Racine is a lakefront city south of Milwaukee and one of the best day trips for architecture lovers. Travel Wisconsin's Frank Lloyd Wright itinerary highlights the SC Johnson Administration Building, Wright's 1939 office building known for its tree-shaped columns, with tours running from March through December. The SC Johnson Research Tower, completed in 1950, is a 15-floor laboratory with more than 7,000 glass tubes in its windows. Wingspread, his largest Prairie-style house and his last, was designed for the H.F. Johnson family. Racine is also known for kringle, the oval Danish pastry that has become a Wisconsin tradition. O and H Danish Bakery is named as a source of kringle, and the itinerary also mentions HobNob, a classic supper club. A lakefront stop at North Beach offers Lake Michigan views in summer, and Wind Point Lighthouse is nearby. The mix of architecture, pastry and lake makes it a satisfying outing for a relaxed day away from downtown. Visitors should check tour arrangements ahead of time, since the buildings are the main reason to go and tours may need reservations.
Planning the architecture
The Administration Building tours run in the March to December season, so winter visitors should check the current arrangements. Tours at such sites usually need advance arrangements, and rules can change, so check the SC Johnson visitor information and the Wingspread schedule before you set out. Photography rules differ between buildings, and the interiors are the reason to go, so book a tour if one is required.
Food and lakefront
Kringle is a flaky, sweet pastry that is easiest to enjoy fresh from the bakery, and a box also makes a good souvenir to carry back to the hotel. Travel Wisconsin also mentions Kewpee Sandwich Shop, a 1920s diner, in a related itinerary. After the architecture, a walk on North Beach or a drive to Wind Point Lighthouse offers fresh air and Lake Michigan views. Downtown Racine has more than 70 historic buildings and the Racine Heritage Museum, according to Travel Wisconsin.
Tips
Racine is south along the lake from Milwaukee, and a car is the practical way to travel, with the drive typically well under an hour in normal traffic. Allow a half day for one Wright site and a pastry stop, or a full day if you want to see both Wright buildings, the lakefront and a meal.
This trip suits couples, design lovers and history fans, and it is a good choice on a day when the weather is not ideal for the beach. If you stay overnight, the Doubletree by Hilton Racine Harbourwalk Hotel overlooks the marina.
Is it worth it? For design lovers it is among the best architecture outings in the region, and the kringle makes it a more relaxed day than a pure museum trip. The drawbacks are the drive, the need to check tour arrangements and the seasonal limits on the Administration Building tours. Decide whether you want one Wright building or two, plan meals around the pastry stop and keep a flexible schedule.
If you have already seen the Calatrava building at the Milwaukee Art Museum, Racine adds an earlier chapter in the story of modern architecture. Because architecture tours have fixed times, plan the rest of the day around them, and leave room afterward for the lakefront or a bakery stop before the drive back to Milwaukee.
What to expect
The experience
A self-guided day trip to Wright landmarks, a bakery and the lakefront in Racine.
Best time
March to December for SC Johnson tours; summer for the lakefront.
How long
Half a day to a full day.
Tips
Check tour arrangements, drive and buy kringle fresh.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Architecture, design and history enthusiasts.
- Families
- Older children who like buildings or pastry; check tour age rules.
- Couples
- A cultural day out with a treat at the end.
- Pair with
- The Milwaukee Art Museum, which has its own Calatrava design, for contrast.
- Time needed
- Half to a full day.
Good questions
What Frank Lloyd Wright sites are in Racine?+
The SC Johnson Administration Building, completed in 1939, and Wingspread, his largest Prairie-style house.
When do the SC Johnson tours run?+
Travel Wisconsin says tours run March through December.
What is kringle?+
A Danish pastry that is a Wisconsin tradition, and Racine is known for it.
Is there a lighthouse?+
Yes. Wind Point Lighthouse, built in 1880, is near Racine.
How do I get there?+
A car is the practical choice, south along Lake Michigan from Milwaukee.
