An A-Z visitors guide to Milwaukee Wisconsin. Sponsored by Key Magazine Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/84836
OCTOBER IS WISCONSIN'S most colorful month and nowhere are nature's colors more evident than in the rolling hills of Washington County, just a 30-minute drive northwest of down- town Milwaukee. The high point of any visit to Washington County is the Holy Hill National Shrine, a Roman Catholic basilica located near Richfield. From a spire of the basilica, one of the highest points in Southeastern Wisconsin, visitors can see the hues of fall throughout the wooded hills. For golfers, Washington County is home to two of the best courses in the state – Erin Hills and Washington County. And both courses offer outstanding views of the rolling Kettle Moraine and spires of Holy Hill. If a shower takes you inside, don't miss the acclaimed Museum of Wisconsin Art in West Bend, shopping in downtown Kewaskum, Germantown's Sila Lydia Bast Bell Museum with its collection of more than 5,000 bells or the Wisconsin Automotive Museum in Hartford, the state's largest auto museum. Historical sites abound, beginning with the Old Courthouse Museum & Jailhouse in West Bend, considered a masterpiece of late 19th century architecture. The recently renovated museum displays exhibits on local business and early settlers. In Richfield, you'll find the Richfield Historical Park and Historical Society, with an 1870's gristmill, restored house where the milling families lived, barn and smokehouse, all nestled among towering evergreens. While Washington County is a great side trip any time of year, here are some special October events worth considering: • Pumpkins and Hayrides from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. every Saturday in Jackson at Lammscapes. (www.lammscape.com) • Holy Hill Art & Farm Market Oct. 20-21, two miles east of the Holy Hill Basilica on Holy Hill Road. This unique market features local artists and farmers presenting their goods in a natural setting. (www.holyhillmarket.com) • Haunted Museums Tours Oct. 24-25 in West Bend. These 90-minute guided tours visit the courthouse museum and jail where bizarre phenomena have been experienced. (262-335-4678 or www.historyisfun.com) 38 For additional information on Washington County events and attractions, be sure to visit www.visitwashingtoncounty.com. See fall colors and more in Washington County Side Trip!