The small country town of Baraboo lies about 50 miles north of Madison along the Baraboo River. Home to the Circus World Museum and boasting a thriving downtown loaded with shops, restaurants and bars, Baraboo is a popular day trip town for those visiting Madison and Milwaukee and is surrounded by some incredible scenery.
Baraboo is a quiet contrast to the vibrancy of Milwaukee and Madison, which is certainly not to say it’s a dead town by any means. There are fast-food joints, unique shops, pubs and the theater like any other town, yet Baraboo is somewhat more relaxing and its historic square a delight.
There are some big attractions downtown and out of down. The Wisconsin Dells are just to the north of town, while the Baraboo Bluffs feature great hiking country and impressive waterways. The swimming and fishing is also good.
Highlights
Al Ringling Theater: this Baraboo landmark is very impressive for such a small town and is a reminder of Baraboo’s cultural heritage.
Circus World Museum: located at the original Ringling Brothers Circus winter quarters, this fascinating museum is a National Historic Landmark.
Ho-Chunk Casino, Hotel, & Convention Center: a popular Indian gaming center on Highway 12, with thousands of slots, dozens of tables and a bingo hall.
Baraboo Hills: featuring unique rocks, plants and animals and designated one of the ‘Last Great Places’ by the Nature Conservancy.
Devil’s Lake State Park: Wisconsin’s largest state park features striking scenery through past glacial action and encompasses part of the Baraboo Hills.