Take A Hike … On the Ice Age Trail

The Ice Age Trail in Wisconsin is a thousand-mile hiking trail highlighting our world-renowned Ice Age heritage and scenic beauty. Perhaps you’ve hiked portions of it - it has multiple access points and traverses a wide variety of landscapes. How about hiking the ENTIRE 1000 miles in one trip?  Ok then – how about reading about it?  Melanie McManus (a freelance writer specializing in travel & fitness) is doing just that – hiking/running the entire trail, starting in St. Croix Falls … bears, dogs, bogs, and more.  After most 30 mile segments (give or take) she is re-energizing at WBBA member B&Bs.  Read about her trek at http://epiciceagetrail.blogspot.com/   To launch your own adventure, visit http://www.iceagetrail.org/trail-map-and-current-conditions. Ice Age Trail map  

We're Your Sherpa for Hiking Trails in Wisconsin!

In the southern part of the state, The Roth House B&B of Soldiers Grove says there are lots of great opportunities for hiking just a short distance from the inn.  They include:  Hogback Prairie, Kickapoo Valley Reserve, and Pikes Peak State Park. All three of these provide unique opportunities to explore the Driftless Region.  Cameo Rose Victorian Inn in Belleville boasts 4 miles of beautifully groomed hiking trails right on their 120 acre wooded property.  They also have a managed forest (Gary eliminates all invasive species, prunes lower tree branches, cleans up all poison ivy, etc.) and maintains wide, mowed paths throughout the meandering hillsides complete with unique rock formations, a wide assortment of colorful songbirds, wild turkeys, hawks (even an eagle or two) and lots of deer and other wildlife. Innkeeper Donna Hofmann of Parkview B&B in Reedsburg puts in another vote for can't-miss-hiking at famous Devil’s Lake State Park and often suggests it to enthusiastic guests. Of course, it has the best rock climbing this side of the Rocky Mountains!  Continuing east, we come to Pedal'rs Inn, Wales in the Lake Country/ Kettle Moraine area. Minutes away is Lapham Peak State Park part of the Ice Age Trail. The Ice Age Trail connects with the Glacial Drumlin Trail that will bring you right to the doorstep of Pedal'rs Inn. Further to the south is the Southern Kettle Moraine with more trails to enjoy the landforms created by during the Ice Age.  Last but not certainly not least, Artesian House in Bayfield is excited to have guests experience the brand new park called Salmo Lake Walk Trail that is just across the road from Artesian House.  The new park has a bridge, boardwalk/trail down to a Lake Superior beach for a nice stroll for after breakfast.  There is a hiking trail across Hatchery Road close to Artesian House's driveway. For the perfect marriage between hiking and seeing the timeless city of Bayfield, cross Rt. 13 to Port Superior Road and head north along the water, you will pick up the Brownstone Trail that will take you into downtown Bayfield.  Bayfield Chamber of Commerce has put together a great list of trails along Lake Superior that will definitely make for an experience worth the drive north! [caption id="attachment_1256" align="alignleft" width="442"]Glacial Drumlin Trail Glacial Drumlin Trail[/caption] [caption id="attachment_1255" align="alignright" width="461"]Kickapoo Valley Reserve Kickapoo Valley Reserve[/caption]

Reconnect with Your Inner Explorer

There are 150 quality-certified inns in Wisconsin that are just calling out to you to get reacquainted with that explorerside of yours. And that means more than just staying at the inn.  It means getting out and taking in all that Wisconsin has to offer. [caption id="attachment_887" align="alignright" width="300"] Cobblestone B&B, Birchwood is a great place to relax after a day spent hiking or snowshoeing the nearby Ice Age Trail or skiing in the American Birkiebeiner.[/caption] Our B&B owners are pros at providing itinerary ideas, so ask away.  We also look the liberty of putting together some dandy tours built around wineries, microbreweries, artisan cheese tastings, biking, birding, and golf courses.  If eco-travel is as important to you as it is to us, then you’ll enjoy visiting these Travel Green Wisconsin-certified properties. We thought an overview by region might be helpful too. If an event is the nudge you need to escape for a few days, then let this events calendar be your guide. One last tip: Sign up for our enewsletter and get insider ideas delivered once a month. Now get out there! Wisconsin Public Radio's Whad 'Ya Know Quiz Prize Winners - redeem your Whad 'Ya Know gift certificate at participating B&Bs.
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