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Looking for a touch of Europe in the Midwest? It’s time to plan a trip to New Glarus with kids! Set amongst the verdant hills of Green County, Wisconsin, New Glarus was established by Swiss immigrants in the mid-1800s. This early history has given New Glarus its distinct Swiss look and culture. Unlike some European-inspired cities in the United States, New Glarus boasts Swiss charm around every corner in the downtown area, from chalet-style buildings to Swiss restaurants. No wonder it’s dubbed America’s Little Switzerland!
If you’re looking for a fun weekend itinerary for New Glarus for families, this one covers everything you need, from taking a New Glarus brewery tour to packing tips and restaurant recommendations! Not to mention, where to stay in New Glarus with kids and some nearby attractions you can’t miss.
We visited New Glarus during Minnesota’s MEA break, which was a perfect time to visit. The fall colors were EPIC, and the weather was lovely. If you’re looking for an MEA trip or weekend getaway any time of year within 5 hours of Minneapolis, I highly recommend New Glarus!
Tips + Packing List for New Glarus with Kids
If you are planning a weekend itinerary for New Glarus with kids, there are a few things you should know first! From the best time to visit New Glarus to a few packing tips, be sure to keep these things in mind while planning your upcoming vacation to New Glarus with your kids!
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A Few Tips
Here are a few tips for visiting New Glarus, Wisconsin, with kids:
- Summer is generally considered the best time to visit New Glarus, as all of the seasonal attractions are open and the weather is warm. The shoulder seasons of spring and fall are also lovely, especially given there are fewer crowds and perhaps even more pleasant weather if you don’t love the heat of summer. We went in mid-October and LOVED it. The fall colors were stunning, and the weather was very mild.
- New Glarus hosts two iconic events that may interest your family, including The William Tell Festival (early September) and the Swiss Historical Village Harvest Fest (early October). In late September, they also host the New Glarus Oktoberfest.
- If you’re traveling from Minneapolis (like we did), New Glarus is a 4.5-hour drive. The closest airports are in Madison, Milwaukee, and Chicago (New Glarus is less than 2 hours from Milwaukee, and less than 3 hours from Chicago).
- See an account of our highlights on Instagram here!
Packing List Reminders for New Glarus with Kids
In addition to the things you usually pack for a vacation with kids, don’t forget these things for traveling to New Glarus with kids:
- Summer visitors will need sunscreen and bug spray on hand.
- Outdoor apparel – there are many hiking options and other seasonal outdoor experiences like fishing and canoeing.
- If you plan to visit Cave of the Mounds (and you should!), pack a sweater or light jacket. The temperature inside the Cave of the Mounds is 50°F, year-round.
Looking for more packing ideas? Explore this locker!
Day 1 in New Glarus with Kids
We arrived late on Wednesday night during our visit to New Glarus, so Thursday was our first full day. That means this weekend itinerary for New Glarus for families starts with coffee at Fat Cat Coffee Works! They offer an excellent menu of coffee items and pastries, as well as a full menu of breakfast and lunch items (like burritos, sandwiches, and soup) and yummy slices of pie. Given its extensive menu for breakfast and lunch, it’s one of the best places to eat in New Glarus with kids. We opted to sit at the food prep bar, which my daughter loved! She had a great time watching the chef prepare food.
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Embark on the Self-Guided New Glarus Cow Parade
No itinerary for New Glarus with kids is complete without taking the self-guided New Glarus Cow Parade route! Now, you certainly don’t need to find all 15 cows across town, but your kids will delight in looking for at least a few. Each cow features a locally-inspired design and is done by a local artist. You can find a map here, or you can pick up a physical copy at the New Glarus Chamber of Commerce.
We opted for a physical map since my daughter tends to be a list-checker. She loved meandering town and checking cows off of our list. The Appenzell Cow and Master Chef Cow were personal favorites!
A self-guided walking tour route of New Glarus can also be found here!
