The open road, a kaleidoscope of colors, mild temperatures, and an escape from the real world. Sounds good, doesn’t it? Bikes and B&Bs pair so nicely this time of year. Oh, and by bikes, we mean both bicycles and motorcycles. We have lots of fall getaway ideas for fans of two wheels. Wisconsin’s Harley-Davidson just celebrated its 115^th anniversary with a huge bash in Milwaukee over Labor Day weekend, and it was a “wow” for motorcycle fans. Wisconsin is also a peddler’s dream and here’s the evidence: Trek Bicycles is tops with tons of cyclists – the company is headquartered in Waterloo. Wyatt Bicycles in La Crosse manufactures high-end aluminum adventure bikes – think mountain bikes and fat bikes. Based in Madison, one of the most bicycle-friendly cities in the country, Pacific Cycle is the parent company of Schwinn and Mongoose. Waterford Precision Cycles and Gunnar Cycles are both in Waterford. And there’s Sotherland Custom Bicycles in Whitewater. So with that biking tutorial out of the way, here are free-wheeling ideas for those of you with fall wanderlust. Best Inns to Ride a Motorcycle To: For those that love the city, Hotel Ruby Marie in Madison is located across from the majestic Lake Monona, where the cool lake breeze will greet you on a ride. Hotel Ruby Marie is also within a short distance from Capitol Square, where you can sight-see around the beautiful Wisconsin State Capitol building. For those that love to trek outside of the city limits, Sheer Memories B&B in Muscoda sits on the rolling hills that overlook the beautiful valley of the Lower Wisconsin River. Perfect for fall color peeping! [caption id="attachment_1983" align="alignleft" width="282"] Justin Trails Resort in Sparta[/caption] [caption id="attachment_2620" align="alignright" width="287"] Pedal'rs Inn in Wales[/caption]                 B&Bs with Covered Spots to Store Your Motorcycle: Nestled in a quiet, peaceful coulee, Justin Trails Resort in Sparta, WI offers guests a relaxed country getaway in the heart of the Wisconsin Driftless Region. They also offer their garage space for bicycles and motorcycles as part of their services. Sparta is often dubbed as the "Bicycling Capital of America" and is nearby to the famous Elroy-Sparta State Trail. Inns with Best Proximity to Top State Bike Trails: Located just outside of Elkhorn, WI and across the road from sparkling Lauderdale Lakes, you'll find Ye Old Manor House and the nearby 19 mile White River State Trail. This scenic trail follows a former rail corridor and passes by numerous bridges, scenic vistas, quaint towns, farmlands and wetlands. Then there are the guests at Pedal'rs Inn in Wales, WI, who have access to the miles of connecting paved trails throughout the surrounding areas. Nearby to Pedal'rs Inn, the 52 mile Glacial Drumlin State Trail offers easy connections to Madison and Milwaukee. [caption id="attachment_2606" align="alignleft" width="294"] Motorcycling in Kettle Moraine State Forest[/caption] [caption id="attachment_2648" align="alignright" width="271"] Greenway House B&B in Green Lake[/caption]               B&Bs to Pair for Inn-to-Inn Bike Trips: Green Lake, WI is an area with numerous and wonderfully scenic trails for all levels of bicycle riders, so why not take a ride to stop & stay at Green Lake's beautiful inns? Angel Inn offers a breathtaking lake front view, so rent Tri-cycles, Cruisers, or a Tandem from them for a leisurely cruise. You can also follow the new bike path nearby to the Green Lake Conference Center. Miller's Daughter Bed & Breakfast has several trails located near the inn, including the 12 mile Mascoutin Valley State Trail which runs along the old Milwaukee railroad bed. Greenway House is a historic retreat in the heart of Green Lake and ideal for some downtown biking while McConnell Inn offers their knowledge of the many scenic back-country roads and nearby trails that are perfect for biking or motorcycling. [caption id="attachment_1280" align="aligncenter" width="370"] Owner of Eagle Centre House B&B & his Harley[/caption] Inns Where the Owners are Big Bicyclists Themselves: Eagle Centre House B&B in Eagle WI, where the owners and family love to ride the hills and rural roads of the Southern Kettle Moraine. The inn is located 3 miles from the forest headquarters. At Eagle Centre House, you are welcome to walk their 20 acres of kettles and moraines crested with towering oaks and lush with an abundance of native prairie plants and wildlife.

