Looking for a Lake Michigan getaway with art, history, and waterfront charm? Head to Kenosha, Wisconsin! Located between Milwaukee and Chicago, Kenosha offers a relaxed lakeside atmosphere with museums, streetcars, farmers markets, and beaches. Whether you're here for a weekend stroll along the harbor or exploring vintage streetcars, Kenosha delivers small-city fun with big lake views.
Kenosha, WI Highlights:
- For History Buffs: Visit the Civil War Museum – A state-of-the-art museum telling the Upper Midwest’s story during the American Civil War with immersive exhibits and artifacts.
- For Art Lovers: Explore the Kenosha Public Museum – Natural history, fine art, and rotating exhibits in a modern lakefront space.
- For Families: Ride the Kenosha Electric Streetcar – Vintage electric trolleys loop through downtown and along the waterfront—fun and scenic!
- For Beachgoers: Relax at Simmons Island Beach – Sandy shores, a boardwalk, and a historic lighthouse make this a must on sunny days.
- For Shoppers: Visit the Kenosha HarborMarket – A lively farmers market with local produce, crafts, live music, and lake views (Saturdays).
Best Time to Visit Kenosha, WI
The best time to visit Kenosha is from late spring through early fall (May–October). Summer is ideal for beach days, festivals, and farmers markets. Fall brings colorful leaves and lake breezes, while winter offers festive events and quiet museum exploration.
How to Get to Kenosha, WI
- By Car: Located just off I-94, Kenosha is about 1 hour north of Chicago and 45 minutes south of Milwaukee.
- By Train: Metra’s Union Pacific North Line runs between downtown Chicago and Kenosha (the last stop), making day trips easy.
- By Air: The nearest airports are General Mitchell International Airport (MKE) in Milwaukee and O'Hare International Airport (ORD) in Chicago.
Where to Stay in Kenosha, WI
- Recommended for Families: Wyndham Garden Kenosha Harborside – Waterfront hotel with indoor pool and lake views near the downtown museums and restaurants.
- For Budget Travelers: Country Inn & Suites by Radisson – Comfortable, affordable, and conveniently located off the highway.
- For a Boutique Stay: The Stella Hotel & Ballroom – A stylish renovated former Elks Lodge with rooftop dining and a downtown location.
Best Things to Do in Kenosha, WI
1. Anderson Arts Center
Rating: ★★★★★
Established in 1992, the Anderson Arts Center is dedicated to the promotion of the arts, including fine art, music, dance, literature, and drama. Housed in an historic 9,000-square-foot French Tudor mansion, the center features six significant local and regional art exhibits every year as well as performances, educational workshops, symposiums, lectures, and special events. Visitors can enjoy a variety of fun activities such as music and art classes, ballroom dance classes, kids summer art camp, and special holiday events. The Anderson Arts Center also has a gift shop that sells a variety of items, such as handcrafted jewelry, ceramics, furniture, artwork, and more, and hosts the Twilight Jazz Free Outdoor Concert series on the lawn outside the center on select Tuesday evenings from June through August.
6603 3rd Ave, Kenosha, WI 53143, Phone: 262-653-0481
2. Civil War Museum
The Civil War Museum is dedicated to showcasing the contributions of the Upper Midwest to the Civil War. Established in 2008, the Civil War Museum features an array of exhibits that focus on the personal stories of people involved in the war, such as U.S. veterans and soldiers who took part in various conflicts from the Revolutionary War to present-day wars. The museum boasts a variety of exhibits, displays, and a movie on the Civil War as well as hosts several educational programs, classes, and workshops throughout the year. The Civil War Museum also hosts SPARK! – a monthly program for people living with early to mid-stage memory loss and their care partners.
5400 1st Ave, Kenosha, WI 53140, Phone: 262-653-4141
Recommended Activities for Families
3. Dinosaur Discovery Museum
The Dinosaur Discovery Museum is dedicated to the exploration and explication between modern birds and meat-eating dinosaurs. Established in 2006 and housed in a renovated 1908 Beaux-Arts historic landmark building, the museum is the only museum that focuses on the evolution of birds from non-avian dinosaurs and features the largest skeletal cast collection of theropods (meat-eating) dinosaurs in the country. The museum has a range of permanent and traveling exhibits, such as the interactive exhibit known as Little Clint: The Story of a Baby Dinosaur, which follows the journey of a juvenile T. rex from birth to fossilization, excavation, the lab, and finally the museum. The Dinosaur Discovery Museum is also home to the Carthage Institute of Paleontology, a gift shop, and a variety of complimentary educational programs for adults and families.
