Itineraries Midwest Spring/Summer 2015

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56 South 33rd Avenue, #234 | St. Cloud, Minnesota 56301 320-259-1082 | 877-832-7267 | Fax: 763-201-7945 info@itinerariesinc.com | www.itinerariesmidwest.com

letter from

the publisher

Heather J. Lahren | PUBLISHER heather@itinerariesinc.com Lynn Gottwalt | TRAFFIC MANAGER lynn@itinerariesinc.com Mackenzie Lahren | PROJECT COORDINATOR mackenzie@itinerariesinc.com Eric Beuning | ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Independent eric@itinerariesinc.com John Lundberg | ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Independent john@itinerariesinc.com Chris Reber | WEB DESIGNER/PROGRAMMER chris@itinerariesinc.com Ashley Nelson | JUNIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER ashley@itinerariesinc.com Carinna K. Hard Bullemer | ART DIRECTOR HARD AT WORK Design, inc. | carinna@hardatworkdesign.com CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Heather Lahren, Kathleen Somers, Lynn Gottwalt, and Mackenzie Lahren | ITINERARIES Inc. Britt Aamodt We make every effort to be as accurate as possible, but assume no responsibility for errors or omissions found in this magazine or any other corporate publications produced by ITINERARIES Inc. Proud Members of: Tour Minnesota Association (TMA) & American Bus Association (ABA) POSTMASTER: Send address changes to ITINERARIES Inc. 56 South 33rd Avenue #234, St. Cloud, MN 56301 PHOTO CREDITS Front Cover: Dietzler Farm in Elkhorn, WI. Other photos: 2L Farms, Albert Lea CVB, Apple Holler, Buffalo Roundup & Arts Festival, Castle Farms, Chicago, Down A Country Road, Eagan CVB, garden-dwellers FARM, Green County, Henry A. Wallace Country Life Center, Jenniffer Arocha, Kreycik Elk & Buffalo Ranch, Lakota Ways, The Lamb Shoppe, Lutsen Mountains, Matt Culbertson, Meuer Farm, Milwaukee County Zoo, MN Renaissance Festival, Niles History Center, Primrose Farm, Southern Minnesota Tourism Association, St. Cloud Area CVB, Stoughton Chamber of Commerce, Tree-Mendus Fruit, Wadena Chamber of Commerce, Weathervane Terrace Inn & Suites, Wellington Farm, Worthington Area CVB, Weston Red Barn Farm, Wetherby Cranberry Co. COPYRIGHT 2015

Coming Summer/Fall 201 5 !

Dear Planner, Ever wondered how your veggie omelet got from the farm to your plate? Or how your ice cream sundae got from the cow to your bowl? Well look no further! This issue of Itineraries Midwest is bursting at the seams with farm-to-table tours for your groups.

For this issue, we’ve partnered with the Wisconsin Agricultural Tourism Association (WATA) to bring you the very best in Wisconsin agriculture, as well as dozens of farm-to-fork excursions found throughout the Midwest. Dining at the source is a unique opportunity your groups will remember for a lifetime. For example, 2L Farms in Leavenworth, Kansas hosts a fine dining experience right on the farm (they even serve dinner at sunset). For a hands-on experience, visit Fairhaven Farm in South Haven, Minnesota to pick your own berries then see how those berries get turned into delicious jams, jellies and pies! Speaking of berries, you won’t want to miss the Warrens Cranberry Festival in Warrens, Wisconsin for absolutely everything “cranberry.”

Who knew the Midwest had such a huge variety of farm-to-table tours? Read on to discover all the agri-tourism opportunities for your groups and let’s give new meaning to the term “field” trips!

Best Regards, Heather J. Lahren, CEO - Publisher illinois

table of contents spring/summer 2015

20 Farm-to-Fork Tours columns

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michigan

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minnesota missouri nebraska

spotlight

WATA Field Trips Your ag-venture starts here.

on the cover

north dakota

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south dakota

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wisconsin - - - - - - - - - - - 48

Midwest Hub-and-Spoke Tours It’s easy to focus on all the excitement that the “big city” has to offer, but let’s not forget about the hub-and-spoke destinations that offer easy access to their metropolis neighbors while featuring some memorable attractions of their own. A Midwest hub-and-spoke tour allows your group the opportunity to experience urban attractions as well as lesser-known destinations found just outside the “hub” of it all.

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profile

Meuer Farm Farm Food with a Side of Fun

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kansas

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iowa

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The Midwest is brimming with farm-to-table tours for your groups. See the farming process firsthand, then discover how your food makes it all the way to your plate. At Dietzler Farm in Elkhorn, Wisconsin, groups are invited to eat their meal right there in the field!

Read ITINERARIES Midwest Online. Ads hotlinked to websites. www.itinerariesmidwest.com

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profile

B Y K AT H L E E N S O M E R S

Farm Food

W

with a Side of Fun

hen you grow up on a farm as David Meuer did (pronounced Moyer), you learn things and experience things differently than, say, today’s electronic-game-playing, bike-helmet-wearing, stranger-danger-concerned kids of the suburbs. Yup, it’s a different world. And the Meuers realized that much of farm life is worth sharing, not only with children on field trips, but also with groups like yours. Today less than one percent of our nation’s consumers live on farms, with many being four to five generations removed from even knowing anyone that farmed.

We are raising a generation of children who do not know how apples grow on trees, or how a gallon of milk gets into the grocer’s cooler. Dave and his wife Leslie have come up with some pretty fun and spectacular ways to bring the best of what their 150-acre farm has to offer to motor coach tours. And it all began with a simple question.

“What else can I do to make use of my farm?” The answer came quickly when he thought of doing a corn maze. Soon to follow was

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the hayride. While the two go hand in hand quite nicely, he also realized that education is a vital part of the hayride. “We try to market ourselves as a well rounded destination,” says the couple. Remembering the fun he had growing up on the farm, David realized he had something unique to offer. With passion and enthusiasm, the couple set out to bring their mission of “to farm, educate and conserve” to reality. But the ingredient that binds it all is fun. Meuer knows exactly how to make fun for visitors of all ages. Come see for yourself.

The farm includes well-known crops like corn, soybeans and wheat grown alongside not-so-well-known crops like alfalfa, oats and spelt. There are beef cattle rotationally grazed in pastures never touched by a plow, seven or eight varieties of strawberries grown on five acres, and bi-color sweet corn grown without pesticides.

The back woods shelter maple trees and Meuer himself planted 4,200 black walnut trees thirty years ago. You’ll also find deer, wild turkeys and bald eagles on this family farm.

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FARM FOOD WITH A SIDE OF FUN - MEUER FARM

What is Agri-Tourism?

It’s basically down home fun on the farm. An agricultural tourism activity allows members of the public to tour, explore, observe, learn about, participate in, or be entertained by an aspect of agricultural production, harvesting or husbandry that occurs on the property. It generally involves an educational or recreational component that takes place on a farm, ranch, grove or other place where agricultural crops are grown or farm animals or fish are raised. In Wisconsin, where the Meuer Farm is, there’s quite a bit of excitement over a 2013 amendment that limits civil liability for injury to an individual who is participating in an agricultural tourism activity. The agricultural tourism provider must post a sign with specific verbiage, but this frees everyone up to have a good time and not worry about the what-ifs. With the green light on, the Meuers have gone full-tilt in offering groups a memorable experience.

Since an important focus for the Meuers is to educate, they are pleased to open their farm to the public. Maple syrupmaking, strawberry-growing (the berries are hand weeded and a drip irrigation system used), rotational grazing of animals, beekeeping, crop rotation and harvesting are just some of the activities you’ll learn about. If you go on the tractor driven hayride, there are five stops along the way, each one designed to offer a unique combination of learning and fun. You will see beef cattle grazing in century-old pastures.

You’ll see the black walnut grove and learn why the nuts

are beyond organic. There’s a stop at the maple trees to learn how syrup is made. There is also a stop at the stream that runs to Lake Winnebago and you’ll learn some history there.

Additionally you will get to see twenty beehives and learn more about honey than you ever thought was possible. Visiting the farm means learning about sustainable farming practices that work with the land, not against it. Oh, and it’s also handicap accessible.

Farm-to-Table Dinners As long as you’re coming over, why not stay for dinner? The new Farm Flavors® Dinner Series has proven to be a hit. So popular in fact, there is often a waiting list to attend as well as to cook! Area chefs from different restaurants take turns preparing an elegant meal showcasing produce from the Meuers’ as well as surrounding farms. From May to September the third Thursday of each month brings a different dining experience to the main activity building on the farm. Bring the whole group! Each evening includes a cash bar, 3 to 5-course dinner and farm activity. The chef comes out and answers questions. Each place setting gets a gift to take home.

Visit meuerfarm.com for more information. Tickets are $60 and seating is limited. Another option would be the Day of Adventure Lunch, which includes a lecture/demonstration as well as a hayride.

Busy Bee Country Store There is also a wonderful store filled with products made right on the Meuer farm as well as surrounding farms. Your tour will offer an opportunity to

purchase small-batch foods as well as other Wisconsin-made items. May I suggest rolled oats, oat flour and limited edition oatmeal & berries cereal? The oats are grown at the Meuer farm and the flour is certified 3rd party gluten-free.

Of course you’ll need some Meuer farm maple syrup to put on that cereal. Made using the “batch process” means the sap is boiled one batch at a time yielding a superior tasting pure maple syrup. Since you’ve already met the bees, you will certainly want some Meuer Farm raw honey offered in a variety of sizes and colors.

There is also comb honey and bee pollen, which you will have learned about on the tour.

Private label jams, jellies, salsas, salad dressings, pumpkin and apple butters, sunflower oil— oh gosh, there is so much more I just can’t list it all! Store hours are more limited off-season so be sure to call ahead (920418-2676) or purchase online.

I’d like to tell you “that concludes our tour,” but the reality is there is more, much more. We didn’t talk about the happy pigs, the chickens and laying hens, or the new oatmeal stout beer. We never even got to the pumpkin patch or the corn maze. There is a huge activity area with a straw fort to play in, a “sandbox” filled with corn, pens of animals, and an eighty-foot tube slide made

by David just for the fun of it.

There is cinnamon and regular kettle corn made daily and a breathtaking sunset over Lake Winnebago at the end of the day. Space prohibits mentioning everything, so you’ll just have to come and see for yourself! ]

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spotlight

Wisconsin Agricultural Tourism Association 608-343-0201 / www.visitdairyland.com

Find these Wisconsin ag-ventures on pages 10-21.

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Rural Arts Roadtrip

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WATA FIELD TRIPS

Holler - Sturtevant, WI Feeding Goats at Apple

Amish Tours - Cashton, WI

Cranberry Bog - Warrens, WI

Apple Holler - Sturtevant,W I

H

ave you ever visited a dairy farm? Met an emu? Tasted a squeaky-fresh cheese curd still warm from the vat? Gotten lost in a corn maze, or picked your own strawberries under the same summer sun that sweetened them? You are about to.

Wisconsin Agricultural Tourism Association (WATA) and Visit Wisconsin invite tour groups to get in touch with the land. Enjoy farmstead bed & breakfasts, pick-your-own orchards, or food discovery centers.

These tours will put your groups directly in touch with the “makers� responsible for locally sourced Wisconsin ag products. You will meet producers, growers, farmers, brewers, vintners, bakers, and cheese-makers.

Wisconsin also hosts agri-tourism-related events that include food festivals, breakfasts on the farm, and fall harvest adventures.

Let the ag-ventures begin!

Apple Cider Donuts at Apple Holler - Sturtevant, WI

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spotlight

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ABBYCOLBY CROSSINGS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Don’t miss the ag-ventures going on this year!

Annual Colby Cheese Days / July 17-19, 2015 Book/movie sale, ATV pull, softball tournament, bingo, parade, street dances, tractor pull, midway rides, 3-on-3 basketball tournament, pedal tractor pull, puppet show, archery range, plenty of free Colby cheese, Chariots of Cheese 5K/10K run and 5K walk & 1 mile kids run (www.chariotsofcheese.org), cheese curd throwing contest, famous VFW charcoal chicken, petting zoo, beer tent, live music all three days, down-home cooking and refreshments.

Lama & Craft A-Faire / Oct 10-11, 2015 Come learn why this event is spelled “Lama” & not “Llama!” Experience unique & historical activities, craft vendors, demos of crafts & fiber arts, 5K/10K run, 5K walk (Lama Trot Run), llama cart races, food vendors, stage shows, Kiss the Llama Contest, meet Floyd Zopfi (world record

holder for carriage driving) and much more.

715-223-8509 | www.abbycolbyareachamber.org _________________________________ 2

AGES PAST BED & BREAKFAST

Each beautiful room at Ages Past has a history and elegance like no other. Enjoy a gourmet breakfast made with locally grown and organic choice produce. Each breakfast incorporates a hot entrée, fruit, fresh baked breads, juice, coffee or tea.

Gluten-free, vegan or vegetarian, and lactose-free options are available upon request. Organic Cashton Coffee Company beans are freshly roasted in-house and Organic RISHI teas are available for all guests! The Back Door Café – Coffee Haus is now open for dinner, decorated in Paris Fleur Des Lis Style. Wine is for purchase exclusively from Vernon Vineyards near Viroqua, WI. 608-654-5850 | www.agespastbnb.com _________________________________ 3

APPLE HOLLER

Welcome to Apple Holler Family Farm, where you can “Pick Your Own Memories” all year round!

Apple Holler invites your groups to have a relaxing and enjoyable farm experience and some good country cookin’.

Your view of life on a farm and orchard will expand when you view Apple Holler’s 78 beautiful acres that house an orchard and the Red Barn Restaurant. Your tour groups will experience interactive farm tours and a real farm meal touched by the magic of their apples. This is farm-to-table goodness at its best! Many agricultural and

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culinary options are available to you and your groups.

Tours will be guided through the beautiful orchard and farm. Learn how Apple Holler uses responsible earth-friendly growing practices, or “Integrated Pest Management,” so that they are able to produce high quality foods while still caring for the environment.

Groups are welcome to taste fruit right off the tree and vegetables from the gardens.

The farm also has an Enchanted Forest and a Golden Goat Bridge.

Group activities include Bread or Pie Baking, Cannin’ & Jammin’, or even a fun session of “Bingo.” Step into the Country Store to find unique items that include crafts, wines, décor, jewelry, caramel apples, apple cider, fresh baked goodies (including award winning pies), plus quite a few things to taste and sample. Arrange one of the following for your group: Pig Roasts & Picnics, Apple Orchard & Farm Tour, Horse Drawn Sleigh or Wagon Ride, Gemstone Mining, Apple Picking, Peach Picking, Snap Pea Picking, Pumpkin Picking or attend one of their festivals!

If time is an issue, simply stop by for coffee or hot-spiced apple cider and apple cider donuts. They have a variety of options just for your group, including the newest tour coming soon: Farm to Table Pizza Garden Tour.

262-884-7100 | www.appleholler.com _________________________________ 4

THE BARN AT HARVEST MOON POND

The Barn at Harvest Moon Pond is an old English post & beam timber barn that is perfect for your next group event. The

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spotlight rustic barn holds a massive hickory and stone fireplace, ancient timbers, chandeliers and an impressive lit cupola. The barn is reminiscent of the 1800s, with lanterns hanging from the grand farm posts and incredible stained glass windows illuminated at night. Your event will include use of the amazing kitchen, impressive changing rooms and bathrooms. This venue is open all months of the year.

608-635-4344 | www.barnharvestmoon.com _________________________________ 5

CALUMET COUNTY TOURISM

Supper Club Capital of the Midwest® Relax in the nature-based Calumet County, a small rural community situated on the east side of Lake Winnebago. With great opportunities for fishing, shoreside camping, farming experiences, and underground caves to explore, they will keep your groups entertained. Enjoy 10,000 acres of land used for hiking, hunting and bird watching and experience the wilderness in their State Wildlife Areas.

Groups will enjoy the huge variety of supper clubs to choose from. Respectfully donned the Supper Club Capital of the Midwest®, the county attracts a variety of culinary and conversational enthusiasts.

Calumet County’s supper clubs are just as popular as their dining guide, titled “Breaking Bread in the Holyland.” The dining traditions in this county are an experience like no other.

