I am obsessed with Ten Chimneys!!…read more The backstory is fascinating. This wonderful, glamorous Broadway couple found their way to the sweet little mid-west town of Genesee Depot is intriguing on it's own. Their summer home is lovely. I can feel the parties and good times that surely took place in years gone by. Everything has been lovingly preserved by those in charge and offer a wonderful glimpse into this adored couple's lives. The grounds are the perfect backdrop to the home. The entire estate gives off a quiet and relaxing vibe. It makes me understand why, on their time off, they would long to come home to Ten Chimneys. There were 2 tour times offered. Everyone takes a small bus from the starting point. A talented docent brings you on a detailed journey back in time and into the private world of Alfred Lunt and his wife Lynn Fontanne. Of course, there is a gift shop to visit after your tour. Be sure to check out the customer restrooms. The ladies room is glamorous with ladies finery and there is a huge King's throne in the mens room! Don't miss the walking tails if you want to take in a bit more nature!

As a classic film and theater nerd, Ten Chimneys holds a special place in my heart. The former home…read moreof Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne, the home and grounds are impeccable and just they was as they Lunts left them. Thanks to some love from investors, their stories are preserved and memorialized through the maintenance of Ten Chimneys and the many individuals from all over the world who come to this tiny Wisconsin town to remember them and Hollywood's days gone by. Cross the same threshold that the likes of Vivien Leigh, Helen Hayes, Lawrence Olivier, Katharine Hepburn, Noel Coward, Alexander Woolcott, and so many others crossed, as you become part of the storied list of visitors. Tours must be arranged in advance.

First to review? How is that possible?…read more While I had some time on my own in Wisconsin, I decided to check out the Hoard Historical Museum (and National Dairy Shrine Museum). And even though I stopped by more than a few breweries in the four days I was there this stop was by far one of my favorites. First, the National Dairy Shrine Museum. I have a whole new respect for the dairy farmers after realizing how much I take for granted. For example, I never gave much thought to the fact that there are different breeds of cows. Or how much time, energy, money and science goes into their breeding. The National Dairy Shrine Museum displays not only these majestic creatures but the trophies and prizes that can be won through the dedication to the progression of the dairy farm. Upstairs there is a room of dioramas showing the history of the dairy farm and a detailed timeline along the walls. Downstairs there is a hall of fame where I learned about some of the pioneers in the field, pictures of champion cows and early equipment used in dairy farming. The Hoard Historical Museum features some great local history. There is the Lincoln room where I learned a bit about the Black Hawk War and how the Civil War affected Wisconsin. I was fascinated by the exhibit about the mounds left by early Native Americans and the efforts to preserve them. Part of the Hoard House is open as well. Very little is off limits here. You can sit in the parlor or the library and learn about the Hoard family (leaders in the field of dairy farming). Upstairs and through the kitchen I came upon a room full of taxidermy birds. Another room displayed dolls and figurines. One special room was dedicated to local poet Lorine Niedecker. Don't let this place fool you, there's more here than you might expect. I spent over two hours here and still felt rushed. The friendly and hands-on experience is always fun making this a good place for families and kids. I was greeted by Sandy and made a point of telling her how much I enjoyed the place. She was happy to hear it. I noticed several signs hanging up around the entrance for special gatherings and events held here. I also liked that many of the exhibits led to interest in other local historic places and parks. The Hoard Historical Museum seems to have a mutually beneficial relationship with the local community. Did I mention this place is free? Donations are of course accepted.

Great little museum in a great little town. They have a civil war era wing, part of the original…read moreHoard house, a dairy section, art work, a section devoted to indigenous people of the area and the mounds nearby, some wildlife stuff, just a really cool museum full of friendly people.