Meander Downtown + Go Shopping
While you search for cows (or afterward, if your kids are on a mission to find them all!), there are other highlights when exploring downtown. While you wander, watch out for:
- The Settler’s Monument – 1st St & 5th Ave (on the lawn of the Swiss United Church)
- The towering Swiss United Church of Christ – 18 5th Ave
- Swiss chalet-styled architecture
- The 2nd Street Mural
If you enjoy shopping, add that to your itinerary for New Glarus with kids, too! When we visit small towns, we usually pop into a few shops to look for souvenirs or support local businesses. Here are a few that we loved in New Glarus:
- Hutch and Hide (literally could have spent millions here!)
- A Well Worn Story
- Pioneer Valley Outdoor Store
- The Bramble Patch (lots of breakables, skip with hands-on littles)
- Rusty Raven (a bit strange, lots of unusual things to find)
After exploring downtown, it’s time for lunch. We recommend grabbing lunch at Chalet Cheese Haus. While they only offer grilled cheese sandwiches, I still contend it is one of the best places to eat in New Glarus with kids. If you’re not up for a grilled cheese, you can stock up on unique meats, cheeses, and crackers to take away for a picnic. They also have ice cream!
After lunch, we used the afternoon to rest and play a few board games at our Vrbo (details below). If you’re still up for exploring on day one, I would add a hike at New Glarus Woods State Park here! If you need more ideas, I’ve included several fun ones below.
Dinner at Glarner Stube
When you’re ready for dinner, it has to be Glarner Stube. Not only do I think this is the best place to eat in New Glarus, but it’s one of the best places we’ve eaten while traveling in the US period! Located in the heart of downtown, it gets quite busy on the weekends and during peak season. I recommend going early to ensure you get a table (it’s worth it, I promise!).
Glarner Stube literally translates to “The Living Room of New Glarus”, and that’s precisely what it feels like. The wood paneling and hand-carved Swiss decor are only the beginning! The staff is incredibly friendly and welcoming not only to the restaurant, but to the area too. Plus, you can’t beat the portion sizes. In fact, you may want to split an entree if you’re not super hungry or if you tend to eat small. I highly recommend the pork schnitzel with sauerkraut, and the rösti (potatoes with Swiss cheese – yum!). Top it off with an iconic Wisconsin Old Fashion and an apple strudel for dessert. They also offer a fantastic kids’ menu.
If you’re traveling to New Glarus with kids, you must eat here at least once. In fact, we loved it so much that we dined here twice!
Day 2 in New Glarus with Kids
Next on this 4-day weekend itinerary for New Glarus for families is a low-key day exploring nature and a stop at a world-renowned brewery! Keep reading to see how you’ll spend day two in New Glarus.
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Picnic Breakfast from New Glarus Bakery at Village Park
Start day two with a picnic at Village Park. It’s just on the edge of downtown (Railroad and 2nd Street) and offers the perfect spot for families to munch on breakfast and play outside together. The park has a large playground, water fountains, and a public pool (seasonally available). It’s certainly one of the best free things to do in New Glarus with kids.
Before you get to the park, grab morning treats from New Glarus Bakery. Located downtown, they have been a favorite amongst locals and visitors alike since 1910. In addition to the usual bakery fare, they also offer Swiss-inspired items like Birnbrot Swiss Pear Bread, Almond Horns, and more. Let your kids pick up a few things that appeal to their tastes, and then head to the park.
New Glarus Bakery offers drip coffee, but if you need something different to kick-start your day (like I do!), grab something from Fat Cat Coffee Works first.
After the park, we spent the rest of the morning and lunch at our Vrbo. Our lunch supplies came from Chalet Cheese Haus. If I were to do it over again, I would add Swiss Historical Village (summer only) and lunch at Kristi’s Restaurant or Ott Haus Pub & Grill.
