For many Wisconsinites, we know that summer in Wisconsin can be beautiful, hot and sometimes a little boring. When you live in the middle of nowhere or you're strapped for cash, finding fun and affordable things to do can be difficult. But fear not, because here is a list of cheap, fun things to do in the Wisconsin summer:
1. Go to a local lake
Wisconsin is populated with thousands of lakes. Actually, according to The Spectator News, Wisconsin has over 15,000 lakes while Minnesota only can brag about their 10,000. It's really easy to pack a lunch, find a local lake and go swimming with your friends and family, Some public beaches are free while others make you pay a small fee, usually less than $5.
2. Go to Summerfest
For those who don't know what Summerfest is, it's the largest music festival in the world, located in downtown Milwaukee, right next to Lake Michigan. Not only are there 11 stages on the Summerfest grounds, but this event goes on for 11 days; each day with a different lineup. Now, some people may say that going to Summerfest can be expensive. The good thing is that many different radio stations near Milwaukee and other Milwaukee businesses give away free general admission tickets to Summerfest. Plus, everyone is allowed to bring in one sealed bottle of water in with them. I look for cheap food that is amazing, and I recommend getting some sweet corn from one of the many vendors.
3. Go to a Wisconsin state park
Wisconsin is really quite beautiful, and some of the most beautiful spots around the state are part of the state park system. From Devils Lake in Baraboo to Peninsula State Park in Door County, there's a lot you could do with an annual Wisconsin State Park sticker. For a car with a Wisconsin license plate, the annual admission price is only $28. This means you can come and go into any of the parks as much as you'd like. But if you only wan't to go once, parking is only $8. Most of the parks have hiking trails and beaches, which offers up a wide variety of activities to do.
4. Go on a tubing trip
Need to relax, but also want to have some fun with friends? Tubing is great for exactly that. There are some places throughout Wisconsin that rent out tubes, and there are certain weekends that more than 100 people are out having fun on the river in their tubes. If you don't want to rent a tube or be with that many people, it's easy to find a friend and go to a local river and have a great day together.
5. Go kayaking, canoeing or paddle boarding
With all of the lakes and rivers in Wisconsin, it's really easy to find a friend or someone you know who has a kayak, canoe or a paddle board. If you don't have any connections to lend this things, there are places throughout Wisconsin that rent them out, usually at a very low cost. Not only are these activities fun, but they're also a great workout!