Calumet County is proud of its natural beauty and they invite you to visit their many parks, including: Calumet County Park, a shoreside campground with a marina, trails, effigy mounds and a winter tubing hill; Becker Lake, a quiet park with a tranquil prairie; Ledge View Nature Center, known for its caves, maple syrup and snowshoeing; and Brillion Nature Center, which has weekly family activities and is ideal for nature hikes.

There’s also High Cliff State Park with its towering cliffs, lime kilns, trails, old general store museum and campground.

Don’t miss the ag-ventures in the area! Pick juicy apples at Heritage Orchard, take a tour and visit the animals

at Mulberry Lane Farm & Meuer Farm, or pick the perfect pumpkin at Polly’s Pumpkin Patch.

920-849-1493 ext 263 | www.travelcalumet.com _________________________________ 6

CIRCLE M MARKET FARM

If you are touring through the beautiful Driftless Area of Southwest Wisconsin, there’s no better place for a stop than the little valley homestead at Circle M Market Farm. Located just outside of rural Blanchardville, Circle M is a working farm where shepherdess and fiber artist Kriss Marion grows four acres of heirloom vegetables and raises sheep, goats, hogs, steers, chickens and ducks.

Marion runs a Bed & Breakfast in the charming vintage farmhouse and a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) operation providing vegetable shares to families, both local and in Madison. But she also offers tours and classes custom-tailored to guests from near and far who want twohour to two-day educational experiences on the farm. Marion will create a custom curriculum fit for any group.

For more information contact Kriss Marion at maidmarion@circlemfarm.com.

608-558-0501 | www.circlemfarm.com _________________________________ 7

DOWN A COUNTRY ROAD

Take in a simpler lifestyle as you tour Wisconsin’s largest Amish community near Cashton, WI. Over 300 Old Order Amish call the area home and have established a community rich in history, culture and handcrafted treasures.

Chuck and Kathy Kuderer have

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WATA FIELD TRIPS established a very close friendship with the Amish, and together work to bring handmade treasures and treats to you at The Village Shops at Down A Country Road. The Village Shops consist of 6 unique small cottages filled with products made by the local Amish, other local artisans and some unique general giftware. Most of the little cottages were built by the Amish and are set in amongst beautiful gardens.

Peruse the Amish Shop to find an array of handmade items. The Little Red Shed is filled with great giftware, much of which is made by other local artisans.

Emma’s Kitchen has your taste buds covered, offering homemade jams and jellies, maple syrup, honey products, noodles, bread mixes and much more.

Kinner Korner Children’s Shop features furniture perfectly designed for little ones, as well as toys both wooden and soft. Not So Plain & Simple has plenty of pampering goods and accessories, including handmade jewelry, scarves, lotions and potions and other fun items. Of course a stop at Country Corner Ice Cream Shop is a must.

Choose from several flavors of delicious,

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hand-dipped, made-in-Wisconsin ice cream, sip an old-fashioned Spring Grove soda pop, or savor other candy treats.

Visit the shops then take a tour of the Amish community. Kathy Kuderer or another guide will step on board your coach and share with you the history, traditions and customs of the Amish. The gift shops and tours are available to your groups from May 1st through October 31st by reservation. There is no cost to stop with your group at The Village Shops, however there is a fee for the tour.

Kathy | 608-654-5318 | www.downacountryroad.com _________________________________ 8

FAWN CREEK WINERY

Indulge in a glass of fine wine while savoring the peace and quiet of the woods on the outdoor deck overlooking this seven-acre vineyard. Located just 10 miles north of downtown Wisconsin Dells, Fawn Creek Winery is a family-owned business nestled on 36 acres amid a grove of maple, pine and oak trees. They feature complimentary wine tastings, a gift shop,

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spotlight and a micro menu. The micro menu features olive trays, bread with dipping oils, cheese flights from award winning Wisconsin cheese makers, and Wisconsin micro brews. The short drive out to the country will make a lifetime memory.

With music and events going on weekly, there is always something fun to enjoy while sipping on your wine.

Saturdays and Sundays, Memorial Day through Labor Day, hear music from various bands as they perform on one of the Wisconsin Area Music Industry’s (WAMI) 2015 Venue of the Year awardwinning stages. It’s a great place to enjoy some music!

608-253-4400 | www.fawncreekwinery.com _________________________________ 9

GLACIAL LAKE CRANBERRIES

Grab ahold of adventure at one of the oldest cranberry marshes in central Wisconsin. Glacial Lake Cranberries invites your groups to delight in a tradition that began over 140 years ago. The natural beauty of the cranberry wetlands during

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harvest season is a sight to see! Guided tours will lead you around the marshes and groups will be able to witness the harvest in action. Your next stop will be at the CranberryLink® Visitor Center to connect with North America’s native red fruit through videos, cranberry memorabilia, and cranberry collectibles.

Your groups will be able to purchase fresh cranberries and related items.

Every season at Glacial Lake Cranberries is an adventure. Groups can view the many stages of the cranberry’s life and there is always something unique and special to see. The beautiful trails are perfect for hiking, biking and birding.

Birding tours will show off the Nesting Loons, Sandhill Cranes, Trumpeter Swan, and Black Terns that are native to the land. Around mid-June through mid-July, watch the cranberries blossom in their beds. The blossoms resemble the heads of the Sandhill Cranes, which is where the “crane-berry” received its name.

715-887-4161 | www.cranberrylink.com _________________________________

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GRAMMA MILLER’S FARM MARKET

Stop by the family-owned and operated Gramma Miller’s Farm Market and enjoy some true Wisconsin fresh food. Some of the quality products found here in Hancock, WI include flowers, jams & jellies, honey, wines, meats and cheeses.

In-season Miller Farm peas are available mid-June through mid-July.

Grab your groups and stop on over!

Enjoy an ice cream cone and some cheese curds. Then check out all of their wind chimes, birdfeeders, whirly gigs and much more! They love to assist their customers in beautifying their gardens and dreams!

715-249-3060 | www.grammamillersmarket.com _________________________________ 11

GREEN COUNTY TOURISM

Dive into southwestern Wisconsin’s Green County to enjoy their famous Swiss heritage, ethnic cuisine, colorful festivals, and local brews that perfectly pair with their local award-winning cheeses! As your motor coach drives in, you will view cows grazing in lush green fields, dairy farms, and colorful barn quilts.

Start out your morning with Breakfast on the Farm, held annually in Green County the last Saturday of May as a kickoff to June Dairy Month. This event takes place at a different working Green County dairy farm each year.

Discover the legacy of cheesemaking in Green County. The National Historic Cheesemaking Center is housed in a restored railroad depot. The center features cheesemaking equipment, dairy farming

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WATA FIELD TRIPS heritage, and cheese factory replicas.

Travel back to the late 1800s into the authentic Imobersteg Farmstead Cheese Factory. All the original equipment can be viewed in this factory that was once used for producing Brick, Swiss, and Limburger cheese using the milk from the 40 cows at the Imobersteg Farm.

Spend the afternoon at Sugar Maple Emu Farm. The family-operated emu farm offers 60 to 90-minute tours that are both fun and educational. Products for sale include lean red meat, emu oil products, feathers, leather products, and eggs.

Relax at the Hawk’s Mill Winery, including reds, whites and fruit wines – everything from dry to sweet. The tasting room has the feel of a cozy log cabin, with the added bonus of a truly spectacular view.

Held annually in mid-July, the Green County Fair is a traditional county fair with youth exhibitors, judging, ag-education, livestock and small animal auctions, and tractor pulls. Unique to Green County is the cheese auction.

608-328-1838 | www.greencounty.org _________________________________

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HINCHLEY’S DAIRY FARM TOURS

Hinchley’s Dairy Farm welcomes you to visit their family owned and operated working farm! They will provide your motorcoach groups with educational guided tours throughout the farm. Learn about the different species of farm animals, their food production and get a glimpse into their daily life. Your group’s day at the farm will include hand-milking a cow, petting and feeding farm animals, and taking a relaxing hayride around the farm to view cornfields, soybeans, wheat and alfalfa. Each season brings new experiences.

If you plan a trip in the spring, your groups will see a variety of babies ranging from chicks to newborn calves, or visit in the fall for pumpkin picking!

608-764-5090 | www.dairyfarmtours.com _________________________________ 13

HOLLAND’S FAMILY CHEESE

Welcome to Thorp, Wisconsin! A recently opened location, your groups will be able to visit the Penterman Farm, the cheesemaking

facility, and the Marieke® Gouda Store.

Each facility has viewing areas where your groups will be able to see each stage of the cheesemaking process. At the Penterman Farm you will be able to visit the first stage of cheese: the cows! Treated with love and respect, the cows provide full-flavored, exceptional milk. Your group’s next stop will be to watch the cows’ milk turn into 18-pound Marieke® Gouda cheese wheels.

Each cheese is made with authentic Old World Gouda recipes and everything from the equipment to the spices is imported from Holland. After the cheese has aged, it can be found in the Marieke® Gouda Store along with local food, accessories and typical products from Holland. Holland’s Family Cheese welcomes your groups to share in their passion of modern family farming and handcrafted cheesemaking!

715-669-5230 | www.mariekegouda.com _________________________________ 14

KICKAPOO ORCHARD

Escape with your group into the Driftless Area of Crawford County to find Kickapoo Orchard. This small, family-owned

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spotlight orchard offers retail and wholesale apples and cider. If in season, you will also find red tart cherries, raspberries and bluebell grapes. Kickapoo Orchard is the best place to kick back, relax and enjoy fresh apples and cider, bakery items, or just for a great time. Indulge in their large retail store, bakery and gift shop.

New in May 2015, you can expand your cider options! The orchard increased their volume of special cider blends by grafting several varieties of French, American and English cider

apples to existing trees!

608-735-4637 | www.kickapoo-orchard.com _________________________________ 15

MAPLE TREES & MILWAUKEE TRAINS

Start your morning with the Milwaukee Trains Tour. Groups will have a hands-on experience of what it was like to be a railroad worker on a portion of the Milwaukee Road Route that ran through Westby for more than 100 years. Next stop is at the museum where your group can

examine a full-scale replica of the original Milwaukee Road Train Depot. Groups will be shown a short video about the Milwaukee Road Caboose and then be able to walk through the caboose and take a group photo. Enjoy lunch at Borgens Café located a block away from the historic Logan Mill Lodge.

The Maple Trees Tour offers a hands-on experience of tapping a maple tree and becoming a maple syrup farmer.

Enjoy a dish of ice cream with maple syrup topping while watching a video on the Ocooch Mountain Acres operation.

Maple syrup will be available for purchase.

Groups can walk through the syrup processing and bottling room to see the process in motion.

Ruth Rupp | 608-606-2866 | www.ocoochmountainacres.com _________________________________ 16

MAUSTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Positioned halfway between Chicago and Minneapolis, Mauston finds you centered in the scenic Wisconsin outdoors. With clean, friendly and affordable lodging that is group friendly, Mauston serves as the ideal base camp for experiencing the real Wisconsin. There are many local attractions to see!

Wisconsin Cranberry Discovery Center – Your group will enjoy the day walking through the museum. Treat yourself with some cranberry ice cream, cranberry pie and other bakery items.

Then take a guided tour through Wetherby Cranberry Company Marsh to see the work in action!

Red Ridge Ranch – They offer it all

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WATA FIELD TRIPS when it comes to riding. Along with a beautiful view of the Lemonweir River from horseback, they offer 1-hour trail rides through 250 acres of rolling farmland and wooded hills.

The Cruisin’ Turtle – This 48-foot cruiser accommodates up to 50 people and is available for rent on the Castle Rock Flowage.

Carr Valley Cheese Co. – From traditional classics like expertly aged cheddar cheese to award-winning American originals like Cocoa Cardona and Gran Canaria, their skilled cheesemakers turn milk delivered fresh from local dairy farms into more than 100 delicious cheese varieties.

Necedah National Wildlife Refuge – They are home to more than 110 species of migratory and resident wildlife. Visitor activities include wildlife observation, photography, environmental education, nature programs, fishing, hunting & more!

Burr Oak Winery – You’ll find national award-winning, estate-grown table and dessert wines from their vineyards in New Lisbon, WI. Since 1997, the Kennedy family has been dedicated to bringing you a wide variety of fine wines.

Clark’s Hooves & Feathers Farm – Visit with the miniature horses and emus and learn about the natural benefits of emu oils. Test some out for yourself!

The Dells – Find live entertainment, thrilling attractions, lux to cozy accommodations, and dining options to please any palate. Oh, and let’s not forget the waterparks! There’s always more around each and every corner. Start planning your group getaway today!

presentations from his experiences on the farm. He discusses growing strawberries, underground irrigation, making maple syrup, beekeeping, and growing grains.

These presentations provide you with a greater understanding of how farmers work hand-in-hand with nature to produce the food you eat.

The farm offers farm-to-table experiences with specialty lunches and dinners just for your group. They work with local chefs and restaurants to offer these fresh meals to you. Located in the

Main Activity Building, your groups will be protected from the elements, but will have a breeze and a beautiful view of the fields.

Meuer Farm will work with you to create the perfect meal to fit your group.

Don’t miss the Busy Bee Country Store, offering varieties of on-farm and local products. You’ll find raw honey, gluten-free rolled oats, handmade artisan pastas, organic sunflower oils and finely crafted goat milk soap.

920-418-2676 | www.meuerfarm.com _________________________________

844-498-5444 | www.mauston.org/tours _________________________________ 17

MEUER FARM LLC

The trails of Meuer Farm come to life with a relaxing hayride. Along the way, you’ll see pastures that are over 100 years old, groves of black walnut & maple trees, a stream that flows into Lake Winnebago, and enormous fields. Your guide will explain rotational grazing, maple syrup, land conservation and much more. The owner, David Meuer, offers one-of-a-kind

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MUNSON BRIDGE WINERY

Centrally located in Wisconsin’s heartland, the Munson Farm was built in 1914.

Today, the home and barn are still standing strong, serving up a large variety of fruit wines including raspberry, elderberry, boysenberry, plum, blackberry, crabapple, cranberry and even maple syrup wine, as well as many other seasonal favorites. Munson Bridge wines are made with the finest and freshest ingredients using locally grown fruit and ingredients whenever possible.

Relax by the pond with a glass of wine or walk the beautiful gardens. Munson Bridge Winery offers private wine tastings to groups year round by appointment.

Sample their delicious gourmet olive oils and vinegars at their oil & vinegar tasting bar! Their unique flavors include: Basil, Tuscan Herb Blend, Hot-Hot Chipotle, Garlic, Wild Mushroom & Sage, and Roasted Onion & Cilantro. Flavors change seasonally.

Visit Munson for their Fondue Fridays, June through August by reservation—

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another fun tasting event for all! Explore the gift shop that offers local cheeses, gourmet olive oils, vinegars, beer, soda, and gift items galore.

makers along with retired cheesemakers will produce a 90lb wheel of Swiss cheese as you watch! Groups will receive a gift bag to remember their visit.

715-229-4501 | www.munsonbridgewinery.com _________________________________

608-325-4636 | www.nationalhistoriccheesemakingcenter.org _________________________________

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NATIONAL HISTORIC CHEESEMAKING CENTER

The southern gateway to Wisconsin is home to the National Historic Cheesemaking Center. Tour guides eagerly await your group’s visit to tell stories of early cheesemaking and why this gave Monroe the title of “Cheese Capital of the USA.” The center will provide a step-on tour guide for your bus. You will be invited to see how cheese was made in the century-old Imobersteg Cheese Factory, which has been relocated and restored on the grounds. Learn how cheese was made over a century ago, even without today’s modern technologies!

Join the cheesemaking community for June Dairy Month. Every year on the second Saturday of June, master cheese-

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OLD WORLD WISCONSIN

Step into Old World Wisconsin and discover the historic farm and village buildings that make up the world's largest museum focused on the history of rural life. Experience immigrant life in the rural Midwest from the late 1800s and early 1900s. Help period-clad interpreters do the tasks of early settlers as you visit 10 working farmsteads, organized by immigrant groups.

