How to spend a day in the charming Village of Sussex, Wisconsin

The Village of Sussex, Wisconsin, is the charming town you never knew you needed. Here’s how to spend a day there, from hiking the town’s trails to eating its best food.

When people hear the name Sussex, they likely think of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex; however, for those of us in Wisconsin, the name Sussex invokes a quaint, charming town that deserves more respect—and visitors.

The locale, officially named the Village of Sussex, was settled in the middle of the nineteenth century, with schools, churches, and businesses beginning to pop up between the 1840s and 1870s, per the village’s official website. Then, once the railroad came to town, access to Sussex grew, and the rest is history, as they say.

If you’re looking for a day getaway, especially if you’re from a busier city like Milwaukee or Madison, Sussex is the place for you. This village has plenty of activities and food to get you through a day that will get your mind off of any stressors that have been bringing you down. Or perhaps you’re from a neighboring town and simply want to hop over for the day—Sussex has you covered, too. Without further ado, here’s our itinerary for spending a perfect day in the Village of Sussex. 

Start your day at Sussex’s premier café

Sussex may be near Milwaukee, but you don’t need to head into the city to find good coffee. No, this village has an immaculate java hub. Loca Latte, located on Main St., serves up high-quality drinks and dishes with the goal of putting a smile on your face while simultaneously fueling you for the day ahead. Plus, the café’s vibe is inviting, and it’s a great spot to hang out, recharge, meet friends, and generally mingle.

On the menu, you’ll find a variety of drinks, including smoothies, lattes, americanos, chai, matcha, hot chocolate, and more. You’ll also see a number of soups, salads, and sandwiches, such as the hearty Farmer’s Breakfast that’s full of protein and veggies. It’s safe to say this is a convenient and reliable one-stop shop for coffee and breakfast (or an easy brunch). 

Loca Latte not sounding swell? No problem—Sussex is situated in a cluster of small towns, and just a few miles away in the neighboring Pewaukee is a coffee shop by the name of Brewers Two Cafe. This shop specializes in coffee drinks and sandwiches, and it typically features a seasonal scone, which is the Maple Walnut Scone at the time of writing. What sets Brewers Two Cafe apart from other local coffee shops is its wider menu, with it boasting a series of coffeehouse milkshakes (Espresso Shakes and Chai Shakes, for example), daily rotating handmade pastries, and more variety of breakfast and lunch dishes. Personally, we’d stop by on a Saturday for the Strawberry Shortcake Scone, but which pastries you chase are totally up to you, of course.

A warm fire outside of Loca Latte in Sussex, Wisc. (Loca Latte)

Take your time on Sussex’s trails

Once you’ve fueled up at Loca Latte or Brewers Two Cafe, we recommend doing a spot of walking, especially if visiting during the spring or fall when the morning temperatures will be a touch cooler. According to the Village of Sussex’s website, there are three main trails in the area: the Bugline Trail, the Corky Curtis Trail, and the Nancy A. Whalen Trail. A fourth, the Dennis Wolf Trail, is under construction and will provide another option for residents and visitors alike once it’s completed. The Bugline Trail and Nancy A. Whalen Trail lead you through more wilderness, while the Corky Curtis Trail is more residential. If you’re looking for a long hike, the Bugline Trail is for you, as it’s an impressive 16 miles long. 

Refuel at one of Sussex’s best lunch spots

Sussex may just be one of those Wisconsin town names that’ll make you blush because of its correlation with the British royal family, but we’ll bet that these lunch spots will make you blush even harder. Your first great option is a laid-back yet elevated diner-style spot named “the” Kitchen that’s located right on Main St. Here, you can get everything from breakfast fare to steak, even for lunch, with “the” Kitchen being open to 2 p.m. on most days (and even later on Fridays and Saturdays). More specifically, you can grub on omelets, skillets, burgers, sandwiches, fried or baked fish, and so much more. “The” Kitchen is even known to serve pad Thai!

A second excellent lunch option in Sussex is The GOAT Bar & Grill. This restaurant prides itself on serving homemade dishes and desserts, and that passion and quality extend to its cocktails and other drinks, too. Upscale food at an affordable price? Sign us up. What’s more, The GOAT Bar & Grill has comfortable indoor seating and pleasant outdoor seating, so no matter the time of year you visit Sussex, you can enjoy some scrumptious food in a friendly atmosphere.

On the menu here, you’ll find everything from Seared Scallops and Stuffed Mushrooms to Grilled Eggplant Involtini and Baked French Onion Soup—and that’s before getting into The GOAT’s flatbreads, fishy Friday specials, and more. If you head here, just make sure you stay for the Chocolate Mousse Cake with Raspberry Couli and Mint Oil (and thank us later).

Two paths diverged on a Sussex day

At this point in the day, you’ve gotten the bulk of your cardio out of the way and have refueled. Now, you have a couple of options. The first is to head to Skin 360 Spa & Beauty for some sweet, sweet TLC. Booking an appointment ahead of time is always great, especially if you know you want to go to the spa after lunch, but who knows—maybe fate will be on your side and an opening will be available the day of your trip?