New Glarus Brewing Company
After lunch, it’s time to take a New Glarus Brewery tour! New Glarus Brewing Company is located just outside of town on a hill, offering a great view of Green County’s iconic rolling hills. Tours of the brewery are all free and self-guided. The tour area includes parts of the production facility and the recently added museum! You can only visit Monday to Friday, between 10:00 am and 5:00 pm. On Fridays, they also offer Hard Hat Tours, where a guide will take you on a “behind the scenes” tour of both breweries. They are not open on the weekends.
We opted for the self-guided tour and started in the tasting room. Tasters need to be 21+. Start by getting a wristband and choosing your tasting option, before approaching the bar. They will give you tokens to exchange for your tasting. Spotted Cow is one of the most well-known beers here – and my personal favorite. Tastings can be enjoyed inside or on their huge outdoor patio (weather permitting). The patio often hosts a food truck or two if you’re hungry or are looking for kid-friendly drinks.
After doing a little taste test, head inside to go through the self-guided tour. It starts with a brief film that highlights the history of the New Glarus Brewing Company and the tenacious couple that began it all. Their story is truly inspiring and gave me a new perspective on the brewery. Afterward, you can wander through some of the production areas, including bottling, and the small museum. If you’re traveling to New Glarus with kids, this is a great way to spend the afternoon!
Go for a Hike along the Sugar River Trail
On your way back into town, park at the New Glarus Chamber of Commerce for a little hike along the Sugar River Trail. Multi-use between bikers and hikers, this is an excellent option for a quick or long walk, as it’s basically an out-and-back trail. Note that this trail has a fee station near the Chamber building. The entire trail is 24 miles long. When we did it, we walked to the first mile marker and turned around.
The trail follows an abandoned railroad line for a stretch, then crosses the highway into fields and forest. A short access path also connects this trail to New Glarus Woods State Park. Sugar River Trail crisscrosses over several rivers, each offering beautiful views. For a real treat, head to the trail’s south end, near Brodhead, to see a replica of a covered bridge.
Finally, if you want to rent bikes while exploring New Glarus with kids, this is definitely the trail to do it on!
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Dinner at Sugar River Pizza Co.
Head back into town along the trail and have dinner at Sugar River Pizza Co., located right off the trail! They even have a patio door leading from the trial. They have several indoor seating areas, as well as a nice outdoor deck and patio. The service is lovely, and it’s a super fun atmosphere. I recommend the taco pizza!
Day 3 in New Glarus with Kids
Day three is a mix of New Glarus and neighboring Monroe. Just under 30 minutes from New Glarus, Monroe is known as “the Cheese Capital of the USA”! And, it’s the county seat of Green County, Wisconsin.
The day starts at Sunrise Donut Café with coffee and delicious donuts! They offer a delightful menu of baked donuts with whimsical toppings. Featuring everything from bacon and unicorn bark to blueberry drizzle, you can create your own flavor combinations or choose from the flavors of the week. Even better, kids can stand at the counter and watch them get decorated!
Explore the Main Street Monroe Farmers Market
After you’ve eaten your fill of donuts, head across the street to the Main Street Monroe Farmers Market. On Saturday mornings, from early May to the end of October, this market offers a wonderful array of fresh produce, cheese, homemade pies, and more. In fact, there are 20+ vendors to peruse. Since it is only open on Saturdays, it’s ideal for a true weekend itinerary for families visiting New Glarus and the surrounding area.
Since we were there in mid-October, we loved seeing the huge pumpkins! And, grabbing some baked goods for the road.
Learn Something New at the National Historic Cheesemaking Center
Next, head to the National Historic Cheesemaking Center. This was, hands down, one of the most extraordinary things we did while visiting Green County. In fact, my husband still says it’s one of the best museums he’s ever been to. The museum is open Thursday – Sunday from early May to late October.
