Wisconsin is the birthplace of America’s most famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright and there’s a trail to explore to see his famous homes and buildings. The state has strong German ancestry and this is apparent in some of its buildings, food and obviously beer with several different iterations of Oktoberfest held each year.  Some call Milwaukee an underrated city, others reference it as the younger sibling to Chicago which sits 90 miles south of Milwaukee on the same stretch of Lake Michigan. The iconic American motorcycle company, Harley-Davidson is based in Milwaukee and there’s a dedicated museum in the city. The 3.7 mile Milwaukee RiverWalk in the central city makes its way along both sides of the Milwaukee River and takes in art, restaurants and the Bronze Fonz, a lifesize statue of Arthur Fonzarelli, a character from the TV show Happy Days that was set in the city. The 2011 movie, Bridesmaids, was set and filmed in Milwaukee.

Also in the city, the Mitchell Park Domes, three giant geodesic domes that house 1000 plant species. Try Holler House, the oldest bowling alley in the US and a tavern that runs at more than 100 years old with its cozy yet slightly eclectic atmosphere including a bra collection. The Wisconsin Dells or the Waterpark Capital of the World features huge outdoor and indoor water parks but also has glacial sandstone gorges carved out over thousands of years. Also here is the Witch’s Gulch, a slot canyon where wind and water have sculpted this otherworldly passageway through the sandstone. You get there on a boat tour and can walk through the scenic mossy passage ways. For a quirky roadside stop, try the House on the Rock in Spring Green, a bizarre 14 room home that houses a strange array of exhibits and collections. If you make it to the Apostle Islands on Lake Superior you can venture out to the sea caves (technically lake caves) which are stunning natural wonders that require a boat trip in summer but in winter are walkable as the insides freeze and turn into delicate ice formations. The home of Colby cheese and America's biggest cheese producing state, Wisconsin dishes up its version of fried cheese curds that come as a side alongside fries. Solly’s Grille in Milwaukee is the home of the Butter Burger where they put butter in the patty and the bun or indulge in the Wisconsin tradition of the Friday night Fish Fry, where fish is deep-fried or beer batter and served with all the trimmings.