8+ Ideas for a Family Day in Kenosha: Streetcars, a 40-Foot T-Rex & More!

Feel as though you are traveling back in time as you explore the historic city of Kenosha with kids!

Kenosha is home to a free dinosaur museum, the shores of Lake Michigan, a whole castle for cheese, and July – September hosts the Bristol Renaissance Faire!

Sitting on the southwestern shores of Lake Michigan, the town offers gorgeous, sweeping views and an opportunity for family time with an adventurous twist.

If you love museums, art galleries, fresh air, and exploring new places, this exciting city will check all your day trip boxes. You won’t have time for everything in one trip, so choose a few and plan to visit again!

1. Ride a Vintage Streetcar Downtown

Hop on board a restored electric streetcar for a scenic, two-mile loop. On your streetcar ride, you’ll roll past Harbor Park, the Sculpture Walk, the shoreline, two historic districts, and downtown Kenosha.

A ride on these authentic 1951 President’s Conference Committee (PCC) model streetcars is just one of the unique things to do in Kenosha for your family. The seven-car fleet spent time in Canada, before returning to the United States and scooting around Philadelphia for a bit ahead of their restoration and relocation to Kenosha. 

Traveling by electric rail was the area’s main form of transportation until 1932, and a ride on board gives families a chance to experience that history.

It is a comfortable, fun, and affordable ride, making it an ideal way for families to see the city!

• Kenosha Streetcars Details:
  • Fare Per Loop: $1.00 for ages 13 and up, $0.50 for ages 5-12, and 4 and under ride free
  • Day Pass: $3.50 per person
  • Hours
    • Monday – Friday: 11:05 am – 6:35 pm
    • Saturday – Sunday: 10:35 am – 6:15 pm
  • Kenosha Streetcars Map

2. Meet a 40-Foot T-Rex at the Dinosaur Discovery Museum

You’ll easily spot the Dinosaur Discovery Museum near downtown from its giant metal T-Rex art on the lawn! 

The museum has one of the most complete fossil records and focuses on the link between birds and carnivorous dinosaurs. Visitors of all ages walk through the main gallery, and there is a 40-foot-tall tyrannosaurus to greet you! 

The gallery consists of casts of real fossil bones and fact placards discussing how dinosaurs lived and behaved. The main level also has various hands-on displays for kids. 

The lower level serves as a play area with dino-themed toys and books and includes a large observation window to the room where dinosaur bones are studied. Before leaving, visit the gift shop for dino dig kits, slime eggs, puzzles, and figurines.

• Dinosaur Discovery Museum
  • Address: 5608 10th Avenue, Kenosha
  • Admission: Free
  • Hours: Tuesday – Sunday: 12 pm – 5 pm

3. Spark Imaginations at the Kenosha Dream Playground

Spend time in the sunshine in a space beyond your wildest dreams at Petzke Park! The Dream Playground features 15,000 square feet of fun for children of all abilities. The soft rubber ground playground has two sections; one geared for children under five and a second for active older kids. 

Fun themes on the playground include a lighthouse and ship, a local storefront shopping strip, a trolley car, a 1960s Rambler replica, and more. 

Jump along the jelly bean-shaped stepping stones or climb the rock wall—this park is worth enjoying a few hours of play! 

The playground also offers fun experiences for those with limited mobility. It includes a wheelchair swing, two bird nest swings, an accessible merry-go-round, and more. 

You’ll also find Braille and sign language alphabets, non-electrostatic slides, and a beautiful tile mural.

• Kenosha Dream Playground
• Address: Petzke Park, 2820 14th Avenue, Kenosha
• Hours: 8 am – 8 pm daily

4. Visit the Castle Stocked Full of Cheese

Behold, knights with shining armor who guard magnificent treasure—endless amounts of cheese! Mars Cheese Castle is an iconic stop located right off the highway. Its fun exterior promises exciting goods inside. The castle has been a local staple for over sixty years, and it houses over a hundred varieties of cheese and sausage, plus trinkets, candy, and gourmet grocery items. 

The castle, which is complete with a watch tower and drawbridge-styled entrance, is easy to spot with its 80-foot store sign. The sign is the largest in the area and required special permission from the Wisconsin State Legislature.

• Mars Cheese Castle
• Address: 2800 W. Frontage Road, Kenosha
• Hours: 9 am – 7 pm daily

5. Picnic by the Kenosha North Pier Lighthouse

Sprawl out on a blanket nearby the lighthouse with some snacks and enjoy the view. The 50-foot lighthouse was built in 1906 and is made of cast iron. Despite being a navigational tool of the past, it now doubles as an art studio and gallery, dubbed the Kenosha Lighthouse Studio. The studio hosts art shows, which are open to the public. 

