Kenosha

Understand

The city was founded in 1835 under the name of Pike. The town underwent growth and its name changed to Southport in 1837. In 1850 the name was changed again and this time it stuck: Kenosha. Even though it's been over a hundred years, you'll see many businesses use the Southport moniker in their branding. Kenosha owes much to the numerous waves of immigrants that chose to settle here. The Italians especially made an impact, along with the Germans, Irish, and others. Kenosha was heavily involved in the auto industry from the early 1900s to the late 1980s with Rambler, Nash, AMC, and others having factories in town. Kenosha became a sleepy suburb with not much in the way of "culture" once the factories left. Kenosha was hit hard by the loss of auto industry jobs like many cities in the rust belt. The downtown area is undergoing renovations to become more attractive with efforts that include: the removal of the previous dingy, abandoned warehouses with posh condos; the opening of three public museums; a recreation of the historical streetcar line; and several new art galleries. Land along the I-94 corridor has undergone extensive development, with warehouses and new factories moving in. Kenosha has chain retailers and restaurants, especially on the western side of town. Like the rings of a tree, the history of the city's growth is marked by the location and type of attractions in Kenosha. The downtown area has historic, brick buildings; the center of Kenosha is sleepy 1960s suburban with large, shady lawns; and the western edge is filled with McMansions and businesses. Influence from the students of the two universities, UW Parkside and Carthage, is reflected in the variety of trendy restaurants and bars in close proximity to the universities (northern Kenosha and near the lake). Kenosha's location between two major cities and along a highway means that there is plenty of shopping clustered around I94 and Green Bay Rd. The established, family owned restaurants and busin

Getting there

By bike It is possible to bike from Chicago to Kenosha by following the Robert McClory bike path (roughly 56 miles of biking from the start of the trail into Kenosha). The trailhead starts in Highland park on Green Bay Trail at Laurel Ave. and St. Johns Ave./Sheridan Rd. It follows North Lakeshore drive and is clearly marked if you wish to start your journey further north. The path is mostly concrete, asphalt, or tightly packed limestone gravel. The trail follows the path of an old railroad. It is often tree lined and passes through some very pretty neighborhoods (and a few not-so-pretty ones as well). This is a dedicated bike path that only briefly goes onto streets around the Lake Forest area. It ends at the south side of Kenosha, by Anderson park. Give about 6 hours for travel, including rest stops. This is most likely a half-day event, minimum: ensure you find a good map of your route and pack enough supplies.

By bus Airport Express (Subsidiary of Coach USA, operated by Wisconsin Coach Lines), (bus stop) Brat Stop at I-94 & Hwy 50 (at the I-94/Hwy 50 interchange (exit #344 off of I-94) at 12304 75th Street). Service from several places in Milwaukee including Mitchell Airport and from Chicago O'Hare. Connections to Greyhound & other bus companies in Milwaukee and Chicago. Arrival and departures are on the east side of the Brat Stop near the volleyball courts. Please look for the sign and waiting area. (updated Aug 2020) Wisconsin Coach Lines (Subsidiary of Coach USA), (bus stop) 63rd St on 20th Ave in Uptown. Service from Milwaukee and Racine. Additional local stops are Kenosha Transit Center, Metra Train Station, Sheridan & Washington; and Carthage College. Check schedules. (updated Aug 2020)

By car If coming from the north or south, I-94 acts as a border to the western edge of Kenosha. If you are coming from Chicago or Milwaukee on I94, there are three main exits into the city: 344, 342, and 340. Exit 344 turns onto 75th street, the main artery of Ken

Getting around

Most of Kenosha is suburbia. With the exception of the downtown area, attractions in Kenosha are spaced out with enough distance between them that walking or biking sometimes isn't an option unless you are very fit and have the extra time. You'll want to have some form of motorized transport to get around, unless you are staying near the lake and the attractions near the interstate or middle part of town don't interest you.

By bike Many of the streets are being redone to include bike lanes. Bike culture has not yet kept up with these new lanes and occasionally you will find cars driving in or overtaking from the dedicated lanes. Their connection to one another is sporadic because the lanes are added as streets are repaired. There are several local bike shops that sell supplies and do bike repairs. If you've made bicycle your main mode of transport and are in need of their services, the below all have very good reputations and have been in business for many years:

1 Ski & Sports Chalet, 5039 6th Ave, ☏ +1 262 658-8515. This location dedicates more floor space to bikes than ski equipment. They have friendly, accommodating staff and passionate repair people. The have a moderate selection of bike accessories. They also offer bike rentals. (updated Apr 2017) 2 Southport Rigging Inc. (The bike shop), 2926 75th St. Most locals just call this place the bike shop. They specialize in Trek bikes, sell bike accessories, and perform repairs. (updated Apr 2017) 3 Total Cyclery, 2900 52nd St, ☏ +1 262 652-2222. A very small shop that has knowledgeable staff and good repair people. While they sell bike accessories, the stock is limited. Repair turn-around time can vary greatly depending on season and their staffing, but they advertise most repairs taking less than 24 hours. (updated Apr 2017)

By bus Kenosha Transit, ☏ +1 262-653-4287. M-F 6AM-7:30PM, Sa 9AM-4PM, no service on Sunday. Kenosha Transit operates the local bus system and the Kenosha Streetcar. Bus fare is $1.75.

See

All Season

1 Anderson Arts Center, 6603 3rd Ave. Located on the southern end of the Kemper Center campus, this art museum displays the work of local and regional artists. The building was finished in 1931 and its architecture is an example of the French Renaissance Revival style. (updated Jan 2017) Civil War Museum, 5400 First Avenue, ☏ +1 262 653-4140. Tu-Sa 9AM-5PM, Su noon-5PM. Also open Mondays moon-5PM March through August only. Despite Wisconsin's distance from the battlefields of the Civil War, Kenosha has a museum dedicated to it. The exhibits here focus on the experiences of Midwestern veterans of the Civil War. $7 adults, free for youth 15 and under if accompanied by a paying adult. 2 Dinosaur Discovery Museum, 5608 Tenth Avenue, ☏ +1 262 653-4450. Tu-Su noon-5PM. Dinosaur museum which also houses the Carthage Institute of Paleontology. Free. 3 Kenosha Public Museum, 5500 First Avenue, ☏ +1 262 653-4140. Tu-Sa 9AM-5PM, Su noon-5PM. Also open Mondays noon-5PM March throu