Quick Facts About Ozaukee County
- Just 15 minutes north of downtown Milwaukee
40 minutes South of Whistling Straits, site of PGA Championships!
Less than 2 hours north of Chicago
About 90 minutes from Madison
On the way to Green Bay, Door County and other destinations in northern Wisconsin.
Discover a treasure trove of things to see, do, and enjoy in Wisconsin's grandest east coast county. From the shores of Lake Michigan to the rolling rustic country-side, Ozaukee County retains its rural charm and is committed to preserving its pioneer heritage.
Enjoy golf, nature hikes, unique shops, excellent dining, and more!
Gather the family and plan to spend a day or longer enjoying the...
OZAUKEE LIST OF EVENTS
http://www.ozaukeetourism.com/CalendarOfEvents/Index.htm
Cedarburg
Rated a favorite retreat town by many, Cedarburg´s quaint charm and captivating atmosphere are a perfect backdrop for a fun day of shopping or relaxing.To capture the spirit of Cedarburg, the words "community, quaint, tight-knit, heritage, crafts, history" must be used.The City of Cedarburg is comprised of a main street with many of its buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places.Two local quarries provided the limestone that many of these are built with.Ceadrburg has a thriving business and industrial base, friendly neighborhoods, a well-run, well-staffed volunteer fire department, and award-winning public and private schools.The 25 parks, large public pool, gracious historic bed and breakfast inns, and many festivals combine to make Cedarburg a wonderful place to live.
Grafton
Grafton is one of the oldest cities in OzaukeeCounty.Its economic quality of life and small town warmth draw people to reside here. Grafton began as a predominantly lumber-oriented community to become one with many different types of industry: industrial enterprises such as fabricated metal and plastic, machinery, printing, lithographing, publishing, electric and electronic equipment and many other manufacturing businesses.There are established homes as well as newer neighborhoods.Downtown condos springing up along and near the river are bringing a new feel to the downtown area.With yearly events like the Grafton Downriver Canoe Race, Holidaze 4th of July Celebration, the Grafton Grand Prix and the Grafton Christmas Parade, there is always a fun event to look forward to. With Grafton´s excellent public school system and three parochial grade schools, and the reliable police, fire and emergency force, Grafton is a great place to call home!
Port Washington
Port Washington is a lovely town with a friendly, casual atmosphere, located on the shores of Lake Michigan.The city is known for its harbor and great commercial and sport fishing.It is a city with festivals such as Fish Day, which attracts many tourists to Port Washington´s easygoing lifestyle and fresh air. Maritime activities and boat races during the summer and lake fishing during fall make the lakefront a popular place to go. There are diverse housing choices, from beautiful historical homes, to new construction, or condos.Port Washington boasts the largest collection of pre-Civil War buildings in Wisconsin, most of which are located downtown.Enjoy a lake view from one of the downtown hotels, and walk to specialty shops and choose from many area restaurants.
Freistadt
Freistadt is a small community settled back in 1839 by immigrants of Pomerania (later Germany). The TrinityEvangelicalLutheranChurch, the oldest Lutheran church in Wisconsin, is also located there. Freistadt is now a part of Mequon.
Historic Hamilton
Hamilton an 1840´s community located along the Green Bay Ethnic Trail, is a state historical site and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Suakville
Come meet Saukville today and join in our many celebrations including the popular Crossroads Rendezvous in May which transports the visitor back in time to vividly relive history. Our patriotic July Fourth festivities include an old-fashioned parade and delicious food, concluding a fun-filled day of activities with a spectacular fireworks display. Saukville in September weekend starts with Family Fun Day on Saturday and continues on Sunday by recalling the not-so-distant past at our classic Saukville Fire Department/Pleasant Valley Auto Show.
Take a moment to discover many other attractions in and around Saukville. Riveredge Nature Center is a peaceful wildlife sanctuary where visitors can view wildlife, hike and renew the spirit. Arnold Palmer's wonderfully designed golf course, The Bog, has 18 holes surrounded by beautiful rolling hills and natural wooded areas. Pioneer Village, a living history museum, allow visitors to experience a rural village of the past with over 20 unique buildings nestled in a rolling hillside setting. Enjoy fishing, wading and picnicking at one of the many great parks. For more information call (262) 268-1970
Fredonia
The village of Fredonia lies between Hwy. 57 and the Milwaukee River on County Hwy. H. Nestled within its rolling hills, a variety of architecture can be found from the 1800s to the present, housing a population of 2,200 friendly residents.
