Choose wisely. Connect locally.Add your business 
Kenosha is a city of about 100,000 people on the shore of Lake Michigan in southeastern Wisconsin, halfway between Milwaukee and Chicago. Founded in the 1830s as Southport, it grew into a busy harbor and later an auto-manufacturing city, building Nash, Rambler and American Motors cars for decades.
Kenosha's lakefront is its greatest asset. HarborPark, built on the site of the old auto plant, connects a marina, a lakefront promenade and a cluster of museums: the Kenosha Public Museum, the Civil War Museum and the Dinosaur Discovery Museum. Vintage electric streetcars, restored from cities around the world, run on a loop through downtown and the lakefront.
The city's historic districts feature grand buildings donated by industrialists, including the Gilbert M. Simmons Library, and Library Park's elegant homes. Simmons Island Park and its beach, the Kenosha North Pier Lighthouse, and the Southport Light Station Museum add more to explore along the water.
A lakefront district built on a former auto plant site, with walking paths along Lake Michigan, the Civil War Museum, the Kenosha Public Museum, sculptures, a marina view and condos. The streetcar runs through it. Visit in summer for the outdoor HarborMarket and lakeside breezes.
Kenosha's historic downtown just inland from the harbor, with restaurants, coffee shops, bars and shops around the historic Rhode Opera House and Library Park. It is linked to HarborPark by the streetcar. Walk from Library Park to the lakefront for a good loop.
A museum at HarborPark focused on the Upper Middle West in the Civil War, with immersive exhibits, a 360-degree film and stories of soldiers and families from Wisconsin and nearby states. It is one of the best Civil War museums in the Midwest. Allow two hours.
A free museum on the lakefront with natural history and art, best known for the Schaefer mammoth, one of the oldest butchered mammoth finds in North America, plus world cultures and fine art exhibits. It is good for families. Combine it with the Civil War Museum nearby.
A free museum near downtown with fossils and casts of meat-eating dinosaurs and exhibits linking dinosaurs to modern birds, including a working paleontology lab where visitors can watch fossils being prepared. Kids love it. It is small; allow an hour and check opening days.
A restored 1866 lighthouse and keeper's house on Simmons Island, now a museum with exhibits on Kenosha's maritime history. Visitors can climb the tower on guided tours for views of Lake Michigan and the harbor. Open seasonally; climbing requires good mobility.
A lakefront park and historic site around a former girls' school, with Gothic Revival buildings, an Italianate mansion, a rose garden and lawns along Lake Michigan. It is a popular place for weddings and walks. The grounds are free to visit; check for occasional building tours.
A grand Beaux-Arts library from 1900 in Library Park, donated by Zalmon G. Simmons in memory of his son, with columns, a dome and marble interiors. It is surrounded by historic homes and monuments in the Library Park district. Step inside to see the main hall during open hours.
A short heritage streetcar loop through downtown and HarborPark, using restored vintage streetcars painted in the colors of cities that once ran them. It is a fun and cheap way to see the lakefront. Rides cost a small fare; check the schedule, as service varies by season.
A lakefront park on Simmons Island with a sandy Lake Michigan beach, a historic beach house, picnic areas, a playground and the Southport Light Station. It is a popular summer spot with views of the harbor. Swim only when lifeguards are on duty and check water quality alerts.
A large wooded Kenosha County park on the north edge of the city, along the Pike River, with hiking trails, a golf course, picnic shelters and sledding hills in winter. It is a favorite for fall color and quiet walks. Pick up the Pike Trail for a longer hike or bike ride.
A popular European-style outdoor market held on summer Saturday mornings along 2nd Avenue in HarborPark, with local produce, cheese, baked goods, flowers, art and crafts. In winter it moves indoors. Ride the streetcar there, and go early for the best choice and parking.
Top-rated local businesses in Kenosha, with real reviews on WiserMap.
No reviews yet. Been to Kenosha? Be the first to share your experience.
Share what you loved, what to skip and tips for other travelers.
Log in to write a reviewBeen to Kenosha? Add your best shots to the gallery.
Log in to add photosPhoto: B Garrett, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Lord Laitinen, Wikimedia Commons, CC0
Photo: Kenneth C. Zirkel, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Lightburst, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: bradhoc from USA, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Photo: artistmac, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Kenneth C. Zirkel, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Michael Barera, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Lord Laitinen, Wikimedia Commons, CC0
Photo: Teemu08, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Teemu08, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Michael Barera, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Michael Barera, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Michael Barera, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Michael Barera, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Kenokewl of English Wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: Michael Barera, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Michael Barera, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Richie Diesterheft, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Photo: David Wilson from Oak Park, Illinois, USA, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Kenneth C. Zirkel, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Michael Barera, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Richie Diesterheft from Chicago, IL, USA, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Michael Barera, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Michael Barera, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Michael Barera, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Michael Barera, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Michael Barera, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Michael Barera, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Michael Barera, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Michael Barera, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Michael Barera, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Michael Barera, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Michael Barera, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Michael Barera, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Michael Barera, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Michael Barera, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Michael Barera, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Lord Laitinen, Wikimedia Commons, CC0
