Amazing cities and towns are abundant for an epic Wisconsin weekend getaway. I had the pleasure of visiting one of those cities recently. I had never been to Stoughton, so when the opportunity came up to explore this city near Madison, I was totally onboard.
I rolled into Lake Kegonsa State Park to set up camp for two nights. It was actually midweek and there were a surprising number of sites open for a state park. This certainly wasn’t a disappointment, more like the perfect opportunity to put this state park on my list of places to camp when I’m looking for a spur-of-the-moment midweek trip.
If you’re looking for another Wisconsin weekend getaway, consider Oconto.
Once I set up camp, I was off and running. Lake Kegonsa State Park is just 5 miles north of downtown Stoughton. You can easily bike all the way into downtown. I suggest turning right onto Williams Drive from Williams Point Drive. The road into town is less busy than if you take highway N. You can also haul your bike to Viking County Park off of highway N and ride the river trail into downtown as well. I’ll talk more about the biking/hiking trails.
When I am visiting a place for the first time, I usually hop in my car and get acquainted with the area first, which is what I did on this visit to Stoughton, Wisconsin. I made my way through Main Street. It immediately attracted me. Historical buildings housing cute storefronts, restaurants, cafes, and other inviting businesses. I couldn’t wait to dig in!
Let’s Look At Why Stoughton Is A Fabulous Wisconsin Weekend Getaway.
Wonderful Places To Eat
I choose Viking Brew Pub for dinner on my first day in Stoughton, Wisconsin. As a solo traveler, I am always a bit intimidated to walk into a restaurant myself, but it put me at ease when the owner approached me asking if I wanted to see the dragon breathe smoke. Of course I wanted to see this! They shaped the bar like a boat, complete with a dragon head that expels smoke. It’s a fun thing for all ages to see. Viking Brew Pub brews their own beer and there were 11 of their brews on tap. I chose the French Fried Cutie, a Belgium Blonde. It hit the spot after a long drive and setting up camp. For dinner I had a Viking Burger, which was juicy and delectable. If I wasn’t alone, I would have ordered a Jumbo Pretzel. The table next to me had one, and it looked delicious.
Just a short walk from Viking Brew Pub, you will find Fosdal Bakery. 2018’s Sweetest Bakery In Wisconsin, Fosdal Bakery is the best place in Stoughton to grab a donut, bread, cookies, or any other tempting delight! It’s an old-fashioned bakery that has been in business since 1939 operated by the Fosdal family until 2005, when Joseph Crubaugh, who had worked for the family for many years, purchased it.
If you’re looking for a relaxing spot to enjoy a coffee and a bite to eat, check out Wildwood Cafe. Under the recommendation from an owner of a shop I stopped at, Wildwood Cafe was my midday stop to enjoy a Lavender Latte and a slice of Pumpkin Coffee Cake. She was absolutely right when she said it’s a homey spot to get some work done, or catch up with a friend, or (in my case) catch up on posting on social media.
For my last dinner in Stoughton, Wisconsin, I chose dinner at Springers. It was a short drive from Lake Kegonsa State Park where I was camping, and right on the lake. Even though it was hot, I sat outside and enjoyed the breeze and the lake view. My eyes were bigger than my appetite. I just had to try the Kegonsa Nachos. I should have stopped there, but also ordered Hot Ham and Swiss on sourdough. The nachos would have been more than enough. Good thing I have a large refrigerator in the camper!
Pro tip: Arrive early if you want a table on the front deck overlooking the lake.
If you want to start your day right, have breakfast at Koffee Kup. This all day full-service restaurant has a vintage old fashioned feeling with its tile floor, signs on the walls, and counter service. I enjoyed the Breakfast Burrito with a side of Hash Browns. It fueled me up for an afternoon of shopping.
