Surprises Await in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin

 

Discovering Local Flavors and Nature's Treasures in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin

Many of us know Pleasant Prairie as the location of fantastic shopping at the Pleasant Prairie Premium Outlets. However, during a recent adventure along the Pleasant Prairie Christmas Holiday Lights Tour, I learned that there is so much more to the village. Explore with me some of the local treasures that can be found in Pleasant Prairie for a little while:

Eating Local in Pleasant Praire

Dining in Pleasant Prairie introduced us to several locally owned restaurants. We visited two during our trip and loved each of them. El Calmino Kitchen has Southern California vibes and a menu full of fresh flavors including Mexican-inspired dishes. salads, burgers, rice bowls, and more. We were pretty impressed by the range of choices on El Camino Kitchen's menu. Truly delicious fare!

Delicious fresh fare from El Camino Kitchen including a tamale and chimichanga platter,
vegetable fajitas, mushroom tacos, and harvest guacamole.
Everything tasted as wonderful as it looked!

We also explored another locally owned favorite - Iguana Wana Mexican Grill and Tequila Bar. Iguana Wana has an absolutely incredible enclosed, heated patio if you love patio dining.  Iguana Wana is noted for its range of tequilas but also has a huge menu full of Mexican favorites. We thought it was perfect for a night out.

Mexican chopped salad and fajitas on the patio at Iguana Wana.

Wisconsin is famous for its Supper Clubs and Pleasant Prairie certainly presents a fabulous option -- The Village Supper Club! The Village Supper Club has been family owned since 1924 and is approaching its 100th birthday! The Village Supper Club is only open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday -- so you definitely need a reservation. Across the street from The Village Supper Club is another local establishment you may want to check out -- Johnny'Z Pour House. Johnny'Z Pour House features a great beer selection and pub fare including local favorite burgers. I would like to try both eateries on return visits!

The Village Supper Club features an iconic sign perfect for a photo.

Tip: Visit Pleasant Prairie on January 6 to enjoy a true village tradition -- Twelfth Night Holiday Tree Bonfire! Twelfth Night or January 6th is traditionally the day decorations are taken down. Join the village for a burning of bare, dry holiday trees at Wruck Beach on the shores of Lake Andrea. The free event runs 5:30PM-6:30PM and hot chocolate and cookies will be served.

Tranquility Found at Lake Andrea

Pleasant Prairie's beautiful Lake Andrea is a natural, spring-fed lake and a favorite spot for birds.

When my daughter played volleyball, we visited Pleasant Prairie's RecPlex for tournaments. We appreciated the facility offering some of the best courts on the circuit, a snack bar with actual options, and plenty of space outdoors to stretch our legs. RecPlex is perched on Lake Andrea presenting a nice natural respite for weary parents at a long tournament! At the time, I did not know that Lake Andrea is a natural, spring-fed lake. Pretty neat find! Additionally, Lake Andrea is surrounded by a 2.3-mile walking path and is a favorite spot for birds. In the summer, visitors can enjoy a beach and boat rentals. There are additional nature trails near Lake Andrea which I plan to explore when it is warmer. Lake Andrea truly adds an incredible natural treasure to Pleasant Prairie. 

Another unique natural treasure to visit in the warmer months is Kenosha Sand Dunes. Kenosha Sand Dunes is a breathtaking preserve along the shores of Lake Michigan that beckons visitors to explore an intriguing and ecologically important environment. We have visited the preserve several times and are absolutely enchanted by it. Kenosha Sand Dunes is part of the larger Chiwaukee Prairie which provides critical habitat to many species of birds.

Pleasant Prairie Premium Outlets

We did visit Pleasant Prairie Premium Outlets on our trip for a little holiday shopping. Of course, I love to stop in at Ghirardelli -- yum! I loved that Aerie's window had a travel theme! Inside the Eatery, we did find a local pop-up for the holidays featuring made-from-scratch cookies and hot cocoa bombs by Creator Farms. We brought some delicious cookies home! I do hope though that the next time you shop the outlets, you incorporate some of the other local spots in Pleasant Prairie into your trip.

During our visit to Pleasant Prairie, we discovered a more local flavor to the village than we have experienced in the past. I look forward to future visits returning to our new favorite local eateries as well as trying new ones. I am excited to take on the trails near Lake Andrea and once again marvel at Lake Michigan from Kenosha Sand Dunes. Our return excursion to Pleasant Prairie will surely be as full of treasures as this one!

**Disclosure: I received a complimentary meal during my visit. No other compensation was received. All opinions are 100% my own.