1. Picnic in the Park

   • Notable Park: Lake Park - Milwaukee
   • Designed by the world-renowned landscape architect, Frederick Law Olmsted, Lake Park has been a treasure to the City of Milwaukee for well over 100 years. From golf to lawn bowling, there is an activity for every visitor. Lake Park is home to numerous picnic areas, recreational fields, ravine trails, and the North Point Lighthouse. It’s bordered with magnificent turn-of-the-century mansions to the west and bluffs above Lake Michigan to the east. With so many beautiful areas to rest awhile, it’s easy to enjoy the sounds of the rustling leaves here.
     

2. Meander Along a Bike Trail

   • Notable Bike Trails: Kenosha County Bike Trail, Oak Leaf Trail, Interurban Bike Trail, Hank Aaron Trail.
   • Exploring a bike trail is a great way to see how the warm colors of fall light up the landscape. The bike trails of southeast Wisconsin can lead you through glowing prairies and leaf-filled forests. Because many of the over 400 miles of bike trails in the area connect, be sure to map out your trip before you hit the trail.

     

3. Take a Hike

   • Notable Trail: Ice Age Trail - Scuppernong Segment and West Bend Segment
   • A popular way to view the changing leaves is to hike to a beautiful vantage point. The Ice Age Trail spans 1,200 miles along the route of the last glaciation. Topographic features left behind by the glaciers that formed the Great Lakes have become the main attraction to this area. Found in the Northern Unit of the Kettle Moraine State Forest, the West Bend Segment meanders through natural hardwood forests. The Scuppernong Segment of the Ice Age Trail is located in the Southern Unit of the Kettle Moraine State Forest. At 5.6 miles (point-to-point), this segment is perfect for a day hike.

     

4. Cruise the Countryside

   • Notable Route: Kettle Moraine Scenic Drive
   • View the fall colors from the comfort of your own car as you cruise the 115 miles from the Southern Unit of Kettle Moraine State Forest to the Northern Unit. Along the trip, stop for a bite in a wonderful town (like Hartford, WI) or stretch your legs at a few of the natural and historical markers. The best part of the trip is the numerous spots to picnic, hike, bike, and fish.

Meghan Langmyer has lived all over the midwest but has never felt more at home than in Milwaukee, WI. When she isn't overseeing educational programming at a local non-profit, she's out exploring the state. Follow her adventures on her Instagram account @MilwaukeePhoto for her Milwaukee hotspots and Wisconsin travels.