Take A Ride!

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Pretty? Maybe not, but morel mushrooms sure are delicious and should be incorporated into your breakfast recipes.

Morel mushroom hunting in Wisconsin in the spring is like a secret society, with mushroom aficionados reluctant to share their hunting spots. However, our innkeepers are always happy to share their recipes, and so we reached out to our members for their favorite morel mushroom recipes. If you’ve never tasted a morel mushroom, you’re in for a treat with this recipe for Eggs Benedict with Morel Mushrooms and Asparagus from Sweet Autumn Inn in Lake Mills. Ingredients: 1 T. Olive oil 1 Large shallot, finely diced 1 Clove garlic, finely diced 1/2 t. fresh thyme, chopped 1 T butter 8 oz. morel mushrooms, halved or quartered depending on size 1/4 C white wine or broth 1/2 C heavy cream Salt & pepper to taste 12 spears asparagus, lightly sauteed or blanched 4 poached eggs 4 slices of multi grain bread, lightly toasted Directions: Heat the oil in a pan over medium heat, add the shallot and cook until tender, about 2-3 minutes. Add the garlic and thyme and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the butter and let it melt. Add the mushrooms and cook until they release their moisture, about 3-5 minutes. Add the wind or broth, deglaze the pan and cook for 2 minutes. Add the cream and simmer until it thickens, about 2-3 minutes and reduce the heat to low. Poach the eggs in your favorite method. To Plate: Place piece of toast on the plate, top with the asparagus, poached eggs and creamy mushroom sauce. This recipe will make enough to serve four. Not a morel mushroom hunter? You could also try this recipe for Oven Baked Mushrooms from Pedal'rs Inn in Wales.

An open faced breakfast sandwich on a grilled ciabatta roll with roasted bacon, poached egg topped with chocolate bacon gravy and a side of oven roasted mushrooms from Pedal'rs Inn.

Ingredients: 2 T of unsalted butter 16 oz of sliced porcini mushrooms 2 tsp Of Worcestershire sauce 1/2 tsp Fresh ground black pepper 1 T of flour 1/4 cup sour cream Shredded Swiss cheese Directions: Preheat oven 325. In a sauté pan, melt butter on medium high heat. When butter begins to sizzle place mushrooms in pan. Sauté mushrooms until edges start to brown. Do not let them go until all the juice rendered. Stir in Worcestershire sauce and black pepper. Remove from heat and sprinkle with flour. Stir mushrooms covering with flour. Return to medium heat and add in sour cream being sure to pull in pan scrapings. Pour into individual tart pans or 8x8 oven safe serving dish. Top with Swiss cheese and place in oven for 20 minutes or until cheese is melted. Serve warm. Serves 4. Added Tip: When traveling to Wisconsin B&Bs in the spring, ask the innkeeper about local farmers’ markets, where you may be able to snag some morels, plus other spring favorites like asparagus and rhubarb. You’ll never leave empty-handed at the state’s largest farmers’ market which happens every Saturday on the Capitol Square in Madison. Who knows, you might even run into innkeepers from The Buckingham Inn, The Livingston Inn,  and Hotel Ruby Marie when you’re there!

