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If you’re looking for a weekend escape from the city, Fond du Lac is the perfect place. The city is located in the east-central area of the state on the southern end of Lake Winnebago.
The French term “Fond du Lac” means “Farthest point of the lake” and was given to the city by early French traders because it was located at the foot of Lake Winnebago. The city is home to just over 43,000 and offers many things to do in its short period.
Things to do in Fond du Lac Wisconsin
There are plenty of best places or attractions to keep you busy, from exploring the area’s natural beauty to sampling the local cuisine and culture. Here are some of the top things to do in Fond du Lac
Children’s Museum
The Children’s Museum in Fond du Lac is the perfect place to take your kids for a day of fun and learning. The museum has been open since 2013, and it offers a variety of exhibits that are both educational and entertaining.
Exhibits such as the great toddler reef exhibit allow children under four to explore an underwater world. The space consists of a boat filled with soft shapes, a seashell island, bubble mirrors, hanging jellyfish, and a climbing spot.
The Shadow Safari exhibit is a walk-through adventure where kids can learn about different animals and habitats. The Transportation Station exhibit is an interactive play area with train tables, cars, and other transportation-themed activities. The Money Exchange exhibit teaches kids about money and how it works.
Several smaller exhibits change periodically, so there is always something new to see at the Children’s Museum in Fond du Lac. Admission is just $8 per person, and members get in free. The museum remains open from Tuesday to Friday.
Here is some more information about the place we thought might be helpful.
Parks and Trails
When looking at budget-friendly things to do in Fond du Lac Wisconsin, try looking into the great outdoors! So many incredible outdoor spaces are a great way to connect with nature as you have fun.
Lakeside Park
Lakeside Park is located on the shores of Lake Winnebago. The park features a splash pad, baseball fields, amusement rides, a small petting zoo, a walk-up lighthouse, and a picnic area.
The splash pad is the perfect place to cool off on a hot day, and the petting zoo that includes llamas, a couple of goats, and rabbits are perfect for kids who want to get up close and personal with some farm animals. There’s also a beautiful old-fashioned carousel with carved horses and a brass ring to grab.
Lakeside Park’s lighthouse is a popular attraction for visitors and a great place to capture a good picture. The amusement rides are also a big draw for families and thrill-seekers.
The baseball fields are well-maintained and perfect for a game of catch or a pickup game with friends. With plenty of open space and beautiful lake views, the picnic area is perfect for relaxing with family or friends. It also has plenty of tables and grills for an outdoor meal.
Buttermilk Creek Park
Buttermilk Creek Park is a large, grassy, 20-acre hilly park that provides plenty of outdoor sports and recreation opportunities. The park features an amphitheater, five lighted tennis courts, two basketball courts, a picnic shelter, a large sledding hill, and two playground equipment areas.
The park has a paved path that winds through the beautiful trees and greenery. There’s also plenty of open space if you feel like throwing a Frisbee around or playing catch.
The amphitheater features some of the town’s favorite music, including the under-the-stars concert series that goes live on Monday nights and the Buttermilk Festival Concert series every Wednesday night during the summer.
Columbia Park
Camping enthusiasts will find a true oasis at Columbia Park in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. The park offers 40 campsites that have electrical hookups. In addition, the park also features boat and RV sanitary dump stations, a basketball court, two open-air picnic shelters, and picnic facilities.
The park’s location on Lake Winnebago’s shores provides plenty of fishing, boating, swimming, and hiking opportunities. The park is home to plenty of picnic tables shaded by huge trees. There’s also a playground for the kids and a paved path that winds through the park.
Columbia Park is the perfect spot for an overnight camping trip for those who want to get away from it all.
Hobbs Woods
If you are looking for a peaceful place to spend your day, Hobbs Woods park is the perfect spot. The Hobbs Woods county park is a 60-acre nature reserve that offers hiking trails and stunning views of the surrounding countryside. The park is open from 6 am to 10 pm, including weekends, with free admission.
The 2.1-km loop trail takes you through various ecosystems, from forest to meadow to marsh. The hiking trails wind through dense forests and rolling hills, offering hikers a chance to get away from it all and enjoy the beauty of nature. Be sure to bring your binoculars, as there are plenty of birds to watch here.
Horicon Marsh
Horicon Marsh covers more than 21,000 acres of land and water, making it the largest open water and cattail marsh in the United States, located in Wisconsin’s northern Dodge and Southern Fond Du Lac counties. The Horicon Marsh National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1941 to protect and manage this valuable natural resource. It is one of the most important waterfowl breeding areas in North America.
The best time to visit Horicon Marsh is during the spring and fall migration seasons when the greatest variety of birds can be seen. The refuge is a popular destination for birders, who can see more than 250 species of birds here.
Some of the most common sightings include ducks, geese, herons, egrets, pelicans, and bald eagles. The marsh also provides a habitat for other animals, including snakes, turtles, muskrats, fishes, and frogs.
The marsh is also open year-round for hiking, biking, fishing, and hunting. There are several interpretive centers throughout the marsh where visitors can learn about the wildlife and history of the area.
