Lighthouse in Kenosha, WI

Now that the hustle and bustle of the holidays are over, it’s time to treat yo’ self to a trip to southern Wisconsin. Brookfield is home to many shopping spots and eateries – a great Wisconsin getaway, kick off the New Year fiilling in that gift list at Brookfiled's shops. Traveling with kids? Head to the Children’s Museum of Eau Claire in, you guessed it, Eau Claire. Celebrate the Bald Eagle in Prairie du Chien with some exciting appreciation celebrations, and set up shop at a Best Western hotel in southern Wisconsin – where there’s never a dull moment.

A large suburb of Milwaukee, Brookfield is a shopper’s paradise. Now that you’ve recovered from Christmas bills, put on some comfortable shoes and shit the shops at the Brookfield Square – Brookfield’s main shopping mall. Spend those leftover gift cards at H&M, Barnes & Noble, and Gap, then make your way to the neighboring Blue Mound Road shopping district. Here you can grab some new running shoes for that New Year’s resolution at Sports Authority, then head to the Brookfield Fashion Center and grab something for the home from Pier 1 Imports. More shopping abounds from the local shops on Capitol Drive, to the Brookfield Farmer’s market coming up in May – just be sure to unload those new finds at the Best Western hotel in Brookfield.

Traveling with kids? Come to Eau Claire for the Children’s Museum of Eau Claire. Visit this museum Tuesday through Sunday for only $5 a person, and watch as your little ones explore interactive exhibits like Body Smarts and Kidstruction. Take the little ones to Toddler Park, or check out Fun With Fathers: A fun night out with Dad! on the second Tuesday of the month. For a little outdoor fun in Eau Claire – assuming you’re not afraid of the cold – take a brisk bike ride down the Chippewa River State Trail following the Chippewa River. And for the music lover, the 2012 Eau Claire Jazz Festival is celebrating its 45th anniversary from late March through early April. Don’t miss your chance to attend this staple of the Eau Claire calendar, and rest those ears at the Best Western hotel in Eau Claire.

Known as the state's second oldest city, Prairie du Chien is a fixture of southwest Wisconsin – and a stop along the Nothingness Run for those traveling by motorcycle. A historic city if ever there was one, Prairie du Chien is home to nine sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and hosts some great parties. Check out Bald Eagle Appreciation Day in late February at the Prairie du Chien Regional Tourism Center – complete with kid’s activities – or attend Bald Eagle Day festivities in early March. March also brings the Home and Garden Show to the area for those with green thumbs, while the sportsman of the family may attend the McGregor Gun Show at the nearby McGregor's Landing Event Center. Be sure to get a good night’s rest at the Best Western hotel in Prairie du Chien, because it’s always a party in southern Wisconsin.

Lambeau Field
Green Bay, Wisconsin

Hot air balloons, snow sports, and a 120-year-old-mansion – that’s northern Wisconsin for you. Put those Christmas decorations in storage and head for the clear skies of Hudson, the northwestern Wisconsin city and host of the 2012 Hot Air Affair come February. Need to pack in some more winter sports before spring hits? Get going in Minocqua – home to the Minocqua Winter Park where visitors ice skate and snow tube winter days away. Now, how about a tour of Fairfield Mansion – a 42-roomed historic home built in 1890 – to top off your time in the town of Superior? History and outdoor fun, you can’t beat winter in northern Wisconsin.

Reach the sky in Hudson. Visitors to the northwestern Wisconsin town need only attend the 2012 Hot Air Affair in early February – the 23rd annual celebration of ballooning in Hudson. That Friday evening, the Torchlight Parade kicks off the festivities in downtown Hudson, featuring kazoo marching bands. Balloon launching takes place at 7:30 a.m. the next day, where attendees may also browse the Marketplace & Craft Fair - get your cameras ready for the Moonglow come sunset. Bundle up and make your way to the EP Rock School – also known as Launch Field – and unpack your marketplace finds at the Best Western hotel in Hudson.

For some outdoor fun in northern Wisconsin, there’s no better winter recreation than in the town of Minocqua. Minocqua visitors choose from Nordic and Alpine skiing, plus snowmobiling, ice fishing, and snow tubing. Get ready for some cross-country skiing and snowshoeing at the Minocqua Winter Park – where you may also snow tube, ice skate, and even skijor your way through the park. Now get that Wisconsin fishing license ready, because you’re ready for ice fishing at the many lakes in the Minocqua area. Need speed? More than 1600 miles of groomed snowmobile trails lead through and around the Minocqua area. Bundle up, hit trails, and end your day with a toasty night at the Best Western hotel in Minocqua.

Set on the shores of Lake Superior, the northwest Wisconsin town of Superior is home to Little Manitou Falls and its many winter activities. Enjoy Superior’s clear days at the Nemadji Golf Course – a 36-hole championship course – or check out what’s going on at the Amsoil Speedway. If you’ve got a storm on your hands, it’s time to head inside the Fairlawn Mansion – a famed historic structure built in 1890. Weekend tours are available throughout the winter season – a great chance to try Fairlawn's new Tea and Tour. Open through the year, the Fairlawn Mansion is 42 rooms of Superior’s history, set just 10 minutes from both Best Western hotels in Superior and a must-see during your time in northern Wisconsin.

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Bundle up for the chill of Lake Michigan, and head to Brew City this spring for Wisconsin fun done right. The largest city in the in the Badger State, Milwaukee features winter and spring activity like the Discovery World Museum – where you can beat the frosty air and head indoors and stick a hand in the Discovery touch tank – or how about Milwaukee Art Museum. Now that the lockout is over, sports fans head to downtown Milwaukee for a game of round ball with NBA’s Bucks at the Bradley Center – within brisk walking distance from a Best Western Milwaukee hotel. For some winter outdoor recreation near Milwaukee, a good idea is Lake Pewaukee for some of the best ice fishing around.

Just west of Milwaukee is the charming town of Pewaukee – an ideal winter escape for those looking for small town adventure. If you missed the Winter Fest on Pewaukee’s Lakefront in late January, it’s still not too late to take advantage of winter fun in this snow-covered Wisconsin town. If you really wanted to go to Paris this vacation, head to downtown Pewaukee for the Heart of Europe Tour in February during Pewaukee's annual Ladies Night Out.

Want to get some shopping done in southern Wisconsin? Check out the markets and art walks, like the Get Lucky Art Crawl in nearby Historic Downtown Waukesha, or catch a glimpse of local art at the Lake Country Gallery back in Pewaukee. Don’t forget ice-skating and ice fishing on Lake Pewaukee, or even rock climbing at the Adventure Rock Climbing Gym – just seven miles from the Best Western hotel in Pewaukee.

Just an hour east of the action in Pewaukee, Madison is another festive city ready to entertain in 2012. The capital of Wisconsin, Madison features the University of Wisconsin for the college bound, and the Madison Children's Museum for the little ones. Madison is also home to the Overture Center for the Arts – another way to beat the cold in Mad City – encompassing the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art for you art aficionados, and impressive concert halls like Overture Hall and the Capitol Theater.

Before spring warms up this active Wisconsin city, Madison visitors be sure to take advantage of ice-skating, ice fishing and cross country skiing in the area. Try your hand at ice kiting – strap yourself to a large sail and glide across the ice and snow – or see what all the hype is about ice boating. For more outdoor fun in Madison, it’s always a party at Lake Mendota and Lake Monona, two small bodies of water found right in the middle of town. With four Best Western hotels in Madison, you won’t fear wearing yourself out in outdoor Madison – yet another adventurous spot found in Wisconsin this winter and spring.