February 18, 2025 • 30 mins
Kenosha is Wisconsin's 4th largest city, right in the state's SE corner smack dab between Milwaukee and Chicago. This dynamic city has flavors of both Wisconsin and Illinois, with Lake Michigan fun, a dynamic downtown, and unexpected gems to boot. Museums showcase Kenosha's history from Wooly Mammoths to dinosaurs as well as the making of cars, mattresses, underwear, tools, and more. It's still a manufacturing powerhouse and the area plays as hard as it works. It features the Nation's Oldest Velodrome - a mecca for bike racing - as well as natural wonders from Lake Michigan beaches to inland parks with prairies, springs, and forest to explore. Craft breweries, college and semi-pro sports, classic delis, food trucks and festivals around food, cars, marathons and more offer options a'plenty. A vibrant and diversifying restaurant scene means Kenosha has palate-pleasing options from across the world, whether you want a fusion of foods from distant continents or a good old fashioned amazing cheeseburger and a shake from a classic drive-in. Starting with Kenosha Restaurant Week and then getting into everything else, we talk with Meridith Jumisko from Visit Kenosha to cover it all.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
And welcome to the next episode of the Stage Trunk
Tour podcast am Meerk Paulson. And while we're in the
grips of winter, be sure to check out the latest ski,
snowboard and tubing conditions at thirty plus ski areas across Wisconsin.
We keep that updated as often as we can as
conditions change. We also have weekend events coming up, and
in particular, this weekend kicks off Kenosha Restaurant Week, which
(00:22):
runs Saturday, February twenty second through Sunday, March second. Nearly
eighty restaurants, diners, supper clubs, drive ins, coffee shops, bars,
and more are participating with special menu items, special pricing
on select favorites, and even dishes they want to try
out and get your feedback on. It's an excellent time
to try the cuisine scene across the city and county
of Kenoshi got nine days and nights of tastiness that
(00:45):
oh wait, visit Kenoshi dot com slash RW if you
want to check it out now. But that's going to
kick off our conversation about Kenosha in general, covering the
city and parts of the county in great detail all
the fun things there is to see and do and
experience as we hook up with Meredith Jamisko, PR director
of Visit Kenosha. So there's a dizzy array of fun
things that await in Wisconsin's southeastern corner. We'll be right
(01:08):
back with Meredith and discuss everything from history from wooly
mammoths to classic cars, the arts from galleries to sculptures,
outdoor recreation year round, and the museums, parks and neighborhoods
that make Kenosha a unique place to live and a
very fun place to visit, filled with tons of options. Well,
Visit Kenosha next on the State Trunk Tour podcast right
after this and now joining me on the State Trunk
(01:32):
Tour podcast. As promised, Meredith Jamisco, the PR director, among
other things for Visit Kenosha, got a busy job pointing
out to all the merits of the southeast corner of
the state.
Speaker 2 (01:42):
Meredith, Hello, Hello, having me.
Speaker 1 (01:45):
It's great to have you here. You know, Kenosha very
fun place. My dad grew up there, my grandparents, one
sid of my grandparents are from there. I know Kenosha
and Kenosha County extraordinarily well, very fun place to road
trip to. It's a sizeable city all its own. It
might be between Milwaukee and Chicago, but it's its own metro,
its own city, and there's so much to do there.
There's so much cool history. So we'll dive into a
(02:07):
huge chunk of it. But the first thing I thought
I would do as we ponder Kenosha, which is, you know,
I forty one and ninety four and go east or
west of the Eye right into the city. Though highways
thirty two and fifty one, fifty eight goes in one
forty two used to, and I still for the purposes
of state trunk tour, I still like to have you
go all the way in. I mean, you can't just
stop at mars Cheese Castle. You should go all the
(02:27):
way in and see the velodrome and uh, the drive
ins and everything like that. So it's a great place
to road trip, especially because of the autohistory, which we
will get into shortly. So first I thought, though, as
we're speaking, it's mid February and Kenosha Restaurant Week is
coming up, so we'll take just a couple of minutes
to talk about that before we dive into everything else.
Cool with that, I am cool with that all right,
(02:49):
So let's do a Kenosha Restaurant Week kicks off February
twenty second, which is a Saturday here all the way
through March second. It's basically a week long with the
two weekends on either side. And this is a great
chance to take advantage of Kenosha's incredibly impressive now dining scene.
Speaker 2 (03:04):
That is right, and we do this every year about
the same time. It's the nine day celebration of not
only our delicious dining scene, but the locally owned restaurants
that we have here. And we have a record seventy
plus restaurants, supperate clubs, cafes, diners, pubs, and specialty food
shops participating. And this is throughout Kenosha County, so each
(03:25):
venues creating their own special discounts or offers, and therefore
summer for dining only. Others are for carryout. And it's
just a great way to get out of the house
and these final days of winter and enjoy some great food.
Speaker 1 (03:39):
Yeah, it really is. And it runs the gamut. I mean,
like we've been downtown Kenosha Frank's Diner, which is actually
like an old train car that was pulled into place
by horses one hundred years ago next year now, I
believe you can get a garbage plate there, but you
can also two blocks away get some incredibly good Asian
fusion at ono for an upscale international meal. And it
(04:00):
has everything in between. Kenosha does just a couple of
quick things that there's bars, restaurants and supper clubs and
like diners and coffee shops and all kinds of different
places you.
Speaker 2 (04:11):
Can sample, Yes, definitely, and then more than twenty of
those are first time participants. Even some of those open
since the last restaurant week, and some have been all
around in long time. So just a great variety. And
we're talking about lunch or dinner for two, or multi
course fials or special discounts and offers off of the price.
One of these in offering one free Sunday brunch get
(04:33):
one free, so wow, all sorts of different offers. Yes,
So it's a great range for whatever you may be
looking forward to dine in.
Speaker 1 (04:41):
It sure is that it's a great way to introduce
people to Kenosha's cuisine if they haven't really experienced it.
Or a bunch of new places that include some breweries.
I mean the Kenosha Brewing Company is in there.
Speaker 2 (04:52):
And Rustic Road the Public Brewing Company. Yeah, we have
something for everyone here and the idea is to to
thinking about Kenosha and all the locally owned places here
and have you come back again and try some other
places or become a new customer somewhere and also enjoy
everything else that we have here in the Kenosha area.
Speaker 1 (05:11):
No, it's a great place for food. They've had a
long time Italian dining tradition because their Italian heritage is huge.
Then they were big on Greek restaurants and more recently
all different kinds. And that also reflects the neighborhoods, and
it reflects the people, and it reflects the history of
the city which has long drawn in a lot of
people because it has a strong history. For example, in
(05:32):
manufacturing everything from Simmons, beds and mattresses to cars had
been made in Kenosha. Snap On Tools still has their
world headquarters there, so does Jockey Underwear and Kenosha's it's
kind of a hidden gem for making things exactly.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
And a lot of famous people from here as well,
like the actor Mark Ruffalo.
Speaker 1 (05:51):
Ruffalo's from there. We've got oh my God, why am
I skipping on his name? Orson Wells is from Kenosha. Well, yeah,
Alan Amiti is from Kenosha. Actually, we could go into
a long list Daniel Trevanni from Hill Street Blues, and
we could just go on and on and on, and
it is one of those places where people and they
(06:12):
love to talk about where they're from when they are
from Kenosha. There's the civic pride there.
Speaker 2 (06:16):
Yes, there are in the specific neighborhoods even Yes, yes
it's the fourth largest city, but it has a small
town seal where everybody knows everybody and it's just a
really fun place to visit and steel welcome.
Speaker 1 (06:28):
Yeah, it is one of the city. It's pushing one
hundred thousand in population just in the city, and then
the county's, you know, almost two hundred thousand. So it's
large and it's growing nicely. You have Kenosha and all
the points west and you can see it, especially when
you're coming in on Highway fifty. I mean, the growth
is pretty pretty incredible.
Speaker 2 (06:45):
Yes, definitely, we continue a lot of redevelopment going on
now in downtown and the uptown and they have former
Chrysler site, so a lot of more great things to
come in the future.
Speaker 1 (06:55):
Yeah, and there's see the cool part with Kanoshi's downtown.
