Come Ride On Our Beautiful Wisconsin Biking Trails

Don't Miss These Wisconsin Biking Trails

There is such a variety of Wisconsin Biking Trails to explore and enjoy. With Wisconsin's diverse seasons, you can ride all year long. Yes, even winter, as fat tire biking is now all the rage. However, since it is spring, we will save the winter sporting for another blog post!

Now, you may have your favorite trails, but discovering new ones is so much fun. No matter what part of the state you may want to visit, there is sure to be a trail that will match your adventure level. Therefore, we have put together some of our favorite finds that span much of the state. Nothing beats biking that combines beautiful scenery, exercise, touring, and exploring. 

Wisconsin Biking Trails

 

Wisconsin Biking Trails and B&B's Just Seem To Go Together

Some things just seem to go together and biking and B&B's is one of those must-do's. Why? To start with, Innkeepers make it their job to know their area. They have all the innsider tips of favorite biking trails, scenic outlooks, and off-the-beaten path recommendations they love to share. Many of them are outdoor enthusiasts too, making them the expert. As a result, they will also know where to go for grabbing a cool beverage, lunch, or a special shop, close to the trails.  

Besides that, nothing beats returning to the B&B after your afternoon of touring these Wisconsin biking trails. Innkeepers often provide beverages, snacks, and a comfortable place to enjoy them. You can enjoy sun tea on the patio or a glass of wine on the covered porch before dinner. A restful night sleep, followed by a gourmet breakfast, is just what a B&B offers before starting your next day's adventures. Tip: ask if there is bike parking; many times B&B's have a space for you and your bike!

 

Where Some Of Our Favorite Wisconsin Biking Trails Are

 

Pedal'rs Inn
Pedal'rs Inn

Pedal’rs Inn - Wales: The Glacial Drumlin State Trail is right at their front door. For the more adventurous biking, the beautiful roads of the Southern Kettle Moraine provide wonderful routes and scenic views. Surrounded by beautiful Waukesha County, the state and local county parks have beautiful trails for mountain biking, hiking, and cross country skiing.

 

Rochester Inn Lobby
Rochester Inn

Rochester Inn - Sheboygan Falls: The Rochester Inn is located near the Kettle Moraine State Forest. This is home to fantastic hiking, biking, and cross-country skiing. For avid cyclers, the Old Plank Road Trail is just minutes from the Inn. This makes The Rochester Inn your ideal getaway location to enjoy all of the recreational opportunities that Sheboygan County has to offer.

 

Inn at Wawanissee Point Wisconsin Biking TrailsInn at Wawanissee Point

Inn at Wawanissee Point - Baraboo: The topography surrounding the Inn at Wawanissee Point attracts road and mountain bicyclists of all skill levels for training, races, and pleasure. Right next door to the Inn, you can experience challenging mountain biking and racing at Devil's Head Resort. At Devil's Lake State Park, there are 29 miles of hiking and biking trails including 8 miles of off-road bike trails. Similarly, the scenic, rolling hills of the Baraboo Bluffs will offer endless winding paths through vistas and shady glades with some challenging hills.

 

fountain-chateau
Fountain Chateau B&B

Fountain Chateau - Hustler: The Omaha Bike Trail - This beautiful trail was originally the Omaha Railroad. The bike trail connects right next door to the Fountain Chateau B&B. Here, you can take a walk or a bike ride all the way to Elroy and the world-famous Elroy-Sparta State Trail, as well as the 400 State Trail. Whether you are a serious cyclist or someone who enjoys a leisurely pace, you will love this 12 mile, seal-coated bike trail that features an 875′ tunnel.

 

Seek the Unique With More Than Just Wisconsin Biking Trails

Finally, when you take the time for a getaway, you want to maximize your experiences. Therefore, the WBBA has put together 7 categories of experiences. Make sure you check out the Area Experiences page of our new website. From "Hiking, Biking, Running" and "Water Sports", to "Birding, Wildlife, Nature", you will be sure to find reason to getaway to a WBBA member Inn.

 

New Logo Colored - No background - For screen
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How Do You Define Well-being?

