THAT WISCONSIN COUPLE’S 2023 BUCKET LIST
Here are the 10 things we want to cross off our bucket list this year! I see lots of road trips in our future. Let us know what’s on your list, and follow us on Instagram to watch us cross off ours!
1. Visit Pattison State Park & Amnicon Falls for a Wisconsin waterfall road trip
Patterson State Park holds the highest waterfalls in the state. It’s located in Superior, WI– a city we’ve never been to and really want to check out! Amnicon Falls State Park is just 25 minutes northwest and home to more waterfalls and rapids you can view along a 2 mile trail or from above on a covered bridge.
2. Go back to Door County and get the fish boil experience
Our first trip for our travel-blog Instagram @ThatWisconsinCouple was to Door County in July of 2021. Hayden had never been to the area before and I was so excited–I had the longest itinerary for us. On the first night of our long weekend getaway, we walked down to the water of Green Bay to take a photo, and I turned around to find Hayden on his knee with a gorgeous ring. There were lots of very happy tears and a big YES! This area will always hold a special place in our hearts, and we are itching to get back! It’s on our bucket list to experience a traditional fish boil, and Door County is just the place for that, as fish boils in the area date back to the 1800s. During a fish boil, Lake Michigan white fish is boiled over an open fire in an outdoor kitchen where people can gather and watch the fiery experience. We can’t wait to see and taste it for ourselves!
3. Travel to an away Packer game
We had plans to travel to Miami to see the Packers play the Dolphins on Christmas Day this year, but had to cancel due to some flight changes. We’re going to try again in 2023! Hayden is eyeing up traveling to Las Vegas for the Raiders game, or maybe to Denver to see The Pack take on the Broncos. Which one do you think we should do?!
4. Take the pups to Sheboygan
Sheboygan recently became the first city in Wisconsin to earn a pet-friendly certification. We’ve only been to Sheboygan one time–sans pups–and we really enjoyed it! 3 Sheeps Brewery had great beer and an incredible dog-friendly atmosphere inside and out. I can’t wait to bring the girls there! We also dined at II Ritrovo, and it was some of the best Italian food I have ever had! And according to Visit Sheboygan, they are pet-friendly as well. I’ve also been wanting to check out Kohler-Andrae State Park. I’m sure the pups would love a hike there and a swim in Lake Michigan! Here is a full list of pet-friendly spots in Sheboygan.
5. Go to all 12 Wisconsin Historic Sites - This one is all Julia
This year I got to visit 7 of the 11 Wisconsin Historic Sites across the state. Next year, I want to take a road trip to all 11 sites and the Wisconsin Historical Museum not only in one year…but in one road trip! My sister is planning to join me on this adventure at the end of the summer. It will be 1,500 miles and over 20 hours of driving–and we hope to do it all in a week. It’s going to be epic! We’ll add other stops from our Wisconsin Bucket Lists and make it the dream adventure for both of us history-loving ladies. Sister trip of the year!
6. Visit Stockholm, WI - Coziest town in the USA
Stockholm is located about an hour west of Eau Claire, right on the Mississippi, in Pepin County. Stockholm was just voted the Coziest Small Town in America. Yes, you read that correctly. Stockholm, WI, won THE Coziest Small Town in the country! We plan to dine on Lake Pepin and check out Villa Bellezza–one of the top ranked wineries in the Midwest. It looks gorgeous! Here you can see the 170 coziest small towns in the country with 6 of them being in Wisconsin.
7. Ice Age Trail Road Trip to visit Antigo, Merrill, and Rib Lake
The Ice Age Trail is one of my favorite things about Wisconsin! For the past 3 years, I have completed the Mammoth Hike Challenge by hiking over 40 miles on the IAT and exploring trail communities during the month of October. However, we have yet to explore the Northwoods trail communities. Ramsay from The Cabin podcast often talks about this area, so I have a long list of things I want to do there (like check out Sawmill Brewing!) in addition to hiking all the trail miles. I hope this October we can make the trip to explore and support these 3 trail communities.
8. Spend a day at Kohler Water Spa
We recently spent a little time at the American Club, where the Kohler Water Spa is located. Hayden really liked all the restaurants there, and in true Hayden fashion, he made friends at all 3 bars in the hotel. He heard so many good things about the Kohler Spa from the hotel guests, so this year we hope to put it to the test and compare it to our current favorite spa, Sundara.
9. See the Olbrich Botanical Gardens
This is a Wisconsin gem that the girls at campHER put on my radar. It was on their summer bucket list last year and I had never heard of it before. You can walk their 16 acres of gardens that look absolutely stunning. We’re going to make it a point to get there this summer, as I desperately want to check it out!
10. Dine at the Driftless Cafe
The Driftless Cafe in Viroqua has been on our list for years. It’s a well known farm to table restaurant located in the gorgeous driftless region. Their menu changes often and never fails to look amazing. Can’t wait for this date night to fill my belly with the best!
