WHETHER IT’S ROADSIDE ATTRACTIONS,
cultural tours, cross-country road trips, beach resort relaxation, romantic getaways, family outings, or outdoor conquests, Wisconsin offers a plethora of vacation delights. In this edition of Volume One’s annual summer travel section, we highlight some of the coolest places you can hit in an easy day trip. Check it out in the Getaway Guide, where it’s always 70 and sunny.
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Get lost in time – not the woods
for 1,200 miles, Ice Age Trail follows A glacial path across Wisconsin Words: Amanda Foxcroft
W
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e lucky Wisconsinites have one of only 11 National Scenic Trails in the country. The 1,200-mile Ice Age Trail passes through 31 Wisconsin counties, starting (or ending) in Door County. It winds south to Rock County near the Illinois border, then curves north until it reaches Langlade County. From there it heads west to St. Croix County and the Minnesota border. The odd shape of the trail follows the path of the glacier that came down from Canada during the Wisconsin Glacial Episode, between 75,000 and 10,000 years ago. On its way west, the Ice Age Trail passes through Chippewa County and the 4,000-acre Chippewa Moraine National Scientific Reserve, one of nine Ice Age Scientific Reserves in the state. These areas are connected by the trail and were set aside to preserve and protect the geologic and scenic value of the glacial landforms.
David R. Obey Inter pretive Center
Ice Age Trail in Chippewa County
outside the visitors’ center using the two-person cross-cut saw, playing tug-ofwar the voyageur way, and even learning how to throw a tomahawk. Kids can complete a Junior Ranger (for kids K-third grade) or Wisconsin Explorer (fourth grade and up) activity book for a cool patch. You can also pick up free maps of the trails or buy T-shirts, guidebooks, or other merchandise. Restrooms and drinking water are also available, as are snowshoes in the winter (for a small donation).
Hiking an d Camping Opti ons For fee-free parking, leave the car in the lot at the visitors’ center. Watch dozens of species of birds flying around the grounds before setting off on one of the three loop trails, ranging from a quick 0.7 miles to a heartier 4.5-mile trek. See if you can point out the difference between a hummock, a kettle, and an outwash plain and identify the creatures scurrying around.
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A great way to access the Ice Age Trail in our neck of the woods is at the David R. Obey Interpretive Center, eight miles east of New Auburn on County Highway M. Just 33 miles north of Eau Claire on U.S. Highway 53, the interpretive center (a.k.a. visitors’ center) sits high on an ice-walled-lake plain, a flat-topped hill that was once the bottom of a glacial lake. It’s open year-round and is packed with fascinating exhibits and short videos about Ice Age terminology and geographic features as well as the history, culture, landscape, and animals of the region. Admission to the visitors’ center is free (although donations are appreciated), and it’s a great place for both kids and adults. As part of the hands-on exhibits, kids can hold a snake, pet a turtle, feed the fish, dig for fossils, go on a scavenger hunt, and check out life under a microscope. Parents and kids can work together
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7 NATURAL WONDERS OF WISCONSIN MOTHER N AT URE GAV E OU R S TATE SOME OF T HE B EST O U TDOOR RECREATION IN T HE N AT ION
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n a state known for its love of the good earth and clean waters, we thought it would be fun to come with a list of the natural wonders of Wisconsin. We could have made the list twice as long, but seven seemed like the perfect number. These “Mother Nature-made” wonders are the setting for some of the best outdoor recreation in the nation.
Apostle Island National Lakeshore
1. Apostle Islands Nati onal Lakeshore
If you’re looking for an overnight excursion, hike to one of the two primitive camping sites accessible from the visitors’ center. They’re $16 a night and are available on a first-come, firstserved basis. If you’re feeling ambitious, instead of walking a loop, hike the Ice Age Trail all the way to Brunet Island State Park in Cornell. This 20-mile route covers four segments of the Ice Age Trail: Chippewa Moraine, Harwood Lakes, Firth Lake, and Chippewa River, taking you through quiet, picturesque landscapes. (Note: If you plan a hike through and leave a car at Brunet Island, a state parks vehicle admission sticker is required. There’s no admission fee if you arrive on foot.) Or, if 20 miles is child’s play to you, keep walking the trail past Cornell into Taylor County and beyond! The trails, including the Ice Age Trail, are foot paths. No motorized vehicles, horses, or bicycles are allowed. Dogs are welcome, but be sure to bring bags for clean-up. No matter what outdoor activity you prefer, there are ample opportunities for it along the Ice Age Trail, just a short road trip away. The Obey Interpretive Center (13394 Co. Hwy. M) is open Tuesday through Sunday 8:30am-4pm all year round. The Center is closed Mondays and some holidays; call ahead if you’re unsure. From U.S. Highway 53, take the New Auburn exit and travel east on Highway M for eight miles. Call (715) 967-2800 with any questions. The Ice Age Trail Alliance (iceagetrail.org) is a great resource for maps, guidebooks, a glaciation glossary, recommendations, volunteer information and more.