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  [caption id="attachment_1941" align="aligncenter" width="413"] Lake Orchard Farm Retreat in Sheboygan, WI ~ greenhouse[/caption] Farmers’ markets in Wisconsin are legendary, so much so that even visitors make a point to include them on their fall itineraries. To further the farm connection, stay at a working farm B&B. [caption id="attachment_1338" align="alignright" width="164"] Astor House B&B in Green Bay, WI[/caption] [caption id="attachment_1903" align="alignleft" width="156"] Otter Creek Inn in Eau Claire, WI[/caption] [caption id="attachment_357" align="aligncenter" width="147"] Hotel Ruby Marie in Madison, WI[/caption]   [caption id="attachment_1945" align="alignleft" width="198"] Farmers' Market in Dane County[/caption] Perhaps the most famous farmers’ market not just in Wisconsin but in the country is the Dane County Farmers’ Market, the nation’s largest producer-only market. Walk to this market on the capital square when you stay at Hotel Ruby Marie. In Oshkosh, vendors line the main street, with shoppers loading up on fruits and veggies, flowers and egg rolls, even a loaded Bloody Mary morning cocktail before doing a little shopping at the downtown boutiques. The Brayton B&B is conveniently located right downtown as well. In Appleton, stroll among 150 vendors and treat yourself to some baked goods too. Stay at the Franklin Street Inn, where an elegant breakfast can be delivered right to your suite. A bit farther north is Green Bay, where the Saturday farmers’ market dates back 100 years this year. Enjoy music while you shop before heading to your room at the Astor House B&B. If you’re staying at the 1810 Emerson House B&B in Beloit, then be sure to visit their farmers’ market in the heart of their historic downtown district. Make the connection to country life at the Eau Claire farmers’ market, then spend the night at the spacious Otter Creek Inn. [caption id="attachment_1137" align="alignleft" width="229"] Rainbow Ridge Farms in Onalaska, WI is very kid-friendly![/caption] [caption id="attachment_1735" align="alignright" width="229"] Valley Springs Farm B&B in Reedsburg, WI[/caption]                 We’re proud to have a number of farmstead inns among our membership too. There’s Lake Orchard Farm Retreat, a 6^th generation farm with on-site golf course in Sheboygan; Rainbow Ridge Farms in Onalaska, with turn-of-the-century farmhouse and 35-acre working hobby farm; and Valley Springs Farm B&B in Reedsburg, a 4^th generation dairy farm and one of the stops on this year’s “Hill and Valley Exploration Tour” in Sauk County being held the first two full weekends in October. The tour includes more than 60 activities along the way, from learning how to shear sheep to grooming a show calf to harvesting honey. Fill your cooler with fresh veggies, jellies and preserves purchased directly from the 14 participating farms.  

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Inns Near the New FLW Trail It was 150 years ago this year that Frank Lloyd Wright was born in Wisconsin. People are often surprised to know that Wisconsin has more FLW-designed buildings – 41 in all - than any other state. A new FLW Trail showcases nine buildings open for tours. Plan your motor route with stays at B&Bs along the way. [caption id="attachment_1770" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Frank Lloyd Wright Home in Milwaukee[/caption]

