“Look at all the Packers fans. You'd swear we were in Wisconsin”byEd Robertsis licensed underCC BY 2.0
Wisconsin Packers fans are not very fond of Bears fans… and that feeling is mutual. Their longtime rivalry makes game days a high stakes affair.
Copious amounts of alcohol and classic tailgating foods (read: delicious and greasy enough to soak up that alcohol) are half the reason to go to the game. Wisconsinites are serious about their tailgating.
If you think there’s not much of a difference between a brat and a hot Dog… oh, just wait. Someone from Wisconsin will be there shortly set you straight.
You betcha they do. Ending questions with the phrase “or no?” is one regional quirk that takes a little getting used to, or no?
Wisconsinites are so used to driving in snow that they’re surprised when out-of-towners get bent out of shape over a couple of inches, let alone feet.
Every night in Wisconsin is a bonfire night. One is happening somewhere in the state on any given evening. If you get invited to a Wisconsinite’s bonfire, you know they like you.
Fish Fries are a Friday night ritual in Wisconsin. The battered and fried fish is traditionally served with potato pancakes, sometimes swapped for fries, and always with a thick slice of rye.
There’s a reason Wisconsinites are Cheeseheads. The state’s huge cheese production means locals get to enjoy culinary delights like cheese curds, which come fried or squeaky fresh. (They literally squeak—that’s how you know they’re fresh.)
“Three one-way tickets to blackout city: Brass Monkey, wine (in my new lil' glasses), Eggnog n Brandy (in my new Family Feiud mug!)”bydennis crowleyis licensed underCC BY 2.0
For no discernable reason, Wisconsinites loves brandy. Maybe it’s because it’s such a popular addition to warm winter drinks. But if you see someone from Wisconsin give their kid a spoonful of brandy to cure a toothache, don’t be too surprised.
Wisconsinites must have evolved to have smarter, stronger livers than the rest of the country. They’ll drink just about any out-of-towner under the table, and when they want to cool off for the night they don’t stop drinking—they just switch to something that’s not brandy.
In certain parts of Wisconsin, you’ll hear people call water fountains “bubblers.” Why? Bubbler is a brand name, like Kleenex, patented by the Kohler Company of Kohler, Wisconsin.
Out-of-towners tend to struggle with town names like Oconomowoc, Sheboygan, and Mukwonago. Don’t be shocked if your attempts make Wisconsinites giggle a little.
Hunting is a big deal in Wisconsin, and the first day of the season is the kind of thing you pull your kid out of school for.
“#cocacola”byMirymah ~✿is licensed underCC BY 2.0
It’s soda in Wisconsin, and people will correct you. Some Wisconsinites will mock you, while others will respond with a somewhat snarky reply: “Oh, you mean a soda?”
If you’re an out-of-towner and you mention you’ve never had cream puffs before, be prepared to have six Wisconsinites immediately scold you and tell you what you’re missing out on. You’ll thank them after you’ve tried one.
Wisconsinites have a superhuman tolerance to cold. Don’t be surprised if you see someone busting out the shorts and flip flops on a forty degree day.
This friend is the best friend to have, especially in the summer. But winter trips to the lake can be nice too, as long as you have a Hot Toddy to drink by the fire.
Wisconsinites aren’t about to give up their grills just because they have to shovel a path through the snow to get to them. Plus, how else are they going to make brats?
Fried green beans, fried Twinkies, and of course, fried cheese curds are just the tip of the iceberg. Wisconsinites know how to do fried foods, and the State Fair is the culmination of all that culinary knowledge.
You’ll likely hear a Wisconsinite say “Stop and go light” at some point during your visit. Don’t try to correct them. Just think about it for a second. It does make a lot of sense.
Devil’s Lake State Park is the place to go to enjoy Wisconsin’s natural beauty. Go ahead and pack your camping supplies. Even if you only intend to hike for the day, you may just find you don’t want to leave.
Sprecher Brewery offers beer and cheese pairings that are out of this world. They combine the two things Wisconsinites love most—drinking and cheese—into one delicious experience.
Wisconsin has a Polka Hall of Fame, if that gives you any idea of how big polka is there. It’s the kind of music that makes eighty-year-old grannies spring up and start dancing, but it’s a blast to watch everyone having fun.
Wisconsin is full of top notch Farmers Markets where locavores can stock up on fresh fruits, vegetables, and of course, more cheese.
Dr. Evermor’s Forevertron is the largest scrap metal statue in the world at 50 feet high and 120 feet wide. Tom Every made the sculpture from lighting rods, 1920s power plant scraps, and the decontamination chamber from the Apollo 11 spacecraft among other materials. Once you see it, you’ll remember it forever… tron.
Minnesotans are known for being nice, but their Wisconsin neighbors are looking to take home the trophy next year. You’ll have no trouble meeting people as an out-of-towner.
Summerfest in Milwaukee is the biggest music festival in the Midwest. It lasts eleven days, draws a crowd of 900,000, and features over 800 acts. In short, it’s totally amazing.
Milwaukee’s Dill Pickles may be tiny, but they pack a powerful and delicious punch. In this case, size truly doesn’t matter.
The Henry Vilas Zoo is probably the most fun you can have in Wisconsin for no money. They host unique events every season, and have animals from kind of creepy (anacondas) to cute (river otters).
Wisconsinites are fiercely proud of where they’re from. If you’re an out-of-towner, show them some respect and soak up all the awesome things Wisconsin has to offer. Of course, a few jokes about the way they say “bag” are acceptable. Did we miss anything? Tell us what you have to explain to out-of-towners about Wisconsin in the comments below!