The museum is made up of more than 60 historic structures. These structures range from ethnic farmsteads with furnishings and rural buildings, to a crossroads village with a traditional small-town atmosphere. Historians have preserved an impressive amount of true Americana all in one place for your groups to explore. The old farmhouses, outbuildings and small-town structures were researched and constructed piece by piece from dismantled structures from Wisconsin’s past. In the middle of rolling prairies untouched by the new world, the buildings have been resurrected and taken shape once more.

You will see teams of oxen and horses working in the fields, hearty meals being cooked over wood-burning stoves, and beautiful well-kept gardens. The Crossroads Village houses a town blacksmith and a general store. Your groups will truly

1-877-832-7267

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WATA FIELD TRIPS discover the spirit of Old World Wisconsin.

262-594-6301 | www.oldworldwisconsin.wisconsinhistory.org _________________________________ 21

RURAL ARTS ROADTRIP

Enjoy a beautiful fall weekend in October discovering the Rural Arts Roadtrip of southwestern Wisconsin! Artists will offer demonstrations of their work for your groups in their own studios. In the midst of rural Wisconsin, you will be able to wander along rustic pathways and through cornfields. Enjoy local and organic foods that include grass-fed beef, artisan cheeses, raw honey and much more.

View demonstrations from over 80 eclectic artists representing one-of-a-kind arts: stained, leaded, etched, enameled, and hand-blown glass; stitched and beaded jewelry; hand-spun, hand-woven apparel and household furnishings; hand-painted yarns; hand-felted apparel; spritzers and bath salts; yard art, rustic furniture and more. The artistic offerings show their true rural heritage.

The 3rd Annual Roadtrip Adventure

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of 2015 is happening October 9th & 10th from 9am to 5pm and October 11th from 10am to 3pm. This year includes expanded Places to Eat, Places to Stay and Places to Visit.

920-286-0971 | www.ruralartsroadtrip.com _________________________________ 22

RUSHING WATERS FISHERIES

Welcome to Wisconsin’s largest rainbow trout farm! Located within the Kettle Moraine State Forest, Rushing Waters Fisheries provide a pristine yet easily accessible setting for groups. Let their tour guides engage your group with hands-on activities and a behind-the-scenes look at what makes Rushing Waters the country’s leading producer of quality rainbow trout.

Any size group is welcome. Rushing Waters will customize your group tour to fit your needs. Here are some options: Enjoy a combination of tastings, private dining, culinary classes, and campfires & cookouts. Each will provide a fun, scenic experience your groups will not forget.

Complete your day by dining in the

Rushing Waters tasting room, The Trout House. This farm-to-fork experience will complete your day’s activities. The chef sources all of his ingredients from the fishery, as well as regional farms, to create a one-of-a-kind seasonal artisan delight.

Be sure to stop by the trout farm store before you leave and buy from their full line of fresh and frozen seafood, along with smoked trout and assorted flavors of salmon. They also carry an extensive selection of sauces, breading, and marinades to help you create unique meals with your fresh fish purchases.

Add a special touch to any dish with Rushing Waters’ house-made spices.

800-378-7088 | www.rushingwaters.net _________________________________ 23

SASSY COW CREAMERY

At Sassy Cow Creamery, groups will see firsthand how award-winning ice cream and milk are created fresh from their dairy cows. Their two farms include 450 traditional and 250 organic cows that supply all the milk used at the Sassy Cow Creamery. The cows produce about 6,000

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spotlight gallons of milk each day! At Sassy Cow, they believe success is related to how well the cows are taken care of, which is why they place the highest value on the betterment of their animals. Every decision they make is based off of their cows.

Take the creamery and farm tour!

Your group can get up close and personal and see the entire milk-bottling and cheesemaking process from their large viewing windows. If your group is short on time, they also welcome you to stop just for ice cream and shopping. With over 40 flavors of ice cream, there is sure to be a treat for everyone. Make sure to visit their small creamery store where you can purchase local cheeses, chocolates, jams, and much more.

608-837-7766 | www.sassycowcreamery.com _________________________________ 24

STONEFIELD HISTORIC SITE

Celebrate Wisconsin’s rich agricultural heritage at Stonefield Historic Site. Group tours include learning about turn-of-

the-century dairy farming, development of modern farm implements, sights & sounds of the railroad, and visiting the grand summer estate of Wisconsin’s first governor, Nelson Dewey. Explore Stonefield to see how Wisconsin became known as “America’s Dairyland.”

Attractions include: • Agricultural Museum – See the largest collection of farm implements developed at the turn-of-the century.

• 1901 Farmstead – Experience life on a WI family farm in the early 1900s.

• Rural Farming Village – Find a broom maker, blacksmith, and carpenter and browse more than 30 shops.

• Governor Nelson Dewey Estate – Tour the grand summer estate of Wisconsin’s first governor.

• Railroad Days – Hop aboard the caboose at the Stonefield Depot. Groups will view model railroads and savor Mulligan Stew.

608-725-5210 | www.stonefield.wisconsinhistory.org _________________________________

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TROUT SPRINGS WINERY

Enjoy exquisite wine in the tasting room and pair that with a tour around the beautiful vineyards. Trout Springs Winery is one of the few wineries in Wisconsin that produces estate-bottled wine. With a motto of “careful attention to detail,” Trout Springs Winery focuses on quality, rather than quantity. They are also the only winery in Wisconsin that has a game farm, a plant nursery, and a trout production facility all on the same site.

Also on site is Branch River Farms, growing herbs and rose gardens that find their way into almost everything they do.

The natural herbal beeswax candles, teas, and potpourris make great gifts for any occasion.

Seasonally, they host Dining on the Ledge©, an event in which your group will indulge in a 4-course dinner paired with TSW wines for each course.

866-687-9463 | www.troutspringswinery.com _________________________________ 26

VETRO WINERY

In the heart of Jefferson County is Vetro Winery, centrally located between Madison and Milwaukee. Open your mind and give your palate an adventure with exciting varietals. They share the bounty of nature with your group through the craft of winemaking. Sit on the patio and sip and savor while glancing at the wildlife of the Jefferson Marshland. More than a tasting facility, theirs is a wine experience that will expand your mind and open your heart.

Indulge in flavorful wines like Wap-a-tu-e, dedicated to Wisconsin-grown grapes. Other grape varietals include: Nun on the Run, Vetro Bianco, and an evenbalanced Riesling. Or take a trip to the countryside with Strawberry Wine, Cherry Wine, Blueberry Wine and Red Plum Wine.

The Vetrano family’s passion for wine began in Sicily over 100 years ago. Let them share that tradition with you!

920-674-9650 | www.vetrowine.com _________________________________

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WARRENS CRANBERRY FESTIVAL

Warrens Cranberry Festival is the world’s largest cranberry festival and is held the last full weekend of September. Whatever kind of cranberry treat you can imagine, you’ll find it here! With 850 arts & crafts booths and 350 antique & flea market booths on top of contests, marsh tours, a parade and so much more, you will be busy all weekend long. As they say in Warrens, “Bring your walking shoes… you’re gonna need ‘em!”

Warrens Cranberry Festival features over three miles of shopping that includes: • Arts & Crafts: handmade jewelry, wood sculptures, metal garden art, knitted items • Flea Market & Antiques: primitives, fishing & hunting supplies, purses, collectibles, toys, clothing, sports memorabilia • Farm Market: fresh fall produce, dried flowers, honey, soaps & lotions, and much more Don’t miss the festival this year! The dates

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are set: September 25-27, 2015.

608-378-4200 | www.cranfest.com _________________________________ 28

WISCONSIN CRANBERRY DISCOVERY CENTER & WETHERBY CRANBERRY CO.

Experience the Exhibit Hall of the Wisconsin Cranberry Discovery Center, featuring a 6-minute video presentation about the cranberry industry in Wisconsin and an interactive self-guided tour. The vintage soda fountain offers 5 flavors of cranberry ice cream, crafted exclusively for them. They are the official wine tasting site for DnA Vintners on the Wisconsin Winery Tour, and they feature daily tasting of area cranberry wines. The gift shop showcases original artwork from local artists and they carry an array of cranberry salsas, mustard, grilling sauces, chocolates and other goodies. The tasting kitchen offers a variety of fresh baked goods from cookies to pies. They host special events every weekend during the summer and harvest season. Groups with advanced

reservations will be greeted by a guide with experience in the cranberry industry.

Located only a few miles from the Wisconsin Cranberry Discovery Center, a trip to the Wetherby Cranberry Company is likely to offer glimpses of wildlife and birds, cranberry beds in seasonal stages of production, and beautiful local scenery.

Once you arrive at the marsh, you will be accompanied on a group or private tour of the Wetherby Cranberry Company operation, focusing on the history of the cranberry industry and explaining current methods of growing and harvesting. The Wetherby marsh offers fresh cranberries during the harvest season and their own Van Wychen Wine, made with Wetherby cranberries.

608-378-4878 | 608-378-4813 www.discovercranberries.com www.freshcranberries.com _________________________________

608-343-0201 / www.visitdairyland.com

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BY BRITT AAMODT

Every field has a story. Every farm has a history.

From those fields and farms comes most of the food we cook, enjoy and savor.

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That’s what makes agritourism so great. With a farm-to-fork itinerary, you can take your group back to the land. They’ll get to tour farms and dig into farm life with dirt under their nails—without getting dirt on the bus. They’ll not only get to see where their food comes from but also have a hand in making it, while learning about the history and culture of a region. farm tours The easiest way to jump into agritourism is with a farm tour. More and more farms are opening their homes, barns and dairies to groups. With so many options available, you have the opportunity to search out what is truly unique and memorable.

Less than an hour from Madison, Circle M Farm is the perfect place to stay, work and rest. This family homestead hosts two festivals a year: Lambs & Lettuce in the spring and Warm & Woolly in the fall. These events typically include farm tours, wool felting, spinning wheel demonstrations, bluegrass music, a potluck dinner and a big bonfire in the evening.

Country Dairy in New Era, Michigan, is also a good bet for your group because it provides a breadth of events and experiences all at the same location. You have the flexibility to spend an hour or half a day.

Start with a guided tour of this working dairy farm. Make sure to schedule your arrival so you don’t miss milking, then head to the bottling facility. The smells are free and so are the samples of fresh chocolate milk and Moochies (cheddar curds) made right on site.

These destinations are open to providing off-season tours and setting up custom celebrations designed just for your group. But they’re also busy working farms. So it never hurts to check ahead on availability and get the goods on bathroom facilities, interactions with farm animals and classes.

chores & more If your group’s looking for a really immersive experience, a farm stay might be an option. Farm tour locations often double as B&Bs. If the B&B is small, you can see if your farm collaborates

with neighboring B&Bs to accommodate larger groups.

Illinois’ Bluffdale Vacation Farm comes with a cozy stone farmhouse, 320 acres and lots of chores. Your group can collect eggs, feed chickens and tend the animals.

Immersive farm tour experiences involve your group in the real work of the farm. They’ll know exactly what it’s like to get up early in whatever kind of weather.

They’ll experience the sun on their necks and the sweat of a good day’s work, and they’ll appreciate sitting down to eat the eggs, greens and milk collected that day.

The Oliver H. Kelley Farm in Minnesota offers participatory experiences in a historical setting. Workers dress in period costumes as they take you through the outbuildings and various stations.

Your group will get a history lesson in the Grange movement of the late 19th century and Oliver H. Kelley, one of the leading lights of the movement. There’s always something baking in the wood stove, so don’t miss the kitchen.

Depending on the time of the year, you can work with these sites to include special workshops and tours. Many sites already have relationships with local artists, artisans and cultural organizations.

You could look into a special workshop on seed art (yes, it exists), wool spinning, butter churning and water dowsing.

Every region and location has something that makes it different from everywhere else. Some states, like Wisconsin, have also passed laws making ag-tourism more attractive to farmers.

Find out what they offer and jump right on in.

classes & workshops Classes and workshops are a great way to educate and entertain your group at the same time. Wisconsin, of course, is famous for cheese. Your group can learn about cheese from cow to curd. In November, the Wisconsin Cheese Fest invites groups to sign up for all-day farm and creamery tours, which can be customized.

The Cheesemaker of Mequon, Wisconsin will work with you to create a hands-on cheesemaking workshop. You can also learn how to make yogurt, kefir, kombucha and cultured butter, which are gaining popularity with foodies.

Urbavore Urban Farm outside Kansas City, Missouri is a keeper for tour

groups, because it’s easily accessible from the highway and close to the attractions of the big city. But you won’t even need to hit downtown. Urbandale has a whole menu of activities. You can shop their fresh food market, tour the farm or grab something to eat.

Urbandale works with a number of growers and food artisans to provide workshops on everything from what kind of herbs to stock in the family pantry to canning and wholegrain breads made with amaranth and quinoa. This is the kind of grassroots education you can’t get from a book.

agri-fun Another benefit of agritours is that your group gets to interact with the natural world in new ways. Iowa’s Geisler Farm offers the traditional corn maze. But have you ever traipsed through a soybean mini-maze?

Speaking of Iowa, its Clay County Fair hosts Grandpa’s Barn, where you can see and touch baby animals. Recently, they’ve added crop plots, which allow your group to learn about crop production and how farmers feed the world. State and county fairs are excellent interactive agridestinations with people available to work with group tours.

Every September, Minnesota’s Grape Stomp Fest lets you do something you’ve seen on TV but never actually thought you’d do. That’s right. Wash those tootsies, jump in a vat and stomp those grapes. Talk about an experience you’ll never forget.

Hardy’s Reindeer Ranch in Illinois caters to groups of all sizes. You’ll get to pet the amazingly gentle reindeer and purchase unique goods at the gift shop.

And with a little advance planning, you can treat your group to a cookout, a picnic or a Moonlight Madness corn maze with flashlights.

Whether you’re interested in showing your group how a farm works, or giving the direct experience of working on a farm, or just enjoying a meal on the land where it was produced, farm-to-fork tours are ideal. There’s a lot of space to park and large groups are easily accommodated.

Also, these sites are busy from dawn to dusk. There’s always something going on.

And whatever you choose to do, your group will learn something new and feel a deeper connection to nature and their place in it. ]

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more illinois ag-ventures…

Angelic Organics Learning Center | CALEDONIA Connect to your food through a customized field-to-kitchen workshop. Milk a goat, collect eggs, harvest veggies, and work together to create a farm-fresh recipe.

Whether it’s a day camp or a cheese making workshop, participants gain hands-on experience preparing farm-fresh food, from field to table, while learning about organic agriculture and the whole farm system in the process. Their experienced farmer-educators offer new ideas and experiences, and show your group the diversity of life on the farm.

Prairie Fruits Farm & Creamery | CHAMPAIGN Dine on the farm and experience the pleasures of eating locally.

Since 2008, they’ve been creating multi-course, slow food meals that showcase the best of Midwest agriculture. Their chef, Alisa DeMarco, is a master at crafting fresh, seasonal dishes with the finest local ingredients. Many of the vegetables and fruits served are grown organically on their farm; they also use the farm's milk, eggs, and cheeses. From their Dinners on the Farm to their unique idea of “Tasting Trails,” you couldn’t find a better place to take your group!

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Illinois: Mile after Magnificent Mile.

ELIZABETH Because all of their wines are estate-grown, join them for a vineyard tour when the weather allows. Check out events for special hay and wagon ride tours for more of an in-depth experience and full tour of the vineyard grounds. They believe great winemaking begins in the vineyard, and love to show groups where the magic of the wine is born, starting with how they cultivate the grapes and land.

They’ll walk you through the process of how their wines are born, crafted, bottled and taken to the tasting room for your palate's enjoyment and pleasure.

Linden Hill Farms | PEORIA Located in the heart of the Midwest, this fourth-generation family dairy farm has been sharing the farming experience with visitors since 1967.

Tours include watching a 2,000pound cow be milked, feeding a baby calf with a bottle, feeling the wool on a sheep and taking a closer look at the machinery used to harvest the 900 acres of feed for the animals.

Guided visits are specialized towards the age and interest of each group.

Because they are primarily a working dairy farm, they are always at home taking care of the animals and elbow deep in work. As a result, your visit could be at 5am for morning milking or 2pm for gathering eggs.

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Mile after Magnificent Mile.

Read ITINERARIES Midwest Online.

Ads hotlinked to websites.

www.itinerariesmidwest.com

directory

Best of Northwest Illinois Mystery Tour This sample itinerary may be customized for any time of year.

