Get inspired for your visit...
Fort "Bucket List" of Must-dos
Featured Video: The LoveNesters
Featured Video: The LoveNesters
Whether you're spending a night or a week in Fort, there are several "must-do" activities you won't want to miss!
Featured Video: The LoveNesters
Featured Video: The LoveNesters
Featured Video: The LoveNesters
The Lovenesters, a travel blogging couple from Wisconsin, recently toured Fort Atkinson!
Featured Video: Local History
Featured Video: The LoveNesters
Featured Video: Local History
Discover Wisconsin recently featured the unique history of Jefferson County, including a deep-dive into Fort Atkinson's dairy history.
Plan your visit to Fort Atkinson
Travel & Lodging
Parks & Natural Areas
Festivals & Events
Whatever style of lodging you prefer, we've got you covered! Select your lodging here.
Festivals & Events
Parks & Natural Areas
Festivals & Events
Fort is filled with festivals throughout the year. From wine walks and food truck festivals to concerts and athletic events, we find ways to celebrate nearly every weekend! See our calendar of events.
Parks & Natural Areas
Parks & Natural Areas
Parks & Natural Areas
Hike at Dorothy Carnes Park, boat on the Rock River or in nearby Lake Koshkonong, or bike our miles of trails. In the winter, skate at Haumerson's Pond or get an adrenaline rush on our snowmobile trails.
Dining
Kayaking
History
We have delicious and unique dining options galore! With countless casual and fine dining choices, we have the flavors to make your mouth water, from sushi and pizza to fish fries and prime rib.
History
Kayaking
History
From walking tours down historic Merchants Avenue to a trip to our Panther Intaglio, the rich of history of Fort Atkinson promises to delight Wisconsin history enthusiasts.
Kayaking
Kayaking
Kayaking
View a map of the best kayak drop spots in the Fort Atkinson area and around Jefferson County. You can also rent a kayak or canoe.
Shopping
Fort Facts & Folklore
Fort Facts & Folklore
From the Fireside's famed giftshops and the Jones Dairy Market, to Blodgett Garden Center's wide variety of seasonal and pet gifts, to our quaint downtown antique, vintage, clothing, home, and gift shops, to our seasonal Farmer's Market and Holiday Market each December, Fort Atkinson is a shopper's paradise!
Fort Facts & Folklore
Fort Facts & Folklore
Fort Facts & Folklore
Fort Atkinson has connections to both Queen Elizabeth and Abraham Lincoln. Hoard's Dairyman magazine started here. We're the ‘Intersectional Peony City of Wisconsin’ in honor of Roger and Sandra Anderson’s work with intersectional peonies.
Plan Your Wedding
Fort Facts & Folklore
Plan Your Wedding
Whether you're looking for an elegant, formal affair or something more casual, we have the venues and event planning options to make your special day absolutely perfect. See a comprehensive list of venues, photographers, cake bakers, DJs, and more here.
Biking & Biking Events
Biking & Biking Events
Biking & Biking Events
The scenic 31.5-mile Glacial River Bike Trail runs through our downtown and leads riders past farms, bronze sculptures, prairies, streams, and through a wooden covered bridge. See all our biking events and news here.
Birding
Biking & Biking Events
Biking & Biking Events
Thure Kumlien, 19th century ornithologist, studied birds on the shores of Lake Koshkonong. These days, birdwatching opportunities abound at Jefferson Tamarack Swamp, Adam Birding Conservancy, Red Cedar Lake Waterfowl Production Area, and Dorothy Carnes Park. Learn more here or explore the Rock River Birding Trail. See taxidermized birds at the Hoard Museum's bird room exhibit.
Live Music
Biking & Biking Events
Live Music
From free weekly summer charity concerts at Barrie Park, to live music at the Island Bar, or intimate shows at Cafe Carpe, Fort Atkinson's live music scene has something for everyone!