After arriving, you will meet your tour guide. Our guide’s name was Fritz, and he was FANTASTIC! Most tour guides, like Fritz, are retired cheesemakers, which adds a level of fun to the experience. Each museum visit comes with a guided tour, so plan your visit and time accordingly. During the visit, you will learn about the area’s compelling cheese and dairy history, and how the area continues to be a leading cheese producer.
The tour starts in an outer building, which was once the Imobersteg Farmstead Cheese Factory. This small, one-room farm production building houses the tools used in the 1800s to make authentic, traditional cheeses. In fact, the whole facility is still used about once a year to make cheese! A brief video and your tour guide will show you each of the tools and how they would have been utilized. Afterward, your tour guide will show you the cozy exhibits in the main building. Here, you will see another brief video and learn more about traditional Swiss cheesemaking (think Swiss cheese Limburger) and farming.
Honestly, I think it’s worth the drive from New Glarus to Monroe just to go to this museum!
Lunch at Baumgartner’s Cheese Store & Tavern
Now that you have learned everything there is to know about the area’s cheese production…it’s time to eat some! Lunch is at Baumgartner’s Cheese Store & Tavern. Not only is it Wisconsin’s oldest cheese store, but it’s an excellent stop for lunch or dinner. Since its opening in 1931, this establishment has been a community staple ever since. If you’ve never tried Limburger before, this is a great place to do it!
As one of the best places to eat with kids near New Glarus, Baumgartner’s Cheese Store & Tavern offers several delicious items, including appetizers, brats, and sandwiches. Best known for their Limburger sandwich, they also make a dynamite Reuben sandwich. Finally, they have several indoor seating configurations, including a long bar, and an outdoor patio.
See the Unique Collection at the Chalet of the Golden Fleece Museum
After lunch, it’s time to return to New Glarus. When you arrive back in town, head to the Chalet of the Golden Fleece Museum. Located just outside the immediate downtown area, this museum offers an eclectic collection of historic treasures, from Christian iconography to intriguing curiosities from around the world. The home is also on the Wisconsin State Register of Historic Places and the National Register of Historic Places. Additionally, it serves as an outstanding example of an authentic Swiss chalet (one of only three in Wisconsin!). Please note that the museum is only open on Saturdays (private tours of 2+ can also be arranged any day).
Famed for being built by Edwin Barlow (the man who brought the Wilhelm Tell play to America in 1938), this Swiss Alps chalet-style home is now a curated museum. Uniquely, the home was gifted to the community by Barlow with the understanding that the collections would be left intact, as he arranged them. Inside the museum, you’ll discover thousands of artifacts, covering three floors and even more rooms, that Barlow collected during his travels abroad from the early- to mid-20th century.
A tour guide will take you through each room, pointing out some of the unique artifacts (including a mysterious spy ring with a secret poison compartment and earrings that once belonged to Empress Carlota of Mexico). We were left stunned by the sheer array of items Barlow collected over the years! If you’re traveling to New Glarus with kids and searching for something unique to do, add this to your itinerary!
Happy Hour + Games at Dirty Dog Taphaus
Once your tour ends, walk around the corner to Dirty Dog Taphaus. It’s an excellent spot for an afternoon of games and a couple of pints. There is a large indoor tap house room, as well as a fun patio area. In the tap area, you can choose from 30 self-pour taps (including beers, ciders, seltzers, and root beer). They also offer free popcorn for munching on, as well as a pub grub menu. Then, there are large yard games outside, and a series of board games and card games inside too. We loved playing Jenga and Checkers! It’s a great option if you’re looking to fill your itinerary for New Glarus with kids.
Dinner
Ready to eat in New Glarus with kids? We did a second round at Glarner Stube. This time, splitting the pork schnitzel. Seriously, it was that good! But if you’re looking for alternatives or something new, try Kristi’s Restaurant, Ott Haus Pub & Grill, or Puempel’s Olde Tavern for a limited menu of inexpensive sandwiches and pizza.