Located in the northwest part of Illinois, the Blackhawk Waterways region offers a wide variety of visitor destinations. They take care of all the details so you can offer your group a fun, relaxing and educational experience. This unique, 3-night mystery tour offers your group a combination of presidential history, theatre, quirky eating establishments and out-of-the-ordinary accommodations.

day one 1:00 pm Arrive in Dixon, IL. Tour the Ronald Reagan Boyhood Home that the Reagan family resided in from 1920 to 1923. Meander through the newly remodeled Visitor Center and Gift Shop, which features books and gifts highlighting the Reagan legacy lifeline.

The Northwest Territory Historic Research & Learning Center is housed in President Ronald Reagan’s boyhood South Central School. The Center is affiliated with the Smithsonian Institution and houses historical exhibits, art gallery, surround-sound theater and museum store. Along with rotating Smithsonian exhibits, they have two permanent exhibits geared to enrich the understanding of regional Native American life and early American farming. Speaking lifelike figures enrich the perception of life and the struggle to thrive in the 19th century. Narrative panels give details about years of the Native Americans’ struggle to keep their land. Aspects of the settler’s lifestyle plus the implements and tools that helped settle the West are also showcased.

4:00 pm Check in to your group-friendly hotel.

5 – 6:30 pm Enjoy a full banquet at the Galena Steakhouse, which offers fine dining in a casual atmosphere.

6:30 pm The experts at Distinctive Gardens will give a horticulture decorating demonstration or offer a DIY project for gardens. Known as the garden lover’s nursery and gift shop, Distinctive Gardens specializes in creative container gardening, hard-to-find unusual annuals, perennials, and woody plants along with garden and fine art by regional artists.

unique information on the products produced by windmills, country of origin, windmill specifications, and the cultural impact of windmills. The gift shop sells fresh stone-ground flour, Delft pottery, and souvenirs of Fulton, the Windmill Cultural Center, and the windmill.

11:00 am – 1:00 pm Travel to Savanna for lunch at Poopy’s Pub & Grub.

Named one of Illinois’ top ten burger destinations, it’s a fun and quirky lunch stop for bus groups.

1 – 4:00 pm Located high atop a hill overlooking the Mississippi River is Havencrest Castle. Love and beauty fill every corner of this one-of-a-kind attraction. Visitors are left with an unforgettable experience of beauty, elegance, and fantasy embraced by a never-ending love story told throughout the lavishly furnished 63 rooms. NOTE: Havencrest Castle is not handicap accessible so an alternative tour of the Savanna Cultural Museum is offered.

4 – 5:00 pm Load up the bus and travel to White Pines Inn Cabins, located in the heart of White Pines State Park. White Pines Inn resembles a pioneer village with 25 authentic one-room log cabins with A/C and gas fireplaces. Set among the towering pines, the cabins have beautiful hardwood floors the color of maple syrup. Each cabin has a queen, hand-hewn log

Blackhawk Waterways Convention & Visitors Bureau . . . . . . . . . 800-678-2108 201 N Franklin Avenue – Polo, IL 61064 office@bwcvb.com / www.visitnorthwestillinois.com Our region of NW Illinois boasts the Ronald Reagan Boyhood Home, John Deere Historic Site, a Victorian Castle, group-friendly theatrical productions and unique lodging options. We cater our itineraries to your group’s specifications.

bed with a double bed trundle underneath, and a private bath. There are 13 one-room cabins with open-beamed ceilings.

5:00 pm Check into your cabins and freshen up before heading to the White Pines Inn Lodge for cocktails, which will be followed by a catered picnic on the grounds of the White Pines State Park. Finish the day around a relaxing campfire, complete with marshmallows and the sound of the crickets in the peace and quiet of the White Pines Forest.

day three & day four ( visit ItinerariesMidwest.com) For more information or to customize this itinerary for your group, contact Lori King, Group Tour Coordinator, at the Blackhawk Waterways CVB: 800-678-2108/office@bwcvb.com or visit www.visitnorthwestillinois.com.

day two 8:00 am After breakfast, travel to Fulton, IL on the banks of the Mississippi River.

9 – 11:00am Take a tour of Fulton’s Dutch Windmill & Cultural Center. In honor of the rich Dutch heritage found in Fulton, De Immigrant, an authentic working windmill, was prefabricated in the Netherlands and erected

by Dutch craftsmen on the banks of the Mississippi River. The Windmill Cultural Center is located across the street and houses an extensive collection of 21 European windmills that vary in size between three feet and six feet tall and are from ten European countries. Informative interpretive exhibits provide w w w. i t i n e r a r i e s m i d w e s t . c o m

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more iowa ag-ventures…

Hansen’s Farm Fresh Dairy | HUDSON Hansen’s Farm Fresh Dairy is a family-owned, on-farm dairy processing facility. They process milk, heavy cream, butter, cheese curds, 30 different flavors of ice cream, as well as ground beef from 150 dairy cows. The seventh generation of the Hansen family is growing up on this heritage farm, meaning it has been owned by the same family for 150 years! Groups frequently take tours of the farm, which can include feeding farm animals, learning about on-farm processing, milking a cow, and trying their ice cream! In addition to the usual farm sights, guests can also see the creamery, the Hansen farm equipment and even domesticated wallabies that live on the farm.

spotlight iowa

Deal’s Orchard | JEFFERSON Deal’s Orchard features 45 acres of apple trees, with over 25 varieties of tasty Iowa apples available throughout the season. Witness them crank up the cider press to make their own award-winning blend of fresh apple cider, truly one of the highlights of the tour. The Apple Barn and gift shop are open mid-July through mid-January. Available in season are tomatoes, sweet corn, cucumbers, cherries, onions, squash, and pumpkins. In addition, they offer homemade apple pies & dumplings, jam, honey, caramel apples, popcorn, seasonal gift items, fall décor, woodcrafts, kitchen gadgets, gift baskets and much more.

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Henry A. Wallace Country Life Center elcome to the birthplace of Henry A. Wallace, former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture from 1933 to 1941 and U.S. Vice President from 1941 to 1945. This historical site includes 40 acres of the original farm, featuring the birthplace home, a walking path through 9 acres of renovated Iowa prairie, interactive outdoor artwork, an orchard, flower gardens and gift shop. The Center produces 8 to 10 different kinds of fruits and 30 to 40 varieties of vegetables from its four working acres. Lunches and dinners are served on Fridays in the Gathering Barn (nearly year round) and feature fresh fruits and vegetables directly from the farm. Visit the gift shop for a diverse selection of items from artisans throughout southern Iowa, along with an array of Iowa wines. During the growing season, the Market offers fresh produce for sale to the public from the organic garden and orchard.

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Iowa: Life Changing

Loess Hills Lavender Farm MISSOURI VALLEY A peaceful experience awaits your group at Loess Hills Lavender Farm.

They care for their plants using organic materials and produce a series of lotions and bath products for you to take home. Learn how to plant, care for and reap the harvest of lavender. The lavender blooms from mid-June through September, but it is at its best during late June and early July. Check ahead for timing as it varies from year to year.

During bus tour visits, they provide a short presentation and a delicious sample of the lavender sugar cookies and lavender lemonade.

John 15 Vineyard - Meeting & Retreat Center | SCRANTON Purchase fresh grapes in the fall and grape products year round at the John 15 Vineyard. Try their grape syrup, mulled grape cider, jam, jelly, jam-filled candies, Concord grape pie and juice! Stroll the beautiful countryside and visit the Vineyard Pond, great for bird watching, fishing and its delightful view. Guided vineyard tours are available free of charge. They even have a Pitch & Putt Golf Course, good for anyone who wants to play a lighthearted round of golf. The course meanders through the pasture and around the pond for a fun time. Open by appt.

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more kansas ag-ventures…

Peterson Brothers – Peterson Farm Tours | ASSARIA As a younger generation of farmers are now becoming leaders in the business, social media is being used (often in humorous ways) to educate people who are removed from the food production process. And that is exactly how the Peterson Brothers rose to popularity. The Peterson Farm is a fifth generation family farm. Their Swedish ancestors homesteaded the land in the 1800s and they still farm on this same land today. Raising beef cattle is their primary business.

They also grow corn and alfalfa, and forage sorghum as feed for the cattle and cultivate wheat, milo and soybeans for cash crops. Join them for a tour of their farm this summer.

Bauman’s Cedar Valley Farms | GARNETT

Beck’s Farm | NEWTON Tour the peach orchard! They will show you an assortment of fruit trees, berries, and the gardens. Make sure to bring your walking shoes and all of your questions. Their tours are an educational learning experience for all ages. Step back in time, and enjoy a peaceful outing in the country.

Fill your lungs with fresh farm air and your mouth with delightful farm fresh fruit. Experience the beauty of country life. Enjoy the tranquility of the huge surrounding orchard and gardens.

Also share a laugh and a great visit with the Becks.

Lone Star Lake Bison Ranch | OVERBROOK Step back in time and imagine the vast sea of brown that settlers traveling westward on the Santa Fe Trail experienced. This working bison ranch offers the opportunity to learn more about the cultural and historical role bison have played in shaping our past, present and future. The Lone Star Lake Bison Ranch produces 100% grass-fed, homegrown, locally produced bison meat containing no added hormones, growth stimulants or antibiotics. The Bison Country Store is open daily from 9am-6pm and welcomes group tours. The store is expanding to include additional items such as locally grown fruits and vegetables and locally produced items in partnership with area growers and producers.

spotlight kansas

Highly diversified due to the Baumans’ varied interests, this working organic farm raises beef, chicken, turkey and eggs on Kansas grasslands. They also produce grain crops and hay, and operate their own on-farm poultry processing facility. Due to faith practices, the Bauman family uses telephones but not the Internet. This sets them apart from other farms as they deal primarily face-to-face.

The Baumans love to have visitors and are known locally for their “Egg Slips”—little slips of colored bond paper, about 1 ¼ inches high, with five lines of small typescript telling about life on the farm.

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2L Farms

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orn from a desire to get back to basics and enjoy the best this earth has to offer, 2L Farms specializes in prime grass-fed beef, organic garden products, and farm-to-table dinners. They host a series of four-course dinners at their farm each year from June through September. Letting your group dine at the source, interacting with the farmers, each menu is prepared using locally grown, harvested, and produced ingredients. They aim to create a high-end experience serving only the best local ingredients paired with great wines, cocktails or beers. Many of the wines are local to the region. Each evening’s event is about three hours with start times varying so the entrée is served around sunset. Each event is limited to 40 seats and sells out quickly, so don’t hesitate if you want to participate in this year’s farm-to-table experience!

Kansas: As Big As You Think

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more michigan ag-ventures…

Calder Dairy & Farm | CARLETON Come to the farm in Carleton and visit the local cows! Check out their new calf nursery and watch or participate while the “girls” get milked at 4pm every day. The Viewing Room has recently been renovated and contains great informational posters and fun interactive activities. The Country Farm Store serves up ice cream cones (fresh waffle cones made daily!) and milk shakes, while the dairy cooler is full of premium dairy products and farm-made fudge.

Enjoy local honey, maple syrup, and locally grown popcorn. The new “goat scape” allows you to see the goats run up and down their play scape to get the feed you send up to them.

spotlight michigan

The Country Mill | CHARLOTTE Sit back and enjoy the pure farm air and have a glass of fresh Michigan apple cider. The Country Mill offers plenty of places to pause and take a break. Try your choice of their grilled country sandwiches served hot with choice of beverage and an apple dumpling or slice of pie for dessert.

Tour the spacious farm market & gift shop/bakery. They will custom plan your group’s visit to include a hayride, apple picking and more.

View the cider press and see how the process works by calling ahead.

Optional: Have a special viewing of the Lionel Train Layout and Antique Doll House.

Frankenmuth Area Ag Tours

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Tree-Mendus Fruit

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isit the 500-acre, family-owned, third generation fruit farm! Your guide will ride along on your coach to tell your group about the farm, its geology and history, and a little about how they raise so many fine fruits and vegetables at this northern latitude. They begin their U-Pick season with sweet and tart cherries, then apricots, moving on to peaches, and then to their pride of over 250 varieties of apples. That includes many heritage varieties dating all the way back to the 1600s.

They offer group tours complete with a country chicken dinner, and offer a great shopping market filled with jams, jellies, gift items, apple cider and more. Mark your calendar for the first Saturday in July for the International Cherry Pit-Spitting Championship held at the farm each year. Can you beat the Guinness World Record distance of 93 feet, 6.5 inches? See you on the farm!

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FRANKENMUTH This splendid mansion is surrounded by 75 serene acres featuring lakes, fountains, formal gardens, antique classical statuary, a private 9-hole golf course and a conservatory housing exotic plants. Arrange your group tour any day of the week by appointment. Groups receive a complimentary private tour of the mansion and grounds with the option of catering services, including beverage, breakfast, lunch, dinner, or snacks to enhance your experience.

Bygone Basics | MONTAGUE The private, hands-on culinary arts experiences at Bygone Basics can be tailored to your group’s experience with a hearty farm-style meal. Many choose multiple cooking lesson experiences and spend a half-day or even a full day with them. The experiences are carefully orchestrated to allow for historical experience, maximum fun, and learning. For example, see how easy it is to bake bread, which is well matched with butter-churning and jam-making experiences. They go together well and make good use of bread rising time. You decide what you want to experience and take home what you make with the recipes!

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Nearly 100 Years of History AT CASTLE FARMS

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astle Farms of Charlevoix is northern Michigan’s very own castle. Built in 1918, this beautiful French Renaissance castle offers visitors a fascinating glimpse into the past as they explore one of Michigan’s top attractions.

Guided tours include: • soaring towers and stone buildings • sweeping gardens based on European design • vintage collections of castles, toys, and royalty memorabilia • 1918 museum featuring ladies’ fashion accessories, household items, children’s games, and WWI artifacts

Everyone’s a train enthusiast when it comes to the Castle’s Outdoor Model Railroad, the largest in the state of Michigan.

Castle’s railroad features: • 70+ G-scale trains operating on more than 2,500 feet of track • Original Garden Railroad showcasing Charlevoix’s railroad history (1890s–1950s)

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• Fantasy Railroad featuring toys modified into G-scale trains • Victorian tower bridge with two separate towers, offering guests a bird’s eye view of the trains and tracks • Planned expansion in spring of 2015, adding four new sections of track Hungry visitors can enjoy a catered luncheon or dinner at the Castle before or after touring.

Enhance your Charlevoix experience with a step-on tour of the famous Earl Young Mushroom Houses, offered through the Charlevoix Historical Society. The Keweenaw Star, docked in Charlevoix’s downtown, offers afternoon or sunset cruises.

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Conveniently located only 50 miles south of Mackinaw, Charlevoix is an easy add-on for groups visiting Michigan. For details on booking your tour, call Charlynn at Castle Farms: 231-237-0884 ext. 224. See you in Charlevoix!

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Farmin’ the Way They Used To Wellington Farm Park – Grayling, Michigan

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estled in the highlands of Crawford County in Central Northern Michigan, Wellington Farm, USA is easily

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accessible from M-72, M-55, I-75 and US-127. In addition to its central location, Wellington Farm, USA also provides a unique atmosphere, totally unlike any other facility you may be considering.

Wellington Farm sends visitors back to a time when rural American folk persevered through the Great Depression.

Rather than a mausoleum of toil and despair, the 60-acre interpretive farm museum exhibits the tools of forebears’ success and the fruits of their great ingenuity. Enjoy the fresh air and breathe in an educational experience unique to the Northern Michigan countryside.

The onsite museum provides a comprehensive, firsthand experience of the history and heritage straight from the heartland. It includes: a blacksmith shop, grist mill, the Stittsville Church, sawmill, loom house, carpenter’s shop, machine shed, livestock barn, summer kitchen, broom shop, and basket maker’s shop.

All of the buildings are fully functioning and often in operation.

During the farm tour, volunteers costumed in Depression-era clothing

foster an interactive learning experience by not only demonstrating the methods of production, but also by engaging visitors in discussion about the ins and outs of rural life in the early 20th century.

The recently added Perry Lamkin Historic Display features unique artifacts that you will not find anywhere else in the world.