I mean, it's right on the water. You have a
beautiful marina, you have a great Harbor Park District, which
to get into a little bit of the car manufacturing.
You know, you mentioned the old Chrysler plant. I still
think of it as the old American Motors plant. And
there were two of them. There was a lakefront one
a factory right on the lake where they'd build cars
(07:16):
and put them right on ships that would go across
the country and the world. And that area is now
called the Harbor Park District. And you have it's kind
of downtown and Harbor Parker. They're right next to each other.
They're really kind of mushed together in one giant area
that's so fun. And it's filled not only with restaurants
like we've talked about, but there's some great museums from
(07:37):
the Civil War to dinosaurs.
Speaker 2 (07:39):
Yes, exactly. In the Harbor Park area alone, there's two museums.
And then about ten blocks away is the Dinosaur Discovery Museum.
And we have the Kenosha History Center and the Southport
Lights Station Museum. On Simon's Island across the harbor, so
it's phenomenal, or the two in Harbor Park at the
Civil War Museum, which people find unusual, we have one here,
but it talks about all the different contributions this part
(08:02):
of the country contributed to the war. And the next
door is the Public Museum. That's our natural arts. There
are natural sciences and find art museum with mammoths on
display even that have changed the science books of how
long humans have been part of this country. So a
lot to learn in our museum.
Speaker 1 (08:18):
I was going to mention that because yeah, Kenosha is
a wooly mammoth history and it's like what what, Yeah.
Speaker 2 (08:25):
They were discovered right here in Kenosha County and then
if you find one in your backyard you can have
it named after you. So that is how our mammoths
have come to be. The heavier and the Shaefer mammoths
at the Public Museum.
Speaker 1 (08:36):
Really Schaeffer mammoths.
Speaker 2 (08:39):
Yeah, that one actually had a relative. It was a
Shaffer family found the mammoths and they were connected to
one of the schools in Kenosha County. But yeah, it's
fascinating what you can learn there. And then at the
Dinosaur Discovery Museum. You can learn about how modern day,
how dinosaurs are still amongst among us today, the meat
eating ones, and they're just in a different form as birds.
Speaker 1 (09:00):
Oh that's right.
Speaker 2 (09:02):
Yeah, yeah, all about that connection. You go back two
hundred and thirty seven million years ago to present day
at the Dino Museum.
Speaker 1 (09:09):
Man, that is really cool. Especially little kids love that.
I'm I'm a little thrown for a loop because my
dad's mom's maiden name was Shaeffer.
Speaker 2 (09:17):
Oh my gosh, maybe they're related to it.
Speaker 1 (09:19):
She grew up outside of Triever on a farm in
Kenosha County, So I might have a great uncle who
did something about this and I don't know about it.
Speaker 2 (09:27):
Wow. Yeah, you better dive in your family history.
Speaker 1 (09:31):
I think I'll have to ask some questions. Okay, well
see now that now I have to come back and
find out more about that soon. So yeah, the museums
are really really cool, and the dining scene is really
really cool. And then you have the lakefront, which is lovely,
and you have everything from Carthage College on the north
side of Kenosha all the way down. You have Simmons Island,
(09:52):
a beautiful lighthouse. You can tour that was built in
eighteen sixty six.
Speaker 2 (09:56):
Yeah, Southport Lighthouse, it's beautiful. You can see into Chicago
skyline on a clear day from the top of the lighthouse,
seventy two steps up.
Speaker 1 (10:04):
To the top. I've seen the Chicago skyline from a
boat like a mile east of Kenosha Harbor. But yeah,
it makes sense you could see it from the lighthouse too,
because it's only what about forty five miles.
Speaker 2 (10:13):
Is the crow flies Yeah, I not too far. You
can even see it from like some of our beaches
on a clear day if you're looking south.
Speaker 1 (10:20):
That is really really cool. And the beaches in Kenosha
are great. The park system is really nice. You do
have and I love bicycling, so I have to mention
Washington Park, the world's oldest operating velodrome.
Speaker 2 (10:31):
That is right. Yes, the bicycle races are there a
couple of nights a week in the summer. You can
watch them go around the bowl. You can go to
Big Star Drive and across the streets for your dinner
and then come on over and sit on a blanket
and watch the bicycle races.
Speaker 1 (10:43):
That is a steep oval too. I've been on that
on my bicycle like when I was little with my
grandparents and you're your feels like a ninety degree angle.
It's not quite but wow, that thing is high.
Speaker 2 (10:54):
Yet that is brave to do that on your bicycle.
Speaker 1 (10:58):
I'm not saying I didn't fall over. I'm just saying
I went on it. So another thing I love to
point out because we have, like on State Trunk Tour,
we showcase drive ins like burger stands where you can
pull up your car, there's a car hop, sometimes there's
a tray out your window. I love that Americana experience.
And Kenosha has three of them.
Speaker 2 (11:15):
Yeah, yeah, we have a couple a couple of them
that we promote big time. The Spot drive in is
open year round and then the Big Star drive In
we also push. They close Labor Day weekend, and then
they are the first sign of spring because they open
around March first. That sometimes that can even be a
little a few days ahead. So when you know they
are open, you know that spring is here, beautiful.
Speaker 1 (11:37):
And then Andy's on Roosevelt, which isn't far from the Spot.
Speaker 2 (11:40):
Yes, we have a lot of options. Old schools bring
you back. The nostalgia is great, just like our street
cars are very nostalgic.
Speaker 1 (11:46):
Yeah, that's another cool thing. It's a unique deal. Milwaukee
got one too, more recently. But Kenosha's was the first
streetcar system that they kind of reinstalled in the state
of Wisconsin, and it's designed to let you enjoy downtown
and to and through the Harbor Park district with a
nice little loop that you can take whether it's for
pleasure or for you know, truly getting from one place
(12:07):
to another. And it even ties into the Metro station
which connects you to Chicago by train.
Speaker 2 (12:12):
Yeah. Yeah, And these are authentic street cars. They were
actually used by places in the forties and fifties. That's
why they are so colorful. We have seven working ones.
They're all different colors for the cities that once had
this kind of streetcar and it's actually attracted people from
all over the world to come to see it, and
it's kind of been seen as a model for how
other towns now are implementing them. So, of course, in
(12:32):
the early nineteen hundreds we had streetcars here and then
they were brought back in the year two thousand and
they do the two mile loop. They connect you to
three of the museums and many shops and restaurants and
the lakefront area, so you can really see a lot
just site see on it or take it from one
place to another. I know, a couple of days a
year it's free to get you around to different events
(12:53):
we have at the Lakefront and otherwise it's a very
nominal fee to just hop on board and enjoy.
Speaker 1 (12:58):
The tour, ex to the museums and everything too. And
it's funny because cars replaced the street car in most cities.
In Kenosha is partially guilty of that for all the
cars they've made through the years and American Motors, the
funny part is part of Kenosha's industrial history because there
were so many car manufacturers there because they had Nash
(13:18):
and Rambler and they merged to become American Motors in
nineteen fifty four. And you know, one of the reasons
snap On Tools and some of these other companies are
in Kenosha was to serve the large companies there, right,
So yeah, yeah, I always thought that was cool. And
snap On, by the way, does have a center if
you love tools, there's a great place you can visit there.
Speaker 2 (13:38):
Yes, they do. I believe they have special events. They
open it up for and maybe you can call and
see if you can get a tour. But yeah, it's
a really cool little visitors center museum. They have it
snap mm hm.
Speaker 1 (13:48):
And so then you to get back to American motors.
In the history of that there was a huge lakefront plant.
There was also a large plant off thirtieth I remember vividly.
And now Kenosha every three years celeb rates that heritage
with kind of a homecoming for American motors.
Speaker 2 (14:04):
Yes, the Kenosha History Center organizes this one of our museums.
They talk about the history of Kenosha at their museum,
and of course the big part of that is all
the manufacturing we had here and that was one hundred
and eight years of either automobile manufacturing or engine assembly
here in Kenosha. So every three years they put on
this huge show just them and a group of volunteers,
(14:26):
and people come from all over the world, including someone
from Australia is even shipping their car here. I mean
usually they'll come from you know, other countries to see it,
but they're actually bringing their car that they've redone here.