Follow the gallery on social media for event information and a chance to venture inside! The lighthouse is also located near a walking path decked out with unique statues, providing a connection to the arts in the great outdoors.

• Kenosha Lighthouse Studio
• Address: Simmons Island Park, 5001 4th Avenue, Kenosha

6. Cool off at the Splash Pad, Local Pool, or at the Beach

Soak up the sun and hit the water at the splash pad near Harbor Park or take a dip in an outdoor pool. Kenosha also features five public beaches. Grab your sunscreen and hit the water!

Beaches

Take in the scenery by swimming, digging in the sand along the shores of Lake Michigan and soaking up time together as a family!

Beach access and parking are free.

• Alford Park and Beach
  • Address: 1819 Sheridan Road, Kenosha
  • Features: Beach and park with picnic areas.
• Eichelman Park and Beach
  • Address: 6125 3rd Avenue, Kenosha
  • Features: Beach, walking trail, and playground. Located next to Wolfenbuttel Park with beautiful gardens and grounds to explore.
• Pennoyer Park and Beach
  • Address: 3601 7th Avenue, Kenosha
  • Features: Bike trail, fishing from the shore, and pickleball.
  • More: Also home of the Sesquicentennial Bandshell with summer outdoor performances on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
• Simmons Island Park and Beach
  • Address: 5001 4th Ave, Kenosha
  • Features: Scenic Lake Michigan park with a beach, lighthouse & picnic tables, plus biking trails & a playground.
  • Note: Simmons Island offers portable mobility mats on the beach to accommodate walkers and wheelchairs
  • More: The Southport Light Station Museum and the Kenosha Lighthouse Studio at the North Pier Lighthouse are nearby things to do.
• Southport Park and Beach
  • Address: 7501 2nd Avenue, Kenosha
  • Features: Dog-friendly park (dogs are not allowed on the beach though!) with lots of beach to explore, trails for hiking, a beach house for changing, and a playground to explore while everyone dries off.

Splash Pad

Kenosha Splash Pad is an open space concrete pad near the marina with water sprays located near Harbor Park.

• Admission: Free
• Hours: 10 am – 7 pm daily

Bonus! If you’re visiting on a Saturday, the Kenosha Farmers Markets are nearby to stroll to find a treat for lunch or a snack!

Outdoor Pools

Anderson Park Pool

Anderson features two pools, including a tot pool with a children’s slide. Older kids and adults can take on the 200-foot water slide, 10-foot long 6-foot high drop slide, and diving boards. It also has a splash pad, deck chairs, and umbrella tables. Concessions are also available for purchase on-site.

• Anderson Park Pool
  • Address: 8730 22nd Avenue, Kenosha 
  • Admission: $5 per person, children 2 and under are free with a paid adult
  • Hours:
    • Tuesday – Sunday: 10 am – 5:45 pm
    • Closed Mondays

Washington Park Pool

Washington welcomes swimmers of all levels with a zero-depth pool. It also has a 200-foot long water slide, 10-foot long and 6-foot high drop slide, diving board, deck chairs, and umbrella tables.

• Washington Park Pool
  • Address: 1821 Washington Road, Kenosha 
  • Admission: $5 per person, children 2 and under are free with a paid adult
  • Hours: 
    • Tuesday – Sunday: 10 am – 5:45 pm
    • Closed Mondays

7. Go on a Family Mural Walk

Discover Kenosha’s beauty with a vibrant collection of murals, playfully scattered around the city. The murals, all of different sizes and genres, capture the city, its people, and the artistic endeavors of talented artists. Thanks to Walls of Kenosha creator Rhianna O’Shea, families can go on a self-guided tour with the help of a free Google Maps Guide for local murals. 

You can even see where the closest mural is to you, live, on the map. One of my personal favorites is the streetcar mural on 8th avenue!

8. Grab a Treat at Scoops

After a busy day of fun, grab a treat from Scoops before heading home! The old-fashioned shop features a decadent assortment of desserts including ice cream, handcrafted cakes, and nostalgic candies.

There is truly something for everyone, including those who love classic flavors like strawberry or cookie dough and others who prefer more eccentric concoctions, like Zanzibar with three kinds of cocoa or the Exhausted Parent, a bourbon espresso concoction sure to please. 

Level up with a fun cone option including cake waffle cones, dipped sugar cones, dipped waffle cones, or sugar waffle cones.

There is also a generous assortment of vegan, gluten-free, and no-sugar-added options.

Sit inside the parlor where whimsical cones dangle from the ceiling or watch the sunset outside on the spacious patio.

• Scoops Ice Cream & Candy
  • Address: 5711 8th Ave #4002, Kenosha
  • Hours: 
    • Sunday – Thursday: 12 pm – 8 pm
    • Friday – Saturday: 12 pm – 9 pm