The seeds of the village were planted in 1872, when the area, formerly known as Stony Creek, was donated by Peter Martin and Peter Paulus to the Milwaukee and Northern Railway Corporation for the railroad tracks and a depot. The name Fredonia, which means "free gifts" or "the land where things are done freely," was chosen.
Today, Fredonia is a thriving community sporting an industrial park, fine school system, new home developments, and the rural charm of yesteryear. Come visit and enjoy a relaxing day in Fredonia or one of our many interesting events.
Stony Hill School, in the town of Fredonia (Waubeka area), is the "birthplace of National Flag Day". This is just north of Ozaukee County Pioneer Village, on Hwy. I, and is a great part of the tourist loop.
Waubeka
Waubeka is home to the National Flag Day Foundation Americanism Center. The center´s 13,000 square foot building sits on fifteen acres of land. The center offers the Avenue of Flags, which displays all 27 star configurations of The American Flag, a commemorative outdoor courtyard and a full museum featuring military and local memorabilia. The museum includes a room devoted to Bernard J. Cigrand, the Father of Flag Day. The museum is open on the third Sunday of each month from 1-4 p.m. or by appointment.
The Flag Day Foundation is a nonprofit organization which teaches Americanism. The Foundation hosts several events each year. Don´t miss the main event ? the National Observance of Flag Day held the second Sunday in June. The observance includes a program at Cigrand Memorial in Waubeka, a 100 unit Parade, Family day with Music, refreshments and activities and Fireworks at the Americanism Center. The Foundation also holds a Valentine Dinner, Auction Event.
Enjoy Waubeka´s rich history anytime by walking, driving or biking the self guided Chief Waubeka Trail.
OzaukeeCounty dedicated the OZAUKEE INTERURBAN TRAIL, its first multi-purpose commuter and recreational trail, on September 28, 2002. This trail follows the old interurban electric railway that ran from Downtown Milwaukee to Downtown Sheboygan. The new Ozaukee Interurban Trail runs from the Milwaukee County-line to the Sheboygan County-line, connecting to OzaukeeCounty's parks, historic sites, restaurants, shops and other areas of interest along the way. Allowable uses on the Ozaukee Interurban Trail include pedestrians, bicyclists, in-line skaters, cross-country skiers, wildlife viewers, and other NON-MOTOR VEHICLE users. The entire Trail is asphalt paved.
The route of the Ozaukee Interurban Trail is based on the Interurban railway that connected OzaukeeCounty to the City of Milwaukee and Sheboygan.
In 1922, the right-of-way was acquired by The Milwaukee Electric Railway and Light Company for development of an improved rapid transit service from Milwaukee to Sheboygan. The Northern Route, the interurban electric railway from Milwaukee to Sheboygan since 1908, had stops in the mostly rural communities of Brown Deer, Thiensville, Cedarburg, Grafton, Port Washington, Belgium, Cedar Grove, Oostburg and Sheboygan.
This rapid transit was an electric railway system linking Milwaukee and many of the surrounding communities from its inception in 1905 to the end of all operations in 1951.
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During its operation, the Northern Route of the interurban line was also made famous for transporting African-American blues musicians to the main recording studio for Paramount Records recording label in Port Washington and ultimately in Grafton, Wisconsin. The idea of African-American artists from the rural South traveling to Grafton, Wisconsin in the late 1920s and early 1930s by taking the "electric train" seems fantastic.
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Historic Interurban Rail Car
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Today, the Ozaukee Interurban Trail is a 30-mile paved trail that spans the entire length of OzaukeeCounty. The majority of the Trail is off-road and perfect for family enjoyment.
The Trail connects the Ozaukee communities of Mequon, Thiensville, Cedarburg, Grafton, Port Washington and Belgium by using the existing right-of-way owned by We Energies. The Trail can be used as a commuter route for employment, businesses, industry, and commerce.
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Trail bridge over the MilwaukeeRiver in Grafton
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Unlike many recreational trails in the State of Wisconsin, use of the Ozaukee Interurban Trail is free for everyone.
The trail is intended for year round uses, such as biking, in-line skating, walking, running and cross-country skiing. Motorized vehicles including snowmobiles, and horses are not allowed on the trail.
The Trail route connects historic downtowns with natural landscapes. Views along the Trail include hardwood woodlands, wetlands, farmlands, Cedar Creek, the MilwaukeeRiver, Lake Michigan and it is designated as a "Great Wisconsin Birding Trail."
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