Calling to the explorer in all of us, this national park is a grouping or “archipelago” of 21 wilderness islands dotting the cold waters of Lake Superior and more than a dozen miles of shoreline with some of the most pristine remaining sandscapes in the Great Lakes region. There are old-growth forests, windswept beaches, and cliffs. There are sea caves to explore, carved out over thousands of years by the rhythmic waves. When the winter weather conditions are right, you can hike out to the caves to behold frozen waterfalls and chambers glistening with thousands of icicles. If winters get cold enough, Lake Superior freezes solid enough for visitors to hike or snowshoe out to the beautifully frozen ice caves.
2. B ig Manitou Falls Often the backdrop for wedding couples to figuratively take the plunge, the 165-foot tall Big Manitou Falls in Pattison State Park near Superior is the fourth tallest waterfall east of the Rocky Mountains (impressive stats for sure). The water comes from the Black River, meandering 22 miles southwest of the park on the Wisconsin-Minnesota border. As it passes through Pattison, its first drop is actually 31 feet over Little Manitou Falls, then it reaches the awe-inspiring Big Manitou Falls.
3. Cave of t he Mo unds Let’s start with credentials. Cave of the Mounds in Blue Mounds is designated a “National Natural Landmark,” yet it may be easier to remember it as the “jewel box” of America’s major caves, named as such for the delicacy of its formations. The main cave began forming more than a million years ago as acidic water dissolved the limestone bedrock. The lower portion of the cave was formed by the rushing waters of an underground stream. Every drop of water entering the cave carries with it dissolved calcium carbonate, which leaves calcite crystals on the cave ceiling, walls, and floor. It can take upwards of 150 years to deposit one cubic inch of these crystal formations.
4. Devil’s Lake State Park Devil’s Lake State Park, not far from Wisconsin Dells, is the most visited state park in Wisconsin. Each year hundreds of thousands of visitors enjoy the 360-acre spring-fed lake, the 500-foot bluffs teetering over it, and the 30 miles of trails that comprise the trifecta of this natural wonder. Scientists believe the bluffs were formed 1.6 billion years ago, making them one of the most ancient rock outcrops in North America. Part of the Baraboo Range, this “ancient rock and roll” consists of hill ranges surrounding a canoeshaped depression. VolumeOne.org 39 April 20, 2016
5. C hain O’ Lakes If one Wisconsin lake is wonderful, then how would you describe 28 lakes, all interconnected no less? The Chain O’Lakes deep in the Northwoods of Wisconsin is the largest inland chain of lakes in the world. The depth of these lakes varies widely from one to the next, providing sufficient space for whatever floats your boat, be it water skiing, wakeboarding, pontoon cruising, canoeing, kayaking, or fishing. The Chain O’ Lakes crosses Vilas and Oneida counties, and a number of the lakes border the Nicolet National Forest on the east shoreline of the chain.
6. High Cliff State Park and the Niagara Escarpment The locals call it “The Ledge” – the limestone cliff that runs through High Cliff State Park, situated on the eastern shore of Lake Winnebago, Wisconsin’s largest lake. Mind you, this is no ordinary limestone cliff. It’s the Niagara Escarpment, a 440-million year old cliff that begins in Wisconsin and extends 1,000 miles to Niagara Falls. In fact, without the Escarpment there would be no Niagara Falls. In Wisconsin, this major land feature is rich with fossils, old native forestland, rare plant species, caves, waterfalls, bat hibernacula, and is a migratory stop for birds in the spring and fall.
7. Horicon Marsh Horicon Marsh has the largest freshwater cattail marsh in the nation. It’s located in southeast Wisconsin and is best known as a migratory stop for vast flocks of Canada geese. But it’s more than just geese. It’s home to more than 290 species of birds, including the largest nesting population of redhead ducks east of the Mississippi. It is here that you’ll also find the largest nesting rookery in Wisconsin for the great blue heron. The majority of the marsh is a wetland ecosystem, a shallow, peat-filled lakebed scoured out of limestone by a massive glacier. But there are also upland habitats like prairie and woods, providing the needed diversity to support the many types of wildlife through the seasons. To learn more about the wonders Wisconsin offers, visit travelwisconsin.com.
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W o r d s : T R A V EL WISCONSIN
5 EASY WISCONSIN DAY TRIPS It’s PRETT Y easy to love the Chippewa Valley.
take a drive to see our state’s beauty travel wisconsin (2)
But as they say, absence makes the heart grow fonder. Sometimes you need to take a day off and go see the rest of the great state of Wisconsin. Here are some suggestions for a few easy and short day trips that are fun for everyone –and quick enough that you can be right back at home by nightfall. WISCONSIN DELLS 120 minutes I-94 East Leave the tourist traps behind and see what else the Dells has to offer! Take in the scenery on one of the Duck or boat tours, ride a horse-drawn carriage on the Lost Canyon Tour, or even zoom along a zip line. In nearby North Freedom, check out the Mid-Continent Railway Museum: an outdoor, living museum that recreates life during the “Golden Age of Railroading.”