Kettle Moraine State Forest
Wisconsin’s Kettle Moraine State Forest is a hiker’s paradise, with trails that wind through 18,000 acres of forests, prairies, and lakes. The forest gets its name from the unusual kettles created by retreating glaciers.
These kettle-shaped depressions can be up to 100 feet deep and are now filled with water, forming many of the forest’s beautiful lakes. The forest offers hikers a variety of experiences, from easy nature walks to strenuous back-country hikes. In winter, the forest becomes a haven for cross-country skiers and snowmobilers.
Kettle Moraine also offers a wide variety of recreational activities such as camping, fishing, swimming, canoeing, kayaking, horseback riding, and mountain biking.
The forest offers 400 km of hiking trails, 160 km of cross-country trails, 240 km of snowmobile trails, 120 km of off-road bicycle trails, and over 750 campsites. It’s truly a paradise if you love adventure.
Wild Goose State Trail
The Wild Goose State Trail is a premier rail-trail spanning approximately 35 miles and located in Dodge and Fond Du Lac Counties.
This route offers an excellent opportunity for visitors to explore the rural countryside and small communities that dot this scenic area of Wisconsin. The trail is paved and makes for an easy ride, with only a few small hills to navigate along the way.
As you bike along the road, focus on the path surface because chipmunks routinely walk across the path. The trail has many different roads along with entrances to farmland. All transitions are marked.
Visitors can enjoy various outdoor activities, including hiking, biking, and horseback riding. In winter, skiers and snowmobilers can hit the trail.
Dog Parks
Some of the famous dog parks in Fond Du Lac are FIDO dog park and Lakeside Park. These two parks offer ample room for dogs to run and play off-leash. In addition, each park has various features that make it unique.
Lakeside Park is the oldest of Fond Du Lac’s dog parks. It’s also the smallest, with just over an acre of space. This park is popular among residents because it’s located on Lake Winnebago and offers great water views.
Farmer’s Market
A Farmer’s Market is located in the heart of downtown and attracts around 3,000 shoppers each week. There are over 80 vendors who sell everything from fresh fruits and vegetables to artisanal bread and cheeses. You can also find crafts, arts, pottery, and other handmade items.
The market is also a great place to meet your neighbors and catch up on the latest news. The market remains open from 8 am-5 pm, so be sure to get there early for the best selection!
Fondy Sports Park
If you’re looking for some excitement and adventure, check out Fondy Sports Park! One of the major attractions of this sports park is Off-road karts. The karts are perfect for all ages and provide a thrilling experience whether you’re a first-time driver or a seasoned pro.
This park has something for everyone: batting cages, a crazy maze, hi-ball aero ball trampolines, a paintball shooting gallery, and a climbing wall. You can spend hours here having fun with your friends or family. There’s even a restaurant on-site serving up delicious food and drinks. It is a great place to have your child’s next birthday party.
The park is open year-round from 10 am to 10 pm, making it the perfect place to spend a day or evening with family and friends. Admission is affordable, making it a great value for families on a budget.
Galloway House
For the last 7 decades, Galloway House and Village have allowed everyone in Fond du Lac County to explore its heritage and connect with its history. Spread over 15 acres of land, the Galloway Family established this historic property in 1954.
The Fond du Lac County Historical Society now owns and operates the property, which offers guided tours of this property that includes the sights of the Galloway mansion and carriage house.
The Blakely Museum is also located in Blakely, where exhibits revolve around artifacts from prehistoric times to the 1990s. The Thornton Research Library is also open for genealogical and historical research during specified hours.
Road America
If you’re a motorsports fan, Road America needs no introduction. The picturesque road course in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, is a mecca for race fans and drivers alike and has been host to some of the most iconic races in history.
The racetrack has been around since 1955 and is known as one of the most scenic courses in the country. The track has 14 turns and includes the famous Carousel. The course hosts various racing events, including sports cars, open-wheeled cars, and motorcycles.
Road America is one of only a handful of tracks in the United States to host all four major types of motorsports: IndyCar, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, Sports Cars, and Motorcycles. Some of the most famous names in racing have competed at Road America, including Mario Andretti, Jerry Cook, and Dale Earnhardt.
Today, Road America is known for its challenging layout and stunning scenery. The track is 4.048 miles long with various high-speed corners and elevation changes, making it a favorite among drivers and spectators alike. Road America is sure to please whether you’re a racing enthusiast or just looking for a fun day out.
Thelma Sadoff Center
Tucked away in the heart of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, is the Thelma Sadoff Center for the Arts. It is a nonprofit organization that engages in community enrichment through the arts. TSCA fulfills its mission by providing opportunities for people of all ages to participate in the arts, regardless of their ability to pay.
The TSCA offers a variety of arts programming, including visual arts exhibitions, concerts, theater productions, and classes for all ages. It also hosts special events such as weddings, social and corporate gatherings, and meetings.
This art center is home to rotating exhibitions by regional and international artists and various educational programs for all ages.
