• Tweet
• Email

• Tweet
• Email

Girls Daytrip or Weekend getaway

My first trip to Kenosha was way back when I was in high school.  My friends and I did a mini road trip and Kenosha was the first stop!  We of course went to the Jelly Belly Visitor Center, and did a little stop at the Cracker Barrel.  After that we made our way to Gurnee, Illinois for some shopping at Gurnee Mills, and a meal at The Rainforest Café.  That trip was awesome, but now after my recent visit to Kenosha, I see you can make a whole shopping weekend adventure there as well!

Check out my suggested itinerary for either a 1 or 2 day trip to Kenosha with the girls!

Day 1

• Jelly Belly Visitor Center tour

  • When in Kenosha, a visit here is a must!  Here you will learn how the famous Jelly Belly is made, try samples, and shop for candy & souvenirs!  The gift shop is AMAZING.

• Lunch at Cracker Barrel

  • So many great choices and hearty meals at Cracker Barrel, and don’t forget… the Old Country Store has a great variety of shopping from clothing to decorations to food mixes and candy!

• Pleasant Prairie Premium Outlets

  • So. Many. Stores!!  I enjoyed shopping at the GAP-factory, but there are a lot of other noteworthy stores:  American Eagle, Banana Republic – Factory, Bath and Body Works, Columbia – Factory, etc. etc. etc.!  Too many good ones to list

• Dinner at House of Gerhard

  • Opened in 1964, House of Gerhard is known for its delicious German-American Cuisine.  I ordered the special of the day (“German Platter”) and a German beer.  The food was excellent, and there was A LOT of it!  The dinners are served with muffins, German hard rolls, Garlic toast, & Liver Pate.  They also serve a relish salad, a choice of soup or salad, and a choice of potato!
  • Closed on Sundays

Want to make it a 2-day girls trip?  Stay overnight!

• Double Tree by Hilton (right next to the outlet mall!)

Day 2

• Breakfast at the hotel restaurant (not included with stay)

• Shopping at Mars Cheese Castle

  • You can’t miss this building from the road!  Mars Cheese Castle is a fun stop with LOTS of shopping areas.  Wisconsin merchandise, cheese, beer, wine, and so much more can be found throughout the castle!
  • Be sure to split some of the famous cheese curds  while you’re there
  • Check out my adventures at Mars Cheese Castle!

• Lunch at Waterfront Warehouse

  • Great atmosphere, unique menu with a lot of delicious options.

• Visit the Kenosha Public Museum

  • See the famous Mammoth exhibit, and learn about the two mammoths that were excavated in Kenosha County!
  • Check out my adventures at the Kenosha Public Museum (& 3 other museums in Kenosha!)

• Ride the Electric Streetcar

  • Hop onto a beautifully restored electric streetcar for a 10-15 minute ride around Kenosha!  You’ll see beautiful views of Lake Michigan, and drive past many of the local museums.
  • Bring exact change for fare – $1 per ride (age 13+), 50₵ per ride (ages 5-12), free for kids 4 & younger (at time of post)
  • Hours vary by the season, and are greatly reduced in Winter (January & February)

• Shop at Modern Apothecary

  • A pharmacy with a wide variety of essential oils, bath products, and cute Kenosha & Wisconsin souvenirs.
  • Closed on Sundays

• Dinner at Villa D’ Carlo

  • Opened in 1957, Villa D’ Carlo is a family owned restaurant famous for its thin crust pizza.  Split a couple pizzas, or order some pasta!
  • Closed on Tuesdays

In case you missed my other itinerary suggestions for Kenosha, be sure to check out a one day trip with the family, and a couples getaway.

Pin it for later!

Disclaimer: Our visit to Kenosha was hosted by the Kenosha Area Convention and Visitors Bureau.  We received overnight accommodation, and gift cards for our meals and activities.  However, all opinions are my own.