These WI Vacation Spots Offer Luxury On A Budget, New Ranking Says

Wisconsinites who want a luxury vacation without the sticker shock can find affordable escapes without traveling too far from home, according to a new ranking.

The financial media company MarketBeat lists Wisconsin vacation spots in its ranking of the top 120 “bougie-on-a-budget” travel destinations.

Wisconsin destinations, their rankings nationally, are:

40. Mineral Point, Wisconsin
95. Bayfield, Wisconsin

Visitors on Reddit’s Wisconsin subreddit have shared their top recommendations for things to do in Mineral Point during a short getaway.

One commenter suggested the Odd Fellows Museum, describing it as a perfect stop for fans of quirky attractions like the House on the Rock. Others pointed travelers toward Shake Rag Street, where early Cornish settlers once lived, and to local art galleries that add to the town’s charm.

For food, users mentioned trying a "pasty," a regional favorite, and recommended Spring Green General Store and Grumpy Troll in nearby Mt. Horeb for meals. A few also highlighted Cave of the Mounds as a "class act of tourist stops," located just a short drive away.

For Bayfield, popular suggestions included kayaking to the Apostle Islands sea caves (with strong advice to use a guide like Trek and Trail), hiking Big Ravine and waterfall trails like Lost Creek Falls and Houghton Falls, and taking the ferry to Madeline Island to explore Big Bay State Park and Tom’s Burned Down Café.

Food highlights included Hoops Dockside for fresh whitefish, Greunke’s for breakfast, and nearby Patsy’s in Washburn for a Friday fish fry. Redditors also recommended berry picking (if in season), Copper Crow Distillery, and Honest Dog Books for local flavor.

What the 120 destinations have in common is that “they feel luxurious, but remain under-the-radar — and under budget,” MarketBeat said.

Nationally, the top 10 affordable luxury vacation destinations and MarketBeat’s observations are:

1. Twin Lakes, Colorado: Rich with outdoorsy experience, “the luxury is the view.”
2. Kaunakakai, Hawaii: With “million dollar views,” Kaunakakai offers a “stripped-down, soulful Hawaii experience.”
3. Cold Spring, New York: An hour outside of New York City, the Hudson Valley village is “full of antique shops, art galleries and stylish cafés — all nestled between leafy mountains and the water’s edge.”
4. Mount Dora, Florida: Mount Dora, which is set on a chain of lakes in central Florida, “serves up small-town charm with upscale flourishes.”
5. Cape May Point, New Jersey: Absent the bustle of Cape May proper, the Point is “quieter, wilder, and full of dunes, shorebirds, and Victorian rentals tucked into quiet streets.”
6. Saranac Lake, New York: West of Lake Placid, the lake “offers Adirondack charm without Olympic crowds or prices. … It’s pure lake-life calm.”
7. Grand Rivers, Kentucky: “Tucked between two massive lakes (Lake Barkley and Lake Kentucky), this boating town has the relaxed elegance of a coastal getaway.”
8. Paris, Kentucky: The town has an Eiffel Tower replica, “but the real draw is nearby Kentucky Lake, where you can rent a stylish cabin, sip something cold by the water, and enjoy a calm, upscale-feeling summer escape that still flies under the radar.”
9. Dauphin Island, Florida: The coastal charm here is “less about crowds and more about barefoot walks, bird sanctuaries, and beachfront cottages that still come at off-the-radar prices.”
10. Los Alamos, California: The one-road town in Santa Barbara wine country “feels like Napa’s bohemian cousin.” Amenities include boutique inns “that haven’t caught on price-wise.”

MarketBeat’s ranking is based on a July panel survey of 3,011 professionals in the travel industry based on age, gender, and geography.