Follow my Stoughton eating and shopping adventures
Cool Places To Shop In Stoughton, Wisconsin
An eclectic mix of retail spaces line Main Street in Stoughton. A cheese shop, home goods and gifts, a consignment shop with children’s store, a chocolate shop, and a shop that sells Norwegian goods, all make up that mix. You certainly have some great shopping options in Stoughton. Community pride shows in the merchants that line downtown Stoughton. Park your car in one of the many free public lots if you can’t find a spot on the street and let’s go shopping!
Something I love: Free downtown parking!
You cannot leave Stoughton without stopping in Cheesers. An extensive wine and spirits department, deli meats, locally made goodies, gifts, and, of course, cheese. I loved this store. If you’re in town on Thursday night, stop in for a wine tasting from 4 to 6 pm.
Probably my two favorite stores are right next to each other. Dune Gift and Home and Grasshopper Goods. You get a serene feeling when you step into Dune Gift and Home. The space feels homey and serine, with thought going into every detail. There’s a mix of new with vintage and a nice selection of vintage Turkish rugs. You’ll find a wide selection of home goods along with jewelry, accessories, body products, and clothing.
Inside Grasshopper Goods, there is a selection of unique never seen items. Fun printed tees, sweatshirts, and accessories. Things for the home, your pet, and yourself. Like it says on the website Grasshopper Goods is “A Shop with a soul”
Pro tip: If you’re a fan of the Midwest, you will want to bring home something from the Midwest Girl brand in Grasshopper Goods. I love my Midwesty T-shirt.
Nordic Nook is the place in Stoughton that celebrated its Scandinavian heritage. Here you’ll find apparel, kitchen items, food, books, and more from Scandinavian countries.
How can a shopping spree be complete without a chocolate shop? It can’t and Yahara Chocolate is part chocolate store and part cafe serving up scrumptious baked goods, tea, coffee, and drinking chocolate. They have chocolate from around the world and their own made confections. I stopped in for a rest and a chilled chocolate. Oh yeah! It was too hot outside to have hot chocolate, so I took it chilled.
Next Generation is half children’s store with toys and games and half ladies consignment clothing. I’ll admit, I walked in right past the children’s section and made a beeline for the women’s section. That half of the store is packed with clothes. It was fun to scour through the racks and I came home with a cute summer dress and a Land’s End long cotton cardigan for cool summer nights.
Not so much a place to shop, but I had to add it because this art space is very cool! The Abel Contemporary Gallery is a place to see, if not for the art (but you’ll definitely enjoy the art), for the building itself. They housed the gallery in an old tobacco warehouse, just one of the few remaining in Stoughton.
Amazing Outdoor Activities
Stoughton is a great place for outdoor activities like hiking, biking and water sports. If you have a furry family member, there’s a wonderful 14 acre dog park with 2 swimming areas.
Lake Kegonsa State Park
Like I mentioned in the beginning of this article, I camped at Lake Kegonsa State Park for my two-day stay in Stoughton. It was a great home base and close to downtown. Camping here was fabulous. The sites are wooded and private. The shower house is clean. There is plenty of green space with picnic areas, a nice sized beach on the lake, and self serve kayak, paddleboard, and canoe rentals at the beach and main picnic area. There are six hiking trails, the longest being the bird lovers Prairie Trail at 1.3 miles. All the trails, except for the White Oak Nature Trail, are dog friendly.
Check out my Lake Kegonsa Adventure on Shrpa
Viking County Park
I loaded up my bike and headed to Viking County Park. I parked there and biked the river trail into town. It wasn’t long, but it snaked along the Yahara River and crosses two bridges. The river trail continues down Main Street. Where the trail meets the city street, you’ll find a Disk Golf Course. Viking County Park has that spacious dog park. You can purchase a daily permit online or at the park for $5.00. This is also a great place to fish and kayak.
Finding fabulous Wisconsin weekend getaways is easy when you have places like Stoughton, Wisconsin, to visit. With lots of great shopping, places to eat, recreational activities and a beautiful Wisconsin State Park nearby, choose Stoughton as your next Wisconsin weekend getaway.
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