As a born and raised Wisconsinite, I sometimes get a little irritated….o.k., a lot irritated….when I’m watching TV programs that only portray Wisconsin as cow country. And, the brilliant buffoons only show black & white Holsteins (HA! A city kid that knows her cows!), like that’s the only cow to roam our earth.
Sure, we have a lot of cows but they’re not all Holsteins….and they’re not all milk! We also have pretty brown ones called Herefords, black Angus, fuzzy cute Scottish Highlanders, and many more kinds. I may be a city kid, but I do know one end from the other. And by the way….before you go getting all goofy you need to know that chocolate milk does NOT come from brown cows, not all cows are dairy cows, and we’ll know you’re a tourist if you don’t say, “Hi girls!” when driving by a dairy farm.
Patchwork Earth
We also have absolutely breathtaking farmland, lush forests and crystal clear lakes. Flying over our state you’ll literally see a patchwork of colors every single season…except winter. Then, you’ll just see white! When you visit, you need to know that we use our blinkers at stop-and-go lights, we measure distance by time and give directions by landmarks (not my fault if the A&P where I told you to turn closed in 1982!), and Friday traffic is thick with people migrating north for cabin and campground weekend adventures.
Fields as far as the eye can see.
Four Seasons of Beauty
My friends….let me tell you. There is so much more to Wisconsin. In fact, after reading this list you’re going to hop on over to one of those travel sites and book yourself a trip to America’s heartland. Fair warning…what you see and hear about winter….frigid cold, snowy, slippery roads….yup, that’s all true. But the winter sunrises and sunsets (and sometimes the below zero temps) will take your breath away. Spring brings lots of green, and literally overnight the trees all pop out and everything is gorgeous and new. Summer is jam packed with festivals, lake and beach days, and of course the start of Packers training. And then…..Fall, when God’s paintbrush really gets busy with brilliant orange, red, and yellow.
Winter Wonderland
It really is this beautiful!
Believe or not, a lot of people actually like winter here. For the outdoorsy folks, we have fabulous snowmobile and cross-country ski trails, along with several pretty decent downhill sites. Oh, we’re no Rocky Mountain range, but the ski hills are fun. And folks fish….ice fish that is, and spear sturgeon, in the winter. People actually put shacks and shanties out on the ice, drill holes and fish in the freezing cold! It’s huge, I tell ya…HUGE! But the best part is how unbelievably quiet the world around you becomes after a heavy snowfall. If you’ve never experienced it, it should be on your bucket list.
If you’re not the outdoorsy type, did you know that Wisconsin also has a ton….and I mean a ton….of microbreweries, wineries and distilleries all over the state? Who knew?! We do, and we’re producing some delicious, award-winning hooch! The art scene is pretty incredible with galleries of all sorts, and through the warm weather months there are many outdoor art festivals. And speaking of festivals, did you know that the world’s largest music festival, Summerfest, is held on Milwaukee’s lakefront for 11 days each June. And the lakes….so many lakes for boating, sailing, waterskiing, swimming, kayaking, or just floating on a raft. You just can’t beat it.
Come visit us. You’re going to love it! And one more thing…..you’re going to run across some pretty strange city names you’ll never be able to pronounce. Don’t worry…..just work on getting “Wisconsin” right….it’s pronounced Wi-sCON-sin!
Here’s my list of 10 Cool Things About Wisconsin…Besides Cows. I’m tellin’ ya….you’re gonna want to make us your next vacation destination. Stay tuned, and watch for more great things about Wisconsin, coming soon!
- International Award-Winning Cheesemakers – since everyone in the world knows Wisconsin for its “cheeseheads”, I’d be remiss in not mentioning that cheeseheads are a real thing (attribution: cheeseheads.com), and we make fabulous cheese and lots of it. In 2018, Wisconsin cheeses took 5 of the top 20 finalist spots at the World Championship Cheese Contest! Supermarkets are super stocked, and there are specialty cheese stores pretty much everywhere you go (even the airport!). Even us natives make pilgrimages to cheese stores to stock up and try what’s new. Speaking of the airports, check with TSA.gov if you’re planning to fly cheese home. At one time they didn’t allow it. It apparently appears like a C-4 explosive block in airport xrays! But, I guarantee you’ll most definitely be asked by security if you’re packin’ cheese (or sausage!)
- Speaking of sausage, your visit would not be complete without trying an authentic Wisconsin bratwurst, or “brat” (that’s pronounced “brah-t”). This is the home of Johnsonville Brats (Sheboygan, WI) sold around the country, of course, but there are mom & pop meat markets tucked in just about every town, big and small, that make amazing brats as well…and sausages, and kielbasa, and smoked bacon, and ham….Pretty much everyone has their favorite, and you can’t tell them otherwise. Yup….we likes our meats! A couple of my favorites in my neck of the woods are Nueske’s, Niemuth’s Southside Market, and Maplewood Meats (made famous on Jimmy Fallon by Olivia Munn when she was dating Aaron Rodgers).
