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Wausome! The Ultimate Guide to the Best & Fun Things To Do + Places To Visit in Wausau, Wisconsin

Rib Mountain State Park carries over 13 miles of hiking trails on one hill. Nine Mile Forest holds over 30 miles of mountain bike terrain south of the city. The Mountain-Bay State Trail runs 83 miles across the state from here. Granite Peak has 70 runs and 700 feet of vertical drop. Wausau calls itself Wisconsin’s Outdoor Basecamp, and the numbers hold the claim up.

Planning a trip to Wausau, Wisconsin raises the question of what to do first. The city covers a broad set of interests without stretching itself thin. Art lovers, outdoor enthusiasts and anyone who eats well are all properly served here.

Nature lovers get the strongest offer in Wausau. The parks and gardens run from Rib Mountain State Park through to the grounds around the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum, and the Wisconsin landscape does the rest. The adventurous end is well covered too, with zip-lining, kayaking and skiing all inside the city’s reach.

Key Takeaways

• Wausau, Wisconsin offers a diverse range of activities and attractions for all interests.
• From parks and gardens to adventurous activities, there’s something for everyone in Wausau.
• Don’t miss out on the food and drink scene, events and festivals, and hidden gems in the area.

The Great Outdoors

Wausau is known as Wisconsin’s Outdoor Basecamp and the title is earned. The parks, trails and outdoor activities are more than a long weekend can absorb. These are the top outdoor attractions in the area.

Rib Mountain State Park

Rib Mountain State Park is the first stop for hiking, skiing or time outdoors. Over 13 miles of hiking trails run through it, which is enough to plan a day around rather than an hour. In winter the same ground turns over to downhill skiing and snowboarding, along with cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.

Nine Mile Forest

Nine Mile Forest is where the mountain biking is. Over 30 miles of trails run through it and the terrain is challenging enough to be worth the drive. Hiking, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing use the same forest when the bikes are put away.

Bluegill Bay County Park

Bluegill Bay County Park is the kayaking and canoeing answer. Access to the Wisconsin River means hours of waterways to work through, and the scenery holds up the whole way. Hiking trails and camping facilities cover anyone staying dry.

Mountain-Bay State Trail

The Mountain-Bay State Trail runs 83 miles through some of the best scenery in Wisconsin. It takes a hiker, a biker or a cross-country skier equally well. Summer concerts and nature programs are held along it, so check what is on before you set out.

Wausau Whitewater Park

For an adrenaline rush, the Wausau Whitewater Park. The man-made whitewater course is built for kayaking and rafting and it ranks among the best in the country. Hiking trails and picnic areas cover the people watching from the bank.

Isle of Ferns Park

Isle of Ferns Park is one of the quieter places in Wausau. The gardens and the views over the Wisconsin River are the reason to come, and the pace here is slower than anywhere else on this list. There is also a nine-hole course if you want a quick round of golf.

Sylvan Hill Park

Sylvan Hill Park is the winter one. The steep hills and well-maintained slopes make it the place for sledding, snowboarding or skiing in the area. In summer the hiking trails and picnic areas take over, so the park works all year.

Hiking, skiing, kayaking or just being outside, Wausau covers it. Pack the gear and go.

Museums and Art

History readers and art enthusiasts both do well in Wausau, Wisconsin. The museums and galleries here go deeper than the size of the city suggests. These are the ones to work through:

Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum

The Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum is the serious one. It is known for Birds in Art, its internationally acclaimed exhibition each fall, which brings more than 120 all-new original artworks from around the world. The collection reaches well past birds, covering American art from contemporary to classical. Walk the sculpture garden and Art Park before you leave.

Yawkey House Museum

The Yawkey House Museum is the restored Classical Revival-style mansion that belonged to lumber baron Cyrus Yawkey. It shows how Wausau’s elite lived in the early 1900s, with period furnishings, art and artifacts still in place. The rooms and the architecture do the work; nothing here needs a label to explain it.

Marathon County Historical Society

The Marathon County Historical Society covers the county itself, with exhibits running from Native American life through the lumber industry to the city’s part in World War II. It also runs the guided tours of the Yawkey House Museum and the walking tours of the historic downtown area.

Wausau Museum of Contemporary Art

The Wausau Museum of Contemporary Art handles the modern end, showing established and emerging artists from around the world. The exhibits change frequently, so a second visit is not a repeat. Artists should look at the artist-in-residence program, which comes with studio space and resources.

Center for the Visual Arts

The Center for the Visual Arts in Wausau is a working hub rather than a gallery. Classes and workshops run for every age and skill level, and the exhibits show local and regional artists. Learning a skill and simply looking at the work are both catered for.

