The Mars’ Cheese Castle on I-94 in Kenosha has been around for over 65 years.

For as long as I’ve been able to read, the Mars’ Cheese Castle has been something that always caught my eye when traveling I-94 through the Kenosha area. It was a place I always wished my parents would stop at, even just to check it out. As a kid, I always wondered what it was about. Perhaps, having the word Mars in the name is what created such curiosity. After all, space was something that interested every kid that grew up with Star Wars and Mars meant it was from space didn’t it? A name like Mars’ Cheese Castle has to be one of the most interesting names you could give a business. I also always wondered why it was called a castle. For most of my life, it never really resembled a castle to me. Well, somewhat recently, that changed.

The new Mars' Cheese Castle really looks like a castle

Every place has it’s landmarks.

As a kid, I knew that when I saw that Cheese Castle sign heading home from Chicago, that the trip was finally getting close to home. Heading south on I-94, the Mars’ Cheese Castle meant that the Illinois-Wisconsin border was not too far away. Or, at least we were getting close to the Kenosha outlet malls when heading south.

The Mars’ Cheese Castle now really looks like a castle.

It has that wonderful old look of a stone castle on the outside. On the inside, it’s nice, clean, modern, and bright. A big improvement over what it looked like inside before (which looked a bit more like a dungeon than a castle to me). I’m pretty sure that the new building has something to do with the improvements on I-94 between Chicago and Milwaukee. It’s a beautiful modern new building that really shows off the wonderful things they have to offer to a someone traveling I-94 between Chicago and Milwaukee.

What does the Mars Cheese Castle have to offer an I-94 traveller?

• Cheese
• Sausages (and other meats like Canadian bacon)
• Fresh bakery
• A restaurant
• A tavern (with an outdoor “beer garden”)
• Souvenirs
• A place to walk your dog

The Mar's Cheese Castle has some new things for an I-94 traveller

In fact, they have over 300 different cheeses to choose from. They have gift boxes with cheeses and sausages. They have a selection of wines to take home as well as a tavern that serves microbrews. One of the things that caught my attention the most with the new building was the bakery with many different types of fresh breads and sweets to choose from. I don’t remember if they had a bakery before but the new building really shows it off. They have a huge new parking lot and an area near the southwest of the castle to walk your dog.

The Cheese Castle has a website for ordering their products online. While it’s great for buying gifts, I’d suggest stopping in at the Castle sometime. I don’t think the website does it justice.

Just look for the Mars’s Cheese Castle sign.

An I-94 landmark

It’s only about a half hour south of Milwaukee and less then 12 minutes north of the Illinois-Wisconsin border on I-94. There is easy on and off access to I-94 right there on Burlington Road / 143.

How could you say you’ve been to Wisconsin without stopping at Mars?

Address for Mars’ Cheese Castle:

Phone for the Cheese Castle:

Mars’ Cheese Castle website:

www.marscheese.com

Google Map to Mar’s Cheese Castle:

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The City of Kenosha has an electric trolley system.

This is something that not many, even from Wisconsin, might know about. You might see a few references to an electric streetcar and Kenosha. I mostly confused it with an Amtrak or Metra commuter line that might pass through the area. If you do travel through downtown Kenosha, you’ll see the tracks and possibly see the Kenosha trolley itself.

The Kenosha Trolley in Harborpark heads east

The Kenosha Trolley system offers an amazingly inexpensive ride.

As I write this, adult tickets are just $1.00. Children 12 and under are just $.50. Better yet, an all day pass is just $2.50. On Saturdays, that all day pass includes the city bus routes. A good deal but don’t plan to take the trolley too far. I’ll explain in a moment. The Kenosha Trolley is an inexpensive but short ride in one of Lake Michigan’s most beautiful developed lakefront communities.

The Kenosha Transit Electric Streetcar began operations in 2000.

The trolley cars were made in Canada in the 1950′s for the Toronto Transit Commission. Originally, the streetcar system had 5 cars that came from various locations after restoration and repairs. There are now a total of 8 of the PCC (Presidents’ Conference Committee) cars with some of them coming from the East Troy Railroad Museum. The streetcars themselves are beautifully painted, streamlined Art Deco era trolleys with the paint colors representing the different cities that at one time operated the same PCC type trolleys.

The Kenosha Trolley route:

The Kenosha Transit Electric Streetcar covers a 1.7 mile oval. It runs west on 54th St. to turn left at 11th Ave. right near the METRA station and looping around the Kenosha County Building. It then heads east on 56th St. going past the Kenosha County Courthouse as well as the Kenosha Visitor’s and Convention Bureau Information Center (the downtown Kenosha one) and several businesses. Just after the Kenosha museum in Harborpark it heads back north to 54th St. Basically, the Kenosha Streetcar route is 2 blocks wide and about 12 blocks long. If you miss a ride, instead of waiting the whole 15 minutes you can just walk the two blocks and catch it going in the opposite direction.

