Wisconsin Hot Spots — Cool Places

Ready to plan your next event, but tired of the same old Wisconsin location options? NYC is expensive, Chicago is been-there-done-that, and LA is just too over-the-top. Wouldn’t it be nice to find a town with all the amenities you need, and none of the headaches of those other “trendy” locales?

You’re in luck! Take a little road trip with us. We think you’ll be pleasantly surprised when you arrive at these hidden gems, hot spots, and cool places!

Hit the road and journey to a vibrant group of cities, towns and villages that line the shores of Lake Winnebago and the Fox River.  Known as the Fox Cities, they include Appleton, Kaukauna, Menasha, and Neenah, along with the villages of Combined Locks, Harrison, Hortonville, Kimberly, Little Chute and Sherwood, and the towns of Buchanan, Clayton, Freedom, Grand Chute, and Greenville. With dozens of hotels, restaurants, gorgeous parks, trails, championship golf courses, amusement parks and even spas, you’ll feel confident you picked the perfect place. Fox Cities CVB can help you with a free meeting planner’s guide, site tours, and even a customized microsite.

Let’s turn right and head south, arriving at one of Wisconsin’s most enchanting areas — Lake Geneva - overflowing with charm, history, comfortable accommodations, fine dining, and shopping. Year round, this area is alive with activity from festivals to fairs, orchards to wineries, tennis, golf, bowling, hiking, biking and more. The pros at Lake Geneva CVB will make sure your guests feel right at home.

The west is considerably less wild, and much more inviting when you discover the waterpark capital of the world, Wisconsin Dells.  Even though they’re world famous for their indoor and outdoor waterparks, there’s even more to the Dells than you know. The folks at the Wisconsin Dells VCB will be happy to help you discover things to do (like golf, gaming and live entertainment); find a comfy place to stay (like a resort, hotel, B&B, cabin, or cottage); and even recommend the best places to eat and drink (from fine dining to kid friendly). It’s what they do and they do it well.

Just 90 minutes west of the Dells, you’ll arrive at a place rich with history, natural wonders, comfortable rooms and so many things to do you’ll have a hard time picking just one. Explore LaCrosse want to invite you to experience one of the prettiest places on the Mississippi that features local festivals, arts and culture, amazing recreational opportunities like fishing, golf and biking, wine tastings, breweries and even ball games.

Continue traveling toward the setting sun until you arrive at Eau Claire. The pros at Visit Eau Claire are ready to welcome you to a community rich in arts, culture, great activities, restaurants, shops and all those things you look for in a destination. Hike the scenic trails that wind along the Chippewa and Eau Claire rivers; ride along hundreds of miles of bike trails; visit museums, experience art, even learn the legends of Paul Bunyan.  

At the end of the day, you can put the brakes on and discover that you’ve arrived at River Falls where the River Falls Chamber of Commerce + Tourism Bureau eagerly await your arrival.  Ranked as one of the best small cities in the country, it’s a perfect combination of outdoor activities, arts, cultural events, and hometown charm. Whether winter or summer, this gem of a town invites you to stay, eat, shop and play, while taking in a little history, a lot of nature, and a friendly population that will welcome you back again and again.

View our complete directory of Wisconsin event destinations here.