So it's a very cool event. Draws a lot of
people and it's open to any of the cars. We
have a long list of the cars that actually were
made in Kenosha, more than just the traditional brands. So
(14:48):
if it was made here, you can put it on display.
The car show, it's the whole event is from July
twenty second to the twenty seventh, and the large car
show is on July twenty sixth that Kennedy Park right
next to the lake and a huge swap meet. But
all the other days they have drive in events at
different areas, even the schools and restaurants and different venues
(15:10):
to just have everyone gather together. And you know, these
are people that worked here at the plant and so
they have so many memories and it's a great homecoming
reunion atmosphere.
Speaker 1 (15:20):
It is really cool. The Kenosha History Center, they're actually
on fifty first place in Kenosha. And one thing about Kenosha,
the way the streets are, it's pretty easy to figure
out where you're at. It's a grid system with numbers
and east west roads or streets, north south roads are
avenues and you can kind of figure out where something
is just by its address pretty easily. And so fifty
first place for the Kenosha History Center and they are
(15:44):
the ones spearheading and of course they work with you
guys that visit Kenosha on it, and there's a lot
of unique events within it for the week. It's almost
like how Milwaukee has the Harley Homecoming. This is the
homecoming for American Motors models and others Nash Rambler and such.
Speaker 2 (15:57):
Yeah, and they believe there's no larger AMC showing the world.
So it's a really huge deal to do this and
people always wonder, oh, why don't they do it every year,
but you know, it's a momentum going and more unique
if it's something to look forward to every few years,
and it is a very huge undertaking as well. Yeah,
they're very happy that they do it. And it's you know,
(16:17):
great exposure for everything that Kenosha you know, used to
represent with the manufacturing and it's important to preserve that
history and if you look ahead to the future, and
so the History.
Speaker 1 (16:28):
Center does that absolutely. And yeah, so the Pacer you
saw in Wayne's World or some other things and AMC
Mattador Javelin, all these cars that we've seen that we've
known and in some cases loved and in some cases,
you know, oh my god, because like I loved pacers
when I was a little kid because they're so unique
with the bubble windows and everything like that. That's all
(16:50):
part of American motors and part of Kenosha's history. So
check out the Kenosha Homecoming Car Show. It is July
twenty second through twenty seventh, between State Trunk Tour dot
com and visit Kenosha dot Plenty of information about events
as that information gets released, and really right around that time,
shortly after his taste of Wisconsin.
Speaker 2 (17:08):
Yes, it actually overlaps. So Wisconsin's always one of our
biggest events. Brings thousands of people here and that's that
the last weekend in July Friday through Sunday. So yeah,
right down there at the lake front at the Harbor
Park area that we talked about, has like four stages
of live music, have kids an area, and food and drinks,
bringing vendors from all around the area and lots of visitors.
(17:31):
So it's one of our big events we look forward
to every year.
Speaker 1 (17:34):
Boy. Yeah, the way the calendar works out this year,
they do overlap Friday, Saturday Sundays, so yeah, in that event.
Speaker 2 (17:40):
Actually it benefits local charities because the local Quantity Club
puts that on very great pods and it's a great
time to see out and right at the lake. You know,
I see the boats out there, and it's just very
fun atmosphere.
Speaker 1 (17:52):
Oh, it is heavenly in the summertime along that lakefront.
And I've had the pleasure of fishing out of Kenosha.
Some places in Wisconsin they're better for charter fishing than others.
Kenosha is right up there. It is a fantastic place
to fish.
Speaker 2 (18:05):
That is right. They say they have the highest catch
per hour right here in Kenosha.
Speaker 1 (18:09):
My best catches ever were fishing off of Kenosha. I
caught five co host salmon in an hour and then
we brought them back to the boat house for a
shore lunch. They prepared them three ways and I felt
very manly that day.
Speaker 2 (18:21):
Yeah, we still have as in an Ale restaurant opened
up last year and they do that now or the
shore lunch, or they can have it for you to
bring home. So yeah, you can definitely catch your lunch
right here in Lake Michigan.
Speaker 1 (18:34):
That is pretty awesome. So there is also a lot
of other well, what are some other events you want
to highlight? Real quick as we go through twenty twenty five,
because I don't want to go through just some of
the other fun things to do.
Speaker 2 (18:44):
Yeah, we have Wisconsin Marathon I always be a first
Saturday in May that brings people here from all over
the country as well. They race through the streets to
downtown and along the lake front. And then in July
we have Country Thunder out in Twin Lake.
Speaker 3 (18:57):
Oh.
Speaker 2 (18:58):
Yeah, brings all the country fans here. And then while
the Harley Davidson Homecomings in Milwaukee every year, now, Kenosha
does its own celebration as well because we have Wisconsin's
oldest the Alert Ship at Yukes Harley Davidson.
Speaker 1 (19:11):
I didn't know that was the oldest one.
Speaker 2 (19:13):
Yeah, the oldest one in Wisconsin. Yeah. They on events
every day, and then there's community events too to get
the visitors here around their way into Milwaukee. They can
stop here or stay here and enjoy all that we have.
And another big event, Harbor Park Jazz, Rhythm and Blues Festival,
happens one day in August. And then the Saturday of
(19:33):
Labor Day weekend there's the Kenosha Classic Cruising that brings
classic cars of all types here to fill the streets
of downtown Kenosha. So that's another big event that draws
a lot of people into the downtown area to enjoy
all the shops and restaurants and museums and art gallery.
Speaker 1 (19:48):
See. The theme is a lot of classics, classic cars,
classic history, and then kind of the modern remerg I
don't want to call it a re emergence per se,
but I mean things are growing nicely ocean, especially downtown,
So it's it's pretty cool all of the new things
that have been popping up.
Speaker 2 (20:06):
Yeah, and they're such great variety. I mean, we have
hold My Beer that has the axe throwing inside, and
we have tavern on six that's a restaurant bar and
also as golf stimulators, and so many places now offer
outdoor dining or rooftop dining. So it's really new places
of an opening every year and it's really fun place.
And lots of lodging opportunities as well in downtown.
Speaker 1 (20:28):
Yeah, there's more hotels and more people are living downtown.
They've built. You know, when downtown's get a lot more
vibrant when people also live down there. And now that
we've seen that, it's really become more of a more
days of the of the week, more hours of the day.
Vibrant things are going on.
Speaker 2 (20:45):
Yes, definitely, that's what the mixed use developments continue to
go up, and that includes a lot of residential areas.
So yeah, a lot of people downtown to enjoy all
that we have now.
Speaker 1 (20:56):
We also I mentioned Simmons Island, I mentioned Harbor Park,
some outdoor recreation things to do. There's a lot of
great park We mentioned fishing too, but there's a lot
of great parks for hiking and for golf and things
like that. What are some of the highlights you'd love
to share with us.
Speaker 2 (21:11):
Yeah, we have Hawthorn Hollow that's across from you tow
park Side. That's a great nature area. And of course
right next to park Side is Petrifying Springs Park, which
is the oldest county park and they have a beer
garden there in the summer. They have a golf course,
the dog park, lots of trails, and the folks that
do the beer garden at Petrofine Springs Park are opening
one up in Hampston Park out in Bristol. That's on
(21:34):
Highway forty five, not far from the Bristol forty five Diners,
and that'll be a new Attrack.
Speaker 3 (21:39):
Going to mention that, yes, and then we also in Bristol,
the Bristol Woods Park, we have Boundless Adventures outdoor Aerial
Adventure park for ziplining and other aerial courses, and we
have we're really known in the summer for all the
outdoor concert series.
Speaker 2 (21:57):
We have free outdoor concerts. There so many of parks,
so it's always something to look forward to, and that
includes Old Settler's Park, Bristil Woods Park of course, that
Keanoia Park next to Lake Michigan, Lincoln Park. So just
lots of different ways to enjoy the outdoors in the
Kenosha area.
Speaker 1 (22:15):
And you can do some outdoor like if you're into
like the the yoga, like in the park kind of
things going on. And then there's there's spas and salons
in the Kenosha area that people don't think of necessarily,
they don't know they're there yet.
