Guide to what to do in Wisconsin in February, including family-friendly activities and romantic things to do for Valentine’s Day
February in Wisconsin is simply magical as the days start to lengthen, but snow continues to fall throughout the State.
Couples can enjoy a romantic Valentine’s Day trip, and families can get involved with a range of snow sports.
In fact, there are so many fun things to do in Wisconsin in February that you might struggle to plan your trip.
Especially, there is a tremendous range of places to visit as you travel Wisconsin, including popular cities like Maddison and Wisconsin.
Read this list to discover what to do in Wisconsin in February for solo travelers, couples, and families.
Psssst…!!?? You can’t get enough of Wisconsin? Have a look at my other posts:
- Best Sites for Winter Camping in Wisconsin
- Best Places To Stay In Wisconsin Dells In Winter
- Most Romantic Resorts In Wisconsin
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Overview: Top 5 Things to Do in Wisconsin in February
- Go to a Winter Festival
- Enjoy a fine dining experience or another food experience
- Go Ice Skating
- Attend an Art Exhibition
- Celebrate Galentines Day
1. Go for a Toboggan Run
Many of the best things to do in Wisconsin in February are great for couples and families alike.
This includes tobogganing at Lowell Park in Waukesha, which is open on Saturdays from 1 PM to 4 PM throughout February.
This steep toboggan run is 350 feet long, with plenty of time to get up to an exciting speed. You can get up to four people onto each sled, but it is also suitable for couples.
Pre-booking rental toboggans is essential, as walk-ups are not accepted.
Book the best winter rentals in Waukesha
2. Go to a Winter Farmers Market
Every Saturday in February, you will be able to find fantastic farmers markets that easily qualify for a place on any list of things to do in Wisconsin in February.
Milwaukee, Waukesha, and the famous Stone Bank Farm Market are the most popular farmers markets.
The latter specializes in organic and free-range meat and dairy products and hosts a captivating range of artisan producers.
Each of these farmer’s markets will usually be open from 9 AM to early afternoon.
This is also one of the best winter date ideas in Wisconsin. You can pick up some unique ingredients to make a cozy and romantic meal once you get back to your accommodation.
Book the best food tours around Milwaukee
3. Go to a Winter Festival
There are several winter festivals that make up the best Wisconsin February events, which are a chance to keep the festive cheer going long after Christmas.
One of the most unique winter events in Wisconsin is Winterfest: Lake Geneva, held in the most stunning lakeside city in Wisconsin.
This event features the US National Snow Sculpting Championship, where 15 state-champion teams battle it out during an epic three-day competition.
The climax of the event is at 1 PM on Saturday, February 4th, when each sculpture is brought before the judges.
If you can’t make this date, don’t worry. The sculptures will remain by the lakeside to be viewed for free until they melt.
Book the best winter cabins in Lake Geneva
4. Scale a Frozen Waterfall
There are plenty of romantic winter activities in Wisconsin for more adventurous couples. The ice-climbing sessions held by Vertical Illusions are sure to get the blood pumping.
Hosted by Governor Dodge State Park, this is an opportunity to climb a beautiful, naturally frozen waterfall in the Dodgeville area park.
These sessions are aimed at beginners, so no previous ice-climbing experience is needed.
If this isn’t enough for you and your partner to get your adrenaline fix, you should try winter ziplining, where you can speed through picturesque snow-covered landscapes.
The best ziplining experiences in the State are hosted by Lake Geneva Canopy Tours, BigFoot Zipline in Wisconsin Dells, and Northwoods Zip Line near Minocqua.
You’ll find some of the most amazing waterfalls in Northern Wisconsin have frozen over and are worth the trip.
Book the best winter rentals in Northern Wisconsin
5. Attend an Art Exhibition
As pretty as the State is in winter, you do need to be prepared for bad weather on your winter getaways in Wisconsin.
Going to an art gallery can be a fun indoor activity while you wait for the sun to come back out.
Modern art lovers from all over Wisconsin flock to the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art.
This is currently home to the finest Chicago Imaginest works held within an eye-catching building designed by Cesar Pelli.
Meanwhile, fans of art history will enjoy the Milwaukee Art Museum, which has over 30,000 works from throughout history and is one of the best things to do in Milwaukee in winter.
Enjoy the best museums in Wisconsin
6. Celebrate Galentines Day
Valentine’s Day in Wisconsin isn’t just for couples but also for your close friends.
Amongst the best things to do in Wisconsin in February for people visiting with their girl friends is the Galentine’s Day event at Board & Brush.
This is one of the State’s hubs for arts and crafts, and you can do a range of standard and specialty projects with your friends while enjoying a few glasses of wine.
These projects are templates, but you and your friends will get plenty of space to enjoy creative freedom.
Board & Brush celebrates Galentine’s Day throughout February, so you can come down to visit whenever you like.
