Dining, Shopping and Fun Experiences in Kenosha, WI!
My friend Annie Jansen and I headed to the beautiful harbor town of Kenosha, Wisconsin. We went for fun experiences in Kenosha! Hosted by Visit Kenosha, we hoped to see water, nature, history and art. We did all that and more! Thank you, Visit Kenosha, and Meridith Jumisko Public Relations Director, for allowing us to visit and share this marvelous experience.
First things first!
A great place to begin any trip is at the local visitor’s center. We began our fun experiences in Kenosha with a visit to the Wisconsin Welcome Center -Kenosha at Pleasant Prairie Wisconsin. Here we met with Jake and his team and got our picture taken at the fun ski popup!
Here is where you can get all the latest Visitor’s Guides and brochures. They will help you find out what is going on and where.
At the visitor’s center there is a Wisconsin marker about Cordelia A.P. Harvey. She was married to the Governor during the Civil War. She along with other women established recuperation hospitals for wounded Wisconsin vets during the war.
Captain Mike’s and the Captain’s Quarters offer fun experiences in Kenosha!
Our first Kenosha dining experience was at Captain Mike’s. Owned by Jeanette and Michael Kelly they purchased Captain Mike’s in July 2019. Located in the harbor section of downtown, they serve a variety of burgers and mac and cheese. On their website they share, “We’ve still got the best burgers in Kenosha. Kobe beef, organic grass-fed or our black bean veggie burger, your choice!”
Annie and I both chose a burger, and she agreed, “It was the best burger ever!” We also tried the AMAZING cheese curds and onion rings. We loved the seafaring atmosphere and the fact that the windows open to the outside so we could sit in but enjoy the beautiful outdoor view, one of many fun experiences in Kenosha!
During our stay, we were at the Captain’s Quarters next door and above Captain Mikes. The Airbnb is in a great location. Outfitted in charming sea sailing decor, Captain’s Quarters has two bedrooms, a bath, living room and kitchen. Laundry facilities are also available. This was a wonderful oasis in the heart of town within walking distance of many great attractions. Annie and I enjoyed reading in the evenings, sitting out on the balcony, and just chilling!
Breakfast stops offer fun experiences in Kenosha!
During our trip we had two different and amazing breakfast experiences. The first was at Anna’s on the Lake. Just a few blocks down from the Captain’s Quarters, we loved this lakeside location! While they opened in 2022, the building has some history. The website states, “The coffee shop sits in a building with over 100 years of history. One of the few structures built with Cream City Brick in Kenosha and located right on Lake Michigan, the building itself is a must-visit landmark for anyone who spends time here.”
There is the coffee shop as well as seasonal bar and grill and I noted that they also have an Airbnb. What a great location to stay! For breakfast I had a delightful breakfast sandwich, and the bacon was so crisp!
Breakfast on Wednesday was at Ktown Cafe. They offered a great traditional breakfast that was really good!
Open for both breakfast and lunch and private events, they use only premium ingredients and make everything from scratch. We were excited when we got to meet Bennie the owner!
On their Facebook page they are listed as the best breakfast and lunch in Kenosha! Our food certainly lived up to the reputation!
A little downtown fun!
Our original plans were to sail with Sail Away Charters Captain Bart Mengo on Tuesday afternoon. We met with him and had a great tour of the marina in Kenosha Harbor. Because the weather was a bit dicey for sailing, after a nice visit, we hit downtown stores instead. Sailing took place the next day!
While touring downtown, Annie and I noted that Kenosha is full of churches, flowers, art, pubs and museums! While on our stop back in 2019, Annie and I saw many museums, during this visit, we returned to the Civil War Museum. The Civil War story of the Upper Middle Midwest is shared at this museum. We had the chance to see the new Printmaking-Pop Culture of the Civil War Exhibit. It was way cool.
We also saw some wonderful Abraham Lincoln history!
We loved the gift shop at the Civil War Museum. I bought my daughter a stuffed bald eagle and Annie found several gift items!
A downtown Kenosha shopping stop was at Equinox Botanical Boutique. This fun shop had garden and wellness in mind. We met the owner, Maria Caravati. She started out caring for the body offering organic massage, holistic facials, and products to support your healthy well-being. Recently she added her passion for plants and expanded!
I found some cool goat soap for me, and Annie some soap and a garden book. It wasn’t long before I had another Abraham Lincoln spotting. Being from the Land of Lincoln, I had to take a picture!
I learned the Abraham Lincoln statue was dedicated in 1909 and commemorated the 100th anniversary
of Lincoln’s birth.
Hallmark!
On the other side of town, we found RK News Hallmark! Meridth of Visit Kenosha WI shared that this store is known for the books and magazines, some rare and hard to find that they carry. The had a great selection some Annie had been looking for and she appreciated the chance to look them over.
I found a cool wooden bookmark at this shop that has such a happy vibe. I learned from their website that, “For over 55 years, RK News Hallmark has focused on providing gift-giving services with the highest levels of customer satisfaction! Our primary goal is to provide customers with a shopping experience that defies your expectations and leaves you walking away happy.”
