5 Ways to treat your Valentine in 2012

Guys, your better half deserves a treat.

Let’s face it, she didn’t mind your Super Bowl party. She probably even did most of the cleaning up afterwards. We can complain about St. Valentine’s Day being created by the greeting cards companies but in truth, she deserves every week instead of once a year.

Yet there is always that question about what to do for Valentine’s day.

How will you celebrate St. Valentine's Day in Wisconsin?

What do you do for her? What do you get her? She deserves a bit more than the cheap bouquet at the grocery store on the way home.

5 Ways to treat your Valentine special in Wisconsin:

1. Take her for a romantic retreat a one of Wisconsin’s romantic spots.

Maybe an evening with Swiss European flare in New Glarus. How about a night in Door County at one of the local resorts? There are many places in Wisconsin that offer a different view and a chance to be together and enjoy it.

2. Give her  a special Wisconsin treat.

If getting away for a night is not an option this year since St. Valentine’s Day is in the middle of the week, you can still giver her a treat from those places. You can order chocolate from the New Glarus Cheese and Chocolate Haus or Esther’s European Imports. Both have online stores and you might get the goods in time if you order soon. There are a number of Door County specialties that can be found all over the state. At the very least, you could get her some special Door County Coffee and enjoy a warm evening together. Don’t forget the New Glarus Bakery or any local Wisconsin bakery for other baked sweets.  You can get her jelly beans at the Jelly Belly Factory in Kenosha.

3. Spend some time in the Wisconsin outdoors together.

One hint: the middle of February is probably not a good time for a walk down Grant Park Beach with the cold wind from Lake Michigan. However, the 7 Bridges in Grant Park might make a nice romantic walk and it’s kinda of hidden from the wind. If you can skate (or she can) there is ice skating at Red Arrow Park in Milwaukee. For something even more athletic, go skiing. Crystal Ridge Ski Hill in Franklin is just minutes away from much of Milwaukee and has ski rentals.

4. Flowers from one of Wisconsin’s florists.

I’ve always loved the look on my wife’s face when I give her flowers. She really loves them. There is Parkway Floral in South Milwaukee as well as a large number of other local florists in Wisconsin.

Flowers and Jewelry Make Valentine's Day Better

5. Diamonds are always treasured.

If not diamonds, there are other choices in jewelry that will thrill her heart. My wife loves pearls. I think they look better when she is wearing them then in a store. I suggest you go to a local jeweler like Donn Powers instead of a discount chain store. You’ll know your getting something that is worthy of your better half instead of some cheap imported piece of costume jewelry.

Of course, if one of the five ideas above doesn’t come to mind you can take your Valentine out to eat at a Wisconsin restaurant.

You can go Italian at Paisano’s in South Milwaukee or diCarlo’s Pizza in Oak Creek. You can go with Chinese at China Chef in South Milwaukee. For something a bit more upscale, you can take your Valentine to the Packing House. If you are not near one of these places, I am sure there is another fine Wisconsin restaurant near you the she loves. Better yet, combine dinner with one of the options above.

Whatever you do, do something.

She deserves it, doesn’t she? After all, she chose to spend St. Valentine’s with you.

Just North of the Wisconsin-Illinois border is the Kenosha Wisconsin Travel Information Center

This Wisconsin tourist information center at the first exit north of the Wisconsin-Illinois border. The I-94 exit is #347 at HWY 165 / Lakeview Parkway. It is on the East side of I-94. It is about 45 minutes from Chicago, Illinois.

If you are taking the Northbound #347 exit, on the ramp there is an entrance directly into the the Travel Center. Be careful as you leave the center, you will be mixing with I-94 traffic exiting the freeway on exit 347 even if you are not going back on I-94.

Also in the area there is a gas station and restaurant.

There is a hotel at the exit as well as the Prime Outlet mall. Plenty to do if you wish to take a few minutes off the road.

The center serves as both a rest area and a tourist information center.

The facilities are open 24hrs a day but if you want travel information from a person, the hours are 8am-4pm.

Inside, there is lots of information available to travelers.

There are brochures and map for tourist attractions all over the State of Wisconsin. During day hours, you can get additional help, information, and recommendations from the staff.

There are many attraction close to the visitor center including the Jelly Belly jelly bean factory tour. The Renaissance Fair medieval villiage is nearby. Six Flags Great America is a few minutes south of the Illinois border on I-94.

At the time of this post, there was a display for the Road America Elkhart Race Track in the visitor center. This included an actual car.

Outside you will find a second Welcome to Wisconsin sign.

There is a play area for children. There are picnic tables, some of which are covered so you can still picnic when the weather is not cooperating. There are no grills, but there are bins for used coals. There are plenty of garbage and recycle bins too.

Vending machines are available inside the visitor center.

The address for the Wisconsin Travel Information Center Kenosha is:

• 10519 120th Avenue
• Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin 53158

Map to Wisconsin Travel Center Kenosha

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Welcome to the State of Wisconsin!

Wisconsin welcomes you.

The welcome sign on I-94 follows the Wisconsin State Police weight station on I-94. It is just over the Wisconsin-Illinois border in Kenosha County, WI.

Wisconsin gets its name from an American Indian word for the wisconsin River.

Jean Nicolet and Father Jacques Marquette explored Wisconsin in 1673. The Native American guides called the Wisconsin River Miskonsing, Meskousing. The spelling of Wisconsin varied for many years until territorial legislators endorsed the current spelling.

The first exit after the Welcome sign will take you to the Kenosha Wisconsin State Travel Center.

You can get information on many popular Wisconsin attractions there. Many of which will be covered on this site eventually. The eastern I-94 frontage road can be taken south from the exit if you wish to get close to the sign. There is also a small motel just south of the sign on the frontage road.

Map to the Wisconsin Welcomes You sign.

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