Historic Attractions Museum - This place is WORTH THE VISIT!! It is absolutely packed with…read morehistorical facts and other fun things like a Super Heroes room, Elvis display, the Hall of Presidents, Gangsterland, World's Lowest Car, Big Foot 4x4, the time capsule car, Gone With the Wind, Tallest Man/Shortest Man replicas, a 9/11 Memorial room, a Last Supper room, JFK's motorcade, TV Land & Customs... Hitler's car, Stalin's car... TOO MUCH to cover in one visit! This would be a great field trip for homeschoolers, scout groups, schools... if you have a large group and you want to schedule presentations for them, call Tony Farrell, Chief Historian at 608-751-2065 or email him: tonyfarrellsr@gmail.com.

There is truly something for everyone here! Came on a Wednesday which is apparently discount day so…read moretickets were $20. This is an incredibly accessible experience. Mobility scooters available to borrow at the entrance, and also more in the back for those who might change their mind. Benches are located throughout. Maps are available at the front, and in several places throughout. Even though it's a huge building, it is really well organized and easy to navigate through. It's very close to the highway and worth the hour or so stop if you want to see something quirky and different!

This was an unusual, a bit quirky, off the beaten path (though it's right in the middle of…read moreMiddleton) type of museum. It was free - which is why I actually did go in and look around. There is free public parking right near the museum and when you walk in, you walk immediately into the gift shop, with not only mustard paraphrenalia, but also Wisconsin-themed and other gifts. The cashier by the front door greets you heartily. At the back of the gift shop, there is a mustard tasting bar. A number of different flavored mustards are available with pretzel sticks for tasting. A large number of jars that are available for tasting are at the bar and you can taste as many as you like. The mustards are available for purchase, and they have recipe cards for ideas on ways to eat the flavored mustards. The musuem istelf is downstaris, and if there is a mustard product, it is downstairs, with sizes and flavors of all kinds and from all over U.S., Canada, and the world. There are bottles and bottles and containers of mustard, a large mustard bottle plushy, a film about how mustard is made, and even a mustard vending machine. I learned, because of the museum, that the largest producer of mustard is Canada. The mustard museum is a fun, low-stress, low-key stop if you're in the area. It's free, fun, easy to access, educational, and a nice value for the visit.

We stopped here during our cross-country road trip as a place to stretch our legs, and it turned…read moreout to be a fun surprise. The museum is free to visit and, while it's not very large, there's much more to see than we expected. The basement features a fascinating collection of mustard-related memorabilia and exhibits that showcase the history and culture surrounding this unique condiment. It was surprisingly interesting and added a lot of character to the visit. The main floor is home to an extensive selection of mustards from around the world, along with complimentary tastings. The staff member leading the tastings was exceptionally knowledgeable and took the time to explain the different varieties while letting us sample quite a few of them. Overall, it's a quirky and enjoyable stop that's well worth a visit if you're passing through the area. It's the perfect place to take a break from the road and experience one of the more unique museums you'll come across.

We stopped here on our way on our vacation. It was a little out of the way but nice to explore…read moresomething else besides madison children museum and Betty Brin children museum in Milwaukee. We were pleasantly surprised how large inside and how clean and well maintained. Admission is $16 which is for kid with 2 adults. It is a little expensive but it's better than our play cafe little village which charges $12-14. My son loved the pirate ship with slide. My daughter loved the market stand. Upstairs has vending machine with reasonable price treats and drinks.

Very fun neat place to take the kiddos!! It was a lot bigger inside than I was expecting. There…read morewere so many different little areas set up to explore! My daughter ran from area to area for about an hour just checking everything out to see what was all there. The art craft area is very cool - set up perfectly for the kiddos to hop in and paint quickly, or do the other crafts/coloring/art. My daughter loved the stage - she loves to perform! We will absolutely be back lots. It's a perfect place to go in long WI winters.

We came here on a Sunday with my kids (5 and 3). It being March, the outside was open so we were…read moreglad to explore outside for a bit but it closed at 4 pm. I felt this time that the place was kept tidier. I saw employees moving from area to area and trying to keep things in place, which seems like a pretty tough task with the amount of stuff in each area. My kids had a lot of fun in the upstairs area. There's lots to do & for $12 each, it can easily keep young kids entertained.

