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When Michiganders are looking for a midwest road trip spot, we usually think of Chicago, Illinois, or Indianapolis, Indiana. But Wisconsin deserves some attention, too. And taking the SS Badger across Lake Michigan to Manitowoc makes it a super fun way to get there!
Filled with small town charm and fun things to do nearby, Manitowoc WI is a great place to spend some time.
Read on to find out more about what this midwest family vacation spot has to offer.
Thanks to Visit Manitowoc for hosting this visit.
My family took advantage of the passenger-only Great Lakes Getaway deal on the SS Badger so that meant we left our minivan in Ludington MI and explored Manitowoc WI on foot.
So without a vehicle, I needed to know we were going to have plenty of things to do in Manitowoc.
I was surprised by how much we were able to accomplish just by walking there!
Here’s my top picks for fun things to do in Manitowoc:
Before your visit to Manitowoc, sign up for the FREE Visit Manitowoc Passes.
These digital trails lead you all around the city in search of art and historical landmarks.
We had so much fun doing these trails!
Complete the Public Arts Trail to win an art-themed postcard and take the Historic Landmark Trail to win a Visit Manitowoc branded tote bag.
Bonus: several of the checkpoints were places we were already planning to go – like the Sputnik crash landing spot!
Arriving in in Manitowoc is like stepping into a Hallmark town. Cute shops line the streets and unique restaurants beckon. And museums are just a short walk from the shopping area.
Even if you brought your car across the lake, leave it behind and explore Manitowoc on foot to really soak it all in.
Explore the Great Lakes from the other side of Lake Michigan at the Wisconsin Maritime Museum – the largest maritime museum in the midwest.
In addition to maritime history galleries, there’s also hands-on exhibits to explore. You can operate a real steam engine, learn about Manitowoc’s shipbuilding past, and explore exhibits about shipwrecks and maritime technology.
My kids wanted to play in the Waterways Room where they can launch boats and experiment with locks, dams, and water flow. I, however, wanted them to remain dry so I denied their request. But they did love seeing the live sea lampreys in the invasive species room!
There’s also a “Little Lakefarers Room” for the littles.
Plan on 1.5 – 3 hours for your visit. (Longer side if you do the Cobia tour – see below)
The USS Cobia submarine is docked alongside the Wisconsin Maritime Museum.
The Cobia is a restored World War II era submarine, commissioned in 1944. During six Pacific war patrols, it sank multiple Japanese vessels (including one bound for Iwo Jima) and earned four battle stars for its wartime service.
When you tour the Cobia, you’ll see what it was like on board in 1945. You can walk through:
Overnight stays and Scout field trips are available.
Self-guided tours are included with admission. Guided tours can be booked for an additional fee.
The Rahr-West Art Museum was the farthest place we walked, but it was totally worth it.
When I was a little girl, I always wanted to live in a Victorian house. I wanted my own window seat in my own turreted tower at the top of the house. Then I grew up and realized I’d have to clean all of that and changed my mind.
So getting to go inside a real, 1800s Victorian mansion was finally giving that little girl a taste of her dream.
The main floor of the museum is art galleries. My kids were excited to get scavenger hunts to complete. I was happy this meant they didn’t whine about our time here.
There are two levels to explore in the mansion. Only one of the rooms is set up to replicate what it would have looked like when the family lived there.
The other rooms have artwork interspersed with family artifacts and nods to the building’s historic roots.
Even though art galleries aren’t normally my thing, this was time well spent.
Note: there is an elevator available to get into the upper levels of the mansion.
Fun Fact: A piece of Sputnik IV crashed in the street outside here in 1962. There’s a brass ring in the street marking the crash site. Inside, there’s a replica of the piece that crashed.
Be sure to take the time to walk the Mariners Trail along Lake Michigan.
The paved path is perfect for biking and fully accessible. The full trail is six – seven miles, but it’s just half a mile from its starting point near the Inn of Manitowoc to Lighthouse Park and Manitowoc Breakwater Lighthouse.
Walk a little farther to get to West of the Lake Gardens, open Memorial Day – Labor Day.
When you come into Manitowoc on the SS Badger, The Manitowoc Breakwater Lighthouse is one of the first things you see as you arrive.
Located near Lighthouse Park along the Mariners Trail, it sits at the end of a long pier stretching into Lake Michigan.
It’s worth the walk for the views alone.
It’s free to go inside the main level if it’s open. Sometimes the Wisconsin Maritime Museum offers tours to the upper levels.
A stop at Beerntsen’s Confectionary is a Must Do when visiting Manitowoc.
In addition to homemade mouthwatering chocolates, this is also the place to go for ice cream.
After spending time looking over the menu, our family of five decided to all share the Hard Hat: ten scoops of ice cream with five toppings, cherries and nuts (which we subbed for sprinkles).
Our ice cream also came out with plastic hard hats.
So fun – and delicious!
This stop was my kids’ favorite thing we did in Manitowoc.
If your family loves watching boats, the Manitowoc Marina is one of the best places to slow down and enjoy the lakefront.
Kids can watch vessels enter and leave the harbor, spot charter fishing boats returning with their catch, and enjoy the constant activity along the water.
You can also rent kayaks or bikes here if you want to upgrade your walking tour.
If you’re visiting Manitowoc in the rain, heat or just need a place for the kids to burn off energy, Strand Adventures is the place to go.
Housed inside a renovated historic downtown theater, Strand Adventures is a three-story indoor adventure center.
My family loved playing laser tag here along with the rock climbing wall.
There were also familiar yet favorite activities like a ninja-warrior course, bounce houses, obstacle course play structure and an arcade. There’s also a separate toddler area to keep littles safe from bigs.
