After a long week at work, what better way to get ready for the next week than taking a mini holiday for the weekend? There are many smaller towns, cities and villages for a tranquil escape from the Milwaukee area. Whether you are traveling with a family or not, many Wisconsin areas have activities and hotels perfect for your needs without spending excessive amounts of money.
Even on the coldest winter day, Wisconsin Dells, on Lake Delton, is the perfect weekend getaway for families or couples. The city is home to a number of inclusive resorts such as The Wilderness, Great Wolf Lodge and Kalahari that have indoor activities to amuse the children, and spa treatments for mom and dad. These resorts have restaurants on-site as well as amenities such as cable TV, Wi-Fi and fireplaces in each room. Aside from the resorts, many attractions including shopping, indoor golf karts, restaurants and museums are open year round. If you go during winter months, rooms are near 50 percent off the normal price. For an adults-only night, check out the nearby Ho-Chunk Casino to test your luck at gambling.
Madison is a short getaway from Milwaukee. As Wisconsin's state capital there are many museums and attractions to peruse such as the state capitol, The Wisconsin Historical Museum and Wisconsin Veteran's Museum. Along State Street there are many specialty shops to browse before or after the farmer's market held every Saturday during spring through fall. Art has a big influence on Madison as well, and the galleries and museums are small, but significant such as The Madison Museum of Contemporary Art. There are not many hotels downtown, but near the malls on the east and west side of town you can book cheap rooms at many large chain hotels.
Only one hour north of Milwaukee is family-friendly Sheboygan. This city is much smaller than Milwaukee with a quaint downtown full of specialty shops and restaurants as well as lakeside parks. Families can enjoy an inclusive stay at Blue Harbor resort along Lake Michigan. Blue Harbor is a sister resort to the Dells' Great Wolf Lodge. Inside there are a variety of water parks, an arcade, four restaurants and a spa. Those interested in a basic hotel have a variety to choose from such as Harbor Winds Hotel or Holiday Inn Express. The cheapest time to go is during the off-season (from November through May), but web specials are available many times throughout the year.
