Do you know Wisconsin?

[kfrere]

We are taking 12 days in early October to see the State of Wisconsin. We are taking our Interstate instead of our trailer so that we can move quickly and often in order to cover as much territory as possible. I know this is not the ideal way to see a state but this is how you do it when you are still employed full time! Can you make suggestions?

The only thing we've done in Wisconsin is the U.S. Mailboat tour on Lake Geneva - loved it! We like factory tours, unusual sites, small towns, themed activities (just completed the "Bourbon Trail" in Kentucky), and historical learning opportunities. We know that Wisconsin is known for cheese and beer - which we would like to explore - but there are so many different venues to choose from we don't know where to start.

We also realize that we are traveling to the state at the end of the camping season for most campgrounds - but would still love to hear about your favorite CG if you have one.

Thanks to anyone who can add their .02 to our adventure!

[Lily&Me]

The Great River Road is the most beautiful area in the fall.

Pick it up somewhere south of Galena, Il.....be sure to stop there, 75% of this town is on the National Regieter of Historic Places.....and drive north into Wisconsin.

The River is not levied, you can drive right along it, and it is spectacular. Depending on when you go, the trees may be in full color....

Drive north at least to LaCrosse, and stay at Wyalusing State Park, where the Mississippi and Wisconsin Rivers meet....you can camp on the bluff overlooking these, and the trees are absolutely gorgeous.

Check on campground closure dates, as winter comes early up there.

Have a great time.


Maggie

[knunut]

There are so many Beautiful Parks and places. One our favorites is the Door County Area. Peninsula State Park in town of Fish Creek. Private park would be Wagon Trail CG in Rowleys Bay. Reminds us of cape cod .

[polarlyse]

Don't miss the house on the rock at Spring Green. Just west of Madison. Put it on your hit list as a don't miss place

[kb0zke]

I'll second the House on the Rock. Door County is beautiful at that time of year, and while there you can visit the Packers Hall of Fame.

When I lived there in the 70's there were little cheese factories all over everywhere, but most of them are gone now. If you find one be sure to check it out.

[kfrere]

Thanks, everyone! This is exactly the kind of info we were hoping for. I'm mapping out my trip as suggestions are made.

[mimiandrews]

If you have any interest in aviation, the EAA Museum at Oshkosh is a good one.

[sid42]

I totally agree w/ Maggie's thoughts.
Also the International Crane Foundation near Baraboo is fascinating. Devil's Lake State Park is near there and it's beautiful.

[Silverbee]

Check out the Wisconsin Dells area. We were just there in early July. Very interesting Wisconsin River tour of the Dells and lots to do in the area.

[jtwind]

Lots to do here and you'll get lots of opinions. Hit the corners, Wyalusing, the Great River Road is super, then up to Bayfield and the Apostle Islands with maybe a trip across the driftless area to Wildcat Mtn State Park. Then east over to Door Cty, south along Lake Michigan to Milwaukee which has tons to offer and so does Madison 60 miles west. Unless you like touristy crap avoid the Dells like the plague. Lots of other stuff if you have time, the lake country in Vilas and Oneida County, the Menominee indian reservation, Horicon Marsh, Taliesin and as mentioned EAA, Crane Foundation etc.

[jcanavera]

Door County is one of our favorite locations. We stay at Wagon Trail Campgrounds. Here's a few pics.

Jack

[DavidIowa]

The River Road out of Galena to La Crosse. Potosi Brewing in Potosi. Chippewa Falls for Leinenkugal Brewing. Up to Hayward then to Bayfield, the Apostles, Ashland, back over to the Tomahawk area. Then, Door County and back down to Milwaukee. Tons of stuff to do. Buy New Glarus beer and stock up on your favorite as its only sold in WI. October will be cool and beautiful.

[BillfromWI]

If you are interested in architecture the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation owns Taliesin, the house Frank built for himself near Spring Green (and House on the Rock, see above) it is open for tours and there are other FLW buildings in WI: http://franklloydwrightsites.com/wisconsin/index.html
and the State Capital in Madison is pretty impressive.

American Players Theater, also near Spring Green, will still be presenting plays on October weekends, in both the Touchstone Theater (indoors intimate) and Up The Hill (outdoors large) http://americanplayers.org/ They close during the winter.

The Sister Bay Fall Festival in Door County (see above) is October 16-18 this year. It usually coincides with good fall color.