Skin 360 Spa & Beauty is worth a visit because it offers a wide variety of services, with one surely being guaranteed to jump out at you. Celluma LED Light Therapy? A Blackberry Vanilla Bean Facial? Henna Eyebrow tinting? The options are endless, and the owner, Shannon, seems to be beloved in Sussex, with the spa’s Google reviews overwhelmingly noting that she provides excellent results. No wonder the spa has a perfect 5-star rating based on nearly 100 reviews. “If you are looking for a good aesthetician, Shannon is a great choice. She is very knowledgeable and great to work with and she has a very calming presence to her,” one reviewer wrote.

On the flip side, if you’re hungry for more adventure after your midday refuel, you can hit up one of Sussex’s sports venues. Just note that you’ll need to plan ahead for this and bring any gear, like a baseball with a bat or a disc golf disc, with you. If this is the path you choose between lunch and dinner, you have a few options: You can visit Sussex’s 18-Hole Disc Golf Course, which is open from sunrise to sunset, or the Village Park Diamonds for some batting fun. In the winter, you have an extra option: the Sussex Civic Center’s ice rink, which opens for the season in mid-December each year and is visitable from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day of the week. Just make sure you bring your own skates, as none will be provided for you.

Dig into a delicious dinner in Sussex (and then get back to the fun)

The GOAT Bar & Grill is open for dinner, and with the menu looking as tempting as it does, we wouldn’t blame you if you went back for seconds. However, if you’re looking for another hot restaurant to try, you should consider Thirsty Duck Sussex, which is only open in the late afternoon and evening. This is another laid-back gem that’s serving drinks that are equally as good as its food. On the menu, you’ll find elevated pub fare, including Buffalo Chicken Mac, Fish Tacos, Reuben Rolls, and BBQ Pulled Pork sandwiches, though this is truly only the beginning. At the bar, you’ll find all the classic beers and canned vodka seltzers that your heart desires, but we’re here to talk about specialty drinks. For instance, the Sour Patch Kid is a real sweet-and-sour zinger, while the Winter Warmer perfectly melds Fireball with ginger, lime, and pineapple. We’ll take one of each!

That said, the real star—or should we say stars—of the show at Thirsty Duck Sussex is the 18 mini bowling lanes that guests can play with. According to the restaurant’s website, the lanes are ¾ smaller than traditional bowling lanes, but you play with them the same way you would at a regular bowling alley. If dinner, drinks, and a show are what you crave—and a healthy dose of competition has never been a problem for you—this is the spot for you.

If mini bowling isn’t your MO, that’s okay because Sussex also has a full-sized alley called Sussex Bowl, also located on Main St. Sussex Bowl isn’t all bowling, though. Guests can also play a vigorous game of pool, sing a round of karaoke, and dig their heels in the ground during a riveting game of sand volleyball. Did we mention that Sussex Bowl even hosts car shows? Truly, it’s the jack-of-all-trades business in the Village of Sussex.

Cool off and unwind at Sussex’s Splash Pad

By this point, you’ve had a long day, and you’re surely plum-tuckered out. Plus, you’re now full, and you might’ve had a drink or two, too. What better way is there to end a day than to relax under some refreshing rain water, especially when no actual rain is needed?

That’s where Sussex’s Splash Pad comes in. From 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day from Memorial Day to Labor Day—so, yes, this item on the itinerary is dependent on visiting during the summer—you can kick off your shoes and enjoy a carefree, childlike jaunt under the water, blazing sunset and fireflies included. The Splash Pad is located at The Grove at Village Park, and according to the village’s website, there are separate sections for folks who want to play in the water and those who just want to relax. So, whatever you’re looking for at the end of your one-day getaway, you should be able to find it here.

Become the Duke or Duchess of Sussex for a night at one of these properties

But what if you don’t want to stay for just one night? We wouldn’t blame you if you had so much fun that you want to add a second day to your itinerary—or if you’re simply too worn out to travel home after your exciting day. If that’s the case, consider booking a room at a local hotel or a property on Airbnb.

For example, the Garden Retreat In-Law Suite on Airbnb is a stunning property studded with sunflowers and greenery, and it has in-unit laundry facilities for any and all impromptu overnighting needs. The property has a 4.9-star rating on the rental site, with previous guests praising the cleanliness of the suite and the friendliness of the owners. 

If you’re more into hotels than Airbnbs, we understand—and we’re happy to report that a super-cute option is just a few miles away in Pewaukee. The Ingleside Hotel perfectly blends natural aesthetics with opulent cleanliness, which sets it apart from huge hotel conglomerates while still giving you everything you’d expect from a mid-tier hotel. At the time of writing, rooms at The Ingleside Hotel are going for $119 per night—not too bad for a last-minute stay!

This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.