Riverwalk
Jefferson County Attractions
The Fireside Dinner Theatre
Stroll along the Rock River and take our beautiful pedestrian and bicycle bridge over the river for a sparkling view upstream and down. Our beautiful riverwalk is the perfect location for wedding, senior, and candid photos!
The Fireside Dinner Theatre
Jefferson County Attractions
The Fireside Dinner Theatre
Folks from around the Midwest and beyond have been coming to Fort Atkinson's famed Fireside Theatre for dinner and a show for decades. This is a must-see stop for travelers and locals alike.
Jefferson County Attractions
Jefferson County Attractions
Jefferson County Attractions
Use Fort Atkinson as your home base and explore countless attractions a short drive away. Whether you're in the mood to skydive, take a self-guided barn quilt tour, or paddle up river for a stop at quirky Goat Island, unique adventures will find you at every turn in the river or road.
Famed Poet Lorine Niedecker
Famed Poet Lorine Niedecker
Famed Poet Lorine Niedecker
From murals of her poetry to an extensive display at our library, Fort Atkinson gleams with pride for Lorine Niedecker. Her Blackhawk Island cottage is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Though closed to the public, you can still visit the grounds today.
Dairy History
Famed Poet Lorine Niedecker
Famed Poet Lorine Niedecker
Fort Atkinson is the home of the National Dairy Shrine and the Dairy Shrine Museum (located within the Hoard Museum), Hoard's Dairyman farm magazine (established in 1885 and still the leading dairy magazine), and home of Charles Rockwell and William Dempster Hoard.
Holiday Market & Open House
Famed Poet Lorine Niedecker
Holiday Market & Open House
The first weekend in December is always a special time in Fort! Enjoy our annual Holiday Market, Open House, trolley and carriage rides, strolling carolers, and much more!
EVEN MORE TO DO, FIFTEEN MINUTES OR LESS FROM FORT ATKINSON
Milton House Museum
Aztalan and Rock Lake, Lake Mills
Aztalan and Rock Lake, Lake Mills
The Milton House Museum is the only remaining certified stop on the Underground Railroad in Wisconsin that can still be toured today. Milton House photo credit: https://miltonhouse.org/
Aztalan and Rock Lake, Lake Mills
Aztalan and Rock Lake, Lake Mills
Aztalan and Rock Lake, Lake Mills
Rock Lake and Aztalan in Lake Mills are magical, mysterious destinations you shouldn't miss. This History's Greatest Mysteries episode dives deep to uncover the answers to the mysteries surrounding these locations.
Goat Island, Jefferson
Aztalan and Rock Lake, Lake Mills
Goat Island, Jefferson
Save the date for Goat Fest 2023: August 5, 2023! Learn more about this quirky destination that is accessible only by water here or here.
See Fort Atkinson from above!
Lincoln Hill at Cold Spring Park
Lincoln Hill at Cold Spring Park
Wisconsin Skydiving Center is just a few minutes outside of Fort Atkinson, on Hwy K. With more than 55 years of combined skydiving experience, owners Bo Babovic and Alex Kolacio are dedicated to providing every student with the best skydiving experience possible.
Lincoln Hill at Cold Spring Park
Lincoln Hill at Cold Spring Park
Lincoln Hill at Cold Spring Park
Just an eight-minute drive from Fort Atkinson, Cold Spring Creamery County Park provides the perfect spot to relax, enjoy a picnic, and visit Lincoln Hill, where President Lincoln spent the night in the summer of 1832 after his horse was stolen! Photo credit: www.jeffersoncountywi.gov
Burnt Village County Park
Lincoln Hill at Cold Spring Park
Burnt Village County Park
Burnt Village County Park is a popular site on the lower Bark River for launching small boats, canoes and kayaks, and for shore fishing. It's also a well known Historic Site, once being home to a Native American village and later a Federal Soldier encampment during the Blackhawk War of 1832. View a Jefferson County waterways map here. Photo credit: www.jeffersoncountywi.gov