120 minutes East on HWY 29 then north on HWY 51
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Located in the heart of the Northwoods, Rhinelander has lots of outdoorsy activities to keep you occupied. Take a
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RHINELANDER
trip up the Wisconsin River on one of the scenic Wisconsin River Cruises aboard the Wilderness Queen. They offer a variety of cruises, including sightseeing tours, dinner cruises, a Sunday brunch tour, and some specialty cruises. Just watch out for the legendary Hodag!
MINOCQUA
LAKE PEPIN // 60 minutes Wisconsin Trunk 85 W and WI-25 S to WI-35 N/Great River Rd in Pepin
150 minutes East on HWY 29, then north on HWY 51 If you’re looking for something for kids – or kids-at-heart – then check out Wildwood Wildlife Park. The second largest zoo in Wisconsin, it features more than 700 animals from across the world. Wildwood offers a lot of up-closeand-personal experiences with the animals, including an interactive Budgie Encounter, which allows you to hang out in an aviary with 500 parakeets! Trust us, this is an awesome place to spend the day.
Seeking something on the historical side? Then head on over to Pepin, birthplace of Laura Ingalls Wilder. There you can check out the Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum, which features many items Laura and her family would have recognized and recalls the era in which she lived. Once you check out the museum, you can relax at Lake Pepin. For bird-lovers, check out Tiffany Bottoms, the largest floodplain forest in the Midwest; it’s teeming with nearly every bird you can find in Wisconsin.
SHELL LAKE // 80 minutes North on HWY 53 Home of Wisconsin’s largest landlocked seepage lake, Shell Lake (the town) is a great place to relax. Shell Lake (the lake)
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is an excellent spot for sailing, swimming, fishing, or just for hanging out on the beach. Catch a show at the Lakefront Pavilion, visit their world-famous Museum of Woodcarving, or check out their Monarch Butterfly Habitat.
FAMILY-FRIENDLY FUN! J OIN THE CIRCUS Step right up and see the greatest circus museum on earth (we may be biased). Circus World Museum in Baraboo is a National Landmark site with original buildings of the Ringling Bros. From big top circus performances complete with elephants and trapeze artists, to magic shows, the summer is the ideal time to visit. For a dazzling display of horses, tricks, and equestrian artistry, visit the Dancing Horses show in Delavan. Prior to these spectacular dinner (or lunch) theater performances, your kids will have a blast at the Animal Gardens and Petting Zoo next door. At this 40-acre venue, you can visit the baby animal barn, wildlife exhibit with native Wisconsin animals, a deer park, and the interactive petting zoo. You also can’t leave without meeting Echo the singing parrot, featured on the show “America’s Got Talent.”
WISCONSIN’S ‘ NATU RAL’ WATER PARKS Man-made water parks like the ones in the Dells sure are fun, but this summer, try a natural one. Rent tubes and float your way down the Lower Wisconsin River at Wisconsin Riverside Resort in Spring Green. The resort will
drop you off one, two or three miles up stream where you can drift your way back to camp. Riverside Resort also offers canoe and kayak rentals. More tubing fun can be had on the Apple River in Somerset. Several outfitters include Apple River Hideaway and Apple River Family Campground. You can also explore Wisconsin’s most massive river on a boat cruise down the mighty Mississippi. In La Crosse and Prairie du Chien, board the Mississippi Explorer for a family-friendly boating adventure. Cruises give riders an upclose-and-personal view of water and wildlife centered around the ecology of the Mississippi National Wildlife and Fish Refuge. Or you can board a traditional paddle wheeler like the La Crosse Queen, a modern-day replica boat from the late 19th century.
TRAV EL BACK IN TIME Turn your car into a time machine and drive your kids to Old World Wisconsin in Eagle. The recreated farmsteads and settlements show visitors what life was like back in the late 19th century when European immigrants were beginning to settle in the Midwest. Kids will earn a greater appreciation for their own school with a visit in the one-room schoolhouse. Don’t miss the “World of Little House” every weekend in July. With activities, look-alike contests, threshing events and games of the time of Laura Ingalls Wilder, it’s an entire 1800s experience wrapped into one day. Turn back the time machine to 1943 and visit the USS Cobia at the Wisconsin Maritime Museum in Manitowoc. It’s the oldest World War II submarine in the nation with the oldest working radar in the world. Be
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ummer is coming soon, but it will all be over before you know it. Don’t let your kids waste a moment indoors, plugged into their electronics, when you can be out having fun together. Wisconsin is home to dozens of familyfriendly travel options that take adventure and learning to a new level … just keep the “learning” part to yourselves and don’t tell the kids.
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Old World Wisconsin sure to visit the new hands-on “Bells & Whistles, Flags & Flashes” exhibit at the museum to explore the various
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methods used by mariners to communicate with other sailors and vessels. –Travel Wisconsin