes. You can still see the old portage route, and the city still draws travelers today with a vibrant downtown shopping district, exciting events, and historical sights. The city’s slogan is “Where the North Begins.”
These small towns are just the start of the rural adventures you can have in Wisconsin. Here are small towns that offer nothing but peace and quiet.
Facebook / Visit Port Washington
This lakeside city welcomes walkers – go ahead and park your car and explore Port Washington’s vibrant downtown shops and restaurants. There’s a lot to discover right along the waterfront.
If you’re up for a longer walk, some lighthouses can be visited on foot – one requires a bit of a climb, but it offers panoramic views of the city.
Facebook / New Glarus Chamber of Commerce
When you arrive in this little town, you might feel like you’ve arrived in Switzerland. New Glarus holds its Swiss heritage close and it’s a destination that foodies love. The town’s dining scene serves up old-world favorites as well as craft beers that you won’t find anywhere else.
Facebook / Mineral Point Chamber of Commerce
This town is about as historic as they come – Mineral Point is filled with buildings constructed in the 1800s when Mineral Point was a booming mining town. Today the mines are all closed, but it’s a good place to prospect for art in Mineral Point’s varied art galleries.
Facebook / Mount Horeb, WI
In Mount Horeb, you may run into some unusual residents. The town is filled with troll statues that are practically begging to be photographed. As you stroll the ”trollway,” you’ll also find some great shops and restaurants.
Facebook / Portage Area Chamber of Commerce
Portage grew up at a strategic spot between the Fox and Wisconsin rivers – it allowed paddlers to reach the Mississippi River from the Great Lakes. You can still see the old portage route, and the city still draws travelers today with a vibrant downtown shopping district, exciting events, and historical sights. The city’s slogan is “Where the North Begins.”
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Address: Port Washington, WI, USAAddress: New Glarus, WI 53574, USAAddress: Mineral Point, WI 53565, USAAddress: Mount Horeb, Mt Horeb, WI 53572, USAAddress: Portage, WI 53901, USA
