The Wausau area is a great place for families to visit, even in the winter!
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Go Snow Tubing at Sylvan Hill
📍 1329 Sylvan St, Wausau, WI 54403
Tubing at Sylvan Hill is a great option for winter visitors to the Wausau area who love an adventure! Kids who are taller than 42” (minimum height requirement) will be thrilled to zoom down multiple runs at top speed).
When you arrive at Sylvan Hill, pay for your tickets at the chalet (tubing fees apply at youth and adult rates, discounts for groups), head to the hills, grab a tube, get pulled up with the tow-line, get dumped off at the top, scramble over to the run of your choice, attach your tube to your family members or choose to go solo, get the “all clear” from the attendant, and rocket down the hill!
📍 195 N 2nd Street, Wausau, WI, 54403
If you need a break from the cold and have young children, the Children's Imaginarium is the perfect destination! Opened in Fall 2023, the Imaginarium is a place dedicated to creating a space for children to learn, parents to engage, and families to connect. Kids can climb, build, and engage in creative play. The layout makes it easy to keep an eye on your joyful kid while not having to run after them every second. You can also host your birthday or other events there.
There are many ice rinks to choose from in the Wausau area! If you don’t have your own skates, you’ll need to choose between the two indoor rinks at Greenheck Field House (skating and rental fees apply) and Marathon Park (skating and rental fees apply). It’s free to skate at an outdoor rink, but check ahead of time to make sure it’s open!
📍 400 Block – Outdoor: 401 N Third St, Wausau, WI 54403 (pictured)
📍 Doepke Park – Outdoor: 151414 Highway N, Rib Mountain, WI 54401
📍 George Street Park – Outdoor: 707 George St, Rothschild, WI 54474
📍 Greenheck Field House – Indoor: 6400 Alderson St, Weston, WI 54476
📍 Kennedy Park – Outdoor: 2201 Neupert Ave, Weston, WI 54476
📍 Marathon Park – Indoor: 1201 Stewart Ave, Wausau, WI 54401
📍 Thom Field – Outdoor: 1700 N 13th St, Wausau, WI 54403
📍 1300 N River Dr, Wausau, WI 54403
Is it really cold outside? Do your kids need to burn off some energy? Head on over to Wausau on the Water (WOW)! They have an arcade, laser tag, and a pub with something for the whole family. The 6,000-square-foot, multi-level laser tag course is sure to be a blast for the whole family.
👉 In the summer, this location also has a great outdoor patio!
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Explore the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum
📍 700 N 12th St, Wausau, WI 54403
If your kids have never been to an art museum before, then taking them to the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum would be a great introduction! The museum was one of only two art museums in the country to win a National Medal in 2017 and has an internationally renowned Birds in Art exhibition each fall, but it also manages to include features that are appealing to kids and families! After you wander the main floor galleries, make sure to visit Art Park on the lower-level which includes hands-on activities, crafts, toys, and books!
👉 When there’s not snow on the ground, leave time to check out the sculptures on the roof-top patio and in the lush gardens! Little kids will love that they can touch the frog and hippo sculptures.
📍 227200 Snowbird Dr, Wausau, WI 54401
Located on Rib Mountain, Granite Peak Ski Area is one of the Midwest's top ski areas with 7 lifts, 55 trails, 4 progressive terrain parks, and 4 mogul runs. The 700 foot vertical drop at Granite Peak is Wisconsin’s longest! On weekends, families can sign their kids up for the youth ski program with 2-hour and full-day options.
Roll through winter scapes on a fat tire bike. Thanks to Central Wisconsin Offroad Cycling Coalition (CWOCC), the area now has 5 winter fat-bike trail systems with over 30 miles of groomed snow trails. Accessible trails are located at Big Eau Plaine County Park, Sunny Vale County Park, Greenwood Hills Country Club, Underdown Recreation Area, and now Nine Mile Recreation Area. New to winter fat tire biking? Rent a bike from Rib Mountain Cycles or The Trek Store of Wausau to give it a try.
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Go Cross-Country Skiing or Snowshoeing at Nine Mile County Forest
📍 221700 Red Bud Rd, Wausau, WI 54401
Whether your family members are avid skiers or new to the sport, you’ll have a fun time exploring the trails that range from a 0.5 mile Kids Loop to the marked 20 kilometer loop. (There are over 30 km of trails in all!) A unique and fun activity at Nine Mile County Forest is the 1.7 mile Cookie Trail! To participate, pick up a punch card at the chalet, punch the card at every mailbox along the route, and return the card to the chalet for a free treat! An adult day pass is $13, $9 for youth, and a complete equipment rental is $15 ($10 for youth).
👉 Families with young kids can enjoy the “Over and Under” Trail Tale book while skiing or snowshoeing. It starts near the chalet and is spread along the Kids Loop trail.
