Travelrific® Travel Journal
Picture postcards in prose.™ Check out the blogroll on the front page for official merchandise and other resources!Archive for wisconsin
100 Years of Ice Cream
By Linda Tancs
Located across Eagle Harbor from Peninsula State Park, Ephraim, Wisconsin, is a small, European-style village. Settled in 1853 by Norwegian Moravians, it has retained much of its European character through careful preservation of more than 30 historical sites, 11 of which are on the National Register of Historic Places. You can experience much of it by taking a guided or self-guided historic walking tour. A sure stop is Wilson’s, an ice cream parlor that’s stood in the heart of the village since 1906. Opening season begins this month.
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Older Than the Rockies
By Linda Tancs
Twice as old as the Rocky Mountains, the 500-foot-high bluffs at Wisconsin’s Devil’s Lake State Park were formed nearly 2 billion years ago. They overlook—what else—Devil’s Lake. To see the lake from the cliffs, take the West Bluff Trail. Conversely, to see the cliffs from the lake, take the popular Tumbled Rocks Trail. As the name suggests, it cuts through a boulder field along the lake’s shoreline. The park is situated along the state’s Ice Age National Scenic Trail.
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Following the Mississippi
By Linda Tancs
You may have wondered whether you can drive along the course of the Mississippi River. Yes, there’s a road for that. The Great River Road National Scenic Byway follows the course of the Mississippi River for 3,000 miles from northern Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico, passing through 10 states. Its designation as a National Scenic Byway is in recognition of the route’s outstanding assets in the areas of culture, history, nature, recreation and scenic beauty. The different roads and highways comprising the byway are marked by a green pilot’s wheel logo to keep you on track. Watch for river-related attractions and interpretative centers. You can take in the whole route in 36 hours of straight driving, but why not stretch it out for four to 10 days and enjoy the ride.
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Wisconsin’s Ice Age
By Linda Tancs
One of only a handful of National Scenic Trails, Wisconsin’s Ice Age Trail is a historical monument to a glacial retreat over 12,000 years ago. Located entirely within the state, the 1,200-mile route traverses private land, city parks, state parks, county forests and national forest. It supports hiking, backpacking, biking, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing, among other things. You’ll find a variety of accommodation to relax and recharge on or near the trail, like inns, cabins and cottages.
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To limit the spread of COVID-19, attractions may be closed or have partial closures. Please keep those affected by the virus in your thoughts and be sure to follow the safety practices advocated by the Centers for Disease Control. Stay safe, and be well.
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Gateway to Cheese Country
By Linda Tancs
Wisconsin has a long tradition and history concerning cheese production. Monroe, in particular, is known as the “Gateway to Cheese Country” and the “Cheese Capital of the USA.” So it’s an obvious locale for the National Historic Cheesemaking Center. Tours are led by knowledgeable veteran cheesemakers and docents and include a visit to a restored cheese factory right on the facility’s campus. A special treat awaits visitors this time of year, when on the second Saturday in June a 90-pound wheel of Swiss cheese is made right before your eyes, as it was done over a century ago.
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As coronavirus proceeds, it is likely that the vast majority of us will be limited in our travels. But this, too, shall pass. Our love for travel remains, so Travelrific will continue offering travel inspiration in this medium. Please keep those affected by the virus in your thoughts and be sure to follow the safety practices advocated by the Centers for Disease Control. Stay safe, and be well.
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Circus History in Wisconsin
By Linda Tancs
Ringling Brothers is synonymous with the circus. And it all started in the unassuming city of Baraboo, Wisconsin. So it shouldn’t be surprising that the locale hosts Circus World, a large museum complex devoted to circus-related history. In addition to the usual artifacts and exhibits (as well as daily circus shows during the summer), you can visit historic Ringlingville. A National Historic Landmark, it represents the site where the Ringling crew would return for the winter months to prepare for the next season. Of the 25 Ringling structures that once existed in Baraboo throughout the late 19th and early 20th century, 10 winter quarters buildings remain today, the largest grouping of circus structures in America.
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Superior Architecture in Wisconsin
By Linda Tancs
Fairlawn Mansion is an authentically restored 1890 Victorian house museum in Superior, Wisconsin. Built as the family home for lumber and mining baron Martin Pattison, the Queen Anne structure with its four-story turret is an iconic landmark. Among the jewels restored during extensive renovations are gilded murals on the ceilings and frieze, a grand entrance hall and open staircase, marble and tile fireplaces and original leaded and stained glass windows. The master bedroom suite on the second floor also includes period family furnishings. All tours depart at the top of the hour from the gift shop.
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Where the North Begins
By Linda Tancs
Portage, Wisconsin, dubs itself a city “where the North begins.” Located along the Fox/Wisconsin water route, it certainly was an important asset in the Northwest Territory, leading to the construction of a fort there (Fort Winnebago) in the 1800s. The location of the town at the split of the Wisconsin and Fox rivers is what gives the site its name “Portage,” which means carrying a boat or its cargo between two navigable waters. The third oldest settlement in the state, it also boasts the historic Indian Agency House, one of Wisconsin’s earliest houses. The Federal-style house served as the residence of the family of John Kinzie, the U.S. agent for the Winnebago Nation.
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Air Adventure in Oshkosh
By Linda Tancs
AirVenture Oshkosh in Wisconsin is the largest annual gathering of aviation enthusiasts. A summer staple, this year’s festival kicks off today through July 31. Some of the world’s top air show performers, including national aerobatic champions, longtime favorites and some talented Oshkosh first-timers are coming to this year’s event. One notable (returning after 30 years) is the Canadian Forces Snowbirds, one of the most popular military aerial demonstration teams in the world. A favorite reunion spot for aircraft clubs, the festival also spotlights milestone anniversaries (30 to 75 years) of aircraft types from across the spectrum, including homebuilts, vintage aircraft, warbirds, aerobatic aircraft and ultralights. More than 10,000 planes will descend on the runways of Wittman Regional Airport, giving much anticipated bragging rights to both national and international pilots. For spectators, several airports served by major carriers are a short drive to all the fun.
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World’s Largest Talking Cow
By Linda Tancs
Larger than your average Holstein, Wisconsin’s Chatty Belle in Neillsville is the world’s largest talking cow. Sixteen feet high and 20 feet long, the fiberglass replica is equipped with a voice box, the operation of which has been leaving Belle much less chatty these days. So much for the dairy lecture. Her much smaller son Bullet (at a size befitting an actual Holstein) was also removed from the premises due to vandalism. What does remain nearby is the Wisconsin Pavilion from the 1964/1965 New York World’s Fair, used today as a radio broadcasting center.
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