Cleaning off your car, dead batteries, shoveling driveways and frozen skin are just a few of the reasons that Wisconsinites curse winter. Yet despite all the downsides to the cold months here, there’s also something ethereal, magical and downright charming about winter in Wisconsin. It might not always be easy to remember, but Wisconsin can feel a bit like a fairytale in the winter – almost too good to be true.
Here are 14 places across the state you can go to escape reality a bit and pretend you truly moved to join Santa at the North Pole:
- Wisconsin Christmas Carnival of Lights - Caledonia
Facebook.com/WisconsinChristmasCarnivalOfLights
Facebook.com/WisconsinChristmasCarnivalOfLights I suppose any number of Christmas light displays would work, but this one just has that extra special bit of enchantment where the lights are dripping from the trees and sparkling in the snow and make it feel especially like a winter fairytale.
- Madison
Flickr/McBeth
From pick-up pond-hockey games …
Facebook.com/EdgewaterMadison
… to snowshoeing on the lakes …
Facebook/EdgewaterMadison
… to outdoor ice skating rinks …
Facebook/EdgewaterMadison
.. there’s just so much to do in Madison that will make you feel like you’re far from home.
Flickr/Richard Hurd
- Cedarburg
Facebook.com/CedarburgChristmas
Facebook.com/CedarburgChristmas
Facebook.com/CedarburgChristmas This quaint town just north of Milwaukee already has charm in spades, but when you dress it up in Christmas cheer, it becomes all the more magical. It feels like a different time as well a a different place. It feels like where Santa goes to stroll for presents and cocoa.
- Country Christmas - Waukesha
Country Christmas The largest outdoor light display in the state lets you stay in your car and be dazzled by thousands of lights. It feels like what a drive home in the North Pole might be like.
- Lake Winnebago
Flickr/Kat B.
Flickr/Lauro Maia Just look at this ice and snow - can Santa’s house be far away?
- Tyrol Basin - near Mount Horeb
Flickr/WIDNR
Flickr/WIDNR This ski and snowboard area is where the elves would go to blow off some steam. Picturesque setting and all levels of runs make this the perfect place to strap on some skiis.
- The Shores of Lake Michigan
Flickr/erin_pass
Flickr/Tom Gill Our great lake doesn’t freeze all the way over, but especially in the southern part of the state the waters get icy and beautiful.
- Big Orange Moose - Black River Falls
Flickr/Amy Meredith Though we call ourselves the Tundra, we don’t have a lot in the way of arctic wildlife. But this big orange guy seems like the kind of photo op tourist attraction Santa would have in a North Pole town square. Not only that, but this guy comes with a pretty awesome legend that fits right in with Santa’s mystique.
- Hoan Bridge - Milwaukee
Flickr/Michael Pereckas
Flickr/Jim Bauer Listen, there’s no way Santa gets all those gifts delivered without the North Pole having a bit of an industrial side. And if that’s true, I feel like the area around the Hoan Bridge would be pretty much how it looks. There’s often sea smoke, the winter winds kick up some cool waves and the near-shore waters start to freeze over.
- Tripp Falls Ravine - Menominee
Flickr/Aaron Carlson Not only does this frozen waterfall capture all that’s amazing about winter, but it’s easily accessible. Frozen with possibilities, it embodies all that we think about the North Pole.
- Door County
Flickr/Elvis Kennedy
Facebook.com/DoorCountySledDogs
Flickr/Elvis Kennedy With its frozen coastline, small town charm and even the sled dogs, Door County has all the things you could want for a quaint and perfect Christmas.
- Lake Superior
Flickr/Michael Janke There’s something really cool about being able to literally walk on water and visit places in winter that are virtually inaccessible in summer.
- Chequamegon - Nicolet National Forest
Flickr/S.B. Tuska
Flickr/S.B. Tuska Remote and pristine, the forest makes you feel alone in the world and like you’ve stumbled upon a secret winter playground.
- Apostle Island Ice Caves
Flickr/The Cut
Flickr/The Cut
Flickr/The Cut If I hadn’t seen so many pictures, I’d be hard pressed to believe these magical caves actually exist. They feel too amazing and gorgeous to be true.
Where else do you go in Wisconsin to pretend you live somewhere magical for a few hours?
Facebook.com/WisconsinChristmasCarnivalOfLights
I suppose any number of Christmas light displays would work, but this one just has that extra special bit of enchantment where the lights are dripping from the trees and sparkling in the snow and make it feel especially like a winter fairytale.
Flickr/McBeth
Facebook.com/EdgewaterMadison
Facebook/EdgewaterMadison
Flickr/Richard Hurd
Facebook.com/CedarburgChristmas
This quaint town just north of Milwaukee already has charm in spades, but when you dress it up in Christmas cheer, it becomes all the more magical. It feels like a different time as well a a different place. It feels like where Santa goes to stroll for presents and cocoa.
Country Christmas
The largest outdoor light display in the state lets you stay in your car and be dazzled by thousands of lights. It feels like what a drive home in the North Pole might be like.
Flickr/Kat B.
Flickr/Lauro Maia
Just look at this ice and snow - can Santa’s house be far away?
Flickr/WIDNR
This ski and snowboard area is where the elves would go to blow off some steam. Picturesque setting and all levels of runs make this the perfect place to strap on some skiis.
Flickr/erin_pass
Flickr/Tom Gill
Our great lake doesn’t freeze all the way over, but especially in the southern part of the state the waters get icy and beautiful.
Flickr/Amy Meredith
Though we call ourselves the Tundra, we don’t have a lot in the way of arctic wildlife. But this big orange guy seems like the kind of photo op tourist attraction Santa would have in a North Pole town square. Not only that, but this guy comes with a pretty awesome legend that fits right in with Santa’s mystique.
Flickr/Michael Pereckas
Flickr/Jim Bauer
Listen, there’s no way Santa gets all those gifts delivered without the North Pole having a bit of an industrial side. And if that’s true, I feel like the area around the Hoan Bridge would be pretty much how it looks. There’s often sea smoke, the winter winds kick up some cool waves and the near-shore waters start to freeze over.
Flickr/Aaron Carlson
Not only does this frozen waterfall capture all that’s amazing about winter, but it’s easily accessible. Frozen with possibilities, it embodies all that we think about the North Pole.
Flickr/Elvis Kennedy
Facebook.com/DoorCountySledDogs
With its frozen coastline, small town charm and even the sled dogs, Door County has all the things you could want for a quaint and perfect Christmas.
Flickr/Michael Janke
There’s something really cool about being able to literally walk on water and visit places in winter that are virtually inaccessible in summer.
Flickr/S.B. Tuska
Remote and pristine, the forest makes you feel alone in the world and like you’ve stumbled upon a secret winter playground.
Flickr/The Cut
If I hadn’t seen so many pictures, I’d be hard pressed to believe these magical caves actually exist. They feel too amazing and gorgeous to be true.
Looking for more Wisconsin Christmas places? Check out Here Are The 10 Most Enchanting, Magical Christmas Towns In Wisconsin
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