Beat the winter blues with these things to do in Wisconsin in winter indoors!
I’m sure we can all agree that winter isn’t the most exciting season to travel Wisconsin.
It’s cold outside, the snow piles up, and you can no longer enjoy swimming or kayaking in the lakes. But trust me, it’s still possible to have a different kind of blast in Wisconsin during the colder months!
The key? Exploring indoor activities!
Luckily, Wisconsin has a wealth of indoor museums, resorts, and other attractions, making it very convenient to have romantic dates, relaxing getaways, and even soothing swimming sessions in winter!
With that, let me share the most fun things to do in Wisconsin in winter indoors!
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Pssst…??!! You can’t get enough Wisconsin posts? Have a look at my other posts:
- Wisconsin Winter Getaways for Couples
- Romantic Winter Cabins In Wisconsin
- Fun Winter Events in Wisconsin
Table of Contents
Overview: My favorite indoor Things to do in Wisconsin in winter
- Visit the Milwaukee Art Museum
- Catch a Live Show at the Marcus Performing Arts Center
- Explore the Wisconsin State Capitol in Madison
1. Visit the Milwaukee Art Museum
If you’re looking for indoor things to do in Wisconsin, you should highly consider visiting the Milwaukee Art Museum, the state’s largest art museum.
Other museums simply store art within their walls.
But this one?
Even the building itself is an amazing art piece to behold!
Milwaukee Art Museum’s famous wings look surreal in real life, and if you visit at the right time, you can even witness them open (during opening), close (during closing), and even flap (around noon).
Inside, you’ll also be greeted by a plethora of exhibits.
We found furniture and books dating back to the 14th and 15th centuries and interactive exhibits that all kids enjoyed!
Of course, there are also paintings from renowned painters like Georgia O’Keeffe and Pablo Picasso.
Milwaukee Art Museum is really a must-visit in Wisconsin! Wrap up your museum tour with a guided food tour or self-guided audio tours to really get the most out of your Milwaukee experience!
2. Explore the National Railroad Museum in Green Bay
Looking for a family-friendly activity that’s both entertaining and educational?
In that case, I can’t recommend exploring the National Railroad Museum in Green Bay enough.
Doing so is one of the best things to do indoors in Wisconsin during winter.
I found this museum about two years ago when I was looking for things to do in Door County in winter. It was well worth the 1.5-hour drive!
With a history dating back to 1956, this museum is home to over 70 pieces of rolling stock and over 100,000+ combined artifacts.
You can walk through restored train cars from decades ago and purchase tickets for themed train rides!
We tried The Polar Express, which lasts from November to December, and Holidays on the Rails, held just two weeks before Christmas. Both are must-tries, even if you’re not traveling with kids!
If you want to see more of the city of Green Bay after visiting the museum, there are always segway tours that you can book!
3. Enjoy a Spa Day at Sundara Inn & Spa (Wisconsin Dells)
For many of us, traveling is not just about exploring; a huge part of it is also about relaxing and feeling well-rested.
If you really want to give your body and mind its well-deserved break, enjoy a day—or maybe several—at Sundara Inn & Spa.
Staying here is always gonna be one of my top-recommended things to do in Wisconsin Dells in winter indoors.
The girls and I stayed here for 2 nights straight, and though it wasn’t cheap, this place was well worth every penny.
The rooms were comfortable, the heated outdoor pools had scenic views, and if you want to chat a little loudly without disturbing anyone, just visit the oasis space!
Of course, though, the best part of staying at Sundara is its luxurious massages.
We met many couples spending their honeymoons at this inn, which shows that Sundara really offers one of the most romantic winter getaways in Wisconsin.
I’ve visited this place twice already, and I’d totally come back again!
4. Catch a Live Show at the Marcus Performing Arts Center
Be one of the over 200,000 people who catch live shows at the Marcus Performing Arts Center annually.
Anytime you want to spark giggles, be impressed, or be left in awe, just look up which shows are scheduled at this arts center.
Chances are, you’ll find just the performance you prefer held during your stay in Wisconsin!