  Have you taken stock of your well-being lately? Basic human needs like being in nature, knowing where your food comes from, getting a good night’s sleep, and making time for the people most important in your life can often be addressed with a B&B getaway. Transformative travel is next-gen wellness travel. It’s a getaway that helps you reset and recharge. And it isn’t about an age as much an attitude about what’s important in life, addressing all aspects of a person’s life – exercise, meditation, healthy food, relaxation, unplugging, preventative care, even the goal of using up your vacation days. In Wisconsin, a number of B&Bs really get transformative travel and the power that little moments have to put guests on the path they’ve always longed for. [caption id="attachment_2536" align="alignright" width="358"] Forest Therapy for all seasons at Inn at Wawanissee Point[/caption] [caption id="attachment_2546" align="alignleft" width="212"] The Crystal River by Apple Tree Lane B&B[/caption]                       At Apple Tree Lane B&B, it’s their interpretation of the Japanese practice of “forest bathing” that has guests flocking there in the warm weather months. Lest you think forest bathing is walking through the woods barefoot or taking a dip in a lake – although it can be those – it is so much more. The practice of slowing down to connect with nature in an immersive, mindful way can boost mood and reduce stress. Apple Tree Lane B&B's location by the river lets one get accustomed to this practice. Also nearby to the inn, the Waupaca segment of the Ice Age Trail starts within Hartman Creek State Park, running north of the park to Indian Valley Road, and south of the park through the Emmons Creek Fish Hatchery and Wildlife Area. The segment is part of the 1,000-mile National Scenic Ice Age Hiking and Skiing Trail. Another pristine place to forest bathe in solitude is the Inn at Wawanissee Point's 42-acre wooded sanctuary adjacent Parfrey’s Glen State Natural Area, both nestled atop the Baraboo Range, ancient quartzite bluffs topped with 55,000 acres of oak, maple and basswood forest, the largest tract of its kind remaining in the upper Midwest. Their 3 miles of private trails are secluded, groomed just enough for easy walking, meander mature forest intertwined by a stream, and intersect their small, restored prairie, with meditation benches, stumps and boulders for quiet reflection. Nature power-melts away tension here. Other B&Bs where you can untether from technology and get back out in nature include Country Comfort B&B and Sheer Memories B&B, with miles of hiking trails right on these properties. Country Comfort is located right on the Red Cedar River and Trail with nearby Hoffman Hills Hiking Trails adding another place for forest bathing while in Menominee. Sheer Memories is located on the rolling hills of Southwestern Wisconsin overlooking the Wisconsin River Valley with trails, gardens, fields, and woods, and where breathtaking views lend itself to a peaceful retreat. [caption id="attachment_2542" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Farm fresh ingredients[/caption] Mindful eating is another aspect of transformative travel. At Parkview B&B, the innkeepers take pride in preparing delicious, creative, homemade breakfasts while using seasonal, fresh, local, & quality ingredients. The Altemus Corners B&B lets you enjoy fresh produce and berries for a full breakfast including fresh farm fruit (berries and melons) juices, coffee and tea. Lazy Cloud B&B has restorative spa treatments right at the inn. Franklin Street Inn hosts experiences in a Group Art Workshop like no other in the area and is another path to well-being for many. They will allow each participant to create a unique painting of their own. Seasonally, these are conducted in their lovely garden area. Artha Sustainable Living Center includes a guided meditation option in one of its packages. When it comes to a restful night’s sleep, you’d be hard pressed to find anything as dream-inducing as the beds at Ye Olde Manor House and Grapevine Log Cabins. Plus the quiet, rural atmosphere at both properties lends itself to falling asleep and staying asleep. Lots of ideas to be well!   WBBA Seek the Unique

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Holiday Events Full of Simple Joys

