Pedaling Port: A Weekend on the Interurban Trail
Port Washington, Wisconsin, with its charming harbor, delightful shops, and scenic Lake Michigan views, is not only a hidden gem on the Wisconsin coast but also an excellent place for a biking weekend adventure. Located in Ozaukee County, Port Washington offers a diverse range of experiences, from exploring historic downtown streets to fishing to immersing yourself in nature along the Ozaukee Interurban Trail.
The Ozaukee Interurban Trail is the centerpiece of this biking adventure, offering a picturesque route both north and south of Port Washington. The trail is paved and car-free, which makes it perfect for biking and a stark contrast to biking the city streets of Chicago or Milwaukee. This 30-mile paved trail winds through around the seven hills of Port Washington, through woodlands, farm country, and next to both the Milwaukee River and Lake Michigan. This trail is popular with recreational cyclists and is also a preferred route for daily commuters as it connects. Whether you're looking to leisurely pedal through serene landscapes or want an efficient way to get to work, the Ozaukee Interurban Trail caters to all. It connects 6 communities and has a “Great Wisconsin Birding and Nature Trail” designation. The best part? It's completely free and every few miles there’s a great place to stop for food, drinks, or commune with nature.
48 Hours of Biking, Fishing and Feasting
Rotary Park and Coal Dock Parks in Port Washington
Our Fall adventure began in Port Washington, a perfect base for your Ozaukee County exploration. We stayed in a cozy VBRO listing, which served as our home for the weekend. Our Friday evening arrival coincided with the bountiful harvest season, and we were treated to fresh apples from the tree in the yard. The property was conveniently located, just a short walk from downtown, with a fully equipped kitchen, making it easy to prepare some meals and a comfortable living room to unwind in the evening.
Fresh apples at our VRBO
On our first evening, we dined at Twisted Willow Restaurant, a farm-to-table gem with a significant portion of its produce sourced from a local farm in Belgium, WI. The menu was a culinary delight, featuring dishes like spinach artichoke dip, vegetable curry, truffle gnocchi, and braised short rib. We capped off our meal with delectable desserts, Black Forest cake, and tiramisu.
One of the many murals in Port Washington (click here for Mural tour), this one by Britt Flood of North Carolina
Following dinner, we headed to Moonlight Tavern for after-dinner drinks, where we learned about the intriguing history of the place. This tavern was once an inn with stables in the basement and 40 rooms, evident from the preserved room service equipment on display. Today, it offers a cozy atmosphere with just 10 rooms above at The Port Hotel, a true relic from the past.
It’s all about the details at Moonlight Tavern
Our second day was all about exploring the Ozaukee Interurban Trail. We started with a hearty breakfast at The Beacon Restaurant, a charming spot along the canal. With our energy replenished, we checked out Bernie’s Fine Meats, where we stocked up on snacks, Wisconsin staples like Sprechers Root Beer, and plenty of meat for a picnic. They even kindly sliced up the summer sausage and cheese for us.
Bernie’s is all-things-Wisconsin, in the best way.
Then, we embarked on our biking adventure. The trail led us north toward Belgium, a picturesque 11-mile ride that culminated in Harrington Beach State Park. Along the way, we made a quick stop at Ugly Mugs Coffee Shop for a caffeine boost. We even enjoyed a friendly game of foosball in their game room and had a delightful encounter with a local couple who let us try out their electric bike. Our beautiful Fall ride also took us past a community garden that had free pears and apples on the way.
Harrington Beach State Park welcomed us with open arms; a 715-acre park that features more than a mile of beach along Lake Michigan. We explored the Jim and Gwen Plunkett Observatory and Ansay Welcome Center, although we weren't able to visit the latter as it was closed. Puckett’s pond was lively with turtles, heron and other birds enjoying this Fall day. The observatory was informative and had several educational signs about space. We want to come back to witness the Northern Lights one day; this is a great spot to get away from the light pollution of the city
Harrington Beach State Park
Fall colors were just starting to turn on the trails at the State park
The highlight of our adventure was our Wis-charcuterie picnic. We enjoyed a delightful spread overlooking Lake Michigan and the nearby quarry, and what made it even better was that we could bike down the service road to see all the sights without any hiking, making it a perfect stop for a bike trip.
A very Wis-charcuterie picnic on the shore of Lake Michigan at Harrington Beach State Park
We stopped by a 116 acre bird sanctuary, Forest Beach Migratory Preserve, on our way back before navigating to The Shipyard. After a full day of biking and exploring, we celebrated our 24 miles of biking at The Shipyard with refreshing beers (of course New Glarus beer, a Wisconsin classic). Our day concluded with dinner at Singing Salmon Saloon (try their baked salmon dip and a butter burger) and a night cap at Sir James Pub.
Trails to taproom: 24 miles of biking followed by 3 pints at The Shipyard
On our last day, we enjoyed breakfast at the Daily Baking Company, which offers delicious baked goods alongside a solid cup of coffee and a cozy atmosphere. This place is popular with the locals and traveler alike. We followed this up with another local favorite; fishing in the harbor. The peaceful sounds of fishing reels casting and Sunday-morning fisherman chatter beg you drag out your Sunday morning by sitting on the rocks.
Daily Baking Company
When in Port Washington… do as the locals do
Pro Tip: If you’re an early riser, bike up to Port Washington North Beach Park to catch the sunrise, an experience that will be worth the early morning effort.
We checked out of our VBRO listing and set off to explore Tendick Nature Park, a serene and natural setting to soak in the surroundings. This 122 acre park features an 18 hole disc golf course, cross-country skiing, a canoe and kayak launch on the Milwaukee River and more. On our way back to Chicago we stopped at Between the Greens for an early lunch.
Tendick Park
Our weekend in Port Washington, spent biking the Ozaukee Interurban Trail is the exact kind of break you need from the city. Nature abounds without having to drive for hours, coastal views without having to fly across the country, and the physical contentment that comes from biking on a well-maintained trail. It's the perfect place for a 48 hour biking adventure.