Buy the ultimate Wisconsin road trip itinerary
7. Frozen Tundra Wine Fest
If you and your partner love treating yourself to fine wines on vacation, the Frozen Tundra Winter Fest is one of the unmissable romantic things to do in Wisconsin in winter.
Hosted by the Parallel 44 winery, this is Wisconsin’s largest outdoor winter wine festival. You can enjoy live music, local foods, vineyard and winery tours, and, of course, wine tasting.
Parallel 44 will also host a range of “Tundra Games,” which is a great opportunity to win some of their wines.
Enjoy a wine-tasting tour in Wisconsin
8. Attend a Cooking Class
One of the best romantic things to do in Milwaukee will keep you out of the harsh winter weather in Wisconsin.
There are plenty of cooking classes to choose from, but you have to pick the most romantic cuisine of all: Italian.
Glorioso’s Appetito offers the city’s best Italian cooking class, where you can learn how to make risotto, ravioli, and cheese boards.
They also teach essential Italian baking skills. The classes are usually two hours long and led by professional chefs.
There are plenty of tasting opportunities, and you will be able to take your creations home for a romantic meal.
Book the best food experiences in Wisconsin
9. Enjoy a Fine Dining Experience
Despite its reputation as a summer holiday resort, there are plenty of things to do in Wisconsin Dells in February for couples.
In fact, Wisconsin Dells is one of my favorite places to visit in Wisconsin in winter for romantic getaways.
And if you are visiting specially for Valentine’s Day, there are some great high-end restaurants to try for your date.
Most of these fine dining experiences are centered around fantastic steaks cooked on open grills and superb bottles of wine from around the world.
The most popular include Copper Oak Steakhouse, Del-Bar, and Double Cut Charcoal Grill. The latter turns into a lounge bar at night so you can continue your date late into the night.
Book the best food experiences in Wisconsin
10. Go Ice Skating
Not many of the things to do in Wisconsin for couples will make you feel like you are in a rom-com as much as ice skating on an open-air lake.
Mill Pond Ice Skating Rink, located in Plymouth, is a beautiful spot with stunning lights all around, which turn on at night.
Mill Pond is also a great way to connect with the local community. It is completely free to skate, even if you have to rent. This means that the whole community comes out to enjoy the lake at night.
Another incredibly popular spot for ice skating is the Edgewater in Madison. It’s one of the best things to do in winter in Madison, WI.
Book a stay at the Edgewater in Madison
11. A Day on the Slopes
Skiing and snowboarding top the list of many people’s favorite things to do in Wisconsin in February. There are countless spots to head to, but the most popular is Granite Peak.
Located near Wausau, this mountain is suitable for whatever ability you and your family are at. It has over 50 trails graded up to the black-diamond level.
This mountain is also great if your family or partner hasn’t skied before. They offer lessons throughout the winter, which can be booked online.
Book the best winter rentals near Wausau
12. Go Cross-Country Skiing
Meanwhile, fitness and adventure fanatics can enjoy the snow-covered landscape of Wisconsin in February through cross-country skiing.
In Sparta, Justin Trails Resort has dozens of wide trails to enjoy, which have been tailored to classic and freestyle Nordic skiing.
These trails have varying lengths and difficulties, so everyone can find something for them.
Your hard work will certainly be rewarded. There are multiple vistas along the trails with unforgettable views of the valleys and hills of southwest Wisconsin.
These opportunities to enjoy the landscape make for one of the more unexpectedly romantic things to do in Wisconsin in February.
It’s one of my favorite things to do in Door County in February for couples.
Buy the ultimate Wisconsin road trip itinerary
13. Backcountry Snowshoeing
The final essential way to explore the winter resorts in Wisconsin is snowshoeing.
Humans have been using this specialized footwear to traverse snowy landscapes for thousands of years, and the sport has a rich history in Wisconsin.
The Beaver Brook Trail System, located on 2,000 acres of land, is particularly popular. They have multiple backcountry snowshoeing paths which go through wildlife protection areas.
Snowshoeing is hard work, so wherever you decide to try out the activity, make sure to pack lots of extra snacks for your partner and kids.
Buy the best trail guides for Wisconsin
14. Try an Escape Room
There are a lot of great escape rooms in Wisconsin, but some of my favorites are in Milwaukee.
One of the best things to do in Milwaukee in February is the great range of escape rooms. There are several options in the city, but City 13 is the most popular.
They have multiple games to choose from with a range of themes and ideal party sizes. Escape room fanatics can hire the whole facility for four hours for the world’s largest escape room: Save the City.
Escape rooms are also a great activity with your partner. It will test out your communication and collaboration skills, which will definitely help you to form a closer relationship.
Book the best winter rentals in Milwaukee
15. Enjoy Valentine’s Day
Your February vacation won’t be complete without enjoying some of the Valentine’s Day events Wisconsin has to offer.
