Just Walk It In Downtown Kenosha
Downtown Kenosha is very walkable. You can park your vehicle in one place to explore. You can also take the train here; the Metra Union Pacific North Line travels between Chicago and Kenosha. Or you can use another form of transportation – all with the knowledge that our sidewalks are lined with much to see and do as you traverse the area.
Take in the views! Enjoy the window displays of the boutique shops and art galleries. Go beyond window shopping and stop in to see what our local shopkeepers and artists have in store for you!
Some of the sidewalks are also shared by restaurant patrons. It’s still outdoor dining season for a bit longer – so pull up a seat and have a beverage or meal at a local diner, restaurant, or craft brewery. People watch as you enjoy a tasty meal!
Stroll the Lakeside Promenade in HarborPark. You can’t get much closer to Lake Michigan or the harbor unless you are in the water! Watch the fishing and boating activities. The walkway also goes by the Sculpture Walk, where a dozen works of art can be enjoyed. There are new pieces that were installed this past fall in 2022!
Public art can be spotted throughout Downtown. There are a variety of sculptures – from the early ones like the Kenosha County Soldier’s Monument Winged Victory and the Lincoln Statue that were both raised in Library Park in the early 1900s to the more recent ones like the Winter Dance Party Sculpture, which went up at Southport Marina earlier this summer. There are also many colorful murals on the sides of buildings. Each one has an artist and story behind the art.
Are you a history buff?
If history and architecture are up your alley, you’ll enjoy walking through Kenosha’s four historic districts. Did you know actor, writer, director, and producer Orson Welles was born in Kenosha? A plaque sits in front of his birthplace in the Library Park Historic District. In the same historic district is a bronze plaque that marks the original site of an Underground Railroad Station. Each district has its own guide; go to VisitKenosha.com/Historic to download.
If you want to rest your feet as you explore Downtown, there are benches along the harbor and in the parks. Plus, you can always pay a fare ($1 and under) and hop aboard an authentic Electric Streetcar for a scenic ride.
By the way, the Pike Bike Trail crosses through Downtown, between the Third Avenue Historic District and Simmons Island. Also on Simmons Island, a boardwalk on Simmons Island Beach connects the beach to the pier where the North Pier Lighthouse stands 50 feet tall over the harbor.
Put on your walkin’ shoes and check out Downtown Kenosha!
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(This article first appeared in the Fall 2022 Downtown Kenosha Magazine)
Editorial by Meridith Jumisko of Visit Kenosha
Photos by Visit Kenosha & Jeffery Grimes