Michael May 21st, 2008
What is 10,000 years in the making and located entirely in Wisconsin? The answer is the Ice Age Trail. The Ice Age Trail is a 1,000 mile long trail that meanders along the landscape carved by the glaciers 10,000 years ago. The trail is one of eight national scenic trails and about 600 miles are complete.
The Ice Age Trail celebrates is 50th birthday year. The idea of Milwaukeean Ray Zillmer who had a vision of a 1000 mile trail spanning the state. The Ice Age Foundation was started in 1958 and in 1980 Congress designated it a national scenic trail. What makes the Ice Age Trail special is not only is it entirely located within Wisconsin, but 57% of Wisconsin Residents live within 20 miles of the trail.
Anyone can hike the Ice Age Trail. Maps and hiking information is available at the Ice Age Park and Trail website. One June 7, in celebration of National Trails Day, IAT chapters will get out and do the Mammoth Walk. The goal is for all 1000 miles of the trail get hiked on that day. Come out, join the fun, and experience what makes the Wisconsin landscape so spectacular.
Michael November 4th, 2007
Prospective Wisconsin travelers in search of an all-encompassing vacation planning tool will find what they are looking for in the Wisconsin Activity Guide, a new publication from the Wisconsin Department of Tourism.The 80-page, magazine-style guide highlights the latest information on popular leisure travel activities across all four seasons.
The new activity guide is one of two publications that will replace the Wisconsin Department of Tourism’s former seasonal event and recreation guides. It includes all the land, water and snow activities highlighted in the seasonal publications and adds a few more such as scuba diving, charter fishing and spas.
The new format provides more sidebar articles of interest and a streamlined contact information section to help travelers plan their vacation. Separate guides for seasonal events, festivals, exhibits and performing arts are available as a companion piece to the Wisconsin Activity Guide. The Wisconsin Department of Tourism will publish the new Wisconsin Activity Guide once every two years while continuing the seasonal events guides on a biannual basis.
The guides are printed on recycled paper, as part of the Wisconsin Department of Tourism’s ongoing commitment to preserving the environment and encouraging environmentally friendly practices.
For Wisconsin travel information and free travel-planning guides, visit TravelWisconsin.com or call the Wisconsin Department of Tourism’s toll-free number 800-432-8747. Travelers can also obtain guides and information at the any one of the 10 Wisconsin Welcome Centers, located in select state-border cities.
Christine September 29th, 2007
Each fall Granite Peak Ski Area at Rib Mountain State Park opens up their new 6-person ski lift for color rides. It is a wonderful way to see the colors of the Wisconsin Valley. In the winter this lift is a high speed lift, getting skiiers to the top in a hurry for another run. In the fall, however, the lift is slowed to allow riders to enjoy the scene and the ride.
Once you are at the top you can jump off and walk into Rib Mountain State Park for a visit. The park has observation decks and a 60-foot observation tower for a view above the trees. There are also several trails for a great hike around the mountain.
This year the rides run the last weekend in September and the first in October. The cost is $8.00 per person.
Michael September 17th, 2007
September is my favorite month. Within its days it holds the last vestiges of summer and the start of fall. The leaves haven’t started to turn yet, but I know they are only a couple of weeks away. Nonetheless you can see the signs of the turning season in the skies with the fall migration or in the farmer’s field as the corn turns brown, ready for harvest.
Ced Vig of the Rhinelander Daily News has more signs of September in his column. For example:
Cranberries soon to be harvested in Northwoods. Cranberries are one of only three fruits native to North America - the other two are blueberries and Concord grapes. This tasty little berry was a staple in the diets of American Indians long before the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock.
Read the entire story here.
Michael August 23rd, 2007
It used to be that you could only get cheese curds one day a week. For the little store in our neighborhood, that day was Thursday. The curds would come in the early afternoon and by 5:00, they where usually gone. Lovers of the curds squeaky goodness would quickly grab them up. When cheese factories where smaller and more prevelant, you could only get the curds when they where actually making cheese.
