Area Attractions

Visiting Carthage? Make a weekend of it!

There are 27 art galleries, 12 museums, 9 theatres, and one seriously fun pier to explore — all within 25 miles of our campus. And that doesn’t even count all the amazing attractions in Chicago and Milwaukee, our neighbors to the south and north.

Carthage’s central location boasts convenient access to a variety of shopping, athletic, professional sports events, and cultural attractions in the greater metropolitan areas of Chicago and Milwaukee, as well as the immediate communities of Racine and Kenosha.

See What We Love About Kenosha

VISITORS’ GUIDES

Events happen year-round in the surrounding communities. Check out these websites for detailed listings:

Kenosha Attractions

The Carthage campus is located on the northern edge of Kenosha.

Pleasant Prairie Premium Outlets
Located at I-94 and Highway 165. Stores include Coach, The North Face, Nike, PacSun, Adidas, Under Armour, and more.
11211 120th Ave., Pleasant Prairie
262-857-2101
Premium Outlets Website

Electric Street Cars
See Kenosha’s lakefront from one of the city’s five beautifully restored electric streetcars.
724 54th St.
262-653-4287
Electric Streetcars Website

Kenosha HarborMarket
Sample delicious food, purchase locally made products, and enjoy fun activities at Kenosha HarborMarket, held outdoors in spring and summer, and inside in fall and winter.
Spring/Summer: Second Avenue between 54th and 56th Streets
Fall/Winter: 514 56th St.
HarborMarket Website

Bristol Renaissance Faire
Travel to Elizabethan England on summer weekends. Enjoy 16th Century games, rides, arts, crafts, food, music and encounters with a spectacular cast of characters.
12550 120th Ave (just off I-94), Bristol
262-396-4320
Bristol Renaissance Faire Website

Hawthorn Hollow Nature Sanctuary and Arboretum
Forty acres of nature trails, gardens, and historic buildings. Free to the public; donations accepted.
880 Green Bay Road (Highway 31), Kenosha
262-552-8196
Hawthorn Hollow Website

Dinosaur Discovery Museum
The only museum to exclusively focus on the link between birds and meat-eating dinosaurs, the Dinosaur Discovery Museum is affiliated with the Carthage Institute of Paleontology.
5608 Tenth Ave.
262-653-4450
Dinosaur Discovery Museum Website

Civil War Museum
Featuring state-of-the-art museum technology, life-size dioramas, and interactive engaging exhibits.
5400 First Ave.
262-653-4141
Civil War Museum Website

Kenosha Public Museum
A museum of the natural sciences and fine and decorative arts, established in 1933.
5500 First Ave.
262-653-4140
Kenosha Public Museum Website

Washington Park Velodrome
Opened in 1927, this is the oldest operating velodrome in the United States.
1821 Washington Rd.
262-653-4080
Washington Park Velodrome Website

Racine Attractions

Located just north of Kenosha, Racine is easily accessible via Sheridan Road.

Racine Art Museum
Houses one of the most significant collections of contemporary craft in North America.
441 Main St.
262-638-8300
RAM Website

Racine Zoological Gardens
Exhibits include Amur tigers, Transvaal lions, Masai giraffes and more. Be sure to include a bird feeding in the Norco Aviary or a personal encounter with the giraffes.
2131 Main St.
262-636-9189
Zoo Website

North Beach
Named one of the top 50 beaches in the United States, North Beach in Racine is nationally recognized for its family-friendly atmosphere, and a Blue Wave Certified Clean Beach. Features beach volleyball, an enormous playground, beautiful sand, a concession stand, and live music in summer.
89 Kewaunee St.
North Beach Website

Frank Lloyd Wright Architecture
Racine is home to many gems created by Frank Lloyd Wright. Among his best-known works are buildings at the SC Johnson campus. Tours of the Administration Building and Fortaleza Hall are available with advance reservations.
1525 Howe St.
262-260-2154
SC Johnson Building Website

Wind Point Lighthouse
The oldest and tallest lighthouse in operation on Lake Michigan, its picturesque grounds are open to the public. A museum is open in summer, and visitors can climb to the top on certain days.
4725 Lighthouse Drive, Wind Point
262-880-8266
Wind Point Lighthouse Website

Chicago Attractions

Chicago is located south of campus. Interstate 94 leads to the heart of the city, and its northern suburbs can be reached using a variety of highways. Several forms of public transit are also available.

