When driving north on I-94, there's a sign at the Illinois border that welcomes travelers to Wisconsin. But about six miles beyond that is the Badger State's real entrance: The Brat Stop, a roadside eatery so popular that it has earned it the unofficial nickname of "Gateway to Wisconsin."

The restaurant has become a regional favorite since it opened in 1961, and today nearly a half-million people stretch their legs in its 46,000 square-foot space each year. Part of its allure is its simple, hearty food, dishes that are quintessentially Wisconsin. Meals begin, of course, with a basket of fried cheese curds, their molten chewiness a perfect counterpoint to the next course—brats. The sausages are charred to give the casing an appetizing snap as guests bite into their spiced cores. The savory brats are even served for breakfast, sliced up for omelets or layered with egg and cheese on English muffins.

Of course, the menu isn't just brats and cheese. Broasted chicken is another favorite, as is the traditional Friday night fish fry that's attracted high-profile visitors such as Michael Jordan, Stephen Tyler, and Bette Midler. Visitors can pick up tasty souvenirs at the on-site gift shop, including to-go brats and curds, as well as New Glarus beers and foam cheese hats you probably shouldn't wear near large foam mice.

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Five Reasons to Visit the Brat Stop

Seven kinds of Wisconsin brats, a life-size bear, and motorcycle mamas in leather chaps make the Brat Stop well worth the trip to Kenosha.