Visitors can also take advantage of Northern Michigan’s beautiful outdoors by exploring Wellington’s endless nature trails. Then, relax at the pavilion or enjoy an Amish-baked pastry or two at the Visitor’s Center, which offers amenities that are more modern.

The perfect blend of education and outdoor recreation, Wellington Farm is an essential stop when traveling through Michigan. The picturesque landscape is a perfect setting for adventures of both body and mind. Plus, mere photographs alone cannot do justice to one of the most significant periods of American history.

For more information contact Wellington Farm Park at 989-348-5187 or online at wellingtonfarmpark.org.

1-877-832-7267

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Niles HISTORY CENTER Niles, Michigan

he Niles History Center includes Chapin Mansion and the Fort St. Joseph Museum, located in the property’s former carriage house.

The Historic Chapin Mansion is a Victorian-period structure that served as the private home of Henry and Ruby Chapin.

Built in 1882, the home contains several ornate stained glass windows, beveled mirrors, impressive brass chandeliers, beautiful hand-carved woodwork, a ballroom and nine fireplaces. Chapin Mansion has entered a multi-year restoration phase, but even now its beauty leaves hundreds of tourists from around the world in awe each summer. Groups are guided through the mansion by knowledgeable docents who will signify the architecture of the mansion, the social history associated with each room of the mansion, and the personal and social history of Henry and Ruby Chapin. If time and weather permit, groups are walked around the outside of the mansion to examine the exterior details and façade. The third floor of the mansion holds a ballroom of great splendor. As it is not safe to show visitors, enlarged photographs are provided to help visualize the various balls, dances and parties that took place in the room. Tours can be customized to a group’s interest.

The Fort St. Joseph Museum tells the story of Niles from its colonial start in 1691 to present day. Featured exhibits portray the history of Fort St. Joseph, built by the French in 1691, the story of the Underground

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Railroad in southern Michigan, and the significance of the railroad and classification yards in Niles’ history. Another unique and truly outstanding exhibit features the museum’s Lakota Indian collection including 12 pictographs drawn by Chief Sitting Bull.

Together the museum’s exhibits tell the story of Niles and the contributions its businesses and citizens have made to the world.

Learn more about the past at Fort St. Joseph in their Archaeological Project Site located at a mission, garrison, and trading post complex occupied from 1691 to 1781 by the French and British.

For more information contact Carol Bainbridge at the Niles History Center at 269-683-4700 ext. 4010 or email at cbainbridge@nilesmi.org.

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directory accommodations

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Weathervane Terrace INN & SUITES

Weathervane Terrace Inn & Suites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231-547-9955 111 Pine River Lane – Charlevoix, MI 49720 www.weathervane-chx.com A charming and unique facility. Located ‘Up North’, but not too far for a convenient weekend outing. Groups will appreciate our professional staff while enjoying all of the Weathervane amenities in the lovely resort town, ‘Charlevoix the Beautiful’.

attractions Castle Farms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231-237-0884 5052 M66 North – Charlevoix, MI 49720 www.castlefarms.com One of northern Michigan’s premier historic attractions - open year-round for group tours. View soaring towers, charming courtyards and magnificent gardens.

Collections on display include royalty memorabilia, antique toys and castles, plus a model garden railroad.

Niles History Center . 269-683-4700 x4010

pending the night at Weathervane Terrace Inn & Suites is like no other. From the castle-like exterior to the luxurious rooms, you will find something that suits your group. Relax by the Pool & Hot Tub Spa, or walk down steps to a beautiful beach on Lake Michigan—just steps away from downtown shops, restaurants, and the Beaver Island Ferry.

tub spa is located in the Lake Michigan Wing, offering guests a warm respite from the day’s activities. Enjoy your Michigan vacation getaway in style.

Luxurious Rooms Luxurious rest is a promise held by the Weathervane staff. Choose from oversized, standard, or patio rooms, or a suite. Many rooms have private balconies. The Lake Michigan Wing features rooms with 2-person Jacuzzi tubs and wet bars, or 1-bedroom suites featuring a fireplace & kitchenette.

Beautiful Views Breathtaking views of Lake Michigan and a timeless Earl Young stone fireplace to warm you, are both part of the unique experience at the Weathervane.

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Delicious Breakfast Each morning from 6 to 11:00am, Weathervane guests enjoy a free and bountiful continental breakfast by the pool. Newspapers, coffee and harbor views are included of course!

508 E Main Street – Niles, MI 49120 www.nileshistorycenter.org The Niles History Center includes the Fort St. Joseph Museum and the Chapin Mansion. What other town can you think of that has a fort, the Underground Railroad, pictographs by Chief Sitting Bull and a railroad classification yard in its history?

Wellington Farm Park

. . . . 989-348-5187 6944 South Military Road – Grayling, MI 49738 www.wellingtonfarmpark.org Wellington Farm, USA is a 60-acre open-air interpretive museum designed to provide an educational opportunity for visitors to experience life as it was in rural mid-America during The Great Depression through displays, exhibits, and more.

convention & visitors bureaus and chambers Marquette County CVB

. . . 800-544-4321 337 W Washington Street - Marquette, MI 49855 www.travelmarquettemichigan.com We’re here to help you plan a trip for the memory books.

We offer customized itinerary planning, step-on guides, reservation assistance, digital images, familiarization tours and more—all at no charge!

Relaxing Pool & Hot Tub Spa The heated outdoor pool invites guests to relax and enjoy the Charlevoix air and sun. The busy harbor and channel provide visual entertainment. The hot

For more information contact the Weathervane Terrace Inn & Suites at 800-552-0025 or online at www.weathervane-chx.com.

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more minnesota ag-ventures…

Gale Woods Farm MINNESTRISTA A real working farm located on picturesque Whaletail Lake in Minnetrista, Gale Woods Farm features a unique educational opportunity where visitors of all ages will gain an understanding of agriculture, food production and land stewardship. The Farm Education Center classrooms and barn allow for programming year-round. If your group would like to come for multiple visits and experience the farm throughout the seasons, they have programs for that too! All scheduled trips include time touring the barn and visiting with the animals. Skilled farm educators offer programs that range from 2 hours to an entire day.

Located just north of the Twin Cities is Poplar Hill Dairy Goat Farm, offering a variety of guided farm tours for large and small groups. Activities include milking a goat by hand, feeding baby goats, sampling fresh goat milk and goat cheese, and hayrides on a restored hay wagon.

Their herd of approximately 600 dairy goats is eager to meet your group!

Not able to visit the farm? They can travel to your location with the goats!

This is a great option for school and church groups that have problems arranging transportation to the farm.

Fairhaven Farm | SOUTH HAVEN This 50-acre fruit farm started with small patches of raspberries, strawberries and blueberries, until the owner met a grape breeder and they soon combined forces to introduce apples, cherries, grapes, plums and pears to the farm. Over the years, Fairhaven has evolved into a multi-dimensional farm. The old Yankee barn has been converted into a shop with a commercial kitchen for hosting events such as monthly farm dinners (seasonally). Your group will enjoy berry picking, apple orchards, u-pick pumpkin patch, horse drawn hayrides and Marsha’s apple pies and jellies. With crops so dependent on the weather, it’s a good idea to call ahead before your visit to make sure your favorite fruit is available.

Farmamerica Center | WASECA This 360-acre site includes a large visitor center, a pond, historic farm sites, country school, country church, blacksmith shop, feed mill, historic gardening, field cropping, and prairie restoration. Many external historical buildings have a large collection of antique tractors and farm equipment.

Stroll through a beautiful prairie on their “Time Lane,” where your group can see how farming has changed over the past 160 years. Take a look at new technologies and how agriculture will be changing in the future. Group tours are available by appointment.

spotlight minnesota

Poplar Hill Dairy Goat Farm | SCANDIA

HUTCHINSON

The Lamb Shoppe

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he Lamb Shoppe is a quaint health food store featuring grass-fed meats, organic foods and supplies, culinary and medicinal herbs, and a variety of educational information for healthy living.

Located on a sheep farm, it combines the best of both worlds being modern, yet woven with old-world charm. The Lamb Shoppe is home to over 500 sheep and other livestock species including beef, chickens, turkeys and guinea hens. With a flock of 350 Dorset ewes that lamb three times a year, a range of lambs of many ages may be found on the farm on any given day. The sustainable farming practices at The Lamb Shoppe have made the plants and animals flourish. Visit the Wellness Center for everything from essential oils and medicinal spices to wellness recipes and natural remedies. Take a tour of the farm or set up a class for your group!

Explore Minnesota

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Explore Minnesota

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MINNESOTA RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL 2015

© PHOTO COURTESY OF JENN

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IFFER AROCHA

© PHOTO COURTESY OF MATT CULBERTSON

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Open Weekends August 22–October 4, Labor Day & Festival Friday (Rain or Shine)

he Minnesota Renaissance Festival began in September of 1971 on a 22-acre field in Jonathan, MN. More than 25,000 people visited the two-weekend grand opening of the festival, then named “A Celebration of Nature, Art, and Life!” That celebration has since relocated to Shakopee, MN and has grown to be the largest Renaissance Festival in the United States with an annual attendance of 300,000.

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2015 Themed Weekends:

• Aug 22-23 Highland Fling • Aug 29-30 Silk Road: Discover the Riches • Aug 30 Bloomers & Tights 5K • Sept 5-7 Passport to Adventure • Sept 12-13 Christmas & Canines • Sept 19-20 Shamrocks & Shenanigans • Sept 26-27 Wine, Chocolate & Romance • Oct 2 Festival Friday • Oct 3-4 Oktoberfest

Group Outings!

Save big and have fun with your groups!

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Picnic Package

All-inclusive picnic packages are a popular option for group events during the festival. Four different packages are available for large groups and can accommodate any type of event you plan to host. The Picnic Package includes: admission into the festival, 2 hours under one of their tents, group name listed on the broadsheet, and a buffet lunch including hot dogs, hamburgers, coleslaw, seasonal fruit and cookies.

Feast of Fantasy

Held daily at Bad Manor, the Feast of Fantasy is a two-hour comedy show that includes select entertainment acts, a six-course meal, two unique gifts, and an experience you will never forget!

Save on admission by purchasing through group sales!

For more information contact the Minnesota Renaissance Festival at 952-445-7361 or visit www.renaissancefest.com/groups.

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Enhance Your Stillwater Visit with VALLEY TOURS or over 20 years, Valley Tours has been welcoming tour groups to the picturesque river town of Stillwater, also known as “The Birthplace of Minnesota.” Located on the scenic St. Croix River, Stillwater is a convenient location to use as a “hub and spoke” into the Twin Cities.

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Enhance your visit to the Stillwater area with a tour featuring a step-on guide dressed in Victorian attire. As you ride past lovely 1880s Victorian homes, down the Street of Spires, up the steep hills and along thriving Main Street, your guide will inform your group of the present, as well as the history, legends, and logging days of the past. Later, meander through specialty shops, artist studios and antique stores galore.

Valley Tours arranges dining, lodging, and other sightseeing and private tours for groups. For a cultural experience, visit the nearby Swedish settlement. Relax on a paddlewheel riverboat cruise, sample wines at a local winery, or take part in some hands-on experiences. There’s a lot to do in the St. Croix Valley. Come, stay, and explore more of Minnesota!

To book your next group tour of Stillwater, contact Sally Erickson at Valley Tours, 651-439-6110.

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From Onions to Fashion, EAGAN HAS IT ALL!

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xplore a suburban community that was once known as “The Onion Capital of the United States”—Eagan, Minnesota— and experience what has now become “Where the World is Stopping for Shopping.” In the late 1800s and early 1900s, Eagan was rich in onion farming, with an average yield of ten tons per acre!

You’d be correct in assuming the area has developed in the last century, and one place in particular celebrates the city’s history daily. Casper’s Cherokee is a dining experience all visitors should enjoy, with many photos on display telling the onion story. The restaurant is unique in that one side offers one of the best sports bars in the region featuring a large patio, the other side being the sirloin room. Locally famous for their steaks, there’s actually another item that continues to get rave reviews: you guessed it, Casper’s Signature Onion Rings!

These colossal sweet onions dipped in their homemade batter and fried until perfectly golden and crispy have been tantalizing the taste buds of visitors and residents alike for over 85 years. Not hungry enough for a

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whole basket with your meal? No problem!

Many of Casper’s steaks are garnished with their signature “rings.” Casper’s is open for lunch and dinner 7 days a week and also serves breakfast on the weekends, making it a convenient addition to your itinerary.

From onion farms to high-end fashion, Eagan has transformed into a top shopping destination with the addition of Twin Cities Premium Outlets, the 106-store outlet mall that recently opened in the summer of 2014.

Shoppers enjoy savings of up to 65 percent at a variety of leading manufacturers of apparel, shoes, home goods, and more! And remember, there's no sales tax on clothing or shoes! Twin Cities Premium Outlets features covered walkways for enjoyable year-round outdoor shopping. Other amenities include a centrally located dining pavilion with indoor and outdoor seating available, and a cozy two-sided fireplace.

From food to fashion, Eagan will satisfy your craving for a Minnesota vacation.

Visit www.eaganmn.com to plan your trip – the deals and packages just may make your eyes water!

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Munsinger & Clemens Gard ens

Munsinger & Clemens Gardens Third Street Brewhouse

Welcome to Granite Country This sample itinerary can be customized for any time of year.

Creativity is key to the success of your group tour.

The St. Cloud Area Convention & Visitors Bureau takes pride in helping you plan the perfect getaway for your group.

day one 12 – 2:00 pm A beautiful feature of St. Cloud is Munsinger & Clemens Gardens along the majestic Mississippi

River. Twenty-one acres of beauty between the two gardens can be explored at your leisure.

2 – 4:00 pm Take a short ride to Cold Spring, MN. Third Street Brewhouse is a local favorite, with tours concluding in the taproom for a tasting. This newly designed brewhouse was added onto the existing Cold Spring Brewery facilities, which has been in the brewing business for over 140 years!

4 – 5:00 pm Check into one of St Cloud’s many group-friendly hotels.

5 – 7:00 pm Enjoy a delicious meal at Nick’s Third Floor restaurant in downtown St. Cloud. Every meal is made in-house from the freshest ingredients available. Their produce and signature grass-fed beef come straight from Central MN farms. From their hand-kneaded buns to their daily-made dressings, they offer one of the best farm-to-table dining experiences in St. Cloud.

7:00 pm Go next door and take your seats for tonight’s production at Pioneer Place on Fifth. Whether your group is seeing a musical, a play or a concert, the theater’s mission is to bring high-quality, professional entertainment to St. Cloud.

day two 10:00 am – 12:00 pm Two floors of exhibits provide visitors of every age with an entertaining learning experience at the Stearns History Museum. Additionally, they feature many limited-time exhibits that change frequently. The museum is located within a 100-acre nature park with flower gardens, ponds and walking trails.

12 – 3:00 pm Head a little south of St. Cloud to the Millner Heritage Vineyard & Winery in Kimball. Enjoy a delicious catered lunch before taking a winery tour. See how the whole process is completed, followed by wine tasting and sampling of 15 different wines. Be sure to browse the wine selection and gift shop.

For more information or to customize this sample itinerary for your group, contact your tour operator or the St. Cloud Area CVB at 800-264-2940 or go to www.granitecountry.com.

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Discover the Lure OF LUTSEN MOUNTAINS

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ring your groups to Lutsen and experience wonders at every turn. With endless miles of hiking trails, canoeing and dramatic coastlines, you will immediately see that Lutsen Mountains is not just for skiing!

enjoy the North Woods ambience, order lunch, snacks, and beverages and take a seat on the Chalet’s expansive deck, a wonderful place to soak in the fresh mountain air and panoramic views of Lake Superior’s dramatic coastline.

There is a mystique about Lutsen that lures visitors back year after year and in all seasons. The North Shore has what no other place can offer: an inland sea, a mountain backdrop, an unspoiled wilderness and a feeling all its own.

Your group can spend a night (or two) at the Lutsen Resort. From simple to luxurious, they have a variety of lakeside accommodations.

Professional outdoor educators on staff provide customized experiences for your group or incorporate their regular lineup of guest activities into your group tour. The spacious beach in front of the lodge is a great spot for a barbeque or a place to gather around a campfire.

