Madison Road Trip

Get out of the house!

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Dog-friendly

Buckhorn State Park

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 →

Green Circle Trail

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 →

Apple River Canyon State Park

Right over the border in Illinois, Apple River Canyon State Park is a beautiful valley hidden in some otherwise dull landscape. The Apple River flows through the middle of the park and is bordered by picturesque stone bluffs. The hiking… Continue Reading →

Castle Creek Conservancy

Wedged between the railroad tracks and a suburban neighborhood, the Castle Creek Conservancy preserves a slice of native prairie and woods. Parts of Six Mile Creek wander through the property. The path makes a large loop, so no chance of… Continue Reading →

Six Mile Creek Fishery Area

Fishery areas rarely hold any interest for us. Usually, they’re a small lot, then a short trail to a body of water. After driving by Six Mile Creek Fishery Area for nearly two decades, we were completely floored to find… Continue Reading →

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 →

Windmill Island Gardens

The Windmill Island Gardens do not disappoint. It’s an island, there are extensive gardens, and a massive functioning windmill. Like much of Holland, MI, the high-point of the year is during May for their tulip festival. Like other parts of… Continue Reading →

Saugatuck Dunes State Park

The western shores of Michigan are famously beautiful year-round. During summer, their sandy beaches are packed with vacationers. But they’re just as nice, albeit a bit chillier, in Spring or Fall. Saugatuck Dunes State Park has a stretch of open… Continue Reading →

Tulip Fest in Holland, Michigan

There are two main areas at the Tulip Fest. The major draw is, obviously, tulips. With a number of tulip growers in the area, the town hosts a festival with tulips everywhere. There are mass plantings in parks, down the… Continue Reading →

Nelis’ Dutch Village

Imagine if Disney’s Imagineers came up with a cheesy, but pretty, Dutch village to add to Epcot…then accidentally left it in a parking lot in Michigan. Nelis’ Dutch Village is a tiny fantasy of a lost (and probably partially imaginary)… 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 →

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 →

A Room of One’s Own

A long-time Madison staple since 1975, A Room of One’s Own bookstore has recently moved to a wonderful new Atwood Ave. location. While the square footage is actually a bit smaller than their former location off of State Street, the… 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 →

Bearskin Trail

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 →