Wausau has a museum or gallery for most curiosities. Take a break from the routine and work through the city’s history and its art scene.

Adventurous Activities

For an adrenaline junkie, Wausau has plenty. These are the most thrilling things to do in the city:

Granite Peak Skiing

Granite Peak is where the skiing is. Over 70 runs and 700 feet of vertical drop put it among the better resorts in the Midwest, and there is a trail for a beginner and one for an expert. Snowboarding and tubing run on the same hill. Wear a helmet.

State Park Speedway Car Racing

For high speed on land, the State Park Speedway has the car racing. The cars come past fast enough to feel it from the stands. Meeting some of the drivers is possible if the timing falls right. Expect noise.

Central Wisconsin Water Ski Show Team

For something on the water, the Central Wisconsin Water Ski Show Team. The skiers are genuinely good and the tricks and stunts are worth the seat. Trying water skiing yourself is possible, and getting wet is guaranteed.

Any of the three will give you the day in Wausau. Put the helmet on and go.

Food and Drink

Wausau feeds and waters visitors properly. Breweries, distilleries and everything between are all here.

Bull Falls Brewery

Bull Falls Brewery is the first stop for beer drinkers. The taps run to seasonal and limited releases alongside the regulars, and the pub fare menu is built to go with them. The beer cheese soup is the local favorite and it has earned that.

Timekeeper Distillery

Timekeeper Distillery is the unusual one. They specialize in craft spirits, whiskey, gin and vodka among them. Take the tour and you get the process behind the bottle. The signature cocktails are the reason to stay afterwards.

Red Eye Brewing Company

Red Eye Brewing Company is the other one beer enthusiasts should not skip. The taps rotate, so the list changes between visits. The wood-fired pizzas are what most tables order, and gluten-free options are available.

Wausau covers food and drink from most angles. Indulge a little. You are on vacation.

Events and Festivals

Wausau runs events and festivals that pull people in from across Central Wisconsin. Sports enthusiasts and art lovers both find something on the calendar. These are the ones to plan around:

Badger State Games

The Badger State Games are the big one for sports. The multi-sport event runs every winter and covers over 20 different sports, ice hockey, basketball and figure skating among them. A seasoned athlete and a casual entrant both get a good weekend out of it.

Wausau Events

Wausau hosts events across the year, from live music and theater to food festivals and craft fairs. The Taste of Wausau, the Wausau Balloon and Rib Fest and the Wausau Winter Fest are the three most people name. They are the fastest way into the local culture.

Festivals

Wausau also runs several festivals that celebrate the city’s own history and culture. The Hmong Wausau Festival is the most popular, showcasing traditional Hmong music, dance and food. The International Ginseng Festival, the Wisconsin Valley Fair and Wausau’s ARTrageous Weekend fill out the year. Between them they tell you a good deal about who lives here.

Sports fan, art lover or neither, Wausau has an event for it. Check these before you set the dates.

Wausau puts the hard ground on the edges and the culture in the middle. Rib Mountain State Park and Granite Peak sit southwest across the river. Willow Springs Garden is on the same hill. Nine Mile Forest is further south, and the Wausau Whitewater Park is on the Wisconsin River itself. Downtown holds the 400 Block, The Grand Theater, the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum and the Yawkey House Museum within a short walk. Most visitors drive straight to the mountain and never see the art museum.

Shopping and Leisure

Wausau does shopping and leisure as well as it does the outdoors. Local boutiques and modern shopping centers are both here.

For retail therapy, the Wausau Center Mall. The modern shopping center holds over 60 stores covering clothing, electronics and home decor. The food court handles lunch without leaving the building.

For a slower browse, the downtown area. Local boutiques and specialty shops sit along it, carrying gifts and souvenirs you will not see elsewhere. Handmade jewelry and artisanal chocolates are both on the street.

After the shopping, Wausau has the leisure to match. The spas and wellness centers cover a day of doing nothing. The parks cover the outdoor version, with a picnic or a long walk.

Wausau balances shopping and leisure well. Modern convenience and local character are both available. Treat yourself to a day of it.

The Performing Arts

Wausau carries a performing arts scene worth planning an evening around. Theater, ballet, comedy, cirque, classical and contemporary all appear on the calendar. One venue in particular:

The Grand Theater

The Grand Theater is the centre of the performing arts in Wausau. The historic venue sits in the heart of downtown and has been entertaining audiences for over 90 years. The architecture is elegant, the sound and lighting are modern, and the seats are comfortable enough for a long programme.

A Broadway musical, a classical concert or a stand-up routine are all within The Grand’s range. The Wausau Symphony Orchestra and the Central Wisconsin Children’s Theatre both perform here.

