Surrounding Communities

Welcome to Green Lake Country!

Berlin, Wisconsin

Nestled along the Fox River and 10 minutes North of Green Lake, Berlin affords opportunities to relax and refresh in a community that cares you are here.  Whether your interests are golf, camping along the Fox River, a family day at the Aquatic Center or a stroll along the streets to view our historic shopping district and stately Victorian homes, you’ll find plenty to do in Berlin.

The beautiful Mascoutin Golf Club offers 27 magnificent holes for your golfing pleasure.  Over 80 acres of parks welcome you for a relaxing picnic.  A self-guided walking tour (maps available at the Berlin Chamber) takes you past many of Berlin’s early homes around the historic Nathan Strong Park. Once the fur and leather capital of the upper Midwest, several Berlin shops still sell the kinds of handmade goods that allowed our town to grow and flourish in the 1860s.  Other historic storefronts have been transformed into a variety of exciting shopping and dining options.

Summer and autumn events for the whole family include the Great Berlin Grill Out, Independence Day (Berlin style!), Bugle Mouth Bass Fishing Tournament, the Berlin Boat Club Corn Roast, and the Street Cruzers Car Show. As the year comes to a close, the Christmas season is met in Berlin with “The Biggest Little Parade in the Valley.”  Kick off the joyous holiday season with our lighted parade entries and marching bands.  Witness the magic as over 100 trees are lit in beautiful Nathan Strong Park.  It truly is the season of lights in Berlin.

There really is something here for everyone! Come visit and play in Berlin, and we promise you’ll be pleasantly surprised.

Markesan, Wisconsin

The Markesan Chamber of Commerce extends its welcome! Markesan offers plenty to do to keep you occupied for a day or for a lifetime! The downtown business district boasts great food, a public library and unique shopping. Be sure to stop by the wonderful Historical Society Museum, which showcases the enormous pride this community takes in its heritage, and allows visitors to leisurely peruse the past of a city that once was the riches in the nation. OR make reservations at the Victorian Tea House, and soak in the charms of a beautiful 105-year-old home while enjoying a fabulous multi-course meal. Or do both!

Another must is the Amish Country! Dozens of Amish businesses dot the surrounding area, including bakeries, eateries, candy shops, canned goods, cheese makers and carpenters who specialize in gorgeous wooden cabinetry and furniture. Detailed maps are available at the Markesan Chamber. And a word of advice: budget a lot of time for your visit. Not only is everything beautiful and delicious, but at certain times you may see as many as ten Amish buggies trying to navigate a roundabout!

More of an outdoors person? Markesan provides sport and recreation of all kinds. Little Green Lake, known for its trophy-sized Muskies, will satisfy your fishing and boating desires. Excellent hunting opportunities, numerous snowmobile trails and a variety of events sponsored by our local service organizations help to keep weekends very active. Join them – they will welcome you with open arms.

Princeton, Wisconsin

Nestled on the banks of the Fox River, Princeton is a hidden treasure full of abundant natural resources, shops, restaurants, the state’s largest outdoor Flea Market and so much more! The area is truly a haven for those looking to relax and unwind in an pleasant, peaceful, small-town environment.

Princeton is rich with natural resources, streams and lovely landscapes. The outdoor enthusiast can enjoy an abundance of activities, including excellent fishing and bird-watching. Two particularly ancient species offer lots of excitement – come see the mighty sturgeon rolling on the rocks of the Fox River as they spawn in the spring, and stick around to see fledgling whooping cranes learning to fly in the White River Marsh all summer long.

A stroll through downtown offers plenty more unique experiences. With many crafters and artisans in residence, Princeton merchants pride themselves in offering unusual, one-of-a-kind goods, many of them handcrafted. You can also eat fresh and local when you shop at our Farm to Fork Market, or celebrate all things warm and cozy with a trip to the Muk Luks Museum, where Princeton’s original (andever popular) sock-style slipper get the royal treatment it deserves.

No trip to Princeton is complete until you’ve experienced our Flea Market in the tree-shaded City Park. Princeton is the home of the State’s largest outdoor weekly Flea Market; open every Saturday from mid-April through mid-October. Day-trippers come from Milwaukee, Madison, the Fox Cities and all points in between to take part. Come early – it opens at 6:00 am and wraps up in the early afternoon – then wander around town for more great shopping and food.

Ripon, Wisconsin

A stop in Ripon provides guests with an opportunity to learn, shop, dine and most importantly have fun! A visit to Ripon should include a visit to the Birthplace of the Republican Party. On March 20, 1854, Ripon citizens gathered in the schoolhouse and voted to form a new political party called “Republican.”  The birth of the Republican Party brought together a group who pledged to fight the spread of slavery.  The Little White Schoolhouse is a National Historical Site that celebrates this fascinating part of American history. Daily tours are available Memorial Day through Labor Day.

Ripon is also proud to the home of Vines & Rushes Winery. Vines & Rushes is dedicated to crafting fine wines using hardy grape varieties capable of surviving Wisconsin’s frigid winters. The wines are an expression of the soil, climate, farming and winemaking practices – you’ll taste the commitment to quality local wine with every sip. Open daily for sampling, Vines & Rushes also offers weekend art and craft fairs, live music and more.

Head downtown to browse ecletic shops or dine in delightful restaurants as you walk the streets of Ripon’s Historic Downtown Business District. One last fun stop is at Larson’s Famous Clydesdales, where you might even get the chance to see a brand new baby Clydesdale horse!

If you’re here for the holidays, you won’t want to miss our “living windows” which is a part of the Dickens of a Christmas event held the first weekend in December. On Saturday night, storefront windows come to life to celebrate the magic of the season.