Category
Long Weekend
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 →
Not to be confused with Houghton Falls, MI, this wonderful preserve is an off-the-beaten track gem. Well groomed trails and wooden paths wind through piney woods, past a small waterfall, sandstone overhangs and a winding creek. The path ends on… Continue Reading →
Expect some stairs when visiting the Potato River Falls. But the climbing is worth the view. Not quite as impressive as Copper Falls, but the red water and rocky falls are still a trip worth making. Sadly, no potatoes spotted… Continue Reading →
Not the most romantic of names, nor the most awe-inspiring of falls. But Interstate Falls are still a good hike with a nice waterfall view. Hat tip to Troy Hess, author of Waterfalls of Wisconsin: The Wild Waters of Intrigue,… Continue Reading →
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 →
The Chicago Botanic Garden is amazing! There’s something for every plant lover here – Japanese gardens, English cottage gardens, experimental plants, natives, edible, tropical and even artwork made of plants. With nearly 400 acres, wear comfy shoes and plan to… Continue Reading →
Tucked behind a collection of utilitarian buildings off Highway 42 is a lovely garden maintained by the Door County Master Gardeners. Wander through arches covered with vines, down winding paths, past a busy pond and through waves to sedges. The… Continue Reading →
Newport Beach offers very little in amenities, and that is its charm. There is one bathroom and it only offers backpack camping. The rest is simply peaceful nature with acres of beach and woods to explore. The park is a… Continue Reading →
Door Bluff Headlands is another winner of a county park. With breathtaking views from limestone bluffs, winding trails and fantastic woods, the park also has the added advantage of being off the beaten track. It takes a bit of getting… Continue Reading →
Caxton Books is an inveterate reader’s fantasy bookshop. Deep, shadowy, clean, well-organized and filled with wondrous and unique books. The layout clearly follows the owner’s personal tastes. There’s a large collection of art and design in the front, mysteries and… Continue Reading →
The Ridges Sanctuary is an unique and very special piece of protected land. The woods, ridges and swales are home to a unique population of arboreal conifers, insects, mosses, pitcher plants and orchids. The network of trails is shady and… Continue Reading →
The Cana Island Lighthouse takes a bit of getting to. A shallow channel runs between the mainland and island. Visitors can made over some large rocks, or catch a ride on a wagon hitched to a tractor. Neither are the… Continue Reading →
Peninsula is a perennial favorite and one we look forward to returning to again and again. There are plenty of winding, woody trails with magnificent views of the water throughout the park. But the gem we return to in the… Continue Reading →
Whitefish Dunes State Park has some of the most gorgeous coastline in Wisconsin. Stroll along the three sandy beaches* and enjoy the fresh breezes or have a picnic on the bluffs overlooking the water. The park also has an interpretive… Continue Reading →
Starting in a small park in Minoqua, the Bearskin Trail leads west over a series of small bridges over-looking the serene Minoqua Lake. The area is a popular Northwoods tourist destination with many water sports, galleries and shops, trails and… Continue Reading →
Despite miles of open shoreline, finding a decent beach near the Porkies (Porcupine Mountains) can be a trick. Some beaches are hard to reach, many are private and still others are extremely rocky. Little Girls Point Beach does have rocky… Continue Reading →