Nowadays you can find cheese curds just about everywhere. Almost all the small factories have closed and the large cheese factories are making cheese every day of the week. The local mega grocery store has a table near the entrance just about continuously. Or I can drive to the local cheese factory and get a bag whenever they’re open.
Now its even easier to find cheese curds with the new Chese Curd Crawl map from www.eatcurds.com. The Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board put together a very nice site with the history of curds, how to find them, and cheese curd recipes.
Download the map and get ready to take a trip; there’s nothing better than biting into a hot squeaky one fresh from the vat.
A nice story about curds can be found on the Milwaukee Journal site.
Christine August 13th, 2007
MADISON, Wis. — The Wisconsin Department of Tourism has unveiled two new travel planning guides, the 2007 Fall and Winter Calendar of Events Guide and the 2007 Fall Sampler. Both are available for free by visiting TravelWisconsin.com, calling the Department of Tourism toll free number (800) 432-TRIP/8747 or stopping at one of the 10 Wisconsin welcome centers.
Continue Reading »
Michael August 9th, 2007
From the University of Wisconsin:
The University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Arlington Agricultural Research Station will hold its first field day devoted to organic agricultural production on Aug. 30 from 3 - 7 p.m.
Field crops, processing vegetables and market vegetables will all get some attention at the event, which will include information on organic weed management, cover and companion crops, soil quality, variety selection, vegetable crop trials, and no-till organic production.
Continue Reading »
Michael August 8th, 2007
Elkhart Lake, the quaint resort town on the north end of the Kettle Moraine State Forest hosts one of the largest Le Mans circuit races in America. Road America is a four mile permament track with fourteen turns spread over 626 acres of land. They host a variety of events featuring Le Mans cars, Karts, Motorcycles, and vintage vehicles. The weekend of August 9-12 features Wisconsin’s largest road race event: American Le Mans on Saturday and Champ Car World Series on Sunday.
According to Roger Dornboos: #14 Minardi Team USACosworth/DP01/Bridgestone:
“Road America is a high speed track, more what I’m used to in Europe. You sort of have to shift your mindset, just as you’d change the setup on your car after racing on a street course. For one thing, there is so much more speed around the turns compared with the street circuits that you have to be much more delicate and precise with the car.
The history of Road America goes back to the early 1950’s when Elkhart Lake hosted road races on the streets around the town. The Wisconsin State Historical Society has a great article available online about early road racing in Elkhart lake.
The Kids August 5th, 2007
The Henry Vilas Zoo is great fun! They have every thing from monkeys to lions. The zoo is free. They also have a gaint play area with a slide. They have goats that you can feed (you can buy a cone filled with food!) You can measure your hands and campare them to a monkey! They have a great gift shop, too.
It rates 4 out of 5 stars on the Greta Greatness Scale.
A Note From Mom: The zoo is an essential part of any visit to Madison- and you can’t beat the admission! You can learn more about the Zoo at www.vilaszoo.org. Be sure to take a miniute to read the extraordinary history of the park and it’s donors.
Michael August 2nd, 2007
Ferris Wheel,
originally uploaded by backroadwisconsin.
August in Wisconsin means fair time. The Wisconsin State Fair starts today and locally, the Wisconsin Valley Fair in Wausau is in full swing. The animals arrived on Wednesday and livestock judging is underway through the rest of the week, culminating with the Market Animal Sale on Saturday.
The county fairs in Wisconsin have been running since late June, but there are still plenty of fairs around the state to catch in August. The Wisconsin Association of Fairs has a calendar of fair dates, so head on over and pick one closest to you. With over 70 county fairs in the state, I’m sure you can find one that isn’t too far to drive. If you go, have some cheese curds and a funnel cake for me.
Where’s your favorite county fair, click on the comment link and share it with us.
