Wausau: Art, Gardens and Experiences

Wausau combines visual art and local history with garden paths, events and water sports competitions. This makes it easy to shape your stay around a wide range of interests: you can focus on exhibitions and historic architecture, spend time in the botanical garden or plan around the offerings of a central city plaza. When choosing a vacation rental in Wausau, it may help to first consider which of these sides of the city you want to shape your stay.

Art and Local History

The Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum offers visitors accessible ways to engage with visual art. It is a place to visit for anyone who wants to make art a central part of their stay. You can complement your interest in art with a look at the area’s architecture and history: the A.P. and Leigh Yawkey Woodson House, built in 1914, hosts exhibitions.

The exterior of the Yawkey House Museum features the Classical Revival style, a sunken garden and a carriage house. Inside, you’ll find Arts and Crafts influences, built-in cabinets and distinctive stained-glass features. Guided tours of the Yawkey House Museum begin at the Woodson History Center and last about an hour. Admission to the Woodson History Center is free.

Garden Paths, Events and Water

The Monk Botanical Gardens covers just under 30 acres. It includes 15 acres of designed gardens and two miles of walking paths. Visitors who like to combine a visit with some activity can follow paths through the garden grounds; those especially interested in garden design can focus on the landscaped areas. These details give your visit a clear focus without requiring you to cover a particular distance or walk at a certain pace.

The 400 Block is a central city plaza in Wausau and a venue for summer concerts, festivals, sporting events and farmers markets. In winter, it offers ice skating. The seasonal offerings change the character of possible activities: in summer, the plaza hosts a variety of events, while in winter, ice skating is also available. If you like to make an event or activity the focus of your day, the 400 Block is a specific point of reference for this part of Wausau.

The Monk Botanical Gardens’ nature and educational offerings go beyond walking paths: the gardens host events, educational programs, a summer camp and a nature preschool. Visitors interested in gardens and learning opportunities can explore a range of different subjects. In downtown Wausau, the Whitewater Park hosts canoe and kayak competitions. There are also guided and self-guided tours along Wausau’s historic streets. These activities offer different focuses: the park is a venue for water competitions, while the tours explore the city’s historic surroundings.

Other places to discover include Rothschild, Mosinee, Abbotsford, Schofield and Weston.

For the broader travel overview: Marathon.