The MPAC hosts a wide range of performances, including Broadway shows, theatre events, and dance productions.
During the winter, you’ll find many musicals centered around the theme of the holidays and Christmas.
But between winter-themed shows, regular plays and concerts are also held!
Catching performances at the MPAC is really one of the best things to do in Wisconsin in winter indoors.
5. Visit the Mitchell Park Domes in Milwaukee
Imagine being out in the cold, but after just stepping into a building, you’ll immediately be transported to the desert, rainforest, or a summer spectacle.
Well, that’s exactly what happens when you visit the Mitchell Park Domes in Milwaukee.
AKA the Mitchell Park Horticultural Conservatory, this living museum in Milwaukee offers three different domes: namely the Tropical, Desert, and Floral Domes.
As the name suggests, each of these domes hosts a unique collection of plant species that thrive in the habitat they mimic!
The Desert Dome hosts over 600 plants from deserts all over the world. Imagine how surreal it would be to be walking in a “desert” when it’s literally snowing outside!
Not a lot of flowers bloom in the Flower Dome during the colder months, but we still enjoyed stunning views, as the dome is decorated for the holidays from December to January.
Last but never least, there’s also the Tropical Dome with its mini tropical rainforest vibe.
Guess how much the entry price is for all these domes? Less than $10 per person!
So, if you’re looking for cheap and fun things to do in Wisconsin in the winter, you really can’t go wrong with visiting the domes! It’s undoubtedly one of the best things to do in Wisconsin in winter indoors.
6. Explore the Wisconsin State Capitol in Madison
If you’re spending winter in Madison, you’ll see that iconic tall dome looming wherever you may be in town.
Well, that’s the Wisconsin State Capitol, and the good news is, it’s totally open to the public for free!
Visiting a government building may sound too much like a school trip.
But trust me, the Capitol has so much to offer to tourists!
This Roman Renaissance-style building is the only granite dome in the U.S. that’s built using over 40 types of stones from all over the world.
So, it’s guaranteed to be an eye candy inside and out.
You can join the free guided tours of the Capitol, but I recommend opting for the paid Madison tours, as they also cover other architectural gems like the Bascomb Hill and Memorial Union in the city.
We visited the Capitol twice, and the dome was packed with people on both occasions.
Exploring it is always gonna be one of the best free things to do in Wisconsin in winter indoors.
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7. Indoor Water Parks in Wisconsin Dells
Wisconsin Dells is the waterpark capital of the world for a reason.
Apart from the massive outdoor waterparks that are tourism hotspots in the summer, it also has indoor waterparks that maintain warm indoor temperatures and even have heated pools in the winter!
So, if you’re looking for things to do in winter in Wisconsin, visit these waterparks.
Our first waterpark stop when we visited Wisconsin Dells in December was the Chula Vista Resort, one of the best winter resorts in Wisconsin.
Inside, the air feels warm, and the waters are a little chilly when touched. Exactly like the vibe you get at outdoor waterparks in summer.
We really enjoyed the surfing simulator and, of course, the thrilling slides that felt endless when tried.
We also stayed at the Wilderness Resort, which offered 3 indoor waterparks. It was a little chillier inside than we would’ve preferred, but other than that, the entire experience was amazing!
These winter cabins in Wisconsin will really make you forget that it’s ice-cold chilly outside.
So, if you want to experience the warmth and fun of summer in the winter, don’t forget to check out indoor waterparks!
8. Tour the Harley-Davidson Museum in Milwaukee
You don’t need to be a biker or Harley enthusiast to enjoy a tour of the Harley-Davidson Museum.
This museum is very informational, showcases lots of artifacts, and even offers amazing food!
We spent 3 to 4 hours exploring the exhibits and didn’t even notice the time fly by.
Seeing how the earliest Harley-Davidson models evolved into sleek, modern, iconic styles and cultures.
We had a blast taking photos on the stationary bikes and picked up several souvenirs from the gift shop as well.
Wandering through this museum is one of the most romantic and memorable things to do in winter in Milwaukee.