Speaker 2 (22:27):
Yeah, oh yeah, we have a lot of those, especially
in the downtown area. We have a whole section and
our website listing them and what amenities they have. And
there's even a hot yoga place and one of them
offers yoga on the beach in the summer. Fairly new
it just opened a year two ago is Beach House
on Simmons Island. It reopened after being closed for many years.
(22:47):
It's a new operator and they have all sorts of
different programming throughout the summer, like yoga, other exercises on
the beach. They have bonfires at night, live music, all
sorts of things to get you active. They have bicycle rentals,
so that whole area has really happened in the summertime
and it's all part the same person that operates it
also goes Lakeshore a puddle tour. We have one of
(23:09):
those you know bars on wheels that goes around downtown
that you can be part of.
Speaker 1 (23:15):
And is that where everybody drinks and yells woo as
they pedal on the street.
Speaker 2 (23:19):
Yes, yes, that's it. And also we have the Community
Kenosha County or the Kenosha Community Sailing Center where you
can rent ducking puddle boats to use out on the
harbor and kayaks and on water strikes. So there's really
lots of ways to get out on the water now
more than ever before, and lots of ways to enjoy
(23:39):
the outdoors.
Speaker 1 (23:40):
Here, you know. And as we talk, it's still winter
and we've had a bunch of snow lately, so you
can go and I've done that thing where you go
snowshoeing in the parks out west and everything. What are
a couple of quick things people can enjoy before like
winter finishes well.
Speaker 2 (23:57):
Bristol Woods Park is where you can actually rent snowshoes
to use them out there. Will Nature Center rents them.
Of course we have sledding, but if there's days when
there's not much snow, you can go to Wilmot Mountain.
They make their own snow. They have the tubing hill,
they have the snowboarding, and they have steam. You can
even take lessons there and it's very very popular place
(24:18):
in the wintertime and definitely our winter destination. And also
we have ice skating as long as it's cold enough
to keep the ice cold right in downtown at Veterans
Memorial Park and outdoor ice rinks that they set up
in the wintertime and you can check out free skates
there as well, So another great way to enjoy the downtown.
Speaker 1 (24:34):
Yeah, that's very cool because in Wilmot Mountain, by the way,
you know, it's the most southernmost ski area in Wisconsin
because part of its property on one of the top
part of the runs actually goes across the state line
into Illinois, like a couple of feet.
Speaker 2 (24:48):
Something like that. That's interesting.
Speaker 1 (24:51):
Spans two states even, Yeah, that ensures it's the southernmost now. Also,
if you if you love the arts, there's a lot
of stuff in Kenosha that you may not know of.
The Anderson Arts Center, the Lemon Street Gallery, the Pollard Gallery.
There's a lot of art galleries downtown on like fifty
six then on Sheridan Road, which are two of the
(25:12):
main drags downtown.
Speaker 2 (25:14):
A little bit more in the arts scene, yes, yeah,
a lot of We have Union Park Arts District. They
do the Kenosha Art Market and the summertime at Union
Park on the third Sunday of the month, I have
a market out there. They also have lessons, do it
yourself art studios like I'll pack of art. And we
have Pinals Palette as well out in Pleasant Prairie that
(25:34):
does that. And we have so many art murals as
well outdoors, and we have a sculpture walks that say
art out about every two years right along the harbor.
You can enjoy from the boat, you can enjoy from
the streetcar and it's really cool right along the lakefront,
and there's ten that rotate every few years. But then
there's also lots of permanent art in that same area,
(25:55):
so lots of things to do to see art wise.
Speaker 1 (25:58):
Yeah, it's pretty cool because you don't often think of
that too, but you really run the gamut in Kenosha
with all the stuff.
Speaker 2 (26:05):
Yeah, and the Kenosha Politan Museum also always has art
exhibits up and they get a big transparent Watercolor Society
exhibit there in the summertime. That's a huge draws. So
lots of ways to enjoy art or make it. They
even have a clay studio at Lemonstry Galleries. You know
how to use clay, you're welcome to use their studios.
So lots of classes they offer there and at Anderson,
(26:26):
so lots of ways to be involved.
Speaker 1 (26:29):
That's nice. And actually for shopping too. A lot of
people are familiar with the premium outlets along the interstate,
but if you go into the city there's some really
cool shops too.
Speaker 2 (26:38):
Yeah, they actually have bookstores even people and the bookstores
aren't so popular anymore, but we have cool independent bookstores.
We have all sorts of things clothing boutiques and gift
shops and anything you can imagine. Lots of the vintage
is making a comeback. I remember years ago we used
to have like a page in our Visitors Guide devoted
(26:58):
to antique stores and then they're kind of weren't that
many for so many years, But now it's truly making
a comeback. And lots of stores downtown and in other
areas as well that have the vintage that everyone's looking for.
So lots of clothing stores, lots of different places that
we list on our website and all locally owned.
Speaker 1 (27:15):
And with Kenosha's history, You're going to find some really
cool stuff. I'm even going to do a selfish plug.
My dad's cousin, Jim, owns the Music Center in Kenoshad
Highways fifty Highway thirty one, just south of fifty. If
you're in the music or musical instruments, that's a great
place to shop. It's one of the best in the
state as far as I'm concerned. So I'm going to
do that plug. So and of course another one along
the interstate. Well, first of all, you got to give
(27:36):
a shout out to the broad Stop. That's a classic.
Speaker 2 (27:38):
Yeah, definitely, just like the Marschief Cassole. You got to
stop at both of them when you come to Kenosha
for the first time.
Speaker 1 (27:44):
And that's right, That's where I was going. Next was
mars Jee's Castle. Yeah, those are must stops along the interstate.
But part of the whole point of this conversation was
if you're in the Kenosha area on I forty one,
I ninety four, you got to go east and check
out the city going on Highway fifty. Go in on
one fifty eight, which is fifty second street. Stop attenuit
(28:04):
as Delhi if you get a chance. Also Washington have,
which is it's one forty two to the west, it's
County s to the east. Follow that east. You'll end
up at that fellow Drome. You'll end up at Big
Star Drive in, and all of those roads will take
you into downtown. And frankly, I drive up and down
thirty two is phenomenal too, because you get through downtown,
you go by Carthage, you go along the lakefront, and
(28:25):
you get to see historic Simmons Field where you can
watch baseball games in the summer.
Speaker 2 (28:29):
Yes, we love the Kingfish. Yes, the best of college
players play there. Where the Comets did and the all
grows American Professional League, and those players even stay with
local families. A family that I work with takes the
players in every summer. So definitely a popular place. Everyone
loves to cheer on the home team. You know, we
(28:50):
might conflict over what football teams we like here in
the southeast part of the state, but we all cheer
for the Kingfish. When it comes to baseball.
Speaker 1 (28:59):
You know, there's a Cubs fans start seeping in in
Kenosha County. It's very interesting. You has some healthy debates
if you will, but yeah, the Kingfish games are an
absolute blast. And Simmons Field is historic. It goes back
to the nineteen twenties and that's named after Simmons Betting
Simmons Mattress, which is another big part of Kenosha's history.
So it all ties in so nicely together. And if
(29:20):
you want to get the most out of it, stay
trunk Tour. We road trip guide you there. Visit Kenosha
dot Com has a really it's a really well laid
out site, Meredith. It really is. If you want to
see different things by different categories, it's all laid out
so easily, so check out visit Kenosha dot com and
make sure you head into town and experience what Wisconsin's
southeastern city has to offer.
Speaker 2 (29:42):
Thank you. Yes, we welcome everyone to come to the Kenosha.
Speaker 1 (29:45):
So make sure you go on there and we'll keep
on top of the events throughout the upcoming spring, summer,
into the fall and beyond. Meredith, thanks so much for
being with us today and we'll look forward to visiting
Kenosha again soon.
Speaker 2 (29:55):
Thank you again.
Speaker 1 (29:56):
Visit Kenosha dot com helps connect you with all the
fun and options, and for the restaurant week visit Kenosha
dot com slash RW. They make it nice and easy.
