Madison Road Trip

Get out of the house!

Category

Day Trip

Brooklyn Wildlife Area

Part of the Ice Age Trail that runs through much of Wisconsin, this wildlife area is quiet and secluded. With over 2600 acres of land, you’ll find plenty to do and see. Just a short drive from Madison, but very… Continue Reading →

Linmar Garden

This was one of our holy grails of locations. Not because it is hard to get to, but because the garden is only open 1 hour a day, 5 days a week. Miss the 11am tour Tue-Saturday and you’re out… Continue Reading →

Belvedere Mansion

This stately home has an amazing history. This massively strong and elegant home was built by one of America’s wealthiest citizens, Russell Jones, and is the basis for the term “keeping up with the Joneses.” As you view the property,… Continue Reading →

Wyalusing State Park

The best time to visit Wyalusing State Park is actually when the weather is pretty miserable – Jan. through early Spring. While the view is quite dramatic, with it’s steep cliffs overlooking the Mississippi and Wisconsin Rivers, the main draw… Continue Reading →

Isle of Ferns

The Isle of Ferns lives up to its name in every way. It’s an island, it’s covered in ferns. This small island in the Wisconsin River has a series of windy trails the encircle the island. Pleasant and shady, it… Continue Reading →

Monk Botanical Gardens

Billed as “Wausau’s Happy Place”, this 30 acre garden is a lovely new(ish) location to visit. Donated in 2003, the 30-acre gardens are clearly still a work in progress. What is there and growing in is quite attractive. Wander through… Continue Reading →

Highway 18 Drive-In Theatre

A drive-in is a delightful anachronism in these days of streaming services. But there’s something so truly summery about going to the drive-in. Though the Highway 18 Theatre has since switched to digital projection to the get newest movies, they… Continue Reading →

Glacier Hills County Park

Just a few miles north of Monches is a fantastic county park. Glacier Hills is a large, hilly area with something to offer for every season – hiking, sledding, swimming, kayaking, skiing, plus reservable hall and chapel for special events…. Continue Reading →

Kohler Design Center

Does spending an hour looking at toilets and taps sound like torture to you? You’ve clearly never been to the Kohler Design Center Showroom! The Kohler company has been around since the 1870s, making toilets, tubs, sinks and more. Their… Continue Reading →

Art Preserve

The fantastic new Art Preserve, created by the Kohler Foundation, is a continuation and culmination of their long-running work to preserve outsider art. The JM Kohler Art Center has displayed works of outsiders for decades. The Kohler foundation has preserved… Continue Reading →

Tiny Church and Waterfall

When Montello no longer needed their old quarry, it was turned into a tiny tourist attraction. The mini monument features a teeny “church”, waterfall and man-made pond. Stop by to stretch your legs if you’re in the area. Montello, WI

Hogarty Art House

The Hogarty Art House is a prime example of the sort of random spots creativity you find throughout Wisconsin. Like Fred Smith’s Concrete Park, numerous “outsider” art locations preserved by the Kohler Foundation, and Mary Nohl’s house, an artist felt… Continue Reading →

Scuppernong Trailhead

The Scuppernong Trail is located in the Southern Unit of the Kettle Moraine State Forest. This well well-groomed trail is quiet and secluded, with lovely large pines shading the trail. The longest trail, 4.6 miles, is popular for cross-country skiing… Continue Reading →

White Mound County Park

The 100-acres of White Mound County Park are a bucolic place to hike, boat, swim, camp or fish. Like many county parks, you will find it far less busy than the state parks. Additionally, no motorized boats are allowed on… Continue Reading →

Dorothy Carnes County Park & Rose Lake State Natural Area

The Dorothy Carnes County Park is a large chunk of protected land surrounding the Rose Lake Marsh – a major birding location. A large, well-built viewing deck over the marsh is easy available by a nicely paved trail. Surrounding the… Continue Reading →

Magnolia Bluff Park

County parks are the gifts that keep giving. They are often of a good size, containing unique features, well-kept and rarely busy. Magnolia Bluff is one of these hidden gems. Located outside Evansville, the park is centered around a sandstone… Continue Reading →