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At the southern tip of Lake Winnebago, the largest lake entirely within Wisconsin, sits Fond du Lac, whose French name means bottom of the lake. Fur traders and Native American villages came first; by the late 1800s sawmills and railroads had turned it into a busy market town, and its downtown still shows off Victorian brick blocks and church spires.
The lakefront is the heart of summer life. Lakeside Park spreads along the shore with a white lighthouse you can climb, a carousel and boat launches, and each June it hosts Walleye Weekend, one of the largest free fishing festivals in the Midwest. In winter the lake freezes into a temporary village of shanties for the famous sturgeon spearing season.
History fans will find the Galloway House and Village, a Gothic cathedral filled with German woodcarving and an octagon-shaped house tied to the Underground Railroad. Beyond town, the Wild Goose State Trail runs south toward Horicon Marsh, and the hills of the Kettle Moraine rise to the southeast.
A large waterfront park on the shore of Lake Winnebago with a harbor, boat launches, picnic shelters, a bandshell and lagoons. In summer the carousel and miniature train are favorites with children, and paths link the park's islands by footbridges. Sunset over the lake is the moment to be here.
The white lighthouse at the tip of Lakeside Park dates from the 1930s and has become the symbol of Fond du Lac. In the warm months you can climb the spiral stairs to a small gallery with views across Lake Winnebago and back over the park. Opening hours are seasonal, so check before making a special trip.
The Gothic Revival seat of the Episcopal Diocese of Fond du Lac, built of local stone in the late 1800s. Inside, intricate woodcarvings made in Oberammergau, Germany, fill the altar area, along with fine stained glass and a stone cloister garden. Visitors are welcome outside service times; call ahead for a tour.
An Italianate Victorian mansion with about 30 rooms of period furniture, surrounded by a village of relocated historic buildings such as a one-room school, a church, a general store and a print shop. It is run by the county historical society and open in summer, when guides explain daily life in 1800s Wisconsin.
An eight-sided house built in 1856 that is filled with secret passages and a hidden room, and is believed to have sheltered freedom seekers on the Underground Railroad. Guided tours take you through the period rooms and into the tunnels. Tours are offered by appointment, so contact the owners in advance.
Main Street is lined with restored brick and stone commercial blocks from the 1800s and early 1900s, now home to cafes, bars, antique shops and boutiques. Murals and summer events like farmers markets and concerts keep it lively. Park once and walk; the river and the historic churches are a few blocks away.
A community arts center downtown with rotating exhibitions by Wisconsin and visiting artists, plus a theater that hosts concerts, film and live performances. It also runs classes in painting, pottery and other crafts. Gallery admission is usually free, so it makes an easy stop while exploring Main Street.
A flat, crushed-limestone trail on a former railroad bed that runs about 34 miles from the edge of Fond du Lac south to near Juneau. It passes farms, woods and the western edge of Horicon Marsh, so cyclists often spot herons and cranes. Bikers need a state trail pass; walkers ride free.
About 20 miles south of town lies the largest freshwater cattail marsh in the United States, a refuge for more than 300 bird species. In October huge flocks of Canada geese stop here on migration. Drive the auto tour route, walk the boardwalks or rent a canoe, and visit the education center for maps and exhibits.
Southeast of Fond du Lac, glaciers left a landscape of rounded kames, kettle lakes and long eskers now protected as state forest. The Ice Age National Scenic Trail runs through it, with lake beaches, campgrounds and a scenic drive that is especially colorful in October. A vehicle admission sticker is required.
A free festival held in Lakeside Park each June, built around a large walleye fishing tournament on Lake Winnebago. Between weigh-ins there are concerts, carnival games, a run, and plenty of fried fish sandwiches. It draws big crowds, so arrive early, park downtown and walk or take the shuttle if offered.
Each February, when Lake Winnebago is frozen, hundreds of shanties appear on the ice as spearers wait over holes for lake sturgeon, a fish that can weigh more than 100 pounds. Registration stations near Fond du Lac let visitors see the catch measured. Never walk on the ice without checking local conditions.
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