Category
Day Trip
The Dubuque Arboretum is a nice little surprise on the northern edge of the city. This free arboretum has a variety of gardens: rose, rock, prairie, annuals, confiders, formal and, of course, a nice Japanese Garden. The large koi pond… Continue Reading →
The Racine Zoo is a small but nice zoo located directly on Lake Michigan. They have the requisite big cats, bears, giraffes, cute penguins, kangaroos, and a petting “safari” where you can brush disinterested goats. You can easily see the… Continue Reading →
The Dubuque Museum of Art has a minuscule, single-gallery permanent collection, though these pieces do include painter Grant Wood and photographer Edward Curtis. The upstairs houses a slightly larger visiting display. The museum is in the process of building a… Continue Reading →
This recently opened bookstore in Mineral Point has a lovely selection of eclectic titles. Stop in to browse or attend a book-related event. Republic of Letters Bookstore 151 High St Mineral Point, WI
The S.C. Johnson Company Global Headquarters (or as everyone still calls it, S.C. Johnson Wax) is a must-see for any Frank Lloyd Wright fan. The visitor center is under the massive gold dome, left over from the World’s Fair. Johnson… Continue Reading →
The Midwest Fire Fest was recently moved to the beginning of June, a welcome change from the blazing temperatures of mid-July. As you’d expect from the name, this is a hot festival! Focused primarily on pottery, there are also exhibitors… Continue Reading →
What a brilliant idea! There weren’t many places that served dessert after 8-ish even before the pandemic. But even the stalwarts like Greenbush Bakery now close around 8. So a place that serves dessert, at night, is genius! Currently, they… Continue Reading →
The Volo Auto Museum is only part of a massive entertainment complex. The sheer amount of stuff there is staggering. Not only are there endless buildings of classic and movie cars, but a classic car sales floor, an antiques mall,… Continue Reading →
The Rotary Botanical Gardens in Janesville are suprisingly large and incredibly gorgeous. Wander 20 acres of what they describe as 26 separate garden areas. While you may not notice all of them, the gardens do dramatically changes from English Cottage… Continue Reading →
The Driftless Historium has a fancy name, but is essentially a local historical museum. The collection of items and photos are interesting and well presented. There is also a small gallery with changing exhibits, and a gift shop with a… Continue Reading →
Boerner Botanical Gardens are located just outside of Milwaukee. Though smaller than other area gardens, they are full of interesting plantings. Additionally, they have a large water-feature area (off when we visited pre-season). There is also a large play area… Continue Reading →
The Painted Forest is the work of a relatively unknown itinerant painter, Ernest Hupeden. In exchange for room and board (and sometimes booze), Hupeden would paint murals on businesses, halls and other buildings. The Painted Forest, in the Modern Woodman… Continue Reading →
This quiet and rather unknown park is an hour and a half drive from Madison. It’s primary focus is the large, shallow Castle Rock Lake which empties into the Wisconsin River. Canoe, kayak, boat, and fish on this placid lake…. Continue Reading →
This short but interesting hike loops through an abandoned quarry. The high sandstone walls show both signs of mining, but also fossil ripple marks. There is moss everywhere – on the rock walls, fallen boulders, and under the shaded tree… Continue Reading →
The Green Circle Trail is a gorgeous trail circling Stevens Point. It follows both the Wisconsin and Plover Rivers. There are ponds, bridges, beaches, marshes and the remains of historic buildings throughout. The trail seemed well maintained, wooded, wide and… Continue Reading →
The area around Baraboo is gorgeous and unique. Use this handy scenic drive map to wander some back roads, stopping by other attractions in the area including Devil’s Lake State Park, Durward’s Glen and Parfey’s Glen. Stop in Baraboo for… Continue Reading →