India, Mexico, Italy ... Spring Green? Wisconsin village makes 'best places to travel' list
Have you been looking for a world-class vacation spot but don't have the time or money to take a flight to a tropical island or historic European town?
Well, you're in luck. One of the world's "50 Best Places to Travel in 2024" — at least according to Travel Lemming — is only two hours from Milwaukee.
Spring Green, Wisc., a village of less than 2,000 people about 40 miles west of Madison, took 33rd on the popular online travel guide's annual list. It was one of 15 U.S. cities to make the cut, which includes destinations from all over the world and is curated over multiple months by Travel Lemming's more-than-35 travel experts.
"Spring Green is an unexpected haven for the arts, located just west of Madison," Travel Lemming's Rachel Kapelke-Dale writes. "Enjoy world-class theater and UNESCO-recognized architecture alongside an abundance of local charm."
Here's what to check out if you visit.
Spring Green is home to Taliesin, American Players Theatre, House on the Rock, Spring Green Reserve
Spring Green is home to a "surprisingly rich arts scene," Kapelke-Dale writes. June through November, American Players Theatre performs nine rotating plays each year, including many of Shakespeare's works. APT's "110 acres of hilly woods and meadows" is home to a 1075-seat outdoor amphitheater and the 201-seat indoor Touchstone Theatre.
You can also visit a number of small art galleries in Spring Green.
More: Photos: Deaf actors star in bilingual 'Romeo & Juliet' at American Players Theatre
For those interested in architecture, Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesin is in Spring Green. The famous architect built his home and studio on the property. Taliesin has "buildings from nearly every decade of Wright’s career from the 1890s to the 1950s." It is both a National Historic Landmark and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You can book a variety of tours of the property, ranging from 1 to 4 hours.
Architecture fans can also tour the House on the Rock. A Christmas tour is being offered beginning Nov. 16. The House on the Rock also has a resort hotel, golf course, spa, eclectic gallery and restaurant.
Nature lovers can enjoy the Spring Green Preserve, which has some of Wisconsin's rarest landscapes and species, including cacti and lizards seldom seen elsewhere in the state. Peck's Landing Beach is another nearby natural attraction that Kapelke-Dale recommends. Spring Green also has bike loops and hiking trails to explore.
Finally, Travel Lemming encourages visitors to check out Spring Green's many "incredible independent businesses."
"Favorites include Arcadia Books and the charming Spring Green General Store," Kapelke-Dale writes. "Order from its hearty and healthy cafe menu, browse an eclectic selection of gifts, and catch live music from local performers."
Which other cities made Travel Lemming's '50 Best Places to Travel in 2024' list?
Each year, Travel Lemming selects a theme for its Top 50 list. The focus for 2024 was "places perfect for longer trips and embracing a slower – and more sustainable – pace of travel."
Yucatán, Mexico, topped the list for its "colorfully authentic" towns, beaches, underground swimming holes, and Mayan culture and influences, including ancient pyramids. Gizo, Solomon Islands, and Stavanger, Norway, took the second and third spots.
Memphis, Tenn., was the top U.S. city. It came in at number five for its historic music scene and popular Southern cuisine.
Here are the U.S. destinations that made the list:
Memphis, Tenn. ― #5
Kodiak, Alaska ― #8
Eureka Springs, Ark. ― #10
Voyageurs National Park, Minn. ― #11
Vashon Island, Wash. ― #14
Quincy, Mass. ― #21
Jacksonville, Fla. ― #29
Spring Green, Wisc. ― #33
Frisco, Texas ― #38
Steamboat Springs, Colo. ― #41
Bisbee, Ariz. ― #42
Townsend, Tenn. ― #43
Klamath Falls, Ore. ― #44
Hoboken, N.J. ― #47
Jenner, Calif. ― #48
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: 'Best places to travel' in 2024 list includes Spring Green, Wisconsin