Current Trolley System hours:

Summer Hours: (April 1st – January 2nd)

• Monday through Friday: 11:05 a.m. until 6:35 p.m.
• Saturdays and Sundays: 10:05 a.m. until 5:35 p.m.

The Kenosha Streetcar is a tourist attraction.

A lot of sites I came across trying to find more information about the Kenosha trolley (like where to get a ticket for the Kenosha trolley) promote it as a commuter system. It does connect the Harborpark Condominiums with the METRA and the rest of the transit system and it does have some businesses on the line. However, it does not really go anywhere itself or connect the average user to anything. The distance it covers is nearly walkable in the time you could wait for a trolley. The route times start in late mornings and end early evenings so commuters cannot use it. There are no weekday routes at all for part of the winter.

As a means of transportation into Kenosha it still has problems. Unless you arrive by bus or train in the first place, there is no good place to park your car and catch the trolley to Harborpark. I did not even find convenient parking at the Kenosha Transit Center (which was not even open to the public when I was there – while the trolley was operating). While tokens for the trolley can be bought at the Kenosha Visitor’s Center, reader Dee has pointed out that you can also just pay for the fair on the trolley like a transit bus.

A Kenosha Trolley System car decorated for Christmas heads south near the METRA station

If you are visiting Kenosha from Illinois on the METRA, the trolley is a great way to arrive.

The trolley stops right by the METRA station. It would then take you right to the Harborwalk and Lakefront. You could also take the bus and visit the rest of Kenosha from there.

I’d like to spend a day in Kenosha, Wisconsin starting with the Kenosha Trolley.

It looks like the best place to park would be by the Kenosha museum by Harborpark. I’d take advantage of the all day pass on Saturday and use the bus to tour downtown Kenosha. The Harborpark area is a very beautiful area along Lake Michigan. There is a lighthouse nearby. The city of Kenosha some very interesting shops and the area is really nice. I think it is a great attraction for Kenosha as well as the rest of Wisconsin.

A ride on the Kenosha Trolley might also be fun to do when visiting the Jelly Belly Factory in Kenosha or shopping at the Prime Outlet Mall in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin.

Address for the Kenosha Transit Center

(The Trolley passes right by and has a stop.)

Phone for the Kenosha Transit Center:

Website for the Kenosha Transit System

Kenosha.org

Google Map to Kenosha Transit Center (near Harborpark)

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Prime Outlets Pleasant Prairie Wisconsin

The Prime Outlets in Pleasant Prairie, WI is often referred to by Wisconsin residents as the Kenosha Mall or the Kenosha Outlet Mall.

The Prime Outlets Mall was the second outlet mall in the area. The origianl outlet mall was further north on I-94, but has since closed, leaving the Prime Outlets the main shopping attraction along I-94 in Kenosha County.

If you are coming north from Illinois, the Prime Outlets mall is at the first exit north of the Wisconsin-Illinois border.

Take exit #347 east to the frontage road. It is about 45 minutes from Chicago, Illinois. It is about 25 minutes from Milwaukee. On any given day, you will see both Illinois and Wisconsin license plates about equally represented in the parking lots.

Why go to the Prime Outlets Mall?

Great outlet prices is one of the main attractions to the Pleasant Prairie Mall. You will find great shopping deals every day. Wide selection and name brands is another reason to go. All the most popular names in not only fashion, but housewares and even Sony electronics are represented.

Some of the stores at the Prime Outlets Kensha mall are:

• Coach Factory
• Aeropostal
• Tommy Hilfiger
• United Colors of Benetton
• Nike
• adidas
• PacSun
• Old Navy
• IZOD
• Jones New York
• Jockey
• J.Crew
• Polo Ralph Lauren Factory Store
• Banana Republic Factory Store
• Bass Outlet
• Sony
• Seiko The Company Store
• Tupperware
• Fossil
• The Hoover Company
• Sunglass Hut International
• Samsonite Company Stores
• Guess
• Gap

and many more.

The Prime Outlets Mall has grown over the years.

It has doubled from its original size. In fact, there is now Trolley service available to get around on weekends. There is also a separate Pavilion building where the food court is available.

Some nearby tourist attractions:

• Bristol Renaissance Faire
• Jelly Belly Center and factory
• The City of Kenosha, WI
• Lake Geneva, WI
• Six Flags Great America is a few minutes south on I-94.

Shopping hours:

• Monday-Saturday 10am-9pm
• Sunday 10am-7pm

Hours may change.

Phone number for the Prime Outlets Pleasant Prairie, WI

• 262-857-2101

Address for the Prime Outlets Kenosha

• 11211 120th Avenue
• Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin 53158

Map to Prime Outlet at Pleasant Prairie Wisconsin

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Website for Prime Outlets

• http://primeoutlets.com

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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