Wisconsin Getaways-Cedarburg

Welcome to my summer series highlighting Wisconsin getaways.  In this series I will highlight some of my favorite places around Wisconsin that I love to visit.  Being a life long resident of this state, sometimes I need a gentle reminder that there is an abundance of things to do practically right in my backyard.  Summer is the perfect time to research and find things to do that are within a couple of hours drive of your home.  Even if you don’t live in Wisconsin, consider making this state a imagedestination.  Wisconsin offers an abundance of things to do and places to see.

 

My first destination is Cedarburg.  This quaint city is just 20 miles north  of Milwaukee and is a perfect getaway.   Cedarburg’s  Strawberry Festival held this year  June 24th and 25th is one of the largest events that take place yearly. Vendors, events, and of course everything strawberry draws in up to 100.000 visitors each year.  Another big draw is Maxwell Street Days held 4 times during the summer months.  This flea market is a Cedarburg Fire Department tradition. You never know what you will find.  Go early for the best selection, some vendors start taking down around noon.

I made my latest visit to coincide with my 53rd birthday this year.  Luckily, I have a dear friend who lives in Cedarburg and I visit her often.  Most times we end up having lunch or browsing through the shops downtown.  I always come home with something unique.  Cedarburg is a shopping destination with an abundance of shops where you can find almost anything.  Clothing, home goods, accessories, olive oil, candy, European bakery, cupcakes, tea, spices, wineries,  gifts, or whatever you fancy, it’s all here.

I had no idea when we decided to venture into town this morning that the Plein Air Cedarburg Painting Event was taking place starting that day.  From June 6th through the 12th artists come to Ozaukee County and paint various places.  From June 14th through the 17th these paintings are available for sale at the Cedarburg Cultural Center. You can meet the artists and fresh paintings are brought in throughout the event.  I had the opportunity to view the paintings and watch many artists paint during our stroll up and down Washington Avenue.  It was almost like being in Paris watching all the artists with their easels as they went to work painting some of my favorite sites in downtown Cedarburg.  Then to wander around in the Cultural Center to view all the paintings left me with wanting to buy 5 or 6 of them!!

 Information on this years Plein Air Artists Event here

Cedarburg is a photographers dream.  The colors of all the flowers against the backdrop of all the original creamy limestone buildings, along with the pedestrian bridge that crosses over the river, and all the cute storefronts make for great subject matter.   The big photo op is the frog sitting on a park bench on main street and of course I took the opportunity to get my picture taken.

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There is no shortage of restaurants in Cedarburg either.  Today we enjoyed my birthday brunch at PJ Piper Pancake House.  I had a Real Deal Crab skillet and oh! was it delicious!  Made with real crab meat, mozzarella cheese, and topped with hollandaise sauce.  Then to top it off since it was my birthday our waitress came with a yummy éclair served with whipped cream with a candle.  Other than PJ Piper I have been to Anvil, Stilt House, Cream and Crepe Café, and Vintage Café and City Deli.  Then there’s dessert!  Amy’s Candy Kitchen (the place with the most beautiful caramel apples ever! in the window), Boulangerie Du Monde (my personal favorite, yum French macarons!!), Delicately Delicious (cupcakes, equally yummy), Ashley’s Confectionery, Fiddleheads, You will not go hungry during your visit.  There are many more places to go to and as many times as I have been to Cedarburg I have not been everywhere.

So you can see why this city is one of my favorite Wisconsin destinations.  Make Cedarburg a favorite destination of yours too!  Make plans to visit this summer or attend one of the many festivals that take place here throughout the year. For a guide to everything in the area go here.

Whether you live in Wisconsin or are from out of state and are thinking about a Wisconsin getaway, put Cedarburg on your list.

Questions? Comments? Share then with me!

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