There are countless options for things to do on Valentine’s Day in Wisconsin, including fancy meals, luxury spa experiences, and fun activities like skating.
So, why not make a whole weekend of it at one of the most romantic hotels in Wisconsin?
One great option is Lake Lawn Resort in Delevan, where guests are invited to enjoy swoon-worthy experiences with fantastic all-inclusive packages.
I also highly recommend the Pfister Hotel in Milwaukee, which has amazing spa services for couples.
These top-level things to do in Wisconsin in February include an igloo dining experience, a Murder Mystery Dinner, and many more quirky and fun activities.
There are so many great ways to enjoy romantic getaways in Wisconsin, especially since there are so many Wisconsin Dells Resorts For Couples to choose from this Valentine’s Day!
Book the most romantic winter cabins in Wisconsin
16. Ride Wisconsin Dells’ Waterslides
The most unexpected inclusion on my list of fun things to do in Wisconsin in February is to enjoy the waterparks in Wisconsin Dells.
These parks are most popular in the summer, but there are still plenty of amazing indoor slides to find, and you won’t have to wait as long in the queues.
One of the best places to visit in Wisconsin in February for waterslides is Wilderness Resort.
They have four tremendous indoor water parks, including Klondike Kavern, where you can ride Hurricane, Claim Jumper Challenge, and a range of daring body slides.
The waterparks are not only one of my favorite things to do in Wisconsin Dells in winter but year-round!
Book the best winter cabins in Wisconsin Dells
17. Visit a Wisconsin Library
If your kids love to read, visiting a local library is one of the best things to do in Wisconsin in February.
February is National Library Lovers Month throughout the United States, so most local libraries will have great events.
There are countless events to choose from. However, one of the best is Harry Potter Book Night at Pauline Haass Public Library, where great local narrators can read this children’s favorite to your kids.
Alternatively, if your kids like something a little bit more social, you should go to smACK (Smart Awesome Cool Kids). This is a fun kids club hosted by Oconomowoc Public Library aimed at kids aged 8-11.
Buy the ultimate Wisconsin road trip itinerary
18. A Free Day at the Zoo
Some of the events in Wisconsin in February that are listed in this blog are quite expensive, and you may be looking for something a little more affordable towards the end of your trip.
One great free option for families is the Family Free Day at Milwaukee County Zoo, where all guests get free admission.
This is a great time for your kids to discover the zoo’s fantastic animals, and the zoo is particularly proud to present Heri. This is an unbelievably cute and playful eight-month-old baby De Brazza monkey.
February is also the closing month for entrances to the Milwaukee County Zoo summer camp, so make sure you sign up if your kids are interested.
Book the best tours of Milwaukee
A list of things to do in Wisconsin in February could be endless. There are plenty of stunningly beautiful winter landscapes to find, and the cities are full of truly fun Wisconsin events in February.
Wherever you are looking for date ideas in Milwaukee or high-octane snowsports experiences, check through my list so you don’t miss any of the best options.
FAQs About the Top Things to Do in Wisconsin in February
What’s happening in Wisconsin in February?
There are many fun things to do in Wisconsin in February, including winter sports like snowshoeing and skiing, as well as the famous Lake Geneva Winterfest. You can also enjoy Valentine’s and Galentine’s events across the city.
What are the romantic things to do in Wisconsin in winter?
The best things to do in Wisconsin for couples in February include cooking classes and fine dining experiences, getaways to romantic hotels, and wine tastings.
Are there any Valentine’s Day events in Wisconsin?
Yes, many restaurants offer special events and packages for couples on Valentine’s Day. Couples can also enjoy spa packages at numerous hotels across the state.
What to pack for your Fall or Winter trip
- Warm Clothing: Bring a heavy winter coat, gloves, scarf, hat, thermal socks, and layered clothing.
- Footwear: Wear waterproof and insulated boots with good traction.
- Snow Gear: Pack snow pants or insulated trousers and snowshoes or crampons.
- Winter Driving Essentials: Include an ice scraper, snow brush, and emergency car kit.
- Travel Documents: Don’t forget your passport/ID, travel insurance, itinerary, and maps.
- Electronics: Bring a portable charger and camera for capturing memories. I love my GoPro!
- Health and Safety: Carry prescription meds and a basic first-aid kit.
- Sunscreen is key! I always take with me my eco-friendly sunscreen by Thinksport.
- I always carry a light rain jacket, just in case.
- Travel insurance: If you haven’t already obtained travel insurance for your trip, travel is protected against all odds with HeyMondo.
Hola! I’m Paulina, a seasoned travelette who crossed the Atlantic Ocean by Boat HitchHiking. On my blog, find expert insights for an extraordinary holiday through outdoor and sustainable travel like hiking, cycling, and sailing. Let’s embark on unforgettable journeys together! 🌍🚀
