Hanging out in Exploratory Park at Wisconsin State Fair: The Milwaukee Record Review

The Wisconsin State Fair is wonderful, but the Wisconsin State Fair can be a bit of a madhouse.

There are tens of thousands of people. There are tens of thousands of animals. There are miles upon miles of punishing concrete. Even when it’s a pleasant 70 degrees outside, it somehow feels like it’s 100. There are food stands, bands, vendors, rides, and people—so many people. Did we mention the tens of thousands of people?

But tucked away on the southwest corner of the park, flanked by the beloved Dairy Building and the imposing Exposition Center, is a respite from all the delightful madness. An offline oasis, a wooded wonderland, a peaceful pitstop where you can clear your mind and maybe get some information on renewing your hunting or fishing license.

Welcome to the Wisconsin State Fair’s Exploratory Park.

The park is capped on both sides with log cabin-esque buildings. In one, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) offers up oodles of information on, well, the state’s natural resources. The cabin is highlighted by a live fish tank filled with Wisconsin species (shout-out to the muskies), and a host of Wisconsin-species fish mounts (shout-out to the muskies).

In the south cabin you’ll find a State Fair history museum. Old posters, old displays, and giant cream puff sculptures all shed light on the Fair’s 175-year history. It feels like Milwaukee historian John Gurda could appear at any moment.

But the real draw of Exploratory Park is the path connecting those cabins. There are no livestock barns or seas of sweaty humanity here. Instead, you’ll find a meandering path of greenery, ponds, garden displays, wooden benches, bag toss games, playgrounds and sandboxes for the kids, and unexpected hideouts.

It’s all human-made, of course (one of State Fair’s 1,000 parking lots is just beyond a fence), but it’s a wonderful consideration for those looking for a break. It’s serene, it’s surprisingly large, and it’s simply lovely.