We bought two hour wristbands and it was the perfect amount of play time.
The Fat Seagull was one of our favorite places to eat in Manitowoc.
Located on the ferry dock side of the drawbridge, it was still a short walk there. If you get there early, this would be a great place to grab lunch before boarding the Badger to head back to Ludington.
We were there on the Sunday before Memorial Day so the small place was packed.
Even though The Fat Seagull is pub-style, we didn’t feel out of place with our kids there.
There’s no dedicated kids menu, but the regular menu had more than enough options to satisfy my kids. In fact, this was their favorite place to eat. And we didn’t have to worry about being too loud since the entire place was noisy.
We had burgers, wraps, sandwiches, egg rolls and cheese curds. The best cheese curds of our visit.
This is a two mile walk from downtown, but still manageable if you’re up for it.
Manitowoc Lincoln Park Zoo is a small, FREE family-friendly zoo with just under 200 animals, plus a playground, an activity trail, picnic areas, and an education building with reptiles, amphibians, tropical birds, and hands-on learning.
With its park-like set-up, this is the perfect spot for a stroll.
Animals here include black bears, cougars, bald eagles, snow leopards, wolves, bison and prairie dogs.
The zoo sits along the Little Manitowoc River, so you can also spot ducks, geese, and other wild birds nearby.
Plan to spend at least one hour here, though you might find the whole afternoon has passed if you linger and really soak it all in.
Suggested donation: $1 / youth, $2 / adults
If you’re not walking everywhere in Manitowoc, there are plenty of other things to do and places to explore.
Uber is an option here, but there aren’t many drivers so it’s not wise to depend on it.
If you get a taxi, rental car or brought your vehicle with you on the Badger, here’s some other favorite places to go:
Farm Wisconsin Discovery Center is a hands-on agricultural education center in Manitowoc that’s perfect for families and kids.
With over 10,000 sq feet of interactive exhibits, you’ll learn about Wisconsin farming, where food comes from and visit the birthing barn. If you’re lucky, you might even get to see a calf being born!
Favorite exhibits include:
Grab breakfast or lunch at The Wisconsin Cafe where everything is locally sourced for an incredible farm-to-table dining experience.
Don’t miss getting a sweet treat from Ice Cream Acres. Choose from 16 small-batch flavors.
The best part of any vacation is finding new places to eat and sampling the local fare.
Here’s some of the best places to eat in Manitowoc:
Located in a restored historic downtown building, Brick’s serves gourmet burgers, creative flatbreads, and craft cocktails in a lively atmosphere that’s popular with both locals and visitors. If it’s warm outside, there’s limited seating on the outdoor deck.
Even though it has a bar-and-grill feel, kids are welcome.
There’s an upstairs lounge area that’s used for private parties or overflow seating on busy nights.
Just steps from Manitowoc’s waterfront attractions, Bloom & Brunch serves breakfast and lunch classics with a creative twist.
From fluffy pancakes and breakfast tacos to fresh smoothies and specialty coffees, it’s a bright, stylish spot that’s become a favorite for both locals and visitors.
Located right across the street from the Wisconsin Maritime Museum, it’s the perfect way to start your day exploring Manitowoc.
Known for its thin-crust pizza, Pizza Garden has been a downtown staple for decades. You can get everything from classic pepperoni to inventive specialties like Crab Rangoon and Taco Pizza.
Pizza Garden also has a full bar and beers as well as outdoor dining.
There’s also an arcade here so bring along some extra cash for that.
Pro Tip: Get the cheese curds. They are very unique and the best of our trip.
A downtown Manitowoc favorite, Wrap It Up serves fresh wraps, paninis, breakfast burritos, smoothies, and specialty coffee drinks in a laid-back café setting.
Its convenient location near the waterfront makes it an easy stop for breakfast or lunch while exploring the city.
Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and allergy-friendly choices are available along with outdoor seating.
The Wharf feels more like a destination than just a restaurant.
Just steps from the SS Badger dock, The Wharf offers waterfront dining, live music, and sweeping views of the Manitowoc River and harbor.
Its massive open-air patio and lively summer atmosphere make it one of the city’s most popular gathering spots.
Grab lunch or dinner or just a cocktail and enjoy the scenery.
Check their website for the summer events line-up.
There are several places to stay near Manitowoc, but be sure to book early to snag your spot.
We stayed at the Inn on Maritime Bay which was only one mile from the SS Badger dock. But since you have to walk across the drawbridge over the river to get there, it’s a 20 minute walk. Totally easy and manageable, though.
We loved our stay here! The staff was super friendly and helpful, giving us recommendations on the fastest routes to get places and best spots to eat.
The Inn on Maritime Bay has both standard rooms as well as suites. All rooms have a coffee maker, microwave and mini-fridge.
You can grab a cup of Starbucks coffee 24/7 right by the reception desk. My kids loved swimming in the indoor pool.
There are also event spaces here and they were being used both nights of our stay.
In the summer season, the on-site lounge is open for drinks on weekends. (Schedule varies – ask at the desk.)
Grab-and-go style breakfast is available in the morning. We grabbed granola bars for snacks during the day and went to breakfast in town.
Pet friendly for an additional fee.
The SS Badger may be what brings you to Manitowoc, but the city’s museums, art, history, and walkable downtown are what make you want to stay awhile.
Whether you’re spending a day or a long weekend exploring Wisconsin’s lakeshore, Manitowoc proves that some of the Midwest’s best destinations are the ones that fly under the radar.
Editor. Elizabeth Rudd is a former elementary school teacher, now stay-at-home mom to three. Elizabeth spends her time taking kids to school activities, hunting for great deals, spending way too much time on Facebook and finally reading all the books she’s bought.
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