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Are you considering a trip to Kenosha, Wisconsin?  There are so many great things to see and do there any time of year!  I’ve put together a couple suggested itineraries for different types of visitors heading to Kenosha based on my recent adventures in the area.  In case you missed it, here is my itinerary for a Couples Getaway, and stay tuned for a Girls weekend/shopping trip itinerary soon!  But first: see below for my recommendations for a fun family day trip in Kenosha.

Kenosha is a city in Southeastern Wisconsin with a population of approximately 100,000.  It is located:

45 min from Milwaukee,  70 min from Chicago,  2 hrs from Madison ,  2.5 hrs from Green Bay

“Family Fun” Daytrip

• Jelly Belly Visitor Center tour

  • Take a ride aboard the “Jelly Belly Express”, a train that goes around the Jelly Belly warehouse.  Along the path, you stop to watch videos and learn how Jelly Belly jelly beans are made!  After this free train ride, visitors are given a small bag of jelly beans to enjoy for going on the tour.  There is also a new exhibit at the Visitor Center which includes displays about the history of the company, and a virtual soccer game where you play the goalie and have to keep the Jelly Belly jelly beans from scoring a goal.  And of course, there’s a really sweet candy store, with free samples, and a lot of great souvenirs and gifts!

• Lunch & shopping at Mars Cheese Castle – Known for their Grilled Cheese & Cheese Curds!

  • Another great stop in Kenosha for all things Wisconsin!  Stay for lunch, and give the grilled cheese sandwich a try!  Pick 2 cheeses, and your type of bread and experience the deliciousness of your custom sandwich.  Mars Cheese Castle is also known for their cheese curds: you don’t want to miss out on these.  The store is not only full of great souvenirs for adults, but also a fun section with candy for kids.

• Visit the Dinosaur Discovery Museum

  • Although this museum is small in size, there are a lot of neat dinosaur skeletons on exhibit.  In addition to the large display on the main floor, there is a special exhibit that is for kids in the basement:  “Dino Digs” – Sat & Sun 1:00pm-4:00pm – kids ages 3 & up can play the paleontologist and dig for bones in a simulated excavation site.  Free

• Ride the Electric Streetcar

  • The beautifully restored streetcars are such a unique attraction in Kenosha.  While onboard, you can see gorgeous views of Lake Michigan, and many of the museums among other things.  The entire ride took us about 10-15 minutes, but it was a neat chance to experience a little bit of history by taking a seat on an old streetcar!
  • 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)

• Dinner at Choo-Choo Charlie’s

  • This restaurant is sure to be a hit for the kids, especially those who love trains!  Not only is the restaurant part of the train station, there are a lot of fun choices of food and you can color on the paper table cloths while you wait for your meal.  Sounds cool, right?  But that’s not even the best part!  Once your meal is ready to be served, it is delivered in baskets behind a toy train!

Have you visited Kenosha with your family?  What is your favorite activity?

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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.