Take a Day Trip to Cedarburg Wisconsin

When I was a kid, my mom would take me and my sister to Cedarburg, Wisconsin, twice a year. She didn't have much money so it was a fun way for us to spend the day without costing a lot of money. We would walk around and look at all the unique antiques and other fun things that you don't find anywhere else.

They have two festivals each year, the Strawberry Fest in the spring and the Harvest Fest in the fall which is why we went twice a year. We would leave early in the morning because it was about a 45 minute drive and stay all day. My mom would pack a lunch and when we got tired and needed a break, we would find a nice spot by the river to sit down and eat the food we brought.

Recently, I decided it would be fun to take my mom and my own kids back to that place where I have all those good memories so long ago.

Many years ago, Cedarburg was full of antique shops. You could go from one shop to the next but with so many there, you were bound to see the same things over and over again. Eventually, the town started widening their horizons and only a few antique shops remain today. Since there's only a couple, you can find many wonderful antiques, and not many duplicate items!

I love it that instead of the usual antiques, you can find many new and very unique things. They might not be new per se but they are things that have been transformed into different new things. Or, they are new things but different than what you see in ordinary stores. There's lots of handcrafted items like jewelry, clothing, and woodwork.

The one thing that they all have in common is that they are mostly one of a kind things. You can't find these treasures anywhere else. It makes it fun knowing that every time you come to Cedarburg, you'll find something different that you haven't seen before.

Celebrate Independence Day in America with red, white, and blue. When you step into this town, thoughtfully called Cedarburg, you are stepping back in time to a place that was being built by a strong community of folks living their dreams. It was hard work but a strong foundation was put in place. The town is still going strong and growing each year.

Enjoy dinner outside or inside at the August Weber Cheesehaus. If you come with a group or just want to meet new people, pick a spot in the square. It's a little patio area with benches with cushions where you can sit around and enjoy the company of friends and strangers alike.

Cedar Creek Settlement is what brought my mom to visit Cedarburg many years ago. They were holding a big wine festival with people stomping grapes just like they used to do many years ago. She thought it would be fun for me and my sister to see something like that. Plus, she had heard about the great shopping experience. The re-purposing of the Settlement led to the restoration of many of the other buildings and the long trend of recreating this great little town continued on.

In the mid-1800s, Cedar Creek lured immigrants to the area because of it's power-producing potential. One of the mills that was built was the Wittenberg Mill, built in 1864. It was the only woolen mill west of Philadelphia that produced worsted yarns. The mill's buildings still stand today but in the form of the Cedar Creek Settlement.

The buildings have been transformed into shops and restaurants. In the summertime, the streets are closed off during the Strawberry Fest and the Wine Fest. They are filled with so many people that you can hardly move around. All up and the down the streets, there are food trucks and vendors selling the most delicious foods and drinks.

Also interesting are the artists that are stationed around the town. Some of them are nice and like to share their work but others would rather be left alone. The artists include watercolors, chalks, and photographers.

As you walk down the streets, you will see artists drawing, painting, and photographing the historical buildings. The Cedarburg Artists’ Guild has an impressive 170 members. There are many galleries and studios throughout the downtown area where they display their work.

Most of the local artists are very friendly and will talk with you as they work. We did meet one or two that were more worried about us stepping on their supplies than they were interested in talking with us. We left them alone and moved on to the next ones. My mom was very intrigued by the artists and really liked watching them worked.

This video of the Washington House Inn will also give you a glimpse into the streets of Cedarburg and look back to the past. It's a wonderful place that will leave you relaxed and full of fond memories.