As we speak, it's a while until summer, but we
are looking forward to beaches, outdoor festivals, kingfish games and
we didn't mention this in our conversation, but trips to
the Bong Recreation Area and the Bristol Renaissance Fair. The
(30:16):
former and not a metaphor, There really is a Bong
Recreation Area, so Bristol Renaissance Fair, by the way, also
runs summer weekends through Labor Day. We'll keep you up
to date on everything too on State Trunk Tour dot
com and you can follow I forty one ninety four
US forty five, and I was thirty one, thirty two,
fifty eighty three one forty two, fifty eight one sixty
five Some cool county roads, back roads, and rustic roads
(30:38):
that bring you to all the fun. Thanks for listening,
and we'll catch you on the road and on the
next episode of the State Trunk Tour podcast
And welcome to the next episode of the Stage Trunk
Tour podcast am Meerk Paulson. And while we're in the
grips of winter, be sure to check out the latest ski,
snowboard and tubing conditions at thirty plus ski areas across Wisconsin.
We keep that updated as often as we can as
conditions change. We also have weekend events coming up, and
in particular, this weekend kicks off Kenosha Restaurant Week, which
(00:22):
runs Saturday, February twenty second through Sunday, March second. Nearly
eighty restaurants, diners, supper clubs, drive ins, coffee shops, bars,
and more are participating with special menu items, special pricing
on select favorites, and even dishes they want to try
out and get your feedback on. It's an excellent time
to try the cuisine scene across the city and county
of Kenoshi got nine days and nights of tastiness that
(00:45):
oh wait, visit Kenoshi dot com slash RW if you
want to check it out now. But that's going to
kick off our conversation about Kenosha in general, covering the
city and parts of the county in great detail all
the fun things there is to see and do and
experience as we hook up with Meredith Jamisko, PR director
of Visit Kenosha. So there's a dizzy array of fun
things that await in Wisconsin's southeastern corner. We'll be right
(01:08):
back with Meredith and discuss everything from history from wooly
mammoths to classic cars, the arts from galleries to sculptures,
outdoor recreation year round, and the museums, parks and neighborhoods
that make Kenosha a unique place to live and a
very fun place to visit, filled with tons of options. Well,
Visit Kenosha next on the State Trunk Tour podcast right
after this and now joining me on the State Trunk
(01:32):
Tour podcast. As promised, Meredith Jamisco, the PR director, among
other things for Visit Kenosha, got a busy job pointing
out to all the merits of the southeast corner of
the state.
Speaker 2 (01:42):
Meredith, Hello, Hello, having me.
Speaker 1 (01:45):
It's great to have you here. You know, Kenosha very
fun place. My dad grew up there, my grandparents, one
sid of my grandparents are from there. I know Kenosha
and Kenosha County extraordinarily well, very fun place to road
trip to. It's a sizeable city all its own. It
might be between Milwaukee and Chicago, but it's its own metro,
its own city, and there's so much to do there.
There's so much cool history. So we'll dive into a
(02:07):
huge chunk of it. But the first thing I thought
I would do as we ponder Kenosha, which is, you know,
I forty one and ninety four and go east or
west of the Eye right into the city. Though highways
thirty two and fifty one, fifty eight goes in one
forty two used to, and I still for the purposes
of state trunk tour, I still like to have you
go all the way in. I mean, you can't just
stop at mars Cheese Castle. You should go all the
(02:27):
way in and see the velodrome and uh, the drive
ins and everything like that. So it's a great place
to road trip, especially because of the autohistory, which we
will get into shortly. So first I thought, though, as
we're speaking, it's mid February and Kenosha Restaurant Week is
coming up, so we'll take just a couple of minutes
to talk about that before we dive into everything else.
Cool with that, I am cool with that all right,
(02:49):
So let's do a Kenosha Restaurant Week kicks off February
twenty second, which is a Saturday here all the way
through March second. It's basically a week long with the
two weekends on either side. And this is a great
chance to take advantage of Kenosha's incredibly impressive now dining scene.
Speaker 2 (03:04):
That is right, and we do this every year about
the same time. It's the nine day celebration of not
only our delicious dining scene, but the locally owned restaurants
that we have here. And we have a record seventy
plus restaurants, supperate clubs, cafes, diners, pubs, and specialty food
shops participating. And this is throughout Kenosha County, so each
(03:25):
venues creating their own special discounts or offers, and therefore
summer for dining only. Others are for carryout. And it's
just a great way to get out of the house
and these final days of winter and enjoy some great food.
Speaker 1 (03:39):
Yeah, it really is. And it runs the gamut. I mean,
like we've been downtown Kenosha Frank's Diner, which is actually
like an old train car that was pulled into place
by horses one hundred years ago next year now, I
believe you can get a garbage plate there, but you
can also two blocks away get some incredibly good Asian
fusion at ono for an upscale international meal. And it
(04:00):
has everything in between. Kenosha does just a couple of
quick things that there's bars, restaurants and supper clubs and
like diners and coffee shops and all kinds of different
places you.
Speaker 2 (04:11):
Can sample, Yes, definitely, and then more than twenty of
those are first time participants. Even some of those open
since the last restaurant week, and some have been all
around in long time. So just a great variety. And
we're talking about lunch or dinner for two, or multi
course fials or special discounts and offers off of the price.
One of these in offering one free Sunday brunch get
(04:33):
one free, so wow, all sorts of different offers. Yes,
So it's a great range for whatever you may be
looking forward to dine in.
Speaker 1 (04:41):
It sure is that it's a great way to introduce
people to Kenosha's cuisine if they haven't really experienced it.
Or a bunch of new places that include some breweries.
I mean the Kenosha Brewing Company is in there.
Speaker 2 (04:52):
And Rustic Road the Public Brewing Company. Yeah, we have
something for everyone here and the idea is to to
thinking about Kenosha and all the locally owned places here
and have you come back again and try some other
places or become a new customer somewhere and also enjoy
everything else that we have here in the Kenosha area.
Speaker 1 (05:11):
No, it's a great place for food. They've had a
long time Italian dining tradition because their Italian heritage is huge.
Then they were big on Greek restaurants and more recently
all different kinds. And that also reflects the neighborhoods, and
it reflects the people, and it reflects the history of
the city which has long drawn in a lot of
people because it has a strong history. For example, in
(05:32):
manufacturing everything from Simmons, beds and mattresses to cars had
been made in Kenosha. Snap On Tools still has their
world headquarters there, so does Jockey Underwear and Kenosha's it's
kind of a hidden gem for making things exactly.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
And a lot of famous people from here as well,
like the actor Mark Ruffalo.
Speaker 1 (05:51):
Ruffalo's from there. We've got oh my God, why am
I skipping on his name? Orson Wells is from Kenosha. Well, yeah,
Alan Amiti is from Kenosha. Actually, we could go into
a long list Daniel Trevanni from Hill Street Blues, and
we could just go on and on and on, and
it is one of those places where people and they
(06:12):
love to talk about where they're from when they are
from Kenosha. There's the civic pride there.
Speaker 2 (06:16):
Yes, there are in the specific neighborhoods even Yes, yes
it's the fourth largest city, but it has a small
town seal where everybody knows everybody and it's just a
really fun place to visit and steel welcome.
Speaker 1 (06:28):
Yeah, it is one of the city. It's pushing one
hundred thousand in population just in the city, and then
the county's, you know, almost two hundred thousand. So it's
large and it's growing nicely. You have Kenosha and all
the points west and you can see it, especially when
you're coming in on Highway fifty. I mean, the growth
is pretty pretty incredible.
Speaker 2 (06:45):
Yes, definitely, we continue a lot of redevelopment going on
now in downtown and the uptown and they have former
Chrysler site, so a lot of more great things to
come in the future.
Speaker 1 (06:55):
Yeah, and there's see the cool part with Kanoshi's downtown.
I mean, it's right on the water. You have a
beautiful marina, you have a great Harbor Park District, which
to get into a little bit of the car manufacturing.
You know, you mentioned the old Chrysler plant. I still
think of it as the old American Motors plant. And
there were two of them. There was a lakefront one
a factory right on the lake where they'd build cars
(07:16):
and put them right on ships that would go across
the country and the world. And that area is now
called the Harbor Park District. And you have it's kind
of downtown and Harbor Parker. They're right next to each other.