Frank Lloyd Wright was born in Richland Center, Wisconsin in 1867. To mark the occasion, the state has just christened a new Frank Lloyd Wright Trail with stops at nine buildings in the southern part of the state, all open to the public. Here are the iconic buildings on the trail, with B&Bs nearby to make this motor route an architectural adventure from start to finish. Start in Racine and tour the SC Johnson Administration Building and Research Tower as well as Wingspread in nearby Wind Point. Stay: The Christmas House B&B is on the National Register of Historic Places and within walking distance to Lake Michigan and the Racine downtown. Head to Milwaukee to see the Burnham American System Built Homes. Stay: There are three nearby B&Bs, each with their own architectural pedigree. Washington House Inn [caption id="attachment_1771" align="alignleft" width="212"] Washington House Inn Guest Room[/caption] in Cedarburg is set in a gem of an 1886 Victorian cream city brick building. Pedal’rs Inn in Wales is a grand Queen Ann Victorian with modern, luxuries amenities within. And the Westphal Mansion Inn in Hartford is an English Tudor that retains all its original architectural features. Then it’s off to Madison, for a stroll of the Monona Terrace and the First Unitarian Society Meeting House. Stay: The mix of B&Bs here is as eclectic as the city itself. The Livingston Inn features stunning architectural details inside and out, including nine fireplaces, 11-foot ceilings, and a glass atrium. Hotel Ruby Marie first received its lodging license in 1873, primarily used as a railroad hotel back then. The Buckingham Inn is a classic 1911 Prairie-style residence influenced by the designs of Frank Lloyd Wright but with a University of Wisconsin campus vibe. If you’d prefer to spend the night outside the city, then Victorian Dreams in Lodi and Altemus Corners in Stoughton are excellent choices for a relaxing night’s sleep. Next is Spring Green, home to Taliesin and the FLW Visitor Center as well as the Wyoming Valley School Cultural Arts Center. Stay: Silver Star B&B is a secluded country-style log lodge set on a bucolic 340-acre estate. [caption id="attachment_734" align="alignright" width="300"] A 'long and winding road' leads you to the Cream Pitcher B&B, in Blue River.[/caption]   The route fittingly finished up in Wright’s birthplace, Richland Center, where you can tour the AD German Warehouse. Stay: There are two inns within a quick drive. Sheer Memories B&B in Muscoda overlooks the Wisconsin River Valley, while Cream Pitcher B&B in Blue River is built on a historic 1854 farm.       Frank Lloyd Wright was a visionary, a man ahead of his time, who believed in designing structures that were in harmony with humanity and its environment. All of his projects were unique. just like theB&B's in the Wisconsin Bed & Breakfast Association.  WBBA Innkeepers are passionate about creating a space that will help you reconnect with the environment around you.  Another important item to point out, WBBA members are licensed, inspected and insured.  So rest assured, you will get a good night's sleep when you stay at a WBBA B&B, feeling refreshed and rejuvenated the next morning.  Are you ready to Seek the Unique?

Wisconsin has major travel news this year. The U.S. Open comes to the state for the first time in the tournament’s history, to a public course, no less. Natural Twosome – Golf and B&Bs The 117^th U.S. Open is being played at Erin Hills in Wisconsin, marking the first time the storied event has ever been staged in the state. Plus it’s only the sixth time it’s being played at a public course. We put together a list of the Top 10 Wisconsin public golf courses (and the B&Bs nearby, naturally) to help you tee up your golf getaway bucket list.

There are more than 500 public golf courses in Wisconsin. Multiple PGA and LPGA tournaments have been contested at public courses at Kohler. Plus, the U.S. Open comes to Erin Hills in Wisconsin, the first time this storied event has ever been staged in the state and only the sixth time at a public course. And this just in: Wisconsin is ranked the #1 golf destination for 2017 by GolfAdvisor.com! So, if there was ever a year to celebrate golf, this is it, which is why the Wisconsin Bed & Breakfast Association put together its own list of top public courses based on travel habits at its member inns. While Erin Hills is closed until after the U.S. Open, there are plenty of top-notch golf getaways for those eager to tee up their summer travel schedule. Top 10 Contenders for Best Golf/B&B Getaways

1. Whistling Straits, Sheboygan: This course will be hosting the 2020 Ryder Cup. Stay at Lake Orchard Farm Retreat on the shores of Lake Michigan, a sixth generation farm with its own on-site nine-hole golf course and clubhouse. [caption id="attachment_1757" align="alignnone" width="300"] Lake Orchard Farm Retreat Guest room[/caption]
2. Blackwolf Run, Kohler: Spend the night at the nearby Jay Lee Inn in Elklhart Lake, an elegant 1902 Victorian Federal house with views to the lake. There’s also Tauschek’s B&B in Plymouth, a log home with rustic charm and modern amenities. [caption id="attachment_1758" align="alignright" width="300"] Tauschek' Bed & Breakfast[/caption]
3. University Ridge, Madison: The three inns in Madison each have their own unique personality, much like the city itself. There’s The Buckingham Inn near Camp Randall Stadium with red naturally a favorite accent color, Hotel Ruby Marie where you can enjoy the bustle of the Capitol Square, and The Livingston Inn Gothic Revival mansion with lakefront access to Lake Mendota.
4. Lawsonia, Green Lake: Take your pick of four B&Bs in the resort community of Green Lake – Miller’s Daughter B&B where complimentary wine is served daily, McConnell Inn where breakfast is prepared by their pastry chef, the lakefront Angel Inn with parking for your boat, or Greenway House where guests can enjoy breakfast on the wraparound porch.
5. SentryWorld, Stevens Point: After a day on the course, spend the night at Dreams of Yesteryear, an architectural gem in Stevens Point’s historic downtown district, and wake up to a full gourmet breakfast before heading back to the course for another round of golf.
6. The Bull, Sheboygan Falls: Choose a two-story suite at the Rochester Inn or, if traveling with your golf buddies, reserve The Fringe Country Inn and gather in the spacious common room. Both are right in Sheboygan Falls.
7. Horseshoe Bay, Egg Harbor: There are lots of charming B&Bs up and down the Door County peninsula. [caption id="attachment_1759" align="alignnone" width="300"] Bay Point Inn[/caption] In the same community as the course is Bay Point Inn, patterned after a European vacation villa.
8. Washington County, Hartford: The Westphal Mansion Inn, an English Tudor mansion in downtown Hartford, is a local historic landmark with plenty of old world style. [caption id="attachment_1763" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Westphal Mansion guest room[/caption]
9. The Bog, Saukville: A short drive will get you to Hidden Serenity B&B in West Bend, a spacious inn next to a wildlife sanctuary where there’s also a tennis court if you also like to swing a racquet.
10. Geneva National, Lake Geneva: This is the site of the 2017 Legends LPGA. If you typically travel with a group of golfer friends, reserve the entire home known as At The Lake House B&B. [caption id="attachment_1760" align="alignright" width="300"] Lazy Cloud Bed & Breakfast, Lake Geneva WI[/caption] Lazy Cloud B&B bills itself as a place for romantics so if you golf with your significant other, give this inn a try. Both are in Lake Geneva.

Bonus Recommendations: There are two other public courses in the state designed by the same duo who designed Erin Hills - Wild Rock in Wisconsin Dells and Troy Burne in Hudson. In Wisconsin Dells, retreat to Bowman’s Oak Hill B&B with its park-like setting where breakfast is served on the large deck. In Hudson, Phipps Inn is located in a historic district making it a short walk to downtown restaurants. Look Forward To: Sand Valley Golf Resort in Nekoosa is set to open in May, and is already getting lots of advance accolades. Less than an hour from the course is Artha Sustainable Living Center in Amherst, an eco-friendly inn set on a 55-acre plot with lots of greens, as in green fields and woodlands. Also just under an hour’s drive is Riverview B&B in Neshkoro, located on the White River, so bring your kayak along with your clubs. When Erin Hills Reopens to the Public: If you’ll be golfing Erin Hills after the U.S. Open, consider a stay at Inn at Pine Terrace in nearby Oconomowoc. The design of this historic mansion was modeled after a nobleman’s castle near Vienna, making it a fitting spot to spend the night when golfing one of the crown jewels of Wisconsin. Just as each golf course is unique and has it's own personality, so do the B&B's in the Wisconsin Bed & Breakfast Association.  A great reason to plan a B&B getaway, where innkeepers are your ultimate concierge to all things local.  Another important item to point out, WBBA members are licensed, inspected and insured.  So rest assured, you will get a good night's sleep when you stay at a WBBA B&B, feeling refreshed and rejuvenated the next morning.  Are you ready to Seek the Unique?