By: Maddy Nemec

Does your social media feed get flooded with spring break content this time of year? It’s easy to feel left out if you’re staying local, but you don’t need to travel far to have a good time! A break at home is a relaxing pause from the hectic Spring semester. You’ll get to focus on yourself, catch up with others, and try new things! To make your Spring Break in Whitewater or at home more exciting, I’ve created a list of ways to have the ultimate Wisconsin Staycation.

When around Whitewater

  • Go on a hike
    • There are many beautiful places to hike near Whitewater, including the Ice Age Trail, the Nordic Trailhead, and the UW-Whitewater Prairie
  • Have a picnic
    • Picnics are a fun way to get fresh air, enjoy tasty snacks, listen to music, and chat with friends. If the weather is bad, have a picnic indoors!
  • Visit the Whitewater City Market
    • Currently located inside the Irvin L Young Memorial Library from 10 am – 12 pm on Saturdays, this farmers market offers some of the best fresh food and products from local farmers, artisans, and food vendors
  • Take a food tour of Whitewater’s local restaurants and cafes
    • The Sweet Spot Cafe or The Sweet Spot Bakehouse
    • Fat Jacks Sports Bar and Grill
    • Jessica’s Family Restaurant
    • Cozumel Mexican Restaurant
    • Fanatico
    • The Black Sheep
    • 841 Brewhouse
    • Second Salem Brewing Co.
  • Watch the sunset or sunrise
    • Sunsets and sunrises are gorgeous anywhere, but the Whitewater Nature Preserve, Cravath Lake, Tripp Lake, and Whitewater Lake are great places to watch them

For at home or in your dorm

  • Have a movie night
  • Eat breakfast in bed
  • Have a game night
  • Bake or cook
  • Paint, draw, or craft
  • Have a spa day
  • Make your room an oasis
  • Create an at-home amusement park
  • Pretend you’re at Disney World or your favorite theme park by playing videos of the rides, listening to the park music, and enjoying snacks. You won’t have to deal with crowds or long lines!
  • Have a destination meal
    • Bring travel to your home by making food from a chosen country, playing their music, and watching a tour or movie related to the country

Day trips

  • Lake Geneva – 30-45 min drive
    • Hike around the lake
    • Eat at one of the many restaurants and cafes
    • Look around the local shops
  • Madison – 45 min-1 hr drive
    • Visit the Wisconsin State Capitol
    • Go shopping
    • Walk around Lake Monona or Lake Mendota
    • Go to a museum
  • Milwaukee – 1 hr drive
    • Walk around the Third Ward and stop in the Milwaukee Public Market
    • Go to a Museum or the Mitchell Park Domes
    • See Lake Michigan
  • Devil’s Lake State Park – 1 hr 30 min drive
    • Hike a trail and stop at the overlook points to see beautiful views
  • Wisconsin Dells – 1 hr 30 min drive
    • Spend a day at a water park
    • Go camping
    • Take a tour of the Wisconsin River gorge or the Witches Gulch
  • Chicago – 2 hr drive
    • Visit Millenium Park
    • Eat deep-dish pizza
    • Walk down Michigan Avenue

These activities are just a few of the many things you can do to have a fun Spring Break right here in Wisconsin. Take these ideas and make them your own to have the break you deserve. Don’t worry about what everyone else is doing over break. As Theodore Roosevelt once said, “comparison is the thief of joy.” Even if you’re busy, make sure to set aside some time to relax or try one of these activities. Most of all, have fun and be safe!