They're really kind of mushed together in one giant area
that's so fun. And it's filled not only with restaurants
like we've talked about, but there's some great museums from
(07:37):
the Civil War to dinosaurs.
Speaker 2 (07:39):
Yes, exactly. In the Harbor Park area alone, there's two museums.
And then about ten blocks away is the Dinosaur Discovery Museum.
And we have the Kenosha History Center and the Southport
Lights Station Museum. On Simon's Island across the harbor, so
it's phenomenal, or the two in Harbor Park at the
Civil War Museum, which people find unusual, we have one here,
but it talks about all the different contributions this part
(08:02):
of the country contributed to the war. And the next
door is the Public Museum. That's our natural arts. There
are natural sciences and find art museum with mammoths on
display even that have changed the science books of how
long humans have been part of this country. So a
lot to learn in our museum.
Speaker 1 (08:18):
I was going to mention that because yeah, Kenosha is
a wooly mammoth history and it's like what what, Yeah.
Speaker 2 (08:25):
They were discovered right here in Kenosha County and then
if you find one in your backyard you can have
it named after you. So that is how our mammoths
have come to be. The heavier and the Shaefer mammoths
at the Public Museum.
Speaker 1 (08:36):
Really Schaeffer mammoths.
Speaker 2 (08:39):
Yeah, that one actually had a relative. It was a
Shaffer family found the mammoths and they were connected to
one of the schools in Kenosha County. But yeah, it's
fascinating what you can learn there. And then at the
Dinosaur Discovery Museum. You can learn about how modern day,
how dinosaurs are still amongst among us today, the meat
eating ones, and they're just in a different form as birds.
Speaker 1 (09:00):
Oh that's right.
Speaker 2 (09:02):
Yeah, yeah, all about that connection. You go back two
hundred and thirty seven million years ago to present day
at the Dino Museum.
Speaker 1 (09:09):
Man, that is really cool. Especially little kids love that.
I'm I'm a little thrown for a loop because my
dad's mom's maiden name was Shaeffer.
Speaker 2 (09:17):
Oh my gosh, maybe they're related to it.
Speaker 1 (09:19):
She grew up outside of Triever on a farm in
Kenosha County, So I might have a great uncle who
did something about this and I don't know about it.
Speaker 2 (09:27):
Wow. Yeah, you better dive in your family history.
Speaker 1 (09:31):
I think I'll have to ask some questions. Okay, well
see now that now I have to come back and
find out more about that soon. So yeah, the museums
are really really cool, and the dining scene is really
really cool. And then you have the lakefront, which is lovely,
and you have everything from Carthage College on the north
side of Kenosha all the way down. You have Simmons Island,
(09:52):
a beautiful lighthouse. You can tour that was built in
eighteen sixty six.
Speaker 2 (09:56):
Yeah, Southport Lighthouse, it's beautiful. You can see into Chicago
skyline on a clear day from the top of the lighthouse,
seventy two steps up.
Speaker 1 (10:04):
To the top. I've seen the Chicago skyline from a
boat like a mile east of Kenosha Harbor. But yeah,
it makes sense you could see it from the lighthouse too,
because it's only what about forty five miles.
Speaker 2 (10:13):
Is the crow flies Yeah, I not too far. You
can even see it from like some of our beaches
on a clear day if you're looking south.
Speaker 1 (10:20):
That is really really cool. And the beaches in Kenosha
are great. The park system is really nice. You do
have and I love bicycling, so I have to mention
Washington Park, the world's oldest operating velodrome.
Speaker 2 (10:31):
That is right. Yes, the bicycle races are there a
couple of nights a week in the summer. You can
watch them go around the bowl. You can go to
Big Star Drive and across the streets for your dinner
and then come on over and sit on a blanket
and watch the bicycle races.
Speaker 1 (10:43):
That is a steep oval too. I've been on that
on my bicycle like when I was little with my
grandparents and you're your feels like a ninety degree angle.
It's not quite but wow, that thing is high.
Speaker 2 (10:54):
Yet that is brave to do that on your bicycle.
Speaker 1 (10:58):
I'm not saying I didn't fall over. I'm just saying
I went on it. So another thing I love to
point out because we have, like on State Trunk Tour,
we showcase drive ins like burger stands where you can
pull up your car, there's a car hop, sometimes there's
a tray out your window. I love that Americana experience.
And Kenosha has three of them.
Speaker 2 (11:15):
Yeah, yeah, we have a couple a couple of them
that we promote big time. The Spot drive in is
open year round and then the Big Star drive In
we also push. They close Labor Day weekend, and then
they are the first sign of spring because they open
around March first. That sometimes that can even be a
little a few days ahead. So when you know they
are open, you know that spring is here, beautiful.
Speaker 1 (11:37):
And then Andy's on Roosevelt, which isn't far from the Spot.
Speaker 2 (11:40):
Yes, we have a lot of options. Old schools bring
you back. The nostalgia is great, just like our street
cars are very nostalgic.
Speaker 1 (11:46):
Yeah, that's another cool thing. It's a unique deal. Milwaukee
got one too, more recently. But Kenosha's was the first
streetcar system that they kind of reinstalled in the state
of Wisconsin, and it's designed to let you enjoy downtown
and to and through the Harbor Park district with a
nice little loop that you can take whether it's for
pleasure or for you know, truly getting from one place
(12:07):
to another. And it even ties into the Metro station
which connects you to Chicago by train.
Speaker 2 (12:12):
Yeah. Yeah, And these are authentic street cars. They were
actually used by places in the forties and fifties. That's
why they are so colorful. We have seven working ones.
They're all different colors for the cities that once had
this kind of streetcar and it's actually attracted people from
all over the world to come to see it, and
it's kind of been seen as a model for how
other towns now are implementing them. So, of course, in
(12:32):
the early nineteen hundreds we had streetcars here and then
they were brought back in the year two thousand and
they do the two mile loop. They connect you to
three of the museums and many shops and restaurants and
the lakefront area, so you can really see a lot
just site see on it or take it from one
place to another. I know, a couple of days a
year it's free to get you around to different events
(12:53):
we have at the Lakefront and otherwise it's a very
nominal fee to just hop on board and enjoy.
Speaker 1 (12:58):
The tour, ex to the museums and everything too. And
it's funny because cars replaced the street car in most cities.
In Kenosha is partially guilty of that for all the
cars they've made through the years and American Motors, the
funny part is part of Kenosha's industrial history because there
were so many car manufacturers there because they had Nash
(13:18):
and Rambler and they merged to become American Motors in
nineteen fifty four. And you know, one of the reasons
snap On Tools and some of these other companies are
in Kenosha was to serve the large companies there, right,
So yeah, yeah, I always thought that was cool. And
snap On, by the way, does have a center if
you love tools, there's a great place you can visit there.
Speaker 2 (13:38):
Yes, they do. I believe they have special events. They
open it up for and maybe you can call and
see if you can get a tour. But yeah, it's
a really cool little visitors center museum. They have it
snap mm hm.
Speaker 1 (13:48):
And so then you to get back to American motors.
In the history of that there was a huge lakefront plant.
There was also a large plant off thirtieth I remember vividly.
And now Kenosha every three years celeb rates that heritage
with kind of a homecoming for American motors.
Speaker 2 (14:04):
Yes, the Kenosha History Center organizes this one of our museums.
They talk about the history of Kenosha at their museum,
and of course the big part of that is all
the manufacturing we had here and that was one hundred
and eight years of either automobile manufacturing or engine assembly
here in Kenosha. So every three years they put on
this huge show just them and a group of volunteers,
(14:26):
and people come from all over the world, including someone
from Australia is even shipping their car here. I mean
usually they'll come from you know, other countries to see it,
but they're actually bringing their car that they've redone here.
So it's a very cool event. Draws a lot of
people and it's open to any of the cars. We
have a long list of the cars that actually were
made in Kenosha, more than just the traditional brands. So
(14:48):
if it was made here, you can put it on display.
The car show, it's the whole event is from July
twenty second to the twenty seventh, and the large car
show is on July twenty sixth that Kennedy Park right
next to the lake and a huge swap meet. But
all the other days they have drive in events at
different areas, even the schools and restaurants and different venues
(15:10):
to just have everyone gather together. And you know, these
are people that worked here at the plant and so
they have so many memories and it's a great homecoming
reunion atmosphere.
