Let's take a little break from spring cleaning for a bit and have some fun, shall we? We're shaking off the winter blues as we explore a handful of awesome Wisconsin festivals, activities and destinations. Here are 14 ideas you should have on your tulip-lovin', sunshine-cravin' radar this season:
1. Warm up your throwing arm at one of 205 public disc golf courses in Wisconsin.
2. Hit up a farmers market. "Tis the season to stock up on fresh tomatoes, local honey and Stella's Hot & Spicy cheese bread.
3. Spot the lions and tigers and bears (oh my) and other fascinating fauna at the Henry Vilas Zoo, Milwaukee County Zoo, NEW Zoo or Racine Zoo, among others.
4. Burn calories, have fun: Register for a marathon or run/walk in Wisconsin. There's the Color Run in Racine, Walk Wisconsin in Stevens Point and Cellcom Marathon in Green Bay.
5. Take a leisurely ride on the Wisconsin Great Northern Train from Spooner to Springbrook.
6. Load up the cheese and brats and get into America's favorite pastime at Miller Park or one of dozens of semi-pro baseball parks around the state.
7. Attend a springtime festival such as the Prairie Fling in Sarona, Belle City Brewfest in Racine, Chequamegon Bay Birding and Natural Festival in Ashland or the Lawn Mower Races in Fifield (... yep, you read that right.).
8. Stock up on s'mores ingredients and set up camp in your backyard ... or head to one of Camping For The Fun Of It's 13 kid-friendly campgrounds.
9. Journey to the Capital City to enjoy some grub at one of Madison's many outdoor dining establishments or popular food trucks.
10. Take your family on a morel-hunting excursion. (For the über-passionate morel enthusiasts, check out the Morel Mushroom Festival in Muscoda.)
11. Turn back the clock and get lost in a feature film at a drive-in theater.
12. Pack a lunch, pick a kite and plan a pleasure trip to one of Wisconsin's many amazing state parks.
13. Motorcycle through the winding roads of the Driftless Area, Platteville's hilly countryside or Bayfield County's scenic Northwoods. Add Bike Night at Harley-Davidson Museum to your motorcycling itinerary.
14. Enjoy Wisconsin's beautiful flora at one of many botanical gardens. (Psst: It's free admission at Rotary Botanic Gardens on the 25th of every month through October.)
You survived the blistering cold ... Now get out there and have some Wisconsin-style fun.
- Mariah Haberman is the co-host of the nation's longest-running tourism TV show, "Discover Wisconsin." Her column is published Tuesday on Life page in the Times.
1. Warm up your throwing arm at one of 205 public disc golf courses in Wisconsin.
2. Hit up a farmers market. "Tis the season to stock up on fresh tomatoes, local honey and Stella's Hot & Spicy cheese bread.
3. Spot the lions and tigers and bears (oh my) and other fascinating fauna at the Henry Vilas Zoo, Milwaukee County Zoo, NEW Zoo or Racine Zoo, among others.
4. Burn calories, have fun: Register for a marathon or run/walk in Wisconsin. There's the Color Run in Racine, Walk Wisconsin in Stevens Point and Cellcom Marathon in Green Bay.
5. Take a leisurely ride on the Wisconsin Great Northern Train from Spooner to Springbrook.
6. Load up the cheese and brats and get into America's favorite pastime at Miller Park or one of dozens of semi-pro baseball parks around the state.
7. Attend a springtime festival such as the Prairie Fling in Sarona, Belle City Brewfest in Racine, Chequamegon Bay Birding and Natural Festival in Ashland or the Lawn Mower Races in Fifield (... yep, you read that right.).
8. Stock up on s'mores ingredients and set up camp in your backyard ... or head to one of Camping For The Fun Of It's 13 kid-friendly campgrounds.
9. Journey to the Capital City to enjoy some grub at one of Madison's many outdoor dining establishments or popular food trucks.
10. Take your family on a morel-hunting excursion. (For the über-passionate morel enthusiasts, check out the Morel Mushroom Festival in Muscoda.)
11. Turn back the clock and get lost in a feature film at a drive-in theater.
12. Pack a lunch, pick a kite and plan a pleasure trip to one of Wisconsin's many amazing state parks.
13. Motorcycle through the winding roads of the Driftless Area, Platteville's hilly countryside or Bayfield County's scenic Northwoods. Add Bike Night at Harley-Davidson Museum to your motorcycling itinerary.
14. Enjoy Wisconsin's beautiful flora at one of many botanical gardens. (Psst: It's free admission at Rotary Botanic Gardens on the 25th of every month through October.)
You survived the blistering cold ... Now get out there and have some Wisconsin-style fun.
- Mariah Haberman is the co-host of the nation's longest-running tourism TV show, "Discover Wisconsin." Her column is published Tuesday on Life page in the Times.