• The ‘Plant-itary Orbits’ Train show will run until March 26th, 2023.
• Watch a virtual Glomado Workshop through the Betty Brinn Children’s Museum.
• If you have an 11-15 year old, you can take an online babysitting course through the American Red Cross.  Sign up HERE. OR take a babysitting course through the YMCA HERE.
• Visit the Waukesha County Park system, or a park system close to you. Click the link to find links to each of the Waukesha County Parks and our guest contributor Jann’s family’s experiences at each park. Our favorites are Retzer Nature Center, Nashotah Park, and Fox Brook Park. 
• Take a spring hike at one or all of these hiking trails located in Waukesha County and throughout WI. We love Lapham Peak and the Ice Age Trail, along with Lion’s Den Gorge if you are planning a small day trip to Lake Michigan. 
• Try the Spring Break Animation Mini Camp through the Menomonee Falls Public Library.
• Watch a Spring Break Planetarium Show at the Retzer Nature Center.

• Head to Snips and Giggles in downtown Oconomowoc to get a fun haircut over break!
• Looking for a service staycation? Find places to volunteer and help here and here.  
• If you are doing spring cleaning, find places to donate here. 
• Check out this guide to fun Indoor Play locations to break out of the house and burn off some energy!
• Easter is on April 9 in 2023. Take in an Easter Egg Hunt.
• Find a great playground at a new park to explore on the nice days!
• Check out our ever-popular Events Calendar to explore and check out new events and places in our communities.
• Book a night at the Ingleside in Pewaukee. Check out their Spring Break Package HERE.
• Try a Ninja Camp or Gymnastics Camp at Midwest Twisters. ALL WEEK or just a few DAYS. You pick HERE!

Lake Country Family Fun reader Heather S. suggests heading to Madison for your spring break. Here are her tips for a successful day trip:

• Start your day at the Henry Vilas Zoo. Admission is free, and it’s open year round! Make sure to visit the Arctic Passage and Badger exhibits. Bring a picnic lunch and enjoy Vilas Park, or eat at Zuzu Cafe just across the street.
• Next, head downtown to view the Capitol building.

  • • If there are fewer than 10 people in your tour group, no reservation is necessary. On weekends and on holidays they are only able to accommodate up to 130 people per hour. For questions or comments regarding on-line Capitol tour reservations, please contact us by email at Capitol Tours or by telephone at (608)266-0382. Enjoy your tour!

• The Madison Children’s Museum is a great place to visit. We love heading out to the rooftop and looking out over the city. 

• Head down State Street for delicious BABCOCK HALL ICE CREAM (curbside service only).
• Another quick stop is the GEOLOGY MUSEUM on the UW-Madison campus. Admission is also free, and there are dinosaur skeletons and rocks/geodes in a special room with a secret light.
• For the nature lovers, check out OLBRICH GARDENS. The outdoor garden admission is FREE!

  • Olbrich’s outdoor gardens feature 16 acres of stunning landscapes and Midwest-hardy plants – Free & open daily.

  • Visit the tropical Bolz Conservatory, filled with exotic plants, orchids, birds, and a waterfall – $6 admission; free for Members. Free to all on Wed. & Sat. from 10 a.m. – noon.

• Other Madison attractions
  • Go Mini-golfing at VITENSE GOLF.
• Head south of Madison to Lake Geneva and stay at the Ridge Hotel. 

• Visit the MILWAUKEE ART MUSEUM 
• Visit the MILWAUKEE PUBLIC MUSEUM 

• Visit the MITCHELL PARK DOMES and be transported to a tropical environment, or the desert in one location. They are definitely a tropical escape right here in Wisconsin!
  • The show dome always has something spectacular going on. The ‘Plant-itary Orbits’ Train show will run until March 26th, 2023.
  • Whether checking out the koi in the Tropical Dome or the deserts of the American Southwest in the Desert Dome, the Domes are like a mini escape while being relatively close to home. 
  • Lake Country Family Fun reader Heather S. points out that the desert and tropical domes both have scavenger hunts for kids. You can pick up a worksheet as you walk in, and don’t miss the I-spy game in the desert dome as well.”
• Head a bit south of the city to Oak Creek and wander around IKEA – don’t forget to eat some yummy Swedish meatballs!
• Check out these other fun options for exploring Milwaukee With Kids!

• While I did attend and graduate college at UW-Green Bay, I have not ventured that direction much since having kids until summer 2021 when my kiddos and I spent 2 nights in Appleton. Read about our visit here.

• The Building for Kids Children’s Museum, featured above is offering Spring Break Camps!

  • Scribble Bots  –  Monday, April 3:  10am & 2pm

    • Create your own scribble bots during our Family STEM workshop, facilitated by one of our educators! We’ll build these drawing robots out of a pool noodle, markers, and an electric toothbrush.

    • Members – $3; Non-Members – $6 plus admission

  • Wiggle Bots  –  Tuesday, April 4: 10am & 2pm

    • Build your own Wiggle Bot during our next Family STEM Workshop, facilitated by one of our educators! We’ll use an electric motor to make our robot move, dance, race, color, or whatever else you imagine.
    • Members – $3; Non-Members – $6 plus admission

  • LED Creations  –  Wednesday, April 5: 10am

    • What can you create with a battery, copper tape, and an LED bulb? Come make flashlights, wands, fireflies, and more with us during our next Family STEM workshop, facilitated by one of our educators!
    • Members – $3; Non-Members – $6 plus admission

  • Coding with Ozobots  –  Thursday, April 6: 2pm

    • Explore ozobots, our tiny coding robots that read color as code, with one of our BFK educators during our next Family STEM Workshop!
    • Members – $3; Non-Members – $6 plus admission
• Lake Country Family Fun reader Heather S. is here to share her tips:
  • Venturing a little further north, there are lots of activities in the Fox Cities area.
  • The Building for Kids in Appleton is another amazing Children’s museum. (above) The water gallery will mesmerize kids of all ages.
  • Continue up to Green Bay and there are stadium tours at Lambeau Field for Packer fans (and of course the Packer Pro Shop).
  • The National Railroad Museum is for the train lover, while the Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary and NEW Zoo are for the animal lovers.
  • Stop by the EAA Airventure Museum in Oshkosh (also free with a Discovery World membership!) for the flight enthusiast.
• For more local fun in the Appleton area, check out Go Valley Kids (it’s the Lake Country Family Fun version of the Fox Valley).

• Visit the Dinosaur Discovery Museum in Kenosha.
• Then head a couple blocks over to the Simmons Island Beach on Lake Michigan for amazing views and a ship inspired playground. 
• Head to the Racine Art Museum. Check out their events calendar as they have lots of fun events going on! 
• Visit the animals at the Racine Zoo.
• Hike all over Racine with this trail guide.
• On your way, stop for some Swedish meatballs at IKEA in Oak Creek.