Day One
Friday, May 22
New Berlin → Slinger → Fond du Lac
9:00 AM
About 1.5 hours to Fond du Lac with a stop along the way. Take US-41 North.
En Route · Slinger, WI
An eclectic roadside café worth the pull-over: laid-back vibes, board games throughout, a record player, a gift shop in the back, and drinks that make national chains feel irrelevant. Rated 4.9 stars and earned every one of them.
319 E Washington St, Slinger, WI · Open Friday 6 AM – 10 PM
View MenuLate Morning · Fond du Lac
Fond du Lac’s crown jewel — a sprawling park on the western shore of Lake Winnebago with walking paths, open water views, and the city’s iconic lighthouse at the end of the pier. A good place to shake off the drive before checking in.
Lighthouse Dr, Fond du Lac, WI
Afternoon
A lovingly restored 1920s landmark in the heart of downtown. Marble floors, grand chandeliers, two grand pianos in the lobby, rain showers, and TVs that rise dramatically from the footboard.
1 N Main St, Fond du Lac, WI · (920) 204-0400
Afternoon · Next Door
Wildly beloved café right downtown with seasonal drinks, creative food, and an imaginative play area built for kids. One of those rare spots where parents genuinely don’t want to leave either. Try the dirty chai.
15 N Main St Suite 101, Fond du Lac, WI · Open Friday 7 AM – 4 PM
View MenuMid-Afternoon
Don’t just drop your bags and leave. Wander the ballroom, find both grand pianos, poke around the cozy common areas. Some say the 7th floor is haunted — a selling point depending on who you ask.
Early Evening
Dinner inside a converted historic church — stained glass windows, soaring timber ceilings, and a menu worth exploring. The atmosphere alone earns the trip; the food and wine seal it. Go early to get settled before the crowd arrives.
40 E Division St, Fond du Lac, WI · Open Friday 11 AM – 9 PM
View MenuEvening
End the night downstairs — no driving required. The hotel bar and lounge are right there. Arancini and a nightcap in a historic hotel is about as good as a Friday gets.
View MenuDay Two
Saturday, May 23
Fond du Lac → Greenbush → Campbellsport → Fond du Lac
Morning
A relaxed hotel breakfast before a big day out. Keep it easy — you’ve got a drive and a stagecoach to catch. Don’t linger too long this morning.
Hotel Retlaw · 1 N Main St, Fond du Lac, WI
View Menu9:00 AM · ~45 min
Head west on WI-23 toward Greenbush. Scenic drive through rolling Wisconsin farmland. Leave by 9:00 to arrive comfortably by 9:45.
Arrive 9:45 AM
One of Wisconsin’s best-kept historic gems — a beautifully preserved 1850s stagecoach inn in Greenbush. Horse-drawn carriage rides, a working blacksmith shop, a functioning sawmill, farm animals, and living history guides who make it all feel genuinely alive.
Arrive at the Visitors Center by 9:45 AM for the 10:15 stagecoach ride — it fills up. Don’t skip the blacksmith shop and sawmill after the ride.
W7965 WI-23, Greenbush, WI · (920) 526-3271 · Open Saturday 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Midday · Campbellsport, WI
A cheerful spot in Campbellsport on the way back — great coffee, house-made ice cream, and a big outdoor play area for kids. The waffles are reportedly unlike any waffle you’ve had. Stop here, take your time, let everyone run around before the drive back.
W853 Co Rd B, Campbellsport, WI · Open daily 9 AM – 6 PM
View MenuAfternoon
You’re on foot from the hotel — just follow your curiosity. Shops, the waterfront, whatever the afternoon asks for. A low-key counterpoint to the busy morning.
Evening
The main dining room at Hotel Retlaw for a proper Saturday night dinner. No driving, no parking — just take the elevator down. A fitting close to the biggest day of the trip.
Hotel Retlaw · 1 N Main St, Fond du Lac, WI
View MenuDay Three
Sunday, May 24
Fond du Lac → New Berlin
Morning
One last morning at the hotel. Take your time. Linger over coffee. There’s nowhere to be yet — and lingering is the whole point.
Hotel Retlaw · 1 N Main St, Fond du Lac, WI
View MenuWhen Ready · ~1.5 hrs
Head south on US-41. About 90 minutes home. Good weekend.