  [caption id="attachment_427" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Simple Holiday Enjoyments[/caption] If you’re in need of ideas that will put you in the holiday spirit without having to endure massive amounts of commercialization or hefty price tags, then you’ll want to read on. Getting in the holiday spirit needn’t come with an over-the-top price tag or extravagant commitment of time and energy. We asked member inns to submit ideas for holiday doings that we would all do well to experience at least once and the ideas are magical. [caption id="attachment_2123" align="alignright" width="264"] Westport B&B Wine and Roses[/caption] [caption id="attachment_2119" align="alignleft" width="254"] Red Forest Inn Breakfast by Candlelight[/caption]           In the Manitowoc area, the “Lights of Lincoln Park” is a beautiful drive-through light show to benefit the local zoo and it’s just $5 per car and runs through Dec. 23. Stay at the beautiful Westport Bed & Breakfast in Manitowoc or the equally beautiful Red Forest B&B in neighboring Two Rivers where you can warm up during their evening wine and cheese hour. [caption id="attachment_2114" align="alignleft" width="271"] Winter at Inn at Wawanissee Point[/caption] [caption id="attachment_2120" align="alignright" width="274"] Ringling House in the Winter[/caption]                   Take in a classic holiday movie at the historic Al Ringling Theatre in downtown Baraboo – “Holiday Inn” is playing Dec. 20 and “It’s a Wonderful Life” is playing Dec. 22. Ticket price is just $7. This theatre is considered one of America’s prettiest playhouses. Stay at the Ringling House B&B, the original estate of local son Charles Ringling, one of the founders of the Ringling Brothers Circus. This 1901 Colonial Revival Home is on the National Register of Historic Places. The breathtaking views that Inn at Wawanissee Point features are also not far from these holiday events. [caption id="attachment_2110" align="aligncenter" width="191"] The London Room of Astor House[/caption] In Green Bay, marvel at the more than 40 decorated trees on display at the National Railroad Museum during their annual Festival of Trees event now through Jan. 7. Admission is just $5. Then retreat to the Astor House B&B where there are five distinctly decorated rooms – ask for the London Room with fireplace. [caption id="attachment_2116" align="alignright" width="205"] Justin Trails Resort Winter Lights[/caption] [caption id="attachment_1672" align="alignleft" width="191"] Grapevine Log Cabins in Sparta[/caption] [caption id="attachment_2122" align="aligncenter" width="143"] Westby House Inn Christmas[/caption]   The community of Sparta has its traditional German holiday market known as a Kriskindlemarkt Dec. 8-9 with authentic German food, horse-drawn carriage rides, and artisan vendors. Then cozy up in one of the three log cabins at Grapevine Log Cabins, where towering pines set the holiday scene naturally. You can also find Justin Trails Resort, which offers cross-country ski and snowshow rentals along with two sledding hills for your outdoor winter fun, and Westby House Inn, where there is something for every vacationer to enjoy, in the Sparta area. [caption id="attachment_2121" align="alignright" width="164"] Sweet Autumn Inn at Christmas[/caption] [caption id="attachment_2113" align="alignleft" width="248"] Fargo Mansion Staircase[/caption]               In Lake Mills, get last-minute Christmas shopping done at their annual Winter Market, Dec. 9 where crafters, growers and artists present their treasures. Sweet Autumn Inn will be your spot for the night, where you’ll wake up to a full breakfast feast courtesy of innkeeper Teri Nelson. The beautiful Fargo Mansion Inn is also in Lake Mills, where you can "relax, unwind, and make yourself at home". [caption id="attachment_2112" align="alignleft" width="153"] Eagle Centre House Kitchen[/caption]   The Old World Christmas event at Old World Wisconsin in Eagle, running the first two weekends of December, comes highly recommended by Eagle Centre House B&B. This “living museum” state historic site will be decked with holiday greenery and there will be horse-drawn rides plus wassail to warm the soul.     [caption id="attachment_2115" align="alignright" width="300"] Inn On Lake Wissota Christmas[/caption] In Chippewa Falls, the Christmas Village in Irvine Park running through Jan. 1 is a display of life-size Christmas scenes reminiscent of the Victorian era. Stay at the Inn On Lake Wissota where visions of sugar plums will surely dance in your heads as you sleep peacefully at this quiet inn tucked away on the shore of the lake. Otter Creek Inn lies in nearby Eau Claire, WI on a one-acre wooded lot that simply glistens with the winter snows. [caption id="attachment_2117" align="alignright" width="300"] Snow-covered Otter Creek Inn[/caption] [caption id="attachment_2108" align="alignleft" width="199"] Hidden Serenity Sleigh Ride[/caption]                   Take a sleigh ride through the woods lit up by thousands of twinkling lights when you book the horse-drawn sleigh ride package at Hidden Serenity B&B in West Bend. Available on a dozen dates in December and January. [caption id="attachment_2118" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Phipps Inn Winter Evening[/caption] The Phipps Inn B&B in Hudson, an elegant Victorian mansion, always opens its first floor for tours on the first Friday in December when the Octagon House Museum across the street holds its Victorian Christmas Night from 6-8 pm. Expect a magical night.  