Dance is well served too. The Central Wisconsin School of Ballet stages “The Nutcracker” every year, and it has been a fixture for long enough that people plan around it.

The Grand is not only for adults. Family-friendly shows run through the year, the annual “Madagascar Live.” performance among them. It is a good way to give children their first live theater.

Lifelong theater buff or someone after a night out, The Grand Theater is the place. Get a drink at the bar and sit down.

Parks and Gardens

Wausau holds some of the best parks and gardens in Wisconsin. A quiet spot to sit and somewhere to be active are both available.

Monk Botanical Gardens

Monk Botanical Gardens is the one for nature lovers in Wausau. The 20-acre garden carries plants and flowers in real variety and it is genuinely striking in season. Walk it slowly, attend a workshop or event, or sit and let the afternoon go. The butterfly house is the part not to skip.

Willow Springs Garden

Willow Springs Garden is the other one in Wausau. It sits inside Rib Mountain State Park and looks out over the surrounding area. Walk the gardens, sit by the pond or bring a picnic. Over 45 acres of gardens and trails mean the space is there for all of it.

Any of these Wausau parks and gardens will do the job. Marathon County has the green space and Sylvan Hill has the skiing and tubing, so the outdoor list runs long. For somewhere quiet, Riverside Park sits on the Wisconsin River and asks nothing of you.

Hidden Gems

Wausau keeps a couple of places most visitors walk past. These two are worth finding:

400 Block

The 400 Block is where people meet. The downtown square is ringed with shops, restaurants and bars, so food or a drink is never far. In summer the 400 Block runs concerts and farmers markets. In winter the same 400 Block turns into ice skating and lights. Bring skates.

Milwaukee Road Train Depot

The Milwaukee Road Train Depot is the other one. The historic depot has been restored into a museum covering the history of the railroad in Wausau, and you can explore the building as well as the exhibits. A train going past while you are there is a real possibility. It opens on weekends and costs nothing to enter.

Those are the two quiet finds in Wausau. Somewhere to sit or something unusual, the 400 Block and the Milwaukee Road Train Depot cover both.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are some cool places to visit in Wausau, WI?

Start with Rib Mountain State Park, which takes a hike, a bike ride or a slow look at the scenery. The Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum is the other Wausau stop to book time for, and the artwork and exhibits in it are stronger than most cities this size manage.

What are some unique events happening in Wausau in the next 3 days?

For the next 3 days in Wausau, look at the Wausau Balloon and Rib Fest, which puts hot air balloons, live music and ribs in the same field. The Downtown Concert Series is the other one, and it lets you hear live music while working through the city on foot.

What are some fun date ideas in Wausau?

For a date in Wausau, walk the gardens at Monk Botanical Gardens. For something with more nerve in it, axe throwing at the Ironside Axe Club. For the one nobody forgets, a hot air balloon ride over the city.

Where are the best places to go shopping in Wausau, WI?

The Wausau Center Mall is the main shopping stop, with a good selection of stores and restaurants and enough of both to fill an afternoon. The River District is the other one, and its local shops and boutiques are where the more interesting finds are.

What is Wausau known for besides cheese?

Wausau is known for its cheese and there is a good deal more to it. The Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum holds a serious collection. The parks and the outdoor recreation are the other reason people come, Rib Mountain State Park chief among them.

Is Wausau a good place to raise a family?

Yes. Wausau raises families well, with good schools, plenty of parks and outdoor activities and a real sense of community. The cost of living is relatively low compared with other cities in the area, which is the part that decides it for most people.

Frequently asked questions about Wausau, Wisconsin

How long do you need at Rib Mountain State Park in Wausau?

Give it a morning and part of an afternoon. There are over 13 miles of hiking trails, and the summit is the part to do first while your legs are fresh. In winter the same hill runs downhill skiing, snowboarding, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, so allow longer and start earlier. Willow Springs Garden is on the same drive if the walking finishes early.

Which trail is best for mountain biking near Wausau, Wisconsin?

Nine Mile Forest, which holds over 30 miles of trails and enough technical terrain to test a good rider. Go on a dry day. The surface holds water and the roots come up. For distance instead of difficulty, the Mountain-Bay State Trail runs 83 miles and takes a hiker, a biker or a cross-country skier in season.

What is the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum known for?

Birds in Art, its internationally acclaimed exhibition each fall, which brings more than 120 all-new original artworks from around the world. Time a visit in the fall around it. The rest of the year the collection runs from contemporary to classical American art, and the sculpture garden and Art Park are worth the extra time outside before you drive away.

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