Millennium Park
State-of-the-art architecture, landscape design and art provide the backdrop for hundreds of free cultural programs including concerts, exhibitions, tours and family activities.
201 E. Randolph St., between Michigan and Columbus avenues
312-742-1168
Millennium Park Website

Navy Pier
Offers 50 acres of parks, promenades, gardens, shops and eateries. Ride a 15-story Ferris wheel, enjoy three floors of hands-on fun at the Chicago Children’s Museum or take a cruise boat ride.
600 E. Grand Ave.
800-595-7437
Navy Pier Website

Skydeck Chicago
Offers spectacular views spanning up to four states, interactive exhibits and a glass balcony extending four feet outside the 103rd floor of Willis Tower (formerly Sears Tower).
233 S. Wacker Drive
312-875-9696
Skydeck Chicago Website

The Art Institute of Chicago
Founded in 1879, the museum has a collection encompassing more than 5,000 years of human expression from various cultures.
111 S. Michigan Ave.
312-443-3600
Art Institute of Chicago Website

The Field Museum
Check out Sue, the famous T. rex, and a wide range of exhibits spanning billions of years.
1400 S. Lake Shore Drive
312-922-9410
Field Museum Website

Shedd Aquarium
Galleries are home to creatures from the world’s rivers, lakes and oceans. See an aquatic show or take a behind-the-scenes tour.
1200 S. Lake Shore Drive
312-939-2438
Shedd Aquarium Website

Gurnee Mills
Find discounted merchandise at nearly 200 retailers including Bass Pro Shops and Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th outlet, eat at the Rainforest Cafe and choose from a variety of entertainment options.
6170 W. Grand Ave., Gurnee, Illinois
847-263-7500
Gurnee Mills Website

Six Flags Great America
Ticket includes admission to the theme park and Hurricane Harbor water park as well as all rides, shows and attractions.
1 Great America Parkway, Gurnee, Illinois
847-249-4636
Six Flags Great America Website

Milwaukee Attractions

Milwaukee is located north of the campus. Interstate 94 and other highways bring drivers into the city. Amtrak and bus transportation is also available.

Harley-Davidson Museum
Exhibits tell the stories of the people, history and culture of Harley-Davidson. Peek into a portion of the Archives containing more than 450 motorcycles and thousands of artifacts.
400 W. Canal St.
877-436-8738
Harley-Davidson Museum Website

Milwaukee Art Museum
Four floors of more than 40 galleries are rotated regularly with works from antiquity to the present in the collection. Enjoy the architecture of the War Memorial Center and the Quadracci Pavilion.
700 N. Art Museum Drive
414-224-3200
Milwaukee Art Museum Website

Summerfest
Billed as the world’s largest music festival, the annual 11-day event features more than 700 bands, along with more than 40 diverse food and beverage vendors and four unique marketplaces.
200 N. Harbor Drive
414-273-2680
Summerfest Website

Discovery World
Facility includes interactive science, technology and freshwater exhibits, learning labs, theaters, television and audio studios and fresh and saltwater aquariums.
500 N. Harbor Drive
414-765-9966
Discovery World Website

Potawatomi Bingo Casino
Table games, slots, bingo, poker and off-track betting are available. Check out one of five restaurants or the 500-seat theater.
1721 W. Canal St.
800-729-7244
Potawatomi Website

Sports Teams

From the historic Wrigley Field to the modern Miller Park, sports fans can find a unique experience in all seasons:

Major League Baseball
Chicago Cubs
Chicago White Sox
Milwaukee Brewers

National Basketball Association
Chicago Bulls
Milwaukee Bucks

National Football League
Chicago Bears
Green Bay Packers

National Hockey League
Chicago Blackhawks