5608 10th Ave, Kenosha, WI 53140, Phone: 262-653-4450
4. Gateway Classic Cars
Gateway Classic Cars is a national classic automobile museum that specializes in selling classic, collectible, and exotic cars for private sellers, collectors, and estates. The world's most significant classic and collector car company, Gateway Classic Cars has sold over 34,000 classic and collectible cars since 1999, with a massive inventory of classic cars and over 1,800 vehicles for sale on any given day. Knowledgeable sales staff are on hand to share their expertise with prospective customers, interested visitors, or automobile aficionados, and shipping assistance is available to US and international buyers.
9949 58th Pl #400, Kenosha, WI 53144, Phone: 262-891-4253
5. Hawthorn Hollow Nature Sanctuary and Arboretum
The Hawthorn Hollow Nature Sanctuary and Arboretum is dedicated to cultivating an appreciation, understanding, and stewardship of the region’s local and natural heritage through a variety of environmental education and sanctuary preservation programs. The Hawthorn Hollow Nature Sanctuary and Arboretum features a nature center with several exhibits, displays and information boards, historic buildings for classes, clubs, and special occasions, and an arboretum with an array of fauna and flora. Guided group tours of the sanctuary are available for schools, groups, and nature clubs for a nominal fee.
880 Green Bay Rd, Kenosha, WI 53144, Phone: 262-552-8196
6. Historic Streetcars
Kenosha’s Historic Streetcars are one of the city’s top attractions and provide a 2-mile scenic loop tour of the town, which includes two historic districts, the downtown business district, the HarborPark development, and the Lake Michigan shoreline. The beautifully restored electric streetcars are also known as electric trolleys and stop at the McCarthy Transit Center, 8th Avenue, 54th Street, and the METRA train station, allowing visitors to hop on and off at will to explore the city.
724 54th St. Kenosha, WI 53140, Phone: 262-653-4287
Attractions for Couples
7. Rustic Road Brewing
Rustic Road Brewing has a simple philosophy – they aim to remain true to their roots as a small-batch artisan brewery which produces innovative, delicious and varied beers for all tastes. Their intimate and welcoming Tap Room features 14 of their own beers on tap as well as a couple of guest brews. Their range includes a selection of IPA’s, traditional American Pale Ale, Lager, Pilsner, fruit beer and more. The food menu has all your favorite traditional bar snacks as well as soups, sandwiches, sliders and more. Visitors are welcome to join in the nightly entertainment which includes open mic nights, trivia nights, bingo and more.
Rustic Road Brewing, 5706 6th Ave, Kenosha, WI 53140, 262 320 7623
8. Jerry Smith Produce & Pumpkin Farm
Founded in the 1970s, the Jerry Smith Produce & Pumpkin Farm is a family-owned and operated business that has been serving the community for more than 40 years. Open mid-June through October, the Jerry Smith Produce Country Store sells a range of homegrown produce and pick-your-own produce (depending on the season). The farm also offers a variety of fun activities for the whole families, including hayrides, corn mazes, pick-your-own-produce days, a giant jumping pumpkin, a petting zoo, pony and camel rides, and a country store with freshly baked bread and cookies and delicious homemade goodies.
7150 18th St, Kenosha, WI 53144, Phone: 262-859-2645
9. Kemper Center
Situated on the grounds of 17.5-acre Kenosha County Park overlooking Lake Michigan, the Kemper Center is a unique complex with a conference center, the Civil War-era Durkeen Mansion, a beautiful historic chapel, and the fine arts Anderson Arts Center. Dedicated to preserving the historic nature of the site and its buildings, the Kemper Center also offers a range of educational programs that focus on the region’s local history and its arts as well as several cultural, educational, and recreational activities for visitors of all ages. The Kemper Center is also home to the Griffin Observatory, which offers visitors the opportunity to see the universe and gaze at the stars using modern technology from within a historical setting.
6501 3rd Avenue, Kenosha, WI 53143, Phone: 262-925-8040
10. Kenosha HarborMarket
Kenosha HarborMarket™ is an open-air, bustling European-style mixed market that hosts over 150 vendors each week during the outdoor season. Located along 2nd Avenue between 54th and 56th Streets in downtown Kenosha, Kenosha HarborMarket™ sells a wide variety of produce and products from fresh organic fruits and vegetables to eggs, cheeses, meats, and flowers along with a selection of deliciously prepared foods and beverages. Established in 2003, Kenosha HarborMarket™ is the city’s top market and, regardless of the season, is dedicated to providing both locals and visitors with top quality produce, freshly baked artisan treats, handcrafted soaps and candles, and other homemade goods.
514 56th St (Winter Location), Kenosha, WI 53140, Phone: 262-914-1252
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