Day 4 in New Glarus with Kids
On your last day in New Glarus with kids, you’re actually going to start heading out of town bright and early in the morning. If you’re driving back to the Twin Cities area, there are two stops to add to your itinerary. First, grab a coffee and a morning treat from Badger Bros Coffee in Mount Horeb.
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Cave of the Mounds
Cave of the Mounds is undoubtedly one of the best things to do near New Glarus with kids! Open year-round, a natural limestone cave located near Blue Mounds, Wisconsin. Since the temperature is eternally 50°F, it’s cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Be sure to have layers available, so don’t get too hot/cold while exploring! Daily guided tours are available (two types: traditional and self-paced), as well as a few fun VIP packages. Ticket times are assigned on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Meet your tour guide outside the gift shop and get ready to explore this neat cave! The tour was fascinating! I didn’t know much going into the experience, and I really enjoyed it – as did my husband and daughter. The guides are very knowledgeable and humor endless questions about the cave (ask me how I know!). They will lead you through a stunning array of colorful crystal formations and unique rooms. The walkways are all paved and lighted. Note that some spaces were a bit tight to get through, but otherwise, it was effortless to navigate. Since the cave wasn’t exposed before being discovered, there is only one (teeny, tiny) organism that lives in the cave. So, you won’t see any bats, mice, or spiders! Finally, ages 3 and under are free.
Lunch at the Original Culver’s
The last stop on our itinerary is lunch at the original Culver’s in Sauk City. We love eating at Culver’s, especially on road trips. So, getting to dine in the original location was a treat! While the original building opened in 1984, the building that stands now is an updated version on the same plot of land. There are even a few informational boards and black-and-white photos around the building to highlight their local history!
More Things to Do Near New Glarus with Kids
Looking for more things to do in New Glarus with kids to fill your weekend (or longer) itinerary? Here are some additional things to consider adding or swapping in, depending on your family’s interests!
- New Glarus Woods State Park
- Badger State Trail
- Swiss Historical Village (summer season only)
- Swissland Miniature Golf (May to October only)
- Swiss Center of North America
- Grab an ice cream at Kennedy’s Ice Cream And Grill
- Bailey’s Run Vineyard & Winery
- Whiskey Run Distillery
- Explore the many charming towns nearby like Blanchardville, Moscow, Mt Horeb, Verona, and more (all the towns we drove through were SO cute!)
- Day trip to Madison (only 40 minutes away)
Where to Stay in New Glarus with Kids
Now that you know all the fun things to add to your itinerary for New Glarus with kids, let’s talk about accommodation options! We opted to stay in this Vrbo in nearby Blanchardville. From the apartment, it was about a 20-minute drive into New Glarus. But honestly, given the peak fall foliage at the time, it was worth the drive through the rolling hills of Green County. The apartment was perfect for a couple or small family (my daughter slept on the couch). We loved how quiet the area was, getting to say hi to the goats, and embracing farm life for a few days.
Then, if you’re wondering where to stay IN New Glarus with kids, Chalet Landhaus Inn offers an iconic chalet-style stay within walking distance of downtown. Alternatively, The Blanc Chalet could be another good option for families to consider. Nearby, Verona, Monroe, and Madison also offer more traditional hotel stays and more prominent hotel brands like Fairfield Inn & Suites Madison Verona and Holiday Inn Express & Suites Madison – Verona.
Keep Exploring!
I hope this weekend itinerary for New Glarus with kids helps you plan your own fantastic trip! We loved this charming town, filled with exceptional Swiss-inspired food, friendly locals, and fun outdoor trails. And, we hope that you do too! From some of the most fun things to do in New Glarus, Wisconsin, for families to packing tips and the best places to eat in the area with kids, I know you’ve found several things to add to your own itinerary. Enjoy New Glarus with your kids!
Unless otherwise noted, all images within this article were taken by and belong to the blog’s author, Antonia Grant. A reminder that this post may contain affiliate links. Please read my Disclaimer & Disclosure Policy for more information.