We’re pretty laid-back and relaxed up here in the Frozen Tundra, but there are a few hard-and-fast rules we tend to live by. Even though we’re pretty nice, Wisconsin is an entity upon itself and there’s a few things you should know if you’re planning on becoming one of us:
- Put away the snowblower/shovel/your winter clothes before June.
Flickr/Allie Ever watch news footage of Easter egg hunts elsewhere and wonder where their coats are? It doesn’t matter that it was 60 in February this year, it’s still probably going to snow in May.
- Call Frozen Custard “ice cream”
Flickr/Charlene Vinz We have both here and they’re both delicious in their own way, but we’re pretty protective of our custard and know how special it is. It gets it’s own category.
- Get involved in a Milwaukee vs. Chicago debate.
Flickr/Mike Carrick Chicago is right there for a day trip when I want to experience some of the things they have that we don’t. But I’ll take my shorter commute, lower taxes and affordable housing any day of the week.
- Park on a lake when the temperatures have been above 30.
Levi Baerwolf @baerwolf17/Twitter The running joke is all those cars they had to pull out of Lake Geneva a few years ago had Illinois plates. Wisconsinites know better.
- Head out on a summer evening without a few layers packed in the car.
Flickr/Ryan Schultz Cooler by the lake is no joke and neither is the temperature up north when the sun goes down. It took me years to unlearn the idea of taking long sleeves with me when I moved away from Wisconsin.
- Park on a hill during an ice or snowstorm.
Flickr/Jeff Kramer Really, we try to avoid it all winter. It’s a losing battle and the person behind you is going to get their bumper dinged.
- Drink Budweiser
Flickr/Alan English CPA I’m predicting right now that this will go down as the most controversial thing I’ve ever said. Plenty of ya’ll do and to each their own, but if I’m eschewing craft beer (though I really never do) it’s for the hometown brand.
- Say “Eh, I really just prefer Kraft.”
Flickr/Betty B No offense to those folks - they make great products and if we didn’t have access to the finest cheeses and aged flavors, we’d be happy with them. But there’s such a tasty, delicious array of fresh cheese here it’s difficult to settle for store-bought.
- Sell your Packer tickets to fans of the opposing team.
Flickr/Brian Giesen With a season ticket waiting list that’ll outlive me, Packers tickets are still the hardest thing to get in Wisconsin. If you’re moving tickets and you don’t find a Packer fan to use them, they should take away your license.
- Mispronounce Manitowoc …
Flickr/Tony Webster … or Mequon or Oconomowoc or Sheboygan or …
You get the idea. We have some awesome town names and we love the history behind them.
- Call Miller Park “Wrigley Field North.”
Flickr/Elvis Kennedy This is only going to get worse this year as Illinois folks head up to Milwaukee because the tickets are cheaper and easier to get. And because we tailgate and are more fun, honestly.
- Complain about a few inches of snow.
Flickr/Robin Yup, we’re going to laugh every time a story comes out about a state or city shutting down for a few inches of snow.
- Wait til the last minute to plan a summer weekend in the Dells or Door County.
Flickr/Happy Photo Guy You and a few thousand of your new best friends will be there, there won’t be a lot of available rooms and prices won’t be cheap. Wisconsinites know how popular these places are and plan on their trips way in advance.
- Cheer for the Bears, Cubs, Vikings or Gophers.
Flickr/Elvis Kennedy Folks don’t seem to understand that I won’t choose an NHL team because my two closest options that are televised are Chicago and Minnesota and they can’t grasp the intrinsic hatred I have for the sports teams in both area. Depending on the season my blood runs green and gold, cardinal and white or navy and gold.
- Drive in the winter without a trunk full of supplies.
Flickr/Jo Naylor From ice scrapers and de-icing sprays to small shovels and blankets, your vehicle could get you through the worst Wisconsin blizzard and you could probably dress about four people from the extra gloves, hats and scarves you keep in there, too.
Of course these are all just a bit tongue-in-cheek, so no need to come after us. Do you have any other “rules” for living here? Let us know in the comments!
Flickr/Allie
Ever watch news footage of Easter egg hunts elsewhere and wonder where their coats are? It doesn’t matter that it was 60 in February this year, it’s still probably going to snow in May.
Flickr/Charlene Vinz
We have both here and they’re both delicious in their own way, but we’re pretty protective of our custard and know how special it is. It gets it’s own category.
Flickr/Mike Carrick
Chicago is right there for a day trip when I want to experience some of the things they have that we don’t. But I’ll take my shorter commute, lower taxes and affordable housing any day of the week.
Levi Baerwolf @baerwolf17/Twitter
The running joke is all those cars they had to pull out of Lake Geneva a few years ago had Illinois plates. Wisconsinites know better.
Flickr/Ryan Schultz
Cooler by the lake is no joke and neither is the temperature up north when the sun goes down. It took me years to unlearn the idea of taking long sleeves with me when I moved away from Wisconsin.
Flickr/Jeff Kramer
Really, we try to avoid it all winter. It’s a losing battle and the person behind you is going to get their bumper dinged.
Flickr/Alan English CPA
I’m predicting right now that this will go down as the most controversial thing I’ve ever said. Plenty of ya’ll do and to each their own, but if I’m eschewing craft beer (though I really never do) it’s for the hometown brand.
Flickr/Betty B
No offense to those folks - they make great products and if we didn’t have access to the finest cheeses and aged flavors, we’d be happy with them. But there’s such a tasty, delicious array of fresh cheese here it’s difficult to settle for store-bought.
Flickr/Brian Giesen
With a season ticket waiting list that’ll outlive me, Packers tickets are still the hardest thing to get in Wisconsin. If you’re moving tickets and you don’t find a Packer fan to use them, they should take away your license.
Flickr/Tony Webster
… or Mequon or Oconomowoc or Sheboygan or …
You get the idea. We have some awesome town names and we love the history behind them.
Flickr/Elvis Kennedy
This is only going to get worse this year as Illinois folks head up to Milwaukee because the tickets are cheaper and easier to get. And because we tailgate and are more fun, honestly.
Flickr/Robin
Yup, we’re going to laugh every time a story comes out about a state or city shutting down for a few inches of snow.
Flickr/Happy Photo Guy
You and a few thousand of your new best friends will be there, there won’t be a lot of available rooms and prices won’t be cheap. Wisconsinites know how popular these places are and plan on their trips way in advance.
Folks don’t seem to understand that I won’t choose an NHL team because my two closest options that are televised are Chicago and Minnesota and they can’t grasp the intrinsic hatred I have for the sports teams in both area. Depending on the season my blood runs green and gold, cardinal and white or navy and gold.
Flickr/Jo Naylor
From ice scrapers and de-icing sprays to small shovels and blankets, your vehicle could get you through the worst Wisconsin blizzard and you could probably dress about four people from the extra gloves, hats and scarves you keep in there, too.
Looking for more truly unique Wisconsin info? Check out 14 Things Wisconsinites Do That Seem Insane To Everyone Else
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