Hidden gems Tour
By Fond du Lac Area CVB
07/07/2008
Start your Hidden Gems Wisconsin Tour in Manitowoc at the Wisconsin Maritime Museum, the largest maritime museum on the Great Lakes, as well as “homeport” to USS COBIA, the nation’s most completely restored World War II submarine.
Contact Information:
t: view phone 920-923-3010
e: view email scoveny@fdl.com
w: view URL www.fdl.com
Tour Dates:
Number of Days: 3
Day One
Start your Hidden Gems Wisconsin Tour in Manitowoc at the Wisconsin Maritime Museum, the largest maritime museum on the Great Lakes, as well as “homeport” to USS COBIA, the nation’s most completely restored World War II submarine. The Museum is recognized as one of the premier maritime museums in the Midwest with over 60,000 sq. ft. of exhibit space. Have a light lunch at the Harborside Restaurant and then head over to Beerntsen’s Candies for an ice cream sundae in an old-fashioned ice cream parlor.
Next on your itinerary - Sheboygan and the John Michael Kohler Arts Center. Nationally known art exhibits and performers fill this thriving 99,000 sq ft cultural center. Don’t miss sneaking a peak at six public washrooms created by national artists all to astonish and delight.
Complete your Sheboygan and Kohler experience at the Kohler Design Center, the Premier showroom for the nation's leading plumbing products manufacturer, Kohler Co. More than two-dozen designer bath showrooms, along with product displays for Baker and McGuire furniture and Ann Sacks Tile & Stone, fill the dramatic 36,000 square foot, three-level space. Also view ceramic art gallery & displays of historic Kohler Village/Kohler Co.
Spend the evening in Fond du Lac with dinner and a show at Pier 15, Fond du Lac’s award winning seafood and steakhouse.
Day Two
Start your morning in Fond du Lac with a visit to Villa Loretto, a ranch and retirement home run by nuns. Pet a llama or see the fainting goats and more than 100 other animals including peacocks, Clydesdales, Llamas and emus. There is a Gift Shop in the granary, a lunchroom and a “Nun Better Bakery”. Tours may include nun-driven hayrides, spinning and weaving demonstrations, games, lunch and more.
Enjoy the Scenic Kettle Moraine on your way over to Horicon, Wisconsin. View some of the 30,000 acres of lush, dense forest, prairies and sparkling lakes formed by glaciers over 10,000 years ago. In Horicon, enjoy lunch at Ginger’s Hide-Away. Explore the Horicon Marsh, America’s largest freshwater cattail marsh, on a guided pontoon boat tour from Blue Heron Landing.
Travel back to Fond du Lac and visit the Kristmas Kringle Shoppe, a two-story Bavarian style shop. The interior resembles streets of quaint European shops. Kristmas Kringle is lined with more than 70 themed Christmas trees, collectibles for all occasions, animated figures, and imported ornaments with the largest selection of Italian glass ornaments in the nation. Then drive over to Lakeside Park. Work up an appetite by climbing to the top of the 40-ft Lookout Lighthouse for a breathtaking view of Lake Winnebago. Hungry? Head over to a Fond du Lac icon, Schreiner’s Restaurant, for dinner and enjoy their famous homemade clam chowder or other delectable menu choices. Food that’s as good as Grandma Schreiner used to make!
After dinner, head back to Lakeside Park for a sunset dessert cruise aboard the Lakeside Spirit, Lake Winnebago’s only excursion yacht. Relax and enjoy the gorgeous sunset and mouthwatering desserts.
Day Three
Step back in time at the Galloway House & Village. The 30-room mansion was the “farmhouse” of the Galloway family for three generations. The hand-carved woodwork, etched glass, and hand-stenciled ceilings are a few of the marvels of the lifestyle of a bygone era. Each building of the village is its own step-back-in-time from a country church and one-room schoolhouse to a grist mill and more. Blakely Museum and CCC Barracks Museum also on site.
Fast forward to the American Graffiti era at Jim Baldaulf Collector Cars. Browse through a showroom of fully restored antique cars. Home of a 1949 Oldsmobile 88 Convertible – one of only 5 known. View car collectibles, memorabilia, and much more.
Spend your afternoon in Ripon, Wisconsin. Dine at Royal Ridges for lunch and then enjoy the only 90-minute Clydesdale guided tour and show in America, Larson’s Famous Clydesdales. Visit the ranch where the gentle giants live, and pet a rare baby Clydesdale. See an entertaining demonstration of a cart class in costume and full harness, antique hitch wagons and show preparation. The show goes on rain or shine!
Finish up your day in Oshkosh, Wisconsin at the Paine Art Center & Gardens. Respected as one of "America's Castles,” the Paine Art Center and Gardens is a unique combination of historic mansion, art galleries and seasonal display gardens. View their world-class collection of American landscape paintings and decorative arts, as well as nineteen themed garden areas.
Get your shopping fix at The Outlet Shoppes at Oshkosh. Shop factory direct and save at over 55 famous name brand outlet stores including Oshkosh B’Gosh, Eddie Bauer, Old Navy and Wilson’s Leather, just to name a few.
For your last evening in Fond du Lac, relax with dinner and a performance from the Red Hat Chorus. You’ll leave Fond du Lac with a song in your heart Enjoy your tour.
