Tucked away in the southeastern corner of Wisconsin, right up against the shore of Lake Michigan, is Racine, the Belle City. Why the Belle City, you ask? Belle, meaning beautiful in French, is a longstanding testament to how lovely this lakeside city has always been.

We’re known for quite a few things: our kringle, cheering on one of the four original teams in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (the Racine Belles), and, of course, being a drive-through city that sits between Milwaukee and the Illinois border—but there’s much more to Racine than that. For example, USA Today cited the city as one of the top 10 places in the country to spend Independence Day!

Although a single weekend couldn’t possibly cover all Racine has to offer, we put together a weekend guide with suggestions of a few places to visit when you’re in town. Can’t make them all at once? No worries, it’s always tons of fun when you stop by the Belle City.

Friday, July 3

The Fourth of July in the Belle City is a pretty big deal. We celebrate with all kinds of Fourth fun, along with plenty of fun summer pastimes. But before you go, make sure you have somewhere to stay—for easy access to downtown and beautiful views of the Lake, check out Hotel Verdant.

Book a stay at Hotel Verdant in the heart of downtown Racine

This gorgeous brick building in the heart of downtown Racine is a newer hotel, but this isn’t new construction—it’s been around since 1898. During your stay at Hotel Verdant (at 500 Main Street), you can bring your furry friend (it’s dog-friendly!), borrow a bike to take a ride around town, and so much more. You’ll especially love the in-house restaurant and rooftop bar.

EAVE (Rooftop Bar)

Enjoy panoramic sights of the whole city from Hotel Verdant’s rooftop bar, Eave. Normally, you don’t have to stay at the hotel to make a stop at the top and enjoy craft cocktails in an elevated lounge setting; however, there is a special Fourth of July event, exclusive to visitors who have booked a stay at the hotel (the day of, not the entire weekend).

Enjoy drinks on the rooftop bar at EAVE while taking in a view of downtown Racine. (Image by author)

Marguerite

The hotel’s on-site restaurant, Margiertie serves delectable home-style Italian dishes you won’t want to miss. It offers Continental breakfast, lunch, and dinner, as well as brunch on the weekends.

Check out First Fridays: “Red, White, & Blues”

From themes like Summer Bash to Scoop the Loop, and more, no one does First Friday themes like downtown Racine. Fitting for the Fourth of July weekend, stop by the Red, White & Blues free First Friday event in the evening, anytime between 4 p.m. and 9 p.m.

For those who have never been, First Fridays in Racine include live music in Monument Square, the Creative Crawl featuring hands-on activities and art demos, and local boutique shops with doors wide open for everyone to enjoy.

Reserve a table at a local spot

Stroll down Main Street and beyond, and you’re bound to run into a local restaurant for tasty bites. From burgers and steaks to Spanish dishes and international cuisine, there is something for everyone to enjoy.

Salute Italian Restaurant

314 Main Street

Since 1992, Salute has been serving up authentic, freshly made Italian dishes that Racineans rave about. You can find pizza, handmade pasta, salad, delicious desserts, and more.

The Salute sign at Salute Italian Restaurant in Racine. (Salute Facebook)

Olde Madrid

418 6th Street

One of my personal favorite downtown restaurants is Olde Madrid, because no one does family-style dining as well as they do. Order tapas for two (smaller dishes) or a paella for the whole table (more of a main course). Be warned—because this place is such a popular spot, call ahead to see if there’s a wait or if you can grab a table.

Olde Madrid won a Best of Racine County award in 2025. (Olde Madrid Facebook)

Vero International Cuisine

211 6th Street

The menu at Vero International Cuisine features exotic bites and authentic African tastes. The menu has something for everyone, breaking down the options into land-grazing, water-dwelling, earth-growing, and air-flying food and signature drinks. Recently, the restaurant has expanded and also opened a tea room.

Saturday, July 4

Saturdays are for long, lovely walks along the Lake Michigan shore, but there is even more fun in store as the day goes on. Celebrate America’s 250th birthday with lots of fun around town, including one of the largest Fourth of July parades in Wisconsin, the local farmers market, fireworks, and more.

Enjoy the annual 4th Fest parade

Since 1937, Racine has held an annual Fourth of July parade. But the city first marked the holiday with this celebration in 1844, making it one of the oldest parades in Wisconsin.

This year, the pre-parade kicks off at 8:30 a.m., with the parade starting at 9 a.m. Snag a spot somewhere along the route: from Goold Street to the turn at 14th Street.

Shop the Racine Farmers Market on the Lake

If the parade isn’t your thing, stop by the farmers market on the lake. This new event features produce from local farmers, over 60 community vendors, a new theme every weekend, live music, and more.

Promotional flier for Racine Farmers Market on the Lake. (Racine Farmers Market)

Have a battle of the best pizza for dinner

There are plenty of great pizza places around town. However, three spots the locals love are Infusino, DeRango, and Wells Brothers.

Infusino’s Pizzeria (West) or Infusino’s Restaurant & Pizzeria

3301 Washington Avenue or 3225 Rapids Drive

Since the 1970s, Infusino’s has been serving the Racine community with delicious pizza and other classic Italian dishes. The tradition began at the location in West Racine, and later expanded to a second location and banquet hall.

DeRango The Pizza King (Racine West) or DeRango’s Pizza Delivery

3114 Washington Avenue or 6100 Washington Avenue

For over six decades, DeRango’s has been the place to go for thick crust, thin crust, and everything in between. If you’re looking to dine in, stop by the West Racine location—if you want to pick up or delivery, the other location is the place to go.

Wells Brothers Italian Restaurant

2148 Mead Street

Wells Brothers Italian Restaurant is a 100+-year-old tradition that’s been passed down through four generations. The winner of several awards, with an Italian menu featuring pizza, Italian specialties, and more, Wells Brothers never disappoints.

Sunday, July 5

Wrap up your stay in the Belle City with brunch and a stroll along the Root River Pathway, and make sure to stop for some kringle to take home (if you manage not to snack all the way home).

Munch on brunch at the Maple Table

420 Main Street

Just down the street from Hotel Verdant, in Monument Square, you’ll find The Maple Table—a newer but already beloved brunch and lunch spot in Racine. The restaurant prides itself on sourcing local ingredients, having a wide variety of menu options (including vegan, gluten-free, and vegetarian), and, of course, its mimosa flights.

Stroll along the Root River Pathway

Racine is home to many great walking and biking trails. Before you leave town, if you’re looking for a scenic route to stroll along, the Root River Pathway is a lovely option that stretches four miles along the Root River.

Get kringle to go

But before you hit the road, there’s one more stop in Racine you must make: to get a kringle (or a few). Danish kringle roots run deep in Racine, which means we’ve got the absolute best around. Sometimes you can find a kringle at the grocery store, but the best place to pick one up is fresh from the bakery.

Two of our best-known shops are O&H Danish Bakery and Bendtsen’s Bakery—both are open bright and early. O&H is open seven days a week, while Bendtsen’s is open Monday through Saturday.