Speaker 1 (15:20):
It is really cool. The Kenosha History Center, they're actually
on fifty first place in Kenosha. And one thing about Kenosha,
the way the streets are, it's pretty easy to figure
out where you're at. It's a grid system with numbers
and east west roads or streets, north south roads are
avenues and you can kind of figure out where something
is just by its address pretty easily. And so fifty
first place for the Kenosha History Center and they are
(15:44):
the ones spearheading and of course they work with you
guys that visit Kenosha on it, and there's a lot
of unique events within it for the week. It's almost
like how Milwaukee has the Harley Homecoming. This is the
homecoming for American Motors models and others Nash Rambler and such.
Speaker 2 (15:57):
Yeah, and they believe there's no larger AMC showing the world.
So it's a really huge deal to do this and
people always wonder, oh, why don't they do it every year,
but you know, it's a momentum going and more unique
if it's something to look forward to every few years,
and it is a very huge undertaking as well. Yeah,
they're very happy that they do it. And it's you know,
(16:17):
great exposure for everything that Kenosha you know, used to
represent with the manufacturing and it's important to preserve that
history and if you look ahead to the future, and
so the History.
Speaker 1 (16:28):
Center does that absolutely. And yeah, so the Pacer you
saw in Wayne's World or some other things and AMC
Mattador Javelin, all these cars that we've seen that we've
known and in some cases loved and in some cases,
you know, oh my god, because like I loved pacers
when I was a little kid because they're so unique
with the bubble windows and everything like that. That's all
(16:50):
part of American motors and part of Kenosha's history. So
check out the Kenosha Homecoming Car Show. It is July
twenty second through twenty seventh, between State Trunk Tour dot
com and visit Kenosha dot Plenty of information about events
as that information gets released, and really right around that time,
shortly after his taste of Wisconsin.
Speaker 2 (17:08):
Yes, it actually overlaps. So Wisconsin's always one of our
biggest events. Brings thousands of people here and that's that
the last weekend in July Friday through Sunday. So yeah,
right down there at the lake front at the Harbor
Park area that we talked about, has like four stages
of live music, have kids an area, and food and drinks,
bringing vendors from all around the area and lots of visitors.
(17:31):
So it's one of our big events we look forward
to every year.
Speaker 1 (17:34):
Boy. Yeah, the way the calendar works out this year,
they do overlap Friday, Saturday Sundays, so yeah, in that event.
Speaker 2 (17:40):
Actually it benefits local charities because the local Quantity Club
puts that on very great pods and it's a great
time to see out and right at the lake. You know,
I see the boats out there, and it's just very
fun atmosphere.
Speaker 1 (17:52):
Oh, it is heavenly in the summertime along that lakefront.
And I've had the pleasure of fishing out of Kenosha.
Some places in Wisconsin they're better for charter fishing than others.
Kenosha is right up there. It is a fantastic place
to fish.
Speaker 2 (18:05):
That is right. They say they have the highest catch
per hour right here in Kenosha.
Speaker 1 (18:09):
My best catches ever were fishing off of Kenosha. I
caught five co host salmon in an hour and then
we brought them back to the boat house for a
shore lunch. They prepared them three ways and I felt
very manly that day.
Speaker 2 (18:21):
Yeah, we still have as in an Ale restaurant opened
up last year and they do that now or the
shore lunch, or they can have it for you to
bring home. So yeah, you can definitely catch your lunch
right here in Lake Michigan.
Speaker 1 (18:34):
That is pretty awesome. So there is also a lot
of other well, what are some other events you want
to highlight? Real quick as we go through twenty twenty five,
because I don't want to go through just some of
the other fun things to do.
Speaker 2 (18:44):
Yeah, we have Wisconsin Marathon I always be a first
Saturday in May that brings people here from all over
the country as well. They race through the streets to
downtown and along the lake front. And then in July
we have Country Thunder out in Twin Lake.
Speaker 3 (18:57):
Oh.
Speaker 2 (18:58):
Yeah, brings all the country fans here. And then while
the Harley Davidson Homecomings in Milwaukee every year, now, Kenosha
does its own celebration as well because we have Wisconsin's
oldest the Alert Ship at Yukes Harley Davidson.
Speaker 1 (19:11):
I didn't know that was the oldest one.
Speaker 2 (19:13):
Yeah, the oldest one in Wisconsin. Yeah. They on events
every day, and then there's community events too to get
the visitors here around their way into Milwaukee. They can
stop here or stay here and enjoy all that we have.
And another big event, Harbor Park Jazz, Rhythm and Blues Festival,
happens one day in August. And then the Saturday of
(19:33):
Labor Day weekend there's the Kenosha Classic Cruising that brings
classic cars of all types here to fill the streets
of downtown Kenosha. So that's another big event that draws
a lot of people into the downtown area to enjoy
all the shops and restaurants and museums and art gallery.
Speaker 1 (19:48):
See. The theme is a lot of classics, classic cars,
classic history, and then kind of the modern remerg I
don't want to call it a re emergence per se,
but I mean things are growing nicely ocean, especially downtown,
So it's it's pretty cool all of the new things
that have been popping up.
Speaker 2 (20:06):
Yeah, and they're such great variety. I mean, we have
hold My Beer that has the axe throwing inside, and
we have tavern on six that's a restaurant bar and
also as golf stimulators, and so many places now offer
outdoor dining or rooftop dining. So it's really new places
of an opening every year and it's really fun place.
And lots of lodging opportunities as well in downtown.
Speaker 1 (20:28):
Yeah, there's more hotels and more people are living downtown.
They've built. You know, when downtown's get a lot more
vibrant when people also live down there. And now that
we've seen that, it's really become more of a more
days of the of the week, more hours of the day.
Vibrant things are going on.
Speaker 2 (20:45):
Yes, definitely, that's what the mixed use developments continue to
go up, and that includes a lot of residential areas.
So yeah, a lot of people downtown to enjoy all
that we have now.
Speaker 1 (20:56):
We also I mentioned Simmons Island, I mentioned Harbor Park,
some outdoor recreation things to do. There's a lot of
great park We mentioned fishing too, but there's a lot
of great parks for hiking and for golf and things
like that. What are some of the highlights you'd love
to share with us.
Speaker 2 (21:11):
Yeah, we have Hawthorn Hollow that's across from you tow
park Side. That's a great nature area. And of course
right next to park Side is Petrifying Springs Park, which
is the oldest county park and they have a beer
garden there in the summer. They have a golf course,
the dog park, lots of trails, and the folks that
do the beer garden at Petrofine Springs Park are opening
one up in Hampston Park out in Bristol. That's on
(21:34):
Highway forty five, not far from the Bristol forty five Diners,
and that'll be a new Attrack.
Speaker 3 (21:39):
Going to mention that, yes, and then we also in Bristol,
the Bristol Woods Park, we have Boundless Adventures outdoor Aerial
Adventure park for ziplining and other aerial courses, and we
have we're really known in the summer for all the
outdoor concert series.
Speaker 2 (21:57):
We have free outdoor concerts. There so many of parks,
so it's always something to look forward to, and that
includes Old Settler's Park, Bristil Woods Park of course, that
Keanoia Park next to Lake Michigan, Lincoln Park. So just
lots of different ways to enjoy the outdoors in the
Kenosha area.
Speaker 1 (22:15):
And you can do some outdoor like if you're into
like the the yoga, like in the park kind of
things going on. And then there's there's spas and salons
in the Kenosha area that people don't think of necessarily,
they don't know they're there yet.
Speaker 2 (22:27):
Yeah, oh yeah, we have a lot of those, especially
in the downtown area. We have a whole section and
our website listing them and what amenities they have. And
there's even a hot yoga place and one of them
offers yoga on the beach in the summer. Fairly new
it just opened a year two ago is Beach House
on Simmons Island. It reopened after being closed for many years.
(22:47):
It's a new operator and they have all sorts of
different programming throughout the summer, like yoga, other exercises on
the beach. They have bonfires at night, live music, all
sorts of things to get you active. They have bicycle rentals,
so that whole area has really happened in the summertime
and it's all part the same person that operates it
also goes Lakeshore a puddle tour. We have one of
(23:09):
those you know bars on wheels that goes around downtown
that you can be part of.
