Do West

While traveling on Interstate 94/41, you have seven opportunities to get off and explore Kenosha County!  “West of the I” is how locals refer to the portion of Kenosha that is situated west of Interstate 94/41. Whether you are visiting the area, or are a city-dweller looking to explore — take a drive out to western Kenosha County! While you may be familiar with heading east to visit Lake Michigan and Downtown Kenosha, more adventures await you to the west. And yes, we mean beyond Mars Cheese Castle and Brat Stop! (Be sure to stop and shop at these two hot spots as well!)

8:00 A.M.

Get started with breakfast at Bristol 45 Diner or Red School Café. If you want a 1950s style diner experience, Bristol 45 is the place for you. Breakfast is served all day here. Traveling with a teacher? Take them to the old schoolhouse that is home to Red School Café! The food gets an A+ grade.

9:00 A.M.

Following a hearty breakfast, take in a round of golf at Brighton Dale Links or get in your 10,000 steps at Richard Bong State Recreation Area. (Bong is a great place for camping, too! Don’t forget your s’mores supplies!)

Or, meet and feed reindeer, mule deer, and sika deer along with other familiar animals at the Paris Deer Park.

Paris Deer Park In Photos

If your pooch is traveling with you, stop and play at the Harris Family Dog Park or the Warren Close Bark Park.

11:00 A.M.

If it’s winter, enjoy lunch at Wilmot Mountain. There are multiple options — including a quick-service food court called the Ski Hill Grill or a casual dining full-service experience at Walt’s Tavern. Then spend the rest of the day skiing, snowboarding, or snow tubing!

You could also enjoy time at Old Settlers Park. Spend the day splashing at Paddock Lake with family and friends.

Any day is a good day to hit up Cup O’ Joe Coffeehouse in Twin Lakes. This “FRIENDS” themed cafe boasts beverages named after the television show’s characters and even has the infamous couch! The sandwich menu is diverse, and features breakfast bagels named after… you guessed it, JOE!

Spend an afternoon at the Bristol Renaissance Faire, climb to new heights at Boundless Adventures.

Bring your kayak to experience the Fox River Water Trail. The Fox River is Kenosha County’s largest river; the 11-mile section we have here has four non-motorized watercraft launch sites. If you have your own boat in tow, check out venues like Paddock Lake. You can use the public boat launch to cruise around the calm waters or spend the afternoon at the beach.

4:00 P.M.

As the sun starts to dip to the west, visit Kenosha County Veterans Memorial Park. The park has a focus on sustainable living education and recreation, and features beautiful walking trails, a peaceful lake for non-motorized boating, and endless photo ops. It’s also home to Honor Plaza, which is a tribute to veterans of all branches and conflicts.

6:00 P.M.

After all the afternoon adventures you’ve had, you may well be ready for a pizza from the popular Luisa’s Pizza with a side of hand-tied garlic knots! Be sure to plan dining around the many things to do in the evening — because the sun sets later in the west, which means there is more time for fun.

Enjoy an Aquanut Water Show. The Aquanuts are a six-time National Show Ski Association award-winning group that performs on Lake Mary.

Or head to the races. Motorsports entertainment can be found at Wilmot Raceway, a 3/8-mile clay, semi-banked oval.

You’ll even find a beer garden at Hansen Park during the warmer months. Adventure awaits outside the city limits, and it is beyond anything you expected.