9. Visit the EAA AirVenture Museum in Oshkosh
Wisconsin offers a museum packed with motorcycles and a world-class aviation museum featuring over 200 historic airplanes.
Airplanes have always fascinated me, so we were more than happy to drive for hours just to visit the EAA AirVenture Museum in Oshkosh.
Was the trip worth it? Absolutely!
It was a truly unique experience to see and touch the stunning variety of aircraft lined up like cars in a parking lot.
Exhibits showcased everything from pre-Wright Brothers innovations to cutting-edge modern aviation, and WWII displays were both informative and captivating.
You’ll never run out of educational things to do in Wisconsin in winter indoors at this museum.
10. Wine Tasting at Cedar Creek Winery in Cedarburg
Still wondering what to do in Wisconsin in winter?
Let me introduce you to one of the best winter getaways in Wisconsin: wine tasting at Cedar Creek Winery.
Well, technically, you can enjoy wine tasting almost anywhere in the state. After all, Wisconsin is home to over 100 wineries.
But the Cedar Creek Winery in Cedarburg is my favorite winery spot, so I’ll be highly recommending this winery!
I found this gem by accident when I was looking for things to do in Lake Geneva in winter, and since then, I’ve been here on a handful of occasions!
This winery always has a relaxing vibe. Love the vine-covered building exterior and the indoor tables made with barrels.
Of course, the wine is what keeps me (and my friends) coming back.
They taste amazing and are reasonably priced. I highly recommend the strawberry wine. It tastes refreshing and fruity without being overly sweet!
Other must-try wineries in Wisconsin include Cedar Creek Winery’s sister winery, Wollersheim Winery & Distillery near Wisconsin Dells, and the Door Peninsula Winery in Door County.
11. Bowl and Play Games at a Retro Bowling Alley
One of my favorite winter activities in Wisconsin is bowling and playing games at retro bowling alleys.
After all, they offer entertainment, food, and drinks all under one roof—pretty much everything you can ever need to have an unforgettable day indoors.
All while still maintaining the vibes of the previous century!
Wisconsin’s go-to retro bowling alley is the over-100-year-old Holler House in Milwaukee.
It’s the oldest certified bowling alley in the U.S., so the experience feels totally different from modern bowling alleys in the city!
Koz’s Mini Bowl is also a popular retro bowling alley in Milwaukee. No flashy lights or fancy scoreboards, but it’s an amazing place to spend a quiet evening together with your loved ones!
12. Escape Room Adventures
Of course, when talking about winter activities, I can’t skip mentioning escape room adventures.
With the variety of escape room themes in Wisconsin, you’ll easily find one that matches your preferences, whether you prefer spooky, action-packed, or mystery-themed escapes.
One of the escape rooms that really struck me is the Elusive Escape Rooms in Wisconsin Dells.
It offered 7 different rooms, each with a unique concept.
We tried two rooms: The Great Outdoors and the serial killer-themed one. Both lasted an hour but had completely different vibes.
My friends paid for the rooms, so for me, trying these escape rooms was one of the best free things to do in Wisconsin Dells in winter indoors.
If you’re in Milwaukee and really want to get goosebumps, though, why not try the Cream City Cannibal: Jeffery Dahmer Walking Tour?
As the name suggests, this tour takes you through the actual hunting grounds of the infamous serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer.
Too scary? Well, maybe escape rooms are the better option.
That said, I also recommend the Escape the Room in Milwaukee and the Lake Geneva Clue Room in Lake Geneva!
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My final thoughts on indoor activities in Wisconsin in winter
With these 12 fun things to do in Wisconsin winter indoors, you’ll never have a boring day during the colder months in the state!
Apart from staying indoors, though, don’t shy away from also exploring the winter of Wisconsin outdoors!
Ice fishing or snowmobiling are my favorite things to do in the Apostle Islands during the winter. However, there are also more adventure-packed things to do in northern Wisconsin in winter.
As always, just remember, whichever state or city you visit, and no matter what the season may be, the important thing is to have fun and enjoy the experiences you’re about to have.
Don’t dwell too much on what you’ll be missing out on!
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! 🌍🚀
