Discover Wausau: Art, Gardens and Hotels

Wausau offers several distinct areas of interest to consider when planning a trip: visual art, historic homes, landscaped gardens, events, and canoe or kayak competitions. If you’re looking for a hotel in Wausau, the purpose of your trip can help guide your plans: Would you like to include museums and architecture, are you interested in paths through garden grounds, or should a seasonal event shape your stay? The range of themes can help you tailor your visit to your own interests. For events and winter ice skating, it’s worth including suitable dates in your travel plans.

Art and Historic Homes

The Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum in Wausau offers visitors accessible opportunities to engage with visual art. For travelers who want to make art a focus, it’s a specific place to start. The A.P. and Leigh Yawkey Woodson House, built in 1914, hosts exhibitions. The Yawkey House Museum highlights architectural and design features: the exterior features Classical Revival architecture, a sunken garden and a carriage house; the interior features Arts and Crafts influences, built-in cabinets and distinctive stained glass. Within the broader cultural theme, you can choose what interests you most: engaging with visual art or exploring architecture and interior design.

Admission to the Woodson History Center in Wausau is free; check the latest visitor information before your visit, as this policy may change. Guided tours of the Yawkey House Museum begin at the Woodson History Center and last about an hour. If you plan to take this tour, confirm the latest tour details in advance. Guided and self-guided tours are also available on Wausau’s historic streets. Check current availability and booking terms ahead of time. This lets you choose between a guided format and a self-guided tour to explore the city’s history.

Gardens and Educational Programs

Monk Botanical Gardens covers just under 30 acres, including 15 acres of landscaped gardens, and offers two miles of walking paths. The area figures include the landscaped gardens as part of the total; the path length is a separate point of reference. In contrast to the museums and historic homes, the focus here is on the combination of landscaped outdoor spaces and walking paths.

Monk Botanical Gardens offers events, educational programs, a summer camp and a nature preschool. The garden can therefore be understood not only through its grounds and paths, but also through its events and educational programs. If a particular event is to shape your visit, check the dates. The programs mentioned also give the garden an educational dimension, setting it apart from a visit focused on architecture or exhibitions.

Events and Seasons

The 400 Block is a central city square in Wausau and serves as a venue for summer concerts, festivals, sporting events and farmers markets. In winter, ice skating is available there. For choosing your travel dates, the contrast between winter ice skating and summer concerts is especially useful. If you’d like to plan your stay around a specific concert, festival, sporting event or farmers market, check the relevant dates.

Water Sports in Wausau

Whitewater Park in downtown Wausau is a venue for canoe and kayak competitions. This adds a specific sporting focus to the art, historic homes and garden offerings. If canoeing or kayaking is among your travel interests, the competitions provide another reason to consider Wausau as a destination.

Discover more destinations: Abbotsford, Rothschild, Weston, Mosinee, Schofield.

Return to the overview of the wider area: Marathon.