Things to Do in Germantown Wisconsin
The Germantown area features a distinct array of attractions and events that draw visitors from all over Wisconsin and beyond.
One of the community’s most popular attractions is the Germantown Historical Society’s Dheinsville Historic Park. This nine-acre park is the site of an original 1850s settlement. It features three circa 1850s restored structures that now serve as museums: the Sila Lydia Bast Bell Museum & Fire Hall is lined with more than 5,000 bells, the Christ Church Museum is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and the Valentine Wolf Haus Museum & Jeffris Genealogy Research Center is a shoemaker half-timber haus with a great resource library.
The modern Schauer Arts & Activities Center is located nearby in downtown Hartford. This fantastic performing and visual arts complex presents a year-round calendar of professional touring groups as well as local talent from the Hartford City Band, Hartford Community Chorus, Hartford Players, Kettle Moraine Fine Arts Guild and many others. The center also offers numerous classes for participants of all ages through its Community School of the Arts.
Attractions in Germantown
Other regional attractions positioned within a close distance of Germantown include: Holy Hill National Shrine in Hubertus, the Wisconsin Automotive Museum in Hartford, the Wisconsin Museum of Art, West Bend Sculpture Walk, Riverwalk, Old Courthouse & Jailhouse Museums and Lac Lawrann Conservancy in West Bend. Also in West Bend is Washington County Fair Park, a site that hosts a variety of events throughout the year, including the much-anticipated Washington County Fair in July. Plus, Germantown’s location near the city of Milwaukee presents even more opportunity to enjoy museums, professional sports, lakefront recreation and major events.
After a day of sightseeing, finding a comfortable place to rest is easy in the Germantown area. Both business travelers and tourists find high quality amenities and pleasant accommodations near many of the area’s attractions and business centers. Popular local hotels include AmericInn Lodge & Suites, Country Inn & Suites by Carlson, Holiday Inn Express and Super 8 Motel. A full listing of area hotels is available in the Buyer’s Guide at the back of this book under lodging.
Outdoor Attractions
Germantown area residents and visitors have ready access to a multitude of well-maintained municipal, county and state-operated park sites, which come together to offer an exhaustive list of outdoor activities. From tennis and basketball courts, trail systems and playground equipment to athletic fields, ball parks and opportunities for water sports, the area’s park sites are favorite year-round destinations.
The village of Germantown Park & Recreation Department operates more than a dozen parks and facilities throughout the community, including an environmental park, sports complexes, a historical park and several neighborhood parks. Washington County’s park system also plays a role in Germantown’s recreational landscape. Homestead Hollow County Park spans 105 acres along Freistadt Road in Germantown and features: a picnic area, hiking and cross-country skiing trails, a sledding hill, a fishing pond, playground equipment, soccer fields and more. Additionally, Kettle Moraine State Park’s Northern Unit stretches into Washington County just west of Germantown.
Parks and Recreation
Both the village of Germantown and Washington County offer a year-round list of recreational programming for all ages, as does the nearby Tri-County YMCA in Menomonee Falls. The newly renovated Y features a pool, a new wellness center, renovated classroom space and locker rooms, new spin and group exercise studios and updates to various other on-site facilities.
Golfers also have plenty of options when it comes to finding a challenging game on the greens. Germantown is home to two well-manicured courses—Blackstone Creek Golf Club and Riversbend Golf Course. Kettle Hills Golf Course in Richfield and Silver Spring Country Club in Menomonee Falls are also excellent choices in the immediate area. In all, there are 45 golf courses located within a 15-mile radius of the heart of Germantown.