Wisconsin trips that will make winter a wonderland

Have family visiting over the holidays, and need entertainment ideas?  Susanne Thiede-Barnet from Wisconsin Travel Best Bets joined us live on the CBS 48 News at 4 with some ideas.

Thiede-Barnet had ideas that are close to the Milwaukee area, and some that are a more of a trek.

West Bend

Located in Washington County, just 45 minutes north of Milwaukee

Geocaching

Known as Geocaching Capital of the Midwest with 1,500 geocaches in a 10-mile radius

Winter/snow adds a fun element to the hunt

Downhill skiing/snowboarding, tubing

Visit Little Switzerland – 18 runs, including black diamond runs and one with a 200-foot vertical drop. Also has three terrain parks with rails and ramps and jumps.

For tubing, check out Sunburst Ski Area – they have 45 lanes, making them the world’s largest tubing park. Runs are ¼ mile long and have 100 foot drop.

Minocqua

Located in Oneida County about 3 hrs and 45 minutes north of Milwaukee

Northwoods winter fun all in one place

Visit Minocqua Winter Park for more than 60 miles of trails, expertly groomed for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing

Also have fat biking trails, snow tubing, and skijoring (Norwegian for “ski driving” where your dog pulls you on cross-country skis)

Located in a gorgeous pine tree forest with picturesque tall trees

Also have equipment rentals and instructors on site

Zip lining

Also in Minocqua, Northwoods Zip Line

Eight lines, six adventure bridges

Fly over ravines and valleys, in and out of 100-foot-tall white and red pines and over 1,000 feet of frozen lake

Ladysmith

Located in Rusk County about 4.5 hours northwest of Milwaukee

Around the county, riders can explore 300 miles of trails of clean and quiet hills and forests

Most picturesque trails run through the Blue Hills (remnants of a mountain range which take on a bluish color in the morning mist)

Several heated warming shelters along the trails, great for a quick stop and several restaurants and supper clubs along the trails as well

Middleton

Located in Dane County about 1.5 hours west of Milwaukee, near Madison

Snowshoe the Pheasant Branch Conservancy

Wide paths, easy terrain, 480 acres to explore

Pheasant Branch looks very different in winter than summer

Different birds, wildlife than you’ll see other times of year

Very serene and quiet, but is still close to the city with plenty of restaurants and shopping