Mission94 Firearms Education Center
Annie and I got the chance to meet up with Meridith of Visit Kenosha and tour this wonderful education center prior to its planned opening in October 2024!
Erika Davis and Theadora Gerber of TAWANI (a marketing and development company) met us along with Chris Meter, the Mission94 Range Manager, and Jacob Richmond who heads up the retail shop. Mission94 is a place where you can get a hands-on perspective of the history of firearms that shaped our nation. They will be offering history courses, training courses and more. This is a three-tier program incorporating safety, discovery, and history.
Chris Meter is a former marine with law enforcement experience. “Mission94 was founded by Col. Jennifer Pritzker,” Chris shared. She also founded the Pritzker Military Museum and Library.
Mission94 Details.
At Mission94 Chris shared they are focused on the educational, retail, and live fire aspects. He emphasized the importance that this is not a gun range, it is an education center where they teach the history of arms from the Revolution forward. Different courses will be offered, and the website will highlight their offerings. The really cool aspect is after learning about the various firearms, class attendees have a chance to fire replicas of those weapons, all in a safe, monitored environment.
They will also offer the traditional conceal and carry and other options. At Mission94, they are offering charter memberships available to the public that has perks. Regular memberships are also available as well. Mission94 is also open to the general public and as long as a staff member is available you can tour this state-of-the-art center! Besides working with those familiar with firearms, they also hope to introduce them to the novice as well.
Supper Clubs!
HobNob Restaurant and Cocktail Lounge, was established in 1954. It was our Tuesday evening dining event. Located along the shore of Lake Michigan, this is not just a restaurant, but a supper club.
Supper clubs are usually family run and have a Midwest vibe. WisconsinCheese.com shares, “Wisconsin supper clubs aren’t just restaurants—they’re a lifestyle. It’s all about slow food enjoyed with people you love (and a Wisconsin Old Fashioned, of course). Filled with nostalgia, twinkling string lights, and classic American fare with a healthy serving of Wisconsin Cheese, when you walk in, you’ll feel like you’re right at home.”
Annie and I felt at home right away. We had met earlier with Captain Bart Mengo planning to head out for our two-hour sail. The weather didn’t cooperate on Tuesday, but Captain Bart knew all about our supper stop and said it was like going back in time. He was right you almost expected to see Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, or Sammy Davis Jr. crooning in the background. The food was fantastic, the service excellent, and the atmosphere sophisticated and lovely!
Italian American Supper Club
Wednesday night we were honored with another supper club! The Italian American Supper Club is part of the Italian American Club. On their website they share, “The Italian American Society of Kenosha, Wisconsin was established in September of 1923 as the result of combining several previously established organizations, including the G. Giaribaldi Society, the S. Francesco Society, the S. Michele Society, and the Maria SS Della Schiava. Together, these groups built the Italian American Home, a clubhouse where they could freely meet for entertainment and educational opportunities. Since then, the Society has continued to grow and has become an integral part of the Kenosha community, providing a center for Italian Americans to gather for fellowship, cultural exchange, education and celebrations.”
With banquet facilities upstairs, we headed downstairs to the Supper Club where the public is welcome. Decorated for Fouth of July, the atmosphere was patriotic and cool! The bread they brought out first thing was amazing! Annie and I decided to share a meal. We got the Veal Parmesan with Lasagna. Annie got a salad, and I got California veggies. When we saw the desserts, we had to give them a try. Everything was plentiful and yummy!
The Brat Stop, a Wisconsin Experience
The Brat Stop also serves as an informal Wisconsin Welcome center! Close to the Wisconsin, Illinois border, this is the place to finish out your trip and load up your cooler with Wisconsin cheese and meat! If it would have been our stop before heading out, we would have done just that!
We ate great food with Meridith of Visit Wisconsin and enjoyed the vibe of this world-famous place. Opened in 1961, the owner and founder Gerald Rasmussen was only 18 when he purchased the original 8 stool bar and cheese shop from his parents. This is the place for Wisconsin cheese head hats, Packer items and other Wisconsin souvenirs!
The Red School Cafe
On our last day, we headed to Boundless Adventures in Bristol Woods Park. We had a blast learning axe throwing! After our adventure we stopped at the Red School Cafe in Bristol. This cool restaurant was a school that was built in 1889 and was first known as Pikeville School. The school was closed in 1963 and became a restaurant in 1970. We learned that in 1983 it was moved about 100 feet northwest from its original location. and remodeled.
Annie and I were charmed with the restaurant, decor and most of all the friendly service. We got amazing chicken salad croissant sandwiches to go and ate in a park on the way home.
Our trip north was a great one. The scenery was beautiful. We saw woodlands, Lake Michigan, met amazing people, and dined and shopped our way through this beautiful city! Have you had fun experiences in Kenosha? I’d love to hear!