Speaker 1 (23:15):
And is that where everybody drinks and yells woo as
they pedal on the street.
Speaker 2 (23:19):
Yes, yes, that's it. And also we have the Community
Kenosha County or the Kenosha Community Sailing Center where you
can rent ducking puddle boats to use out on the
harbor and kayaks and on water strikes. So there's really
lots of ways to get out on the water now
more than ever before, and lots of ways to enjoy
(23:39):
the outdoors.
Speaker 1 (23:40):
Here, you know. And as we talk, it's still winter
and we've had a bunch of snow lately, so you
can go and I've done that thing where you go
snowshoeing in the parks out west and everything. What are
a couple of quick things people can enjoy before like
winter finishes well.
Speaker 2 (23:57):
Bristol Woods Park is where you can actually rent snowshoes
to use them out there. Will Nature Center rents them.
Of course we have sledding, but if there's days when
there's not much snow, you can go to Wilmot Mountain.
They make their own snow. They have the tubing hill,
they have the snowboarding, and they have steam. You can
even take lessons there and it's very very popular place
(24:18):
in the wintertime and definitely our winter destination. And also
we have ice skating as long as it's cold enough
to keep the ice cold right in downtown at Veterans
Memorial Park and outdoor ice rinks that they set up
in the wintertime and you can check out free skates
there as well, So another great way to enjoy the downtown.
Speaker 1 (24:34):
Yeah, that's very cool because in Wilmot Mountain, by the way,
you know, it's the most southernmost ski area in Wisconsin
because part of its property on one of the top
part of the runs actually goes across the state line
into Illinois, like a couple of feet.
Speaker 2 (24:48):
Something like that. That's interesting.
Speaker 1 (24:51):
Spans two states even, Yeah, that ensures it's the southernmost now. Also,
if you if you love the arts, there's a lot
of stuff in Kenosha that you may not know of.
The Anderson Arts Center, the Lemon Street Gallery, the Pollard Gallery.
There's a lot of art galleries downtown on like fifty
six then on Sheridan Road, which are two of the
(25:12):
main drags downtown.
Speaker 2 (25:14):
A little bit more in the arts scene, yes, yeah,
a lot of We have Union Park Arts District. They
do the Kenosha Art Market and the summertime at Union
Park on the third Sunday of the month, I have
a market out there. They also have lessons, do it
yourself art studios like I'll pack of art. And we
have Pinals Palette as well out in Pleasant Prairie that
(25:34):
does that. And we have so many art murals as
well outdoors, and we have a sculpture walks that say
art out about every two years right along the harbor.
You can enjoy from the boat, you can enjoy from
the streetcar and it's really cool right along the lakefront,
and there's ten that rotate every few years. But then
there's also lots of permanent art in that same area,
(25:55):
so lots of things to do to see art wise.
Speaker 1 (25:58):
Yeah, it's pretty cool because you don't often think of
that too, but you really run the gamut in Kenosha
with all the stuff.
Speaker 2 (26:05):
Yeah, and the Kenosha Politan Museum also always has art
exhibits up and they get a big transparent Watercolor Society
exhibit there in the summertime. That's a huge draws. So
lots of ways to enjoy art or make it. They
even have a clay studio at Lemonstry Galleries. You know
how to use clay, you're welcome to use their studios.
So lots of classes they offer there and at Anderson,
(26:26):
so lots of ways to be involved.
Speaker 1 (26:29):
That's nice. And actually for shopping too. A lot of
people are familiar with the premium outlets along the interstate,
but if you go into the city there's some really
cool shops too.
Speaker 2 (26:38):
Yeah, they actually have bookstores even people and the bookstores
aren't so popular anymore, but we have cool independent bookstores.
We have all sorts of things clothing boutiques and gift
shops and anything you can imagine. Lots of the vintage
is making a comeback. I remember years ago we used
to have like a page in our Visitors Guide devoted
(26:58):
to antique stores and then they're kind of weren't that
many for so many years, But now it's truly making
a comeback. And lots of stores downtown and in other
areas as well that have the vintage that everyone's looking for.
So lots of clothing stores, lots of different places that
we list on our website and all locally owned.
Speaker 1 (27:15):
And with Kenosha's history, You're going to find some really
cool stuff. I'm even going to do a selfish plug.
My dad's cousin, Jim, owns the Music Center in Kenoshad
Highways fifty Highway thirty one, just south of fifty. If
you're in the music or musical instruments, that's a great
place to shop. It's one of the best in the
state as far as I'm concerned. So I'm going to
do that plug. So and of course another one along
the interstate. Well, first of all, you got to give
(27:36):
a shout out to the broad Stop. That's a classic.
Speaker 2 (27:38):
Yeah, definitely, just like the Marschief Cassole. You got to
stop at both of them when you come to Kenosha
for the first time.
Speaker 1 (27:44):
And that's right, That's where I was going. Next was
mars Jee's Castle. Yeah, those are must stops along the interstate.
But part of the whole point of this conversation was
if you're in the Kenosha area on I forty one,
I ninety four, you got to go east and check
out the city going on Highway fifty. Go in on
one fifty eight, which is fifty second street. Stop attenuit
(28:04):
as Delhi if you get a chance. Also Washington have,
which is it's one forty two to the west, it's
County s to the east. Follow that east. You'll end
up at that fellow Drome. You'll end up at Big
Star Drive in, and all of those roads will take
you into downtown. And frankly, I drive up and down
thirty two is phenomenal too, because you get through downtown,
you go by Carthage, you go along the lakefront, and
(28:25):
you get to see historic Simmons Field where you can
watch baseball games in the summer.
Speaker 2 (28:29):
Yes, we love the Kingfish. Yes, the best of college
players play there. Where the Comets did and the all
grows American Professional League, and those players even stay with
local families. A family that I work with takes the
players in every summer. So definitely a popular place. Everyone
loves to cheer on the home team. You know, we
(28:50):
might conflict over what football teams we like here in
the southeast part of the state, but we all cheer
for the Kingfish. When it comes to baseball.
Speaker 1 (28:59):
You know, there's a Cubs fans start seeping in in
Kenosha County. It's very interesting. You has some healthy debates
if you will, but yeah, the Kingfish games are an
absolute blast. And Simmons Field is historic. It goes back
to the nineteen twenties and that's named after Simmons Betting
Simmons Mattress, which is another big part of Kenosha's history.
So it all ties in so nicely together. And if
(29:20):
you want to get the most out of it, stay
trunk Tour. We road trip guide you there. Visit Kenosha
dot Com has a really it's a really well laid
out site, Meredith. It really is. If you want to
see different things by different categories, it's all laid out
so easily, so check out visit Kenosha dot com and
make sure you head into town and experience what Wisconsin's
southeastern city has to offer.
Speaker 2 (29:42):
Thank you. Yes, we welcome everyone to come to the Kenosha.
Speaker 1 (29:45):
So make sure you go on there and we'll keep
on top of the events throughout the upcoming spring, summer,
into the fall and beyond. Meredith, thanks so much for
being with us today and we'll look forward to visiting
Kenosha again soon.
Speaker 2 (29:55):
Thank you again.
Speaker 1 (29:56):
Visit Kenosha dot com helps connect you with all the
fun and options, and for the restaurant week visit Kenosha
dot com slash RW. They make it nice and easy.
As we speak, it's a while until summer, but we
are looking forward to beaches, outdoor festivals, kingfish games and
we didn't mention this in our conversation, but trips to
the Bong Recreation Area and the Bristol Renaissance Fair. The
(30:16):
former and not a metaphor, There really is a Bong
Recreation Area, so Bristol Renaissance Fair, by the way, also
runs summer weekends through Labor Day. We'll keep you up
to date on everything too on State Trunk Tour dot
com and you can follow I forty one ninety four
US forty five, and I was thirty one, thirty two,
fifty eighty three one forty two, fifty eight one sixty
five Some cool county roads, back roads, and rustic roads
(30:38):
that bring you to all the fun. Thanks for listening,
and we'll catch you on the road and on the
next episode of the State Trunk Tour podcast
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