I cannot recommend this place highly enough!! Absolutely killer on every level!! This is fun for…read moreadults to come to too! Obviously you need to be an inquisitive person and still enjoy learning new things.... But if you have some kids to bring it's literally like Disneyland but where they learn how everything works in the universe...... You really need to come here multiple times to take everything in..... If you care about your kids, and want them to be smart, this place is mandatory!

It is always a great time at the Milwaukee Public Museum!! We visit a couple times a year and there…read moreis always something new. Some of my favorites are the butterfly display, the Native American section and the Streets of Old Milwaukee. We were able to get a guided tour of the Streets of Old Milwaukee. We had a knowledgeable guide who pointed out many historic tidbits which added to our experience. There is also a nice cafeteria and souvenir shop on the main floor. I can't wait for the new museum to open next year and see the displays.

Look, if you don't understand the magic of the Milwaukee Public Museum I can't help you. This place…read moreis nostalgia overload with immersive displays, incredible dioramas (which, BTW, have an entire style named after them called "Milwaukee-style") and three floors of fun to explore. Hot tip: Start from top to bottom to avoid getting burnt out on the larger exhibits on the first floor.

It is difficult for me to imagine a more inspiring, educational, and joyful time than the few hours…read morespent in the enchanting Sterling North Museum in Edgerton. Every item in and around this sweet and quiet place, everything from actual Sterling North artifacts (including some "choice words" to Kaiser Wilhelm carved into the carriage house wall by North himself as a lad) to binders filled with Sterling North Society minutes to period furniture, toys, and framed photos and quotes from Rascal...EVERYTHING is skillfully and lovingly curated with a deep and abiding respect for the author and his exquisite tales. The home is quaint and artfully restored, with every corner filled with richly-deserved reverence of the author himself, and, of course, RACOONS! The museum whispers Sterling North's words, ones our world needs now more than ever. Simple (but not easy) things; things like courage, creativity, industriousness, and the love and respect of our fellow creatures, make us better. That message comes shining through. If you've never read Rascal or visited this engaging place, do yourself a favor. The time, ever fleeting, is now.

This is incredible. The Sterling North Museum is all about the author named Sterling North who…read morewrote "Rascal". It was also the home of Sterling, it shows the rooms, and where Rascal was kept. Sterling can kept secrets.

Fun, cute, history of Geneva! Daughter and I spent a rainy day there! Neat to be brought back in…read moretime and see how the town developed! Would definitely recommend for a family outing!! Also birthplace of D&D!!

My fiance and I visited this today for the first time. David, was extremely kind and informative…read more We had no idea dungeons and dragons started in this town. Such a great museum, great staff, and enjoyable visit. Make sure you check this place out, you will not regret it!

Beautiful museum…read more The beautiful building is free to access from the outside, and inside (just the lobby area, where it is the most beautiful). The museum exhibits are inside the square building with an entrance past the lobby. Any art lover will be wowed by the beautiful exhibition. There are special exhibits at different times throughout the year, and these are great times to visit. The cafe/restaurant downstairs is also beautiful, with a gorgeous view of the lake. Food and coffee is actually quite lovely as well! It's a small, and overlooked part of the experience. The store also has lots of cool stuff, though as a local Milwaukeean, I'm thinking a bit overpriced to get anything personally.

What a treasure Milwaukee has in this art museum! When I moved here 18 months ago, the first thing…read moreI did that made me feel like I was truly home was to buy an annual membership to the museum. It was worth every penny, and it's especially easy to get my moneys worth because the museum is only about a 10 minute drive away from my Bay View home. My latest foray to the museum was to see the Gertrude Abercrombie installation, which I highly recommend. Then again, I can recommend anything going on at the MAM.