Arts- and architecture-rich Racine offers more than just a regional pit stop
Though Highway 94 offers a 90-minute beeline from Chicago to Milwaukee, art and architecture lovers should plan a stop in the comparatively overlooked city of Racine. This lakeside town of 76,000 can be explored over several days, but it’s also a great day-trip destination from Milwaukee (a half-hour north) or Chicago (an hour south). Here, four local gems to check out while you’re there.
Racine Art Museum
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You may be thinking, small town, small art museum. Guess again. The Racine Art Museum contains the largest collection of contemporary craft art in the country, encompassing nearly 10,000 works from internationally recognized artists. While you’re there, play artist for the day: Check the event calendar to join a live workshop focusing on ceramics, pottery, watercolor or stained glass.
North Beach
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Lake Michigan borders the entire length of Racine, from the Wind Point Lighthouse across the city’s northern boundary to the waterfront restaurants downtown and the lakeside parks near the southern edge of the city. The most popular coastal area in town, however, is North Beach.
Consistently ranked as one of the top freshwater beaches in the Midwest, North Beach is the perfect place to relax during warm months. Dig your toes into the soft sand, take a dip in the crystal-clear water, or join a game of volleyball. Families will appreciate the elaborate Kids Cove Playground right on the beach and the Racine Zoo, just a few blocks away.
Danish Kringle
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Racine offers both down-home Midwestern cooking as well as excellent international cuisine, but the city’s culinary claim to fame is the kringle. This circular Danish pastry is rarely found outside of southeastern Wisconsin, and when it is, it’s almost surely produced by one of four local bakeries, all of whom vie for the title of “best kringle”: Racine Danish Kringles, O&H Danish Bakery, Bendtsen’s Bakery (the only one that still hand-rolls their dough) and Larsen’s Bakery (which offers a nondairy/vegan kringle). Cherry and pecan are two of the most popular flavors, but be sure to ask about seasonal specialties such as the strawberry rhubarb or peach cobbler kringle.
Frank Lloyd Wright Architecture
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Racine is home to two main stops along Wisconsin’s self-guided Frank Lloyd Wright architectural trail. Both sites are owned by the SC Johnson consumer chemical company, which is also based in Racine. Though different architects were involved in the creation of the corporation’s main campus, both the Administration Building and the Research Tower (which underwent extensive restoration before reopening in 2013) were designed by Wright. Tours of the facility also include a visit to the SC Johnson Gallery, which hosts a rotating series of exhibits showcasing the architect’s influence on families and the home. Also check out The Lily Pad, a gift shop featuring Wright-inspired items.
Five miles north is Wingspread, the last and largest of Wright’s Prairie-style homes. Like most of the private houses built by Wright, the exterior incorporates organic design elements that blend the house into the surrounding landscape. Originally commissioned as the personal estate for H.F. Johnson and his family, the 14,000-square-foot home now serves as an ADA-accessible retreat and conference center. Both the SC Johnson campus and Wingspread offer free tours, but reservations are required.