The State Historical Society owns Villa Louis, a lumber baron's mansion in Prairie du Chien, near Wyalusing State Park (see above). It is open for tours. The Historical Society owns several other "living history" museums around the state. Another is Circus World Museum in Baraboo, near the International Crane Foundation and Devils Lake State Park (see above). Circus World offers a big top tent show, circus memorabilia, and historic circus wagons. Baraboo was the winter home of the Ringling Bros., Barnum, and Bailey circus.

The Wollersheim Winery near Sauk City, south of Baraboo, offers tours and tastings and arguably the best wine made in Wisconsin. But Wisconsin is a beer state so don't get too excited. But it is a nice tour and their Prairie Fume is a moderately dry, pleasant, and reliable white.

Also near Baraboo is the Mid-continent Rail Road Museum in North Freedom--steam train rides and railroad history.

If you do go the Sauk City you should not miss Dr. Evermore's Forevertron http://www.travelwisconsin.com/museums-galleries/dr-evermors-forevertron-198057

The Kohler Company factory tour (plumbing fixtures) in Kohler is interesting and the American Club (another Kohler business) in the former Kohler workers' dorm has at least three restaurants priced from affordable to astronomical. Kohler-Andrea State Park on Lake Michigan, south of Sheboygan, has a beautiful beach to walk and very nice sites. It is close to Kohler.

Allen Edmonds does not offer a factory tour but you can observe the factory floor from their discount store in Port Washington. Excellent shoes made from scratch in USA.

Wisconsin has many, many bike trails, too many micro breweries to mention, and a lot of artisanal cheese see Wisconsin Online: http://www.wisconline.com/

Here is the site for Wisconsin Parks and bike trails, but there are many city and county parks and trails not shown: http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/parks/findapark.html

I agree that Bayfield and the Apostle Islands are very nice but they will be hoping for snow by October. You should come back and tour north of WI highway 8, including the Michigan Upper Peninsula (UP) in September.

[eggman]

Sky High Resort , east of Baraboo, is nice and has winter water and sewer if you find yourself limited by State and other parks' early closures for winter. I stayed here Sept-Nov a few years ago and it was great when the early snows came! ... the light ones, that is, .... we got out at the end of November before the big ones, but still had a coupla mornings thawing out the insulated sewer hose with a hair dryer! still kinda fun for a southerner, but wouldn't wanna do it a lot!

[1965 mustang]

The Woodruff, St. Germain area is a favorite as is copper falls and peninsula state parks. Wisconsin maritime museum in Manitowoc and Circus world museum in Baraboo. The Elroy Sparta Trail , if you like to bike, has some long railroad tunnels that you go through. The sugar river trail also has a long railroad tunnel to go through. Madison is also a very bike friendly city with a lot of trails. You have New Glarus brewing company in new Glarus. Capital brewing company in Middleton. The ale Asylum in Madison. Leinen kugel brewery in Chippewa Falls. Minhas brewery and distillery in Monroe. Don't forget about Lambeau Field in Green Bay and the science Museum in Milwaukee. There is really a ton of things to do. Hope you enjoy your stay in Wisconsin!


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[larryglarson]

Old World Wisconsin, check one the web. Really good.

[spclkaz]

Lived in WI for three years and traveled and camped the state extensively... but if I only had a short time to visit... it would be largely spent in Door County...

GO PACKERS!

[markdoane]

I would not avoid Bayfield and the Apostle Islands in October just because it might snow. Snow would be a bonus in my opinion.

Also, Amish country between Tomah and Viroqua in SW Wisconsin is gorgeous in October, with harvesting and lots of activity.

And the best sight of all is the Sandhill Crane migration at Crex Meadows north of Grantstburg (West Wisconsin) in October. People come from all over the world.

[Prabbit]

Great !! My wife and I are heading to Wisconsin very shortly and just started planning. Here is a cheese map Wisconsin Cheese Map if you wish to do cheese.
Another interesting cheese maker is here along with wine and cheese pairings
Wine & Cheese Pairings.
On our way up we plan a stop at Red Wing Shoes across the river in IL and will go on Up to JD and take a factory tour or two in Moline. JohnÂ*Deere Pavilion Then we'll cross the river into Wisconsin and hit the The Great Wisconsin Cheese Trail.
Somewhere in there we'll be fly fishing and spinning for a bite anywhere we can find a lake. I was floored when I read some counties have 900 plus lakes so it may be we can fish just about anywhere we camp.
The other item on our list is to take in all of the historical culture available and enjoy the different country influences and the native American history.
Thanks to all that have participated in this discussion.

[Hittenstiehl]

Don't see ourselves in WI anytime soon but it will be on the list. Had to subscribe to the thread because of the many great sounding places to visit.