A tour around Lake Superior or along the North Shore would not be complete without taking a ride on the Lutsen Mountain Tram, rising 1,000 feet over Lake Superior to the top of Moose Mountain and dropping you off at the Summit Chalet. Come inside to relax and

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For more information and to customize a trip to fit your group, contact Lutsen Mountains at 218-663-7281 or online at www.lutsen.com.

ITINERARIES MIDWEST SPRING/SUMMER 2015

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Wadena: Gateway to the North

Alpaca of Oak Knoll Farms

This sample itinerary can be customized for any time of year.

A Bit of Agriculture in Albert Lea This sample itinerary is best during the summer months.

day one 9 – 10:30 am Make your first stop at Daisy Blue, an all-natural health and beauty aid business founded in Albert Lea in 1999. Tour groups will learn about the start-up and growth of the company, their unique production and natural practice, as well as browse through their line of soaps, lotions, makeup, and baby products.

10:30 am – 12:00 pm Albert Lea CVB can arrange a visit to the Alpaca of Oak Knoll Farms. Delight in the enjoyment of interacting with the alpacas and browse the store

while the owners share their alpaca history and tell how their wool is used.

12 – 1:00 pm Enjoy lunch at one of Albert Lea’s many restaurants.

1 – 3:00 pm Tour the Freeborn County Historical Museum, rated one of the finest history complexes in Minnesota. It’s also home to the “Minnesota Rock & Country Hall of Fame” and Marion Ross of Happy Days.

3 – 7:00 pm Imagine spending a warm summer day/evening

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Continued on Page 42

Uniquely situated in Central Minnesota, Wadena is your gateway to North Country adventure and recreation.

10 – 11:00 am Tucked away at the north edge of Wadena is Green Island, where your group can discover tranquility. Stroll through outdoor sculptures set in the natural backdrop of woodlands, gardens, and the Minnesota sky.

11:00 am – 12:00 pm Take a walking tour of Wadena’s 50 murals illustrating the past, from pre-history to the space shuttle. One thousand years of history have been compiled on the town’s buildings.

12 – 1:30 pm Dine at the Firehouse Bar & Grille for lunch. Enjoy a fun and casual atmosphere with great food and service.

Offering daily specials and a wide variety of meal options, your group is sure to enjoy their experience.

1:30 – 4:00 pm Dive into history this afternoon at the Wadena County Historical Society Museum & Genealogy Center. They have rooms and rooms of displays such as an 1896 barn wall, Aldrich Depot display, Two Nations Indian Village, and a military display, just to name a few.

4 – 6:00 pm The history lesson continues at The Depot Visitors Center & Railroad Museum. Built in 1915 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, The Depot is a wonderful place to view historic depot photographs and artifacts.

6 – 7:30 pm Dinner tonight is at The Uptown. Newly remodeled, you will find a clean, neat restaurant with great service.

7:30 – 9:00 pm Enjoy entertainment tonight at the Wadena Memorial Auditorium. The auditorium is a cultural and historic landmark that’s provided countless hours of community and regional enjoyment. It has been restored in the beautiful Art Deco style of the early 1930s, with its bold, vivid colors and dramatic design. A grand piano is also a part of the allure of the auditorium’s elegance.

As the center for the performing arts, it is one of Wadena’s most appreciated assets.

For more information contact your tour operator or the Wadena Chamber of Commerce at 877-631-7704, info@wadenachamber.com or visit www.wadenachamber.com.

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1-877-832-7267

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Explore Minnesota

Sail Away to Worthington!

This sample itinerary works best during June’s Windsurfing Regatta, but can be customized for any time of year.

day one 12:30 – 1:30 pm The city tour will get your group excited for a fun-filled day in Worthington.

1:30 – 2:30 pm The Historic Dayton House is a genuine showcase of Worthington’s early days and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The house is unique both in the time of its grand appearance in a small prairie town in the late 1800s and in its ownership for well over a century. Three families related through business, blood, and marriage—the Daytons, the Smallwoods, and the Cashels—owned and lived in the house over time. Tours begin on the wrap-around front porch or in the main hall, depending on the weather or the needs of your group. Tours must be arranged in advance as this home hosts events and overnight guests regularly.

2:30 – 6:30 pm Located on the Buffalo Ridge, Worthington is one of the windiest locations in the Midwest with average wind speeds of 18.5 mph. For this reason, the Worthington Windsurfing Regatta & Unvarnished Music Festival was founded in 1999. They’ve reserved a spot for your group on the beautiful shores of Lake Okabena. You’ll have a front row seat to the windsurfing races. Enjoy live music from original artists, food and art vendors, and art activities. (Held annually in June.)

6:30 pm Feel like relaxing over a delightful dinner?

Worthington’s newest fine dining restaurant, The Venetian, specializes in Italian inspired cuisine with a unique touch. Gold level Certified Angus Beef, fresh seafood, traditional pastas, and handmade gourmet desserts round out the menu.

day two 9:00 am After breakfast at your hotel, take a step back in time with a visit to the Pioneer Village. The village contains 40 restored buildings, plus a museum of farm machinery reflecting the early years of Nobles County. Take a turn at the horseshoe pit; the pit and shoes are ready for visitors to test their skills. Open Memorial Day through Labor Day. (Also open by special appointment.)

For more information or to customize this sample itinerary for your group, please contact your tour operator or the Worthington Area CVB at 800-2792919 or www.worthingtonmnchamber.com.

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SOUTHERN MINNESOTA is rich in agriculture.

Enjoy these farm tours, found only in SOMN! Austin - Farmer John’s Pumpkin Patch

Hayfield - Red Barn Learning Farm

Ever wondered about the different varieties of pumpkins? Here you will have the opportunity to have some hands-on fun in an informal setting.

Stay until evening and enjoy a campfire and roast some hotdogs or marshmallows.

Ten or more are considered a group at this farm. Be sure to call ahead to schedule your tour. The Red Barn Learning Farm is set up perfectly for school groups with lots of family fun activities. This year the spring/summer curriculum is “Farmers Grow Great Pizza.”

Byron - Tweite’s Family Farm

Featuring a corn maze, pumpkin patch, specialty shop and more, there’s a lot to do at this farm!

A friendly game of Old McGeezer’s Golf is only 6 holes and is played with an oversized rubber ball and a wooden mallet. Amuse your group throughout this 22-acre farm.

Fairmont - Heritage Acres

Take a tour through Yesteryear’s Pioneer Village. Heritage Acres is an agricultural interpretive center that is designed to tell the ongoing story of farming. Your group will explore a living rural experience on forty acres of rich Martin County prairie overlooking Fairmont’s beautiful Lake Sisseton.

Northfield - Red Barn Farm

This 10-acre farm may be a wedding barn, but it also hosts special events and was voted “Best Pizza” by Southern Minnesota Scene in 2014. Shop the general store where you can purchase products like fresh salsa, eggs and other homemade items.

Preston - Preston Apple & Berry Farm

With over 1,000 apple trees and ¼ acre of raspberries, this farm has lots to offer. Shop at the store for a wide variety of treats such as pies, jams, cider and maple syrup. Preston Apple & Berry Farm is open year-round. Be sure to top off your visit with a slice of Joe’s

hot

STOP Red Barn Farm - Northfield

homemade apple pie and a cup of coffee.

Waseca - Farmamerica Center

Learn how farming has evolved over the past 160 years and see firsthand how farming techniques have developed throughout history. Visit in the summer months to see live animals on the farm.

Wykoff - DreamAcres Farm

This organic farm offers educational workshops, tours and cultural experiences for your groups. Located in the bluffs of southeastern Minnesota, they welcome your groups to come out for Friday night pizza or theatre in the Dream Theatre Barn.

For more information or to find more farm tours in southern Minnesota, visit www.ExploreSouthernMinnesota.com or call 800-868-7476 ext 162.

Historic Northfield This sample itinerary is best during the spring, summer and fall months, but can be customized for any time of year.

Northfield, Minnesota is located along the shores of the Cannon River, just south of Minneapolis and Saint Paul, and northwest of Rochester, MN. Whether your group prefers an active outing outdoors, or a relaxing evening in, Northfield has something for every interest.

day one 10:00 am – 1:00 pm Spend your morning retracing the route the JamesYounger Gang took as they rode through the Northfield

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ITINERARIES MIDWEST SPRING/SUMMER 2015

area in 1876 on The Outlaw Trail Tour.

1 – 2:00 pm Lunch will be served at Hogan Brothers’ Acoustic Café, specializing in hot hoagie sandwiches made with honey-cracked white bread, baked from scratch daily, and signature special sauce.

2 – 4:00 pm For visitors to Northfield, Carleton College offers many attractions. Open to public use year round, Cowling Arboretum is an ideal place to be outdoors. The forest and prairie restorations provide excellent bird and wildlife watching, while Goodsell Observatory houses three telescopes that are more than 110 years old.

4 – 6:00 pm St. Olaf’s campus offers an impressive view of Northfield and the Cannon River Valley. The Norwegian-American Historical Association is housed on the beautiful campus. NAHA’s archives feature letters, papers, books, periodicals, photographs, diaries and newspapers related to Norwegian-American life and history.

6 – 7:00 pm Dinner in downtown Northfield.

7 – 9:00 pm With scenic views of the Cannon River, one-of-a-kind shopping opportunities and a waterfall that casts a romantic glow, Northfield’s Riverwalk is a perfect

way to spend the evening.

day two 11:00 am – 2:00 pm Start the day with the Historic Sites and Points of Interest Tour. Many of the buildings in Northfield’s downtown and nearby residential area look as they did when built a century ago, with windows and cornices embellished with 19th-century architectural detail.

2 – 3:00 pm Ancient rocks form the basic supporting frame of Carleton College’s compact Japanese Garden. The garden is said to embody a philosophy of fulfillment found in harmony and tranquility of body, mind & spirit.

3 – 6:00 pm Travel 5 miles west of Northfield on Highway 19 to Fireside Orchard & Garden for a “pick-your-own” apples experience. Then stop and smell the flowers at their rose, perennial, and water gardens. Their comfortable pavilion is a great place for a picnic. For the freshest berries around, travel to Lorence’s Berry Farm, located 7 miles north of Northfield.

For more information or to customize this sample itinerary for your group, contact Northfield CVB at 800-658-2548 or online www.visitingnorthfield.com.

1-877-832-7267

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directory accommodations

Wadena Chamber of Commerce

attractions

. . . . . . . . . 877-631-7704 5 Aldrich Avenue SE / PO Box 107 – Wadena, MN 56482 www.wadenachamber.com Located in the middle of Minnesota’s lakes and resorts area, Wadena has fun for any season. From our Art Deco Downtown with great shopping and many historic storefronts to our many public parks and community-wide celebrations, something's always happening in the Wadena community!

metro

southern

metro

Lowell Inn

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .651-439-1100 102 2nd St N – Stillwater, MN 55082 / www.lowellinn.com

Lift Bridge Brewing Co. . . . . . . . . 888-430-BEER 1900 Tower Drive West – Stillwater, MN 55082 www.liftbridgebrewery.com

Saint Croix Vineyards . . . . . . . . . . . . 651-430-3310 6428 Manning Avenue North – Stillwater, MN 55082 www.scvines.com

St. Croix Boat and Packet . . . . . . 651-430-1234 525 Main Street South – Stillwater, MN 55082 www.stillwaterriverboats.com

Stillwater Trolley Co. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 651-430-0352 400 Nelson Street – Stillwater, MN 55082 www.stillwatertrolley.com

Albert Lea CVB

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .507-373-2316 102 W Clark Street – Albert Lea, MN 56007 800-345-8414 susie@albertleatourism.org / www.albertleatourism.org Located 90 minutes from Minneapolis, where I-90 & I-35 intersect, featuring small town hospitality with big city amenities. Plus additional lakes and 38 city parks hosting various outdoor activities.

Northfield Area Chamber & Tourism . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .800-658-2548 205 3rd Street West – Northfield, MN 55057 www.visitingnorthfield.com Located just 30 minutes from the Twin Cities along the shores of the Cannon River. Whether you enjoy the arts, history or nature, you’ll find multiple outlets for education as well as opportunities for relaxation and live entertainment.

northern

Lutsen Mountains - North Shore Mountain Tramway . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218-663-7281 445 Ski Hill Road – Lutsen, MN 55612 / www.lutsen.com Take a ride on the Midwest’s only gondola. Travel over the Poplar River valley and through vast woodlands, ending up at the top of Moose Mountain, where your group will enjoy food service and breathtaking views.

convention & visitors bureaus and chambers metro

Eagan Convention and Visitors Bureau . . . . . . . . . . . . .651-675-5546 1501 Central Parkway – Eagan, MN 55121 denise@eaganmn.com / www.eaganmn.com Eagan makes planning your next group outing easy! Personal service includes custom and creative itineraries, FREE welcome bags and FREE Mall of America coupon books ($9.95 value). You’ll also enjoy our low 3% lodging tax. Ask how to qualify for our $250 cash rebate.

Stillwater & Oak Park Heights CVB . . . . . . . .651-351-1717 PO Box 2025 – Stillwater, MN 55082 www.discoverstillwater.com Historic Stillwater, Minnesota is located along the banks of the scenic St. Croix River. Our many unique shops, restaurants, lodging establishments & attractions make a perfect group destination. Located within 30 min. of most major Twin Cities metro attractions.

northern

St. Cloud Area Convention & Visitors Bureau . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .320-251-4170 1411 West St. Germain Street, Suite 104 800-264-2940 St. Cloud, MN 56301 jean@granitecountry.com / www.granitecountry.com Among the many attractions are world-class gardens, history, granite, and great places to stay and eat. The St. Cloud CVB takes pride in helping you plan the perfect getaway. Creativity is key to the success of your group tour.

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Southern Minnesota Tourism Association . . . . . . . . . . . . .888-975-6766 115 East Hickory #230 – Mankato, MN 56001 www.exploresouthernminnesota.com You’ll be surprised…at what you’ll find in southern Minnesota!

With many scenic byways, festivals, parks & trails, historic sites, caves, bluffs, waterfalls & so much more, it makes a perfect destination for any group.

Worthington Area Chamber & CVB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .507-372-2919 1121 Third Ave – Worthington, MN 56187 www.worthingtonmnchamber.com Worthington is a friendly community in the Southwest corner of MN. Bring your group here for some fantastic tours, including the Pioneer Village, Historic Dayton House, and War Memorial Auditorium.

festivals & events metro

Minnesota Renaissance Festival 952-445-7361 12364 Chestnut Blvd – Shakopee, MN 55379 www.renaissancefest.com Eat, drink, and be merry! The 16th-century atmosphere features more than 250 artisan booths, 16 stages of live entertainment, free parking, and food fit for a king!

restaurants metro

Grand Banquet Hall & Catering . 651-430-1235 301 2nd Street South – Stillwater, MN 55082 www.grandbanquethall.com

Lake Elmo Inn Event Center . . . . 651-779-5994 3712 Layton Avenue N – Lake Elmo, MN 55042 www.lakeelmoinn.com If your group is looking for a fine dining experience outside of the city, then Lake Elmo Inn is the place for you. Comfortable atmosphere, friendly faces, and wonderful food! It's why we've been open over 29 years!

Rafters Restaurant, Night Club & Event Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 651-342-1502 317 South Main Street – Stillwater, MN 55082 www.stillwaterrafters.com

tour operators metro

Valley Tours, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 651-439-6110 101 Pine Street West #4 – Stillwater, MN 55082 info@valleytours.com / www.valleytours.com

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cruising on one of the largest natural lakes between Minnetonka and the Gulf of Mexico. The Pelican Breeze II Tour & Dinner Boat on Albert Lea Lake is a 60-foot pontoon style riverboat. It features 2 smoke stacks, a paddle wheel, wet bar, tables, and can be enclosed for inclement weather. Enjoy historically narrated tours, specialty events or plan your own private outing any day of the week. Full catering services and entertainment are available upon request.

7:00 pm Check in to your group-friendly Albert Lea accommodation.

day three 9:00 am Breakfast at your hotel.

10 – 11:30 am Work with the Albert Lea CVB and your group will receive a unique tour of the Albert Lea Seed House. This thirdgeneration, family-owned and operated agricultural seed company has been a contributor to the seed-production industry for over 90 years. Tour their plant and watch the cleaning and readiness process from the moment a seed is transferred from a farmer’s truck, to the cleaning line, and across 3-5 machines, before moving into a bagging room, where all the bagging is done manually. Learn about the company’s current installation of a solar-energy system that will produce a quarter of its electricity!

For more information on this sample itinerary or to customize this itinerary for your group, contact your tour operator or the Albert Lea CVB at 800-345-8414.

1-877-832-7267

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more missouri ag-ventures…

Winding Brook Estate Lavender Farm | EUREKA Winding Brook Estate is a 17-acre lavender farm nestled in the hills of the northern Ozarks. Enjoy the beauty and fragrance of blooming lavender in a setting reminiscent of times gone by. During blooming season (June through October), pick your own bouquet while sipping refreshing lavender lemonade.

Surround yourself with all things lavender in the Lavender Shoppe, where you can browse through trinkets and treasures tucked into a 100-year-old farmhouse. Learn how to use lavender for health, beauty and wellbeing. Relax on the porch and enjoy a cup of lavender tea with a pastry or dessert. Lavender-themed boxed lunches are available by reservation for groups of 10 or more.

Jones Heritage Farm & Market | JACKSON

Shatto Milk Company OSBORN Get your group back to the basics on this tour and experience “Milk at its Finest.” See the baby calves (you may possibly get to bottle-feed one yourself) or milk a cow. Get a first-hand look at where the cows live, what they eat, and how they are milked. Schedule a tour of the processing plant and learn how their products get from the farm to your table. Watch how the milk is packaged in their famous glass bottles and how those bottles are washed before being reused. You can sample many of Shatto Milk Company’s tasty products on your tour, and a walk through their country store is a must!

SayersBrook Bison Ranch POTOSI Located in one of the oldest mountain ranges in America and surrounded on three sides by 2 million acres of Mark Twain Nat’l Forest, SayersBrook features unique activities and exotic meals on a working bison ranch. Tours start with a video history of the ranch and the American bison. Travel through the ranch in a covered wagon, feed a bison herd, and enjoy a bison lunch in the lakefront pavilion.

Experience these powerful 2,500pound creatures up close and personal in an Ozark mountain setting. Their country store offers bison meat, souvenirs, and gifts.

Open April through mid-November.

spotlight missouri

This family-owned and operated farm focuses on sustainable, natural and humane farming methods. All natural fruits, vegetables, pork, free-range chicken and grass-fed beef and lamb are raised on the farm and sold in their market. The Market Restaurant is open for lunch Monday through Friday, breakfast on Saturday, and dinner on Friday and Saturday nights.

All meals feature fresh seasonal foods from their farm as well as from other local farmers. Guided farm tours are available by reservation.

WESTON

Weston Red Barn Farm

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n the spirit of preserving the American dream of farming, the Red Barn Farm offers visitors the opportunity to experience a real working farmstead, complete with traditional farm animals and crops.

In addition to the working farm, they offer tours, a country store featuring fresh produce, facilities for weddings, bonfire/hayride events, and a fall festival where families can come pick pumpkins and apples, take a hayride and enjoy the countryside. The farm is open spring through fall, allowing visitors the chance to experience the farm through the changing seasons. In the spring and summer, the country store becomes a daily farmer’s market, selling locally grown produce picked at its peak. In the fall, they celebrate the harvest being brought in and offer visitors the chance to have some old-fashioned farm fun. Hours vary depending on the season.

Winter tours are available by appointment.

Missouri: Close to home. Far from ordinary.

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more nebraska ag-ventures…

Prairieland Dairy | FIRTH When four family farms came together as one, their mission was to create a new kind of dairy farm: one that was sustainable, open and transparent and served people, cows and the planet. At Prairieland, not only do you get great tasting all-natural dairy at a fair price, you get a little taste of the good ol’ days. Bring your group to the farm. They’re happy to show you exactly where your milk comes from and why that makes a world of a difference. Their all-natural Grade A milk contains no hormones and no antibiotics. Tours are hosted on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.

Prairie Loft Center for Outdoor & Agricultural Learning | HASTINGS

spotlight nebraska

Located just west of Hastings, Nebraska, these beautiful barns were once part of a working farm that fed more than a thousand people. At its peak, the farm housed cattle, horses, hogs, chickens, and ducks. Produce ranged from acres of cabbage to banana trees in the greenhouse.

Today their mission is to teach agriculture appreciation, outdoor education, cultural traditions, and the wise use of natural resources.

They offer scheduled programs, workshops and presentations for groups of all ages on these topics, catering specifically to those people who value the importance of today’s sustainable agricultural production.

Arbor Day Farm NIOBRARA

Kreycik Elk & Buffalo Ranch

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his fun-filled educational tour will put your group as close to an elk or buffalo as they can get! Each season brings a new and exciting experience. See baby elk and buffalo calves frolicking through the grassy pastures during the spring and early summer. The fall brings a new tour with the elk and buffalo going into their mating seasons. The buffalo will walk right up to the side of the covered wagon. Feel their breath as you feed them ears of corn by hand.

Meet Boomer, the long-horn steer who thinks he’s a buffalo, and Suzie the pet cow elk who loves to have her ears scratched. The ranch has two tractor-pulled covered wagons, each holding 64 people, with one being handicapped accessible. Be sure to visit the gift shop where you can purchase elk antler necklaces and buttons, elk velvet doggie chews and even a “blinged out” buffalo skull.

Nebraska: Possibilities…endless

NEBRASKA CITY Enhance your group’s visit to Arbor Day Farm with an engaging nature interpreter who shares the history of this 260-acre National Historic Landmark. The tour begins at Lied Lodge and includes a look inside the Fuelwood Energy Plant, and concludes with a walk to the Tree Adventure. You may also climb aboard and embark on a guided tour into the heart of the orchards and forest. Climb a 50-foot-high tree house, taste orchard-fresh apples and sip Arbor Day Farm’s handcrafted wines. The area also features the ArborLinks Golf Course designed by Arnold Palmer, as well as a gift shop and events throughout the year.

Branched Oak Farm – Organic Dairy & Cheese | RAYMOND Just 15 miles north of Lincoln, Branched Oak sits on 240 acres of farmland and is home to a growing herd of Jersey cows. During the grass season, cattle rotate through the pasture to give them access to the best grass possible. Their certified organic cheeses vary seasonally, but include: quark, fresh mozzarella, Camembert, Alpine varieties, and Gouda. They use other holistic management practices to encourage wildlife and natural biodiversity on the farm. Visit their “Inconvenience Store” for certified organic milk, farmstead cheeses, and other farm products such as beef, pork, honey and eggs.

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more north dakota ag-ventures…

Pirogue Grille | BISMARCK Pirogue Grille features a culturally diverse menu that changes with the seasons. Using ingredients grown in season from local farms means they give you the maximum amount of flavor those products can deliver.

Cooking with the seasons also has the power to satisfy innate or learned food cravings. Several items are always on the menu like walleye, bison, lamb, and house-made venison sausage. This is your first choice for meals springing from the High Plains. These items and others have become favorites among guests who join them several times a month. Call ahead for private dining for your group.

Maple River Distillery

Morning Joy Farm CLEVELAND Tour this fourth-generation farm that transitioned from conventional small grain and livestock farming to beyond organic grass-based livestock production. They raise grass-fed sheep and dairy cows, pastured pork, broiler chickens, laying hens, turkeys and ducks.

All livestock are rotationally grazed, moving to fresh pasture often to ensure their health and the health of the soil. All meat products are direct marketed to customers via a buying club and farmers markets. Cooking classes are offered on farm and on location and include: German Russian Traditions, Easy as Pie, Lefse, Canning Courses, and Mom’s Comfort Food. Guided tours are available by appointment.

Bagg Bonanza Farm MOORETON Welcome to North Dakota’s only restored bonanza farm and one of the last remaining bonanza farms in the country. Guests are invited to visit and take a tour, learning about bonanza farm life and the past generations that changed the Red River Valley from the country's furthest outpost to a settled, prosperous farming community.

The Mule Barn is a great venue for a variety of large-group functions, while events are scheduled here throughout the year including their Pumpkin Patch Celebration. The centerpiece of the 15-acre farm is a fully restored 21-bedroom main house and in 2005, the farm was designated as a National Historic Landmark.

spotlight north dakota

CASSELTON This small artisan distillery located in historic downtown Casselton produces unique brandies, vodkas, and cordials with locally grown fruit.

Fun spirits such as Rhubarb Flavored Vodka, Chokecherry Brandy or Wild Plum Cordial make this sampling experience a must to enjoy the tastes of North Dakota that grandma only wishes she would have been able to produce. Their tasting room is open Monday through Saturday with a full guided description of how they produce their spirits while enjoying a legendary libation.

ESMOND

gardendwellers FARM

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alling all foodies, chefs, home cooks and everyone who loves to garden or eat good food! Welcome to North Dakota’s only culinary herb farm, growing over 15 varieties of culinary herbs. Ever wonder what hundreds of feet of basil rows look or smell like? Visit gardendwellers FARM to find out!

They would love to show you how their product goes from field to plate. Tours include instruction on growing, using, cooking with, and preserving herbs. Call ahead to make arrangements for instructional classes for groups. Create herbal wreaths, bath salts, herbal teas and seasoning mixes. See how Essential Oils are made at their Essential Oil still that may be in use at the time of your group’s visit. Surrounded by conventional large-scale agriculture, this little herb farm has a fabulous setting with wide-open views of the countryside. All herbs are grown sustainably without chemicals and can be tasted right there in the field!

North Dakota: Legendary

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more south dakota ag-ventures…

South Dakota Agricultural Heritage Museum | BROOKINGS Step into the Agricultural Heritage Museum and take a step back in time to understand and appreciate the important role of agriculture and rural life in the past, present and future. The museum features engaging exhibits on tractors and farm equipment, crops, and livestock.

It also showcases an original homestead claim shack dating back to 1882, and a replica of a 1915 farmhouse. Sift through the nearly 1,500 tractor and farm equipment manuals, parts lists, and sales brochures that make up the Eugene Beckman Archive. The historic literature is a collector’s dream and ranges from 1880 to the early 1960s.

spotlight south dakota

Heritage Hall Museum FREEMAN Located on the campus of Freeman Academy, the Heritage Hall Museum features over 20,000 items that illustrate everyday life on the prairie of early German-Russian immigrants and Native Americans who inhabited the area in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The artifacts are categorized into 4 collections: Historical Buildings, Agriculture, Transportation, and Plains Indian Artifacts Exhibit. Highlights include the Ludwig Decker Pioneer Home built in 1879, horse-drawn machinery, a 1927 Lincoln-Page biplane, motorcycles dating to 1908, and Native American tools, weaponry, and textiles.

CUSTER

Buffalo Roundup & Arts Festival

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ake in the beautiful scenery of western South Dakota and give your group a thrilling taste of the Old West at Custer State Park’s premiere event. Each year, on a Friday in late September or early October, cowboys, cowgirls, and park staff saddle up and corral 1,300 bison as approximately 14,000 spectators look on. The roundup began nearly 50 years ago as a way to account for and ensure the health and wellbeing of the massive herd that roams the 71,000-acre park. Visitors are asked to bring folding chairs and advised to dress in layers, with an umbrella and sun block available just in case. Don’t miss the Arts Festival featuring up to 150 vendors, a Dutch Oven Cook-Off, and Chili Cook-Off. Start your morning with a pancake feed and enjoy the ongoing Western and Native American entertainment under the big top. The next two roundups are September 25, 2015 and September 30, 2016.

South Dakota: Great Faces. Great Places.

The Oahe Dam & Visitor Center | PIERRE Located on the Missouri River, just north of Pierre, the Oahe Dam is a hydropower marvel not to be missed.

Construction of the dam took place from 1948 to 1962 and was dedicated

by President John F. Kennedy.

Measuring 9,300 feet in length, the dam features 7 turbines—each generating 112,290 kilowatts of power. Tours of the dam’s power plant occur daily Memorial Day through Labor Day and begin at the Visitor Center, which is situated on the eastern crest of the dam. The Visitor Center also includes information about the history, exploration, early navigation, settlement and natural history of the area, as well as the construction of the dam.

Cleghorn Springs State Fish Hatchery | RAPID CITY Angling for something fishy? See thousands of fish in all stages of life —from eggs to full-grown and catchable size—and learn what it takes to keep lakes, reservoirs, and streams in the Black Hills area stocked.

In operation since 1928, the hatchery features 36 ponds fed by a spring that provides 6 million gallons of water a day, and maintains a year-round temperature of 52 degrees. Rainbow trout and Chinook salmon are the major species in stock. Visitors may walk around the grounds and feed fish in designated areas.

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Great Faces. Great Places.

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attractions Lakota Ways. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 866-601-5103 600 Main Street / PO Box 303 – Wall, SD 57790 www.lakotaways.com Raise a tipi, wear authentic tribal face paint, eat a buffalo burger, or dance at a powwow. Visit the most famous Native American reservation in the world: Pine Ridge. While there, pay reverent homage to the open air Wounded Knee Massacre site and be welcomed by friendly, expert informed local village descendants of the 1890 & 1973 Wounded Knee survivors. Your group tour experience cannot get any more ‘Native’ than that.

Enjoy a Cultural Experience with Lakota Ways This sample itinerary can be customized for any time of year.

day one 12:30 – 5:00 pm Welcome to Wall and this amazing southwestern part of South Dakota. A wonderful option for your group is the Wall Indoor Tour where visitors can enjoy multiple stations of hands-on cultural, traditional Native activities from the Northern Great Plains region!

Authentic Native activities include:

the bottom of the mountain for a close-up view of the Crazy Horse Memorial (weather permitting).

5 – 8:15 pm Indulge in a delicious, original chuckwagon supper followed by a musical variety show at Fort Hays Chuckwagon Supper & Cowboy Music Show. Take some time to browse the Dances With Wolves film set and the Fort Hays Workshops. Your traditional

chuckwagon dinner is served at 6:30pm. Then relax and enjoy as the Fort Hays Wranglers entertain with the Black Hills’ most popular music variety show.

For more information or to customize this sample itinerary for your group, please contact your tour operator, email mylakotaways@gmail.com, or call 605-891-8688.

• Lakota Tipi Raising • Lakota Rock Painting • Lakota Traditional Bow and Arrow • Regional Winter Count Making • Traditional Drum & Traditional Song • Tribal Face Painting & Traditional Meanings • Traditional/Powwow Dancing • Traditional Tribal Games The Lakota can provide a tour guide to the Wounded Knee Site, allowing your group to hear the true story of the event from Lakota guides. Note: If you plan your tour for the first weekend in August, be sure to attend the Oglala Nation Powwow & Rodeo.

5 – 6:30 pm Enjoy dinner at the Western Art Gallery Restaurant inside Wall Drug! The restaurant serves the best hot beef sandwiches, buffalo burgers and their famous 5-cent coffee. Your group can take extra time to shop after dinner and bring home a wide variety of souvenirs!

6:30 pm Travel to Rapid City for tomorrow’s adventures. Spend the night at one of their group-friendly hotels!

day two 9:30 am – 4:30 pm After breakfast, your group can enjoy a great Black Hills excursion with the help of a step-on guide to see Mount Rushmore National Memorial and Crazy Horse Memorial. Arrange for a rustic bus ride to

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more wisconsin ag-ventures…

Flyte’s Fieldstones | COLOMA Located on a picturesque, centuryold farmstead in central Wisconsin is Flyte’s Fieldstones. Crops include green beans, peas, corn, potatoes, pumpkins and soybeans. The home and surrounding buildings are being lovingly restored. They provide space for their marketplace store, production kitchen, and seasonal activities.

Enjoy their marketplace and seasonal events. Spring and summer bring you farm-to-table dinners as well as wine and brush (painting) classes, cooking classes and production of exclusive products in their certified kitchen.