- Since we’re talking food, how about experiencing a cranberry harvest? Not only is the cranberry Wisconsin’s official fruit, but Wisconsin produces over 60% of US cranberries! Didn’t know that, did you? There are about 250 growers, mostly in north and central Wisconsin. The Warrens Cranberry Festival, held the last weekend of September to celebrate the harvest season, and is a really fun event. You need to go on a cranberry marsh tour (only available during the month of October) and learn about how they’re farmed. It’s super cool! Check out the Wisconsin Cranberry Growers Association for more info.
- Next, take a swing over to Marathon County in northcentral Wisconsin to ginseng country. Yup….Wisconsin produces 95% of US ginseng! Didn’t know that either, did you!? It’s harvested September through November, so if you time your trip right, you could stock up on some of nature’s healthiest ingredients – cranberries AND ginseng – all in one trip! Doesn’t that sound delicious?! Head over to the Ginseng Board of Wisconsin for more info.
- By now you’re probably thirsty so pull on over to a local tavern (even the smallest of towns have at least a church and a tavern!), and belly up to the bar (if you’re not the driver!). You won’t just find Miller, Pabst Blue Ribbon, or Leinenkugel. You’re more likely to find Spotted Cow farmhouse ale, Johnny Blood Red Ale, 3 Sheeps Waterslide IPA, and much, much more in their craft beer selection. Beer has played a huge part in Wisconsin history, and in fact goes back to the 1830s, before Wisconsin was a state! We have over 120 craft breweries in the state, producing gallons and gallons of foamy goodness, much of it only available in Wisconsin! Check out Wisconsin Brewers Guild for more info.
- Now…if beer isn’t your thing, how about a visit to one of our over 100 wineries! Yes, ladies and gentlemen…we have wine and it’s duuuhhhh-lish-us! We even grow the grapes! This has been an exploding industry in the last 10 years, and many Wisconsin wines are award winners. It’s not unusual that as you’re driving around the state you’ll run across fields of grapevines, not something you might expect. While I haven’t even begun to put a dent in trying all that Wisconsin has to offer, some of my favorite wineries include vonStiehl, Wollersheim, Mona Rose, 65 Vines, Parallel 44, Stone’s Throw, Cedar Creek…yeah, I haven’t even made a dent! Check out Wisconsin Winery Association for more info
- It’s about time you grab something to eat again….we do that a lot in Wisconsin, especially on Friday nights. You’re going to want to hit a Friday Fish Fry at a local tavern, supper club or even a church! Every town has a favorite place…or 10! Friday Fish Fry is an oooooold tradition tied to the huge Catholic population in the state. At one time, Catholics were forbidden from eating meat on Fridays so….the fish fry was born. Even though that restriction is long gone, the Friday Fish Fry remains, ingrained in Wisconsin culture. Typically, a fish fry plate includes a pile of fried lake perch, French fries, coleslaw and a slice of rye bread. And…it’s delicious! The easiest way to find a great fish fry is to just ask a local.
- Did you catch the super club reference in #7? We’re famous for our Supper Clubs…not at all to be confused with a regular restaurant! I have to say, there’s nothing like one. You’ll know you’re in a true supper club when you hear a lot of people in the bar ordering an Old-Fashioned before dinner (see #9 below) or a Grasshopper, Manhattan, or Pink Squirrel after dinner. As you’re seated by the hostess, you see a brimming salad bar and smell the delicious aroma of a perfectly cooked steak. You watch it sizzle its way out to a table with its partner in crime, the baked potato. On your table is a brimming relish tray featuring crackers and breadsticks, liverwurst, two cheese spreads, carrots, celery, pickles and olives. Odds are very good the place is jam packed with people, many of them regulars who are there every Friday or Saturday night and who raised their children in the supper club tradition. Man….Can’t you just smell that sizzling steak?
- While you’re waiting for your table at the Fish Fry, you’re going to have to try an Old-Fashioned. Yup…adult beverage time again. Wisconsin is also known for the Brandy Old-Fashioned, and I’m telling you, in all my travels I’ve never had an Old-Fashioned anywhere like a Wisconsin Old-Fashioned! More typically they’re made with Brandy, with Whiskey or Bourbon coming in a close second. The real way to make them is to muddle a slice of orange, packet or cube of sugar and a maraschino cherry in the bottom of a glass. Add 2 shakes of Angostura bitters, a shot or two of brandy, and top with sweet or sour soda, or a press. The non-Wisconsin way is to top with plain water. There’s an artistry to the blend, and not all old-fashioneds are good. And for Pete’s sake….this is NOT a blender drink!
- Ok…now that you’ve stuffed your face with some of Wisconsin’s culinary treats you’re probably going to want to either relax and unwind, or try to work it all off. How about heading to Wisconsin Dells, the waterpark capital of the world. When you’re “in the Dells” as we say, you’ll have your choice of super fun waterparks boasting over 16 million gallons of water (that’s a boatload of water!), rollercoasters, amusement parks, surf machines, wave pools and lazy rivers. The Dells has the US’s largest indoor waterpark, the largest indoor/outdoor waterpark, and the state’s largest indoor waterpark. Or, you can hit one of the fabulous spas for thorough, head to toe relaxation, or hit the outlet mall for some great buys. This place is crazy fun for all ages. Check out www.wisdells.com for more info.
Thanks for taking a little peek at some of Wisconsin’s cool things….we’re so much more than cows! Have you been to Wisconsin or live here? What’s your favorite cool thing? Share in comments below…