It has six breakout rooms suitable for events, meetings, and classrooms. It was founded by the Sadoff family foundation in honor of Thelma Sadoff to promote and provide access to the arts for all region residents.
Ledgerock Distillery
Wisconsin is home to many craft distilleries, and one of the most popular is Ledgerock. This small-batch craft distillery in Fond du Lac uses local ingredients to make spirits such as vodka, bourbon, whiskey, and gin.
Owned and operated by the Ledgerock family, this distillery is built on their 500-acre farmland. Their spirits are made with natural ingredients, including wheat, corn, and rye, that they grow on the same land as the distillery.
You can check out their website for any additional information.
Kelley Country Creamery
Kelley Country Creamery is the place to go if you’re in the mood for some ice cream! They have a wide variety of flavors to choose from, but they also offer cones, bowls, or sundaes.
Kelley Country Creamery, spread on a 200-acre farmstead, is a small, family-owned business in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. The Creamery makes all-natural ice cream made from grass-fed cow milk.
Kelley Country Creamery offers a special place for its ice cream parlor, with a viewing window that lets customers observe the process of making their ice creams while enjoying their favorite flavors.
The Creamery’s old-fashioned sun porch is the perfect location to view Wisconsin’s farm countryside while viewing a working dairy from a hill behind the Kelley farmhouse.
Kelley is known for practicing sustainable agriculture. Their cows are kept on green pastures to improve their milk quality, even under unfavorable conditions. You can check out their website for more information.
Lightsmith Art Glass
If you’re looking for something unique to give as a gift or spruce up your home décor, you need to check out Lightsmith Art Glass. This studio, located in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, creates beautiful works of art using glass.
The Lightsmith Art Glass shop is a family-owned and operated business creating beautiful works of art for over 25 years. The pieces made by Lightsmith Art Glass are intricate and varied. You can find everything from glass bowls and vases to ornaments and sun catchers.
What makes these pieces so special is the attention to detail put into each one. The artists at the studio take care to create pieces that are not only beautiful but also functional.
Their studio is open to the public and offers classes for all ages. Their glass pieces make perfect gifts for any occasion, and their talented artists can create a custom piece just for you.
Kristmas Kringle
If you’re looking for a unique gift, the Kristmas Kringle Shoppe is the place to go! The shop is located in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. It is a unique two-story Bavarian-style gift shop with an interior resembling quaint European shops, making it a must-see for tourists and residents alike.
One of the best things about this place is that local artists make everything, so you know you’re getting something special. The shop has a wide variety of gifts, including 70 themed trees, gifts for all seasons, animated figures, and imported ornaments.
It’s the perfect place to find unique gifts for family and friends or get into the Christmas spirit. The Kristmas Kringle Shoppe remains open from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.
Parkway Bowling Lanes
If you’re looking for a fun night out with friends, look no further than the Parkway bowling lanes in Fond du Lac. This local favorite offers open bowling lanes. The lanes themselves are well-maintained and offer various bowling experiences, depending on your preference.
The bar and grill offer food and drinks, including pizza, sandwiches, salads, appetizers, beer, wine, and cocktails. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or a newbie, the friendly staff will ensure you have a great time.
They also have arcade games, making for a fun diversion between rounds of bowling. The prices are reasonable, and it’s a great place to spend an evening or afternoon.
John Michael Kohler Arts Center
Just a short distance away, the John Michael Kohler Arts Center is a nonprofit art center in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. It was founded in 1967 by Sheboygan Arts Foundation and later renamed as John Michael Kohler Arts Center. The center features exhibitions of contemporary art and educational programs for all ages.
The John Michael Kohler Art Center consists of eight galleries, classrooms, studio spaces, two performance spaces, a shop, and a café.
About 160,000 people visit the center each year to see its rotating contemporary art exhibits. The center also holds about 30 exhibitions per year and is home to the country’s first arts-based preschool. The center also hosts a variety of dance and music performances, festivals, demonstrations, and educational programs.
Hearthstone Historic House Museum
The Hearthstone Historic House Museum in Wisconsin is a must-see for anyone interested in architecture, history, and culture. Hearthstone was the first private house in the world to be lit using hydroelectric energy with the help of the central Edison system. It was owned by Henry James Rogers, an entrepreneur and a paper company executive.
Visitors can still enjoy the views of the original Edison electroliers, light switches, and some of the world’s most precious examples of original Edison wiring that are still retained on the site. Due to its technological, historic, architectural, and artistic significance, you can find Hearthstone Historic House Museum on the National Register of Historic Places.
The museum is housed in a beautiful example of Victorian Gothic architecture. It contains exhibits on the house’s history and its inhabitants and rotating exhibits on various aspects of Wisconsin history. The museum remains open from Thursday to Sunday from 10 am to 3:30 pm, and the admission fee is affordable.
Summing it Up
As you can see, the city of Fond du Lac and the surrounding area offers an abundance of activities for the entire family to enjoy. From its scenic parks and trails to its various restaurants and shops, there is something for everyone in this charming Wisconsin city. So be sure to add Fond du Lac to your list of places to visit – you won’t be disappointed!