Fall offers a Corn & Hay Maze, plus giant pumpkins, while winter visitors are treated to horse-drawn sleigh rides and ice-skating.

spotlight wisconsin

Kelley Country Creamery FOND DU LAC Karen and Tim Kelley, along with their five children, operate this 200acre farmstead dairy and tend the 65 Holsteins that provide the Grade A milk for their new creamery. They are committed to sustainable agriculture, keeping their cows on green pastures (weather permitting), which is important for milk quality and taste. See the ice cream production process through the viewing window while enjoying your favorite flavors at the same time, such as: Whitewash Vanilla, Udderly Comforting Chocolate, Caramel Pretzel Cluster and even Maple Bacon. The creamery offers over 300 seasonal and specialty flavors and was even voted “Best Ice Cream in America” by Good Morning America in July of 2013.

GREEN COUNTY

Green County Barn Quilts

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uilts have long been a symbol of comfort and heritage. Vibrant quilt patterns have been painted onto 8’ x 8’ wood blocks throughout Green County and hung on barns throughout the countryside. Discover more than 115 barn quilts that have been installed on various historic barns throughout the back roads of Green County. Using the Barn Quilt Locator Map included in the Green County Visitor Guide, you can conduct a self-guided tour of the area.

For a more interactive experience, you may request a step-on guide who will provide your group with information about the barns, the family farms, and the quilt patterns found throughout the countryside. Barn Quilts of Green County can also provide itinerary assistance to include other activities such as cheese buying stops and cheese factory tours, lunch or refreshment breaks, Swiss entertainment, brewery tours and museum visits. It is a true slice of Americana your group won’t soon forget.

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Cedar Grove Cheese Factory | PLAIN For over 100 years Cedar Grove Cheese Factory has worked with local farmers to get top quality milk. See cheese being made the old-fashioned way and hear about the history and art of cheesemaking and how small-scale production helps our environment, the farmers, and local businesses. You can also visit their Living Machine to see how the wash water gets cleaned.

All of their cheese is available to buy in the store, along with daily specials and specialty cheeses that you cannot get anywhere else. And of course they have fresh, squeaky, direct-from-the-vat cheese curds!

Group tours are always welcome.

Roden Barnyard Adventures WEST BEND Ever wonder what a farmer does each day? Come join the guided tour for a better understanding of a day in the life of a modern dairy farmer.

Experience the day-to-day operations of a dairy farm firsthand. Walk through the calf barns, free-stall barn and parlor and see where they store their milk, feed and manure. Their Barnyard Clubhouse is great for meetings and events, and you can even rent a lifesize recirculating milk cow! As lifelong farmers and agriculture enthusiasts, the Roden family is eager to share their farm adventures with your group.

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History & AntiqueLovers Getaway

Join the Fun in Stoughton!

This sample itinerary can be customized for any time of year.

Located on the banks of the Yahara River, Stoughton is a treasure chest of Norwegian heritage and Victorian architecture. Located within driving distance of Chicago and only minutes from Madison, Stoughton is the heart of Southern Wisconsin.

Located in Sheboygan County, Plymouth is nestled in the gently rolling hills of the Kettle Moraine. This quaint town is an ideal place for visitors to rest, relax, and rejuvenate.

day one 10:00 am – 12:00 pm Start your morning with a visit to the Plymouth Historical Museum, where you will discover the history of Plymouth through numerous displays of local history. On the second floor of the museum you will find the Stahlman Library. This research library contains a collection of rare and unique local and national books that can be viewed in-house.

12 – 1:30 pm Lunch will be served at Greenbush Cupboard Café. The selection of fresh, delicious offerings is sure to delight any member of your group. Relax in the inviting ambience of the café and choose from a variety of freshly made sandwiches, pizza, baked goods, and hot & cold beverages.

1:30 – 4:00 pm Step back in time at the Wade House Historic Site. This site celebrates the world of plank road stagecoach travel in the mid-19th century, featuring an inn and Wisconsin's largest collection of restored carriages and wagons.

4 – 6:00 pm Head north and make a stop at Henschel’s Indian Museum & Trout Farm and learn about the area’s Native American history. Henschel family land has yielded evidence of 10,000 years of human occupation. Examine the items to trace the lives and times of the original culture inhabiting the area.

6 – 8:00 pm Dinner tonight will be at The Black Pig. Enjoy comfort food with a twist! The food is locally sourced and prepared from scratch.

This sample itinerary can be customized for any time of year.

Stroughton Opera House

10 – 11:30 am Start out the morning learning about the area’s Norwegian heritage and why Stoughton is credited with the first “coffee break” on the Step on Tour. This tour includes visits to authentic churches in the area, the Stoughton Historical Museum and the Opera House.

11:30 am – 12:30 pm Enjoy an authentic Norwegian lunch at the Sons of Norway Lodge. Indulge in Norwegian meatballs, potatoes, carrots, cucumber salad, riscreme and other Norwegian desserts.

12:30 – 1:30 pm Watch Norwegian demonstrations of rosemaling and hardanger (Norwegian needlework).

1:30 – 3:00 pm Stoughton’s Main Street will take you back to another century. Walk through historic storefronts and explore the unique shops, galleries and specialty stores.

3 – 5:00 pm Take a stroll through Lake Kegonsa State Park.

Located on the Yahara River, you will find beauty and

wildlife. The park is great for hiking and water sports year round as well as XC ski trails in the winter.

5 – 6:00 pm Check into a Stoughton hotel and freshen up for dinner.

6 – 7:30 pm A hearty dinner awaits you at Halverson’s. Located near the shore of beautiful Lake Kegonsa, Halverson’s has been serving the Stoughton community since 1927.

7:30 – 9:00 pm Catch an evening performance at the Stoughton Opera House. During the fall and spring months you will find acts ranging from doo-wop to classical, comedy to drama in this beautifully restored Victorian theater.

For more information or to customize this sample itinerary for your group, contact the Stoughton Chamber of Commerce at 888-873-7912 or online at www.stoughtonwi.com.

day two 10:00 am – 12:00 pm History buffs will love spending the morning on the Historic Walking Tour where you will see Plymouth’s most historic and interesting sites, including the Walldogs murals!

12 – 3:00 pm Now that you have seen some of Plymouth’s most interesting places, explore for yourself in historic downtown. Find a bite to eat at a local shop and then explore antiques, books, vintage clothing, jewelry, art and Parisian-inspired gifts in the downtown specialty stores.

For more information or to customize this sample itinerary for your group, contact the Plymouth Chamber of Commerce at 920-8930079 or online at www.plymouthwisconsin.com.

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Potawatomi HOTEL & CASINO ocated just minutes from downtown Milwaukee, Potawatomi Hotel & Casino offers high-stakes bingo, over 100 table games, over 3,000 slot machines, a 20-table Poker Room, a 500-seat theater and an Off-Track Betting Room.

A new icon on the Milwaukee skyline, the Hotel is 19 stories with 381 rooms, featuring floor-to-ceiling windows and one-of-a-kind views of Milwaukee. Only steps away from the best in casino entertainment, sophistication meets comfort in the hotel guest rooms and suites. Modern décor, highlighted by color palettes that reflect natural elements, bring a rich feel to each living space. A built-in bar and breakfast nook bring the comforts of home living to your guest room.

Enjoy food from all over the world. Dining options include The Buffet, The Fire Pit Sports Bar & Grill, Dream Dance Steak, Wild Earth Cucina Italiana, Locavore, the Menomonee Valley Food Court and RuYi. Plus, there is a snack bar in the Bingo Hall. If you’re looking for a location to host an event, the Casino offers more than 60,000 square feet of space.

The Northern Lights Theater has a stunning 500-seat, two-tiered layout with booth and table seating on the first level and traditional theater seating above. Add a world-class sound system and personal service that can’t be beat and you’ll agree—there isn’t a bad seat in the house!

Bar 360 lives up to its name and puts you in the center of all the action. Located at the heart of the casino floor, patrons enjoy an excellent view in the spacious full bar with multiple beers on tap, a selection of wines, trendy and traditional cocktails, plus live entertainment several nights a week. This nightlife hot spot is also home to some of the best drink deals in Milwaukee. Grab a seat at Bar 360 and watch the excitement unfold.

Sweet Grass Gift Shop has you covered!

Shop for Potawatomi and Wisconsin souvenirs, sundries, fashion accessories, Native American-themed items, sports-themed clothing, gifts and more.

For more information contact Potawatomi Hotel & Casino at 800-729-7244 or online at www.paysbig.com.

L Take a Walk ON THE WILD SIDE! The Milwaukee County Zoo s one of the country’s finest zoological attractions, the Milwaukee County Zoo will educate, entertain and inspire your groups! Visit over 2,000 mammals, birds, fish, amphibians and reptiles in specialized habitats spanning 200 wooded acres. Explore educational wildlife shows, fun attractions and enticing special events. With many different specialized tours, there’s something for the whole flock to enjoy!

A

Zoomobile Tours

This works great for the group that wants to get an overview of the zoo first, then go back and visit their favorite areas. If your group is larger, you can make two 15-minute stops along the way or split your group in two and take a half-hour tour. If your group has multiple stops, this is a good option.

Behind-the-Scenes Tours

Get a glimpse into the daily life of a zookeeper as a tour guide leads you around animal exhibit areas and zookeeper work areas in select parts of the zoo. Bring a camera to capture your experience.

Tours include some walking and stair climbing to access the off-scene areas.

WOWS (Walk On The Wild Side)

If you enjoy leisurely strolls through the

zoo and want to learn more about the animals you see, consider one of the guided walking tours (no access behind the scenes). Tour guides will explain the predator and prey exhibits and take you on a global adventure, visiting animals from different continents.

Rides & Attractions

Let your group choose what they would like to do. Each ticket is good for one ride or attraction such as the Train, Zoomobile, Sea Lion Show, Carousel or Special Exhibit.

Food Options

Let your guests choose their own cuisine, or arrange for box lunches or a full-catered picnic. They can tailor your lunch to your timeframe, needs and budget.

For more information, and to book your group’s tour, contact Kathy Berendt at the Milwaukee County Zoo at 414-256-5433 or visit their website at www.milwaukeezoo.org.

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directory accommodations Ages Past B&B . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 608-654-5850 1223 Front St – Cashton, WI 56619 / www.agespastbnb.com

AmericInn of Beaver Dam . . . . . 920-356-9000 www.americinn.com/hotels/wi/beaverdam We know there’s no place like home, but with our newly updated furnishings, room décor, flat screen TV’s and cozy Serta® Perfect Sleeper beds, the AmericInn Beaver Dam will feel like your home away from home.

attractions Apple Holler . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 262-884-7100 5006 S Sylvania Ave – Sturtevant, WI 53177 www.appleholler.com

Barn at Harvest Moon Pond . . . . 608-635-4344 N3540 State Road 22 – Poynette, WI 53955 www.barnharvestmoon.com

Circle M Market Farm . . . . . . . . . . 608-558-0501 1784 County Rd H – Blanchardville, WI 53516 www.circlemfarm.com

Rural Arts Roadtrip . . . . . . . . . . . . . 920-286-0971 W1993 Thede Road – New Holstein, WI 53061 www.ruralartsroadtrip.com

Rushing Waters Fisheries

. . . . . . 800-378-7088 N301 County Road H – Palmyra, WI 53156 www.rushingwaters.net

Sassy Cow Creamery . . . . . . . . . . . 608-837-7766 W4192 Bristol Road – Columbus, WI 53925 www.sassycowcreamery.com

Stonefield Historic Site . . . . . . . . . 608-725-5210 12195 Hwy VV – Cassville, WI 53806 www.stonefield.wisconsinhistory.org

Warrens Cranberry Festival . . . . 608-378-4200 PO Box 146 – Warrens, WI 54666 cranfest@cranfest.com / www.cranfest.com World's largest cranberry festival, with more than 1,200 arts/crafts, flea market and antique booths. Experience everything cranberry. Delicious! Tour a cranberry marsh and see one of the largest marching band parades in Wisconsin.

Down a Country Road . . . . . . . . . . 608-654-5318

Wisconsin Cranberry Discovery Center & Wetherby Cranberry Co. . . . . . . 608-378-4878

12651 State Hwy 33 – Cashton, WI 54619 www.downacountryroad.com

204 Main Street – Warrens, WI 54666 www.discovercranberries.com

Glacial Lake Cranberries

. . . . . . . 715-887-4161 2480 County Road D – Wisconsin Rapids, WI 54495 www.cranberrylink.com

Gramma Miller’s Farm Market . . 715-249-3060 N4317 Elizabeth Lane – Hancock, WI 54943 www.grammamillersmarket.com

Hinchley’s Dairy Farm Tours . . . . 608-764-5090

convention & visitors bureaus and chambers AbbyColby Crossings Chamber . 715-223-8509 PO Box 418 – Abborsford, WI 54405 www.abbycolbyareachamber.org

Calumet County Tourism . . 920-849-1493 x263

2844 Hwy 73 – Cambridge, WI 53523 www.dairyfarmtours.com

206 Court St – Chilton, WI 53014 www.travelcalumet.com

Holland’s Family Cheese LLC . . . 715-669-5230

Green County Tourism . . . . . . . . . . 608-328-1838

200 W Liberty Drive – Thorp, WI 54771 www.mariekegouda.com

1016 16th Ave – Monroe, WI 53566 / www.greencounty.org

Kickapoo Orchard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 608-735-4637

303 Mansion Street – Mauston, WI 53948 www.visitmauston.com

46490 Highway 71 – Gays Mills, WI 54631 www.kickapoo-orchard.com

Maple Trees & Milwaukee Trains . 608-606-2866 106 2nd Street E – Westby, WI 54667 www.OcoochMountainAcres.com

Meuer Farm LLC

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 920-418-2676 N2564 US Hwy 151 – Chilton, WI 53014 www.meuerfarm.com

Mauston Chamber of Commerce . 920-637-1271 Plymouth Chamber of Commerce . . . . . . . . 888-693-8263 PO Box 584 – Plymouth, WI 53073 www.plymouthwisconsin.com Plymouth is Wisconsin’s Mural Capital! Located in Sheboygan Cty, it’s nestled in the gently rolling hills of the Kettle Moraine.

This quaint town is ideal for visitors to rest, relax, and rejuvenate.

Milwaukee County Zoo . . . . . . . . 414-256-5432

Stoughton Chamber of Commerce . . . . . . . . 608-873-7912

10001 West Blue Mound Road – Milwaukee, WI 53226 renee.Klatt@milwaukeecountywi.gov / www.milwaukeezoo.org One of the country’s finest zoological attractions, they will educate, entertain and inspire you! Visit over 2,000 mammals, birds, fish, amphibians and reptiles in specialized habitats spanning 200 wooded acres. Explore fun attractions and enticing special events.

532 E Main Street – Stoughton, WI 53589 visitorservices@stoughtonwi.com / www.stoughtonwi.com Located on the banks of the Yahara River, Stoughton is a treasure chest of Norwegian Heritage and Victorian architecture, Arts and Culture, and warm, friendly Festivals. Let us provide your groups with a fun and educational experience.

National Historic Cheesemaking Center

wineries

. . . . . . . . . 608-325-4636 2108 6th Avenue – Monroe, WI 53566 www.nationalhistoriccheesemakingcenter.org

3619 13th Avenue – Wisconsin Dells, WI 53965 www.fawncreekwinery.com

Old World Wisconsin. . . . . . . . . . . . 262-594-6301

Munson Bridge Winery . . . . . . . . . 715-229-4501

W372 S9727 Hwy 67 – Eagle, WI 53119 www.oldworldwisconsin.wisconsinhistory.org

W6462 Bridge Road – Withee, WI 54498 www.munsonbridgewinery.com

Potawatomi Hotel & Casino . 1-800-729-7244

Trout Springs Winery . . . . . . . . . . . 920-864-7761

1721 W Canal St – Milwaukee, WI 53233 / www.paysbig.com Potawatomi Hotel & Casino offers high-stakes bingo, over 100 table games, 3,000+ slot machines, a 20-table Poker Room, a 500-seat theater and an Off-Track Betting Room. Numerous dining options plus a brand new, luxurious 19 story hotel.

8150 River Road – Greenleaf, WI 54126 www.troutspringswinery.com

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Fawn Creek Winery. . . . . . . . . . . . . 608-253-4400

Vetro Winery

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 920-674-9650 1414 Vino Lane – Jefferson, WI 53549 / www.vetrowine.com ITINERARIES MIDWEST SPRING/SUMMER 2015

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