WBBA Seek the Unique

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The Red Chair Travels will be Visiting a B&B Near You

[caption id="attachment_1831" align="aligncenter" width="300"] The photo of The Red Chair that started a phenomenon in 2011[/caption] The Red Chair Travels is coming to Wisconsin!  The WBBA is so excited to part of this phenomenon that started 5 years ago in Cape Cod, MA. Beth Colt is the innkeeper of the Woods Hole Inn on Cape Cod.   She took a picture of this red chair perched out on a frozen pond in Woods Hole in the winter of 2011.  When she posted the photo on Facebook her computer lit up with "likes" and this simple image journeyed all over cyberspace, and landed in the in-box of a California-based photographer, who was inspired to come visit the Woods Hole Inn in the off season.  When she asked to borrow the chair she was surprised; when the fruits of her labor arrived in the mail Beth was in awe. [caption id="attachment_1832" align="alignright" width="300"] Captain Freeman Inn Cape Cod, MA[/caption] The red chair became a symbol, a metaphor for connections made across invisible boundaries. In 2012 Beth contacted other Inns in Cape Cod to see if they would like to "host" the Red Chair for a few days and photograph the chair's visit.  Since then the Red Chair has visited more than 20 states in the U.S., and parts of Canada. For Beth Colt, "the red chair is an invitation to come explore yourself in a quiet and beautiful place.  It is an open seat at the table of relaxation.  It is the beckoning hand of civilization, marking the edge of the wildness of nature.  It is the dialogue between artists and innkeepers, dreamers and shop-girls, lost travelers and those that welcome them into warm beds." We know the Red Chair will feel right at home in Wisconsin and we are excited to see all the different adventures it has along the way.  Listed below is the schedule for the Red Chair Travels in Wisconsin.  Are you ready to Seek the Unique?  Book your stay at one of the participating WBBA B&B's today so you can take part in the Red Chair Travels!

Dates Property City
3/29-4/3 Curriers Lakeview Lodge Rice Lake
4/4-4/8 Phipps Inn Bed & Breakfast Hudson
4/9-4/13 Pleasant View Bed & Breakfast Chippewa Falls
4/14-4/18 Stewart Inn Wausau
4/19-4/22 Crystal River Inn Waupaca
4/23-4/27 Lindsay House Manawa
4/28-5/1 Franklin Street Inn Appleton
5/2-5/6 Brayton Bed and Breakfast Oshkosh
5/7-5/11 Greenway House Bed and Breakfast Green Lake
5/12-5/16 Hidden Serenity B&B West Bend
5/17-5/21 Honeybee Inn Bed & Breakfast Horicon
5/22-5/25 Inn at Pine Terrace Oconomowoc
5/26-5/29 Pedal'rs Inn Bed and Breakfast Wales
5/30-6/3 Christmas House Bed and Breakfast Racine
6/4-6/7 At The Lake House Lake Geneva
6/8-6/11 Hamilton House Whitewater
6/12-6/15 The Livingston Inn Madison
6/16-6/19 Inn at Wawanissee Point Baraboo
6/20-6/23 Ringling House Baraboo
6/24-6/27 Valley Springs Farm Reedsburg
6/28-6/31 Bowman's Oak Hill Bed and Breakfast Wisconsin Dells
7/1-7/4 Fountain Chateau B&B Hustler
7/5-7/8 Justin Trails Resort Sparta

WBBA Seek the Unique  

B&B Getaway Giveaway Week 7

Here’s a quick quiz: what do trout fishing, the American Birkebeiner, and a 36-mile view have in common?  All are found at B&Bs – showing that when we say ‘seek the unique’, we mean it! The stunning view from the pub and virtually all of the Inn at Wawanissee Point is both relaxing and a stimulation to explore – and perhaps motivation to ‘work off’ the gourmet breakfast.  A world away in a 20 minute drive from WI Dells.  And referencing the Dells, innkeeper Agnes says ‘when you’ve had enough stimulation’, head just 40 miles north to the Mecan River House (Coloma) – with a #1 trout fishing stream running along the length of the property.  Unwind on the deck, or search out antiques and hand-crafted Amish items at the nearby shops.  Heading further north to the Hayward / Birchwood area, the Cobblestone B&B is a destination in any season.  Of course, the Birkebeiner  x-c  trails are the winter draw (and just a few hundred miles of snowmobile trails too), more trail systems offer fat biking, mountain biking, hiking…”run, bike, ski” is the northwoods mantra.  Enter our Facebook contest to win a 2 night stay at Cobblestone B&B, Inn at Wawanisee Point, or Mecan River House http://a.pgtb.me/qVSz88 [caption id="attachment_1451" align="aligncenter" width="286"]Breakfast at the Cobblestone B&B, Birchwood, WI Breakfast at the Cobblestone B&B, Birchwood, WI[/caption] [caption id="attachment_1452" align="aligncenter" width="300"]The Pub at the Inn at Wawanissee, Baraboo, WI The Pub at the Inn at Wawanissee, Baraboo, WI[/caption] [caption id="attachment_1453" align="aligncenter" width="300"]Mecan River House TROUT FISHERMAN: you can walk right down to the MECAN RIVER which is a #1 trout fishing stream!  The MECAN RIVER runs length of the property, with many DNR, newly created holes for trout to gather!   Mecan River House TROUT FISHERMAN: you can walk right down to the MECAN RIVER which is a #1 trout fishing stream! The MECAN RIVER runs length of the property, with many DNR, newly created holes for trout to gather![/caption]  

A Simple Inquiry about Hiking Trails Produced the Mother Lode

We sent out a quick little e-mail asking Wisconsin innkeepers to share their insider intel on great hiking trails that guests could access minutes from their inns. Whoa, were we in for a mother lode of hiking finds, so much so that we’ll need to post in a series of blogs! Here’s the first installment covering the Baraboo area. Recommendations from the Inn at Wawanissee Point in Baraboo: Just five minutes from the Inn at Wawanissee Point, a sophisticated estate inn built in 2004, is the state’s most visited park, Devil’s Lake State Park . The trails at Devil’s Lake wind through forests, prairies and steep rocky bluffs, with three miles of those trails crisscrossing the inn’s 42-acres. Plus, the Inn’s southern border adjoins Parfrey’s Glen State Natural Area , the state’s first state natural area. This deep sandstone gorge, an anomaly amid the Baraboo quartzite cliffs, harbors rare and threatened species of breeding birds and flora. Tip: Hike into the Glen along the stream which takes you to a waterfall at the beginning of the gorge. For those seeking less-traveled paths and even greater solitude, there’s the 1,800-acre Riverland Conservancy’s Merrimac Preserve of forest, prairie, savanna, wetlands and streams. The Preserve, which the inn overlooks, is laced with trails, including four miles of the Ice Age Scenic Trail.  Also in Baraboo, with the bluffs in the background and a spring-fed lake a few steps from the inn, Pinehaven B&B offers guests quiet country vacation spot within 15 miles of all the great tourist attractions for Baraboo and Wisconsin Dells. [caption id="attachment_1238" align="aligncenter" width="300"]After a day of hiking, guests can relax and take in the panoramic vista from lounge at Inn at Wawanissee Point. After a day of hiking, guests can relax and take in the panoramic vista from lounge at Inn at Wawanissee Point.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_1240" align="aligncenter" width="300"]and here's that view! and here's that view![/caption]   [caption id="attachment_1239" align="aligncenter" width="300"]Pinehaven B&B guests just step out onto the balcony for a woods and water view. Pinehaven B&B guests just step out onto the balcony for a woods and water view.[/caption]  

Newly Built B&Bs Do Exist in Wisconsin

There’s a long-standing myth the B&B industry can’t seem to shake and it’s that all inns are Victorian with antiques and doilies everywhere.  It’s just not so.  Styles of architecture among B&Bs in Wisconsin run from historic mansions to lakeside cabins to ultra-contemporary new builds.  Let’s focus on that last category for a moment. There are B&B owners who have created their inns literally from the ground up, favoring a modern style.  Great examples of that include the Artesian House B&B built on a 25-acre wooded plot in Bayfield.  The guest rooms feature a creative mix of contemporary and eclectic. The Inn at Wawanissee Point in Baraboo is a luxurious villa-style B&B with incredible views to the Lake Wisconsin valley. Moondance B&B in Fond du Lac is furnished in a decidedly artistic style with a master suite that also includes a large fully-equipped kitchen, dining room and living room.   Then there are inns whose historic exterior belies their modern interiors.  Examples include Lauerman House Inn - Marinette, Tritsch House - Alma, and Wilson Schoolhouse Inn - LaCrosse.  If you like modern, don’t rule out a B&B.   [caption id="attachment_381" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="The Lauerman House in Marinette is a circa 1910 Colonial Revival mansion. The 7 spacious rooms are unabashedly contemporary - and the dining is gourmet."]contemporary B&B decor, historic bed and breakfast, modern, gourmet dining[/caption]   [caption id="attachment_382" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Try your hand at a game of pool on the 8-foot Olhaussen pool table at the Tritsch HouseB&B in Alma. You'll find a nice mix of period rooms with beautiful woodwork paired with modern amenities."]pool table, B&B pool table, contemporary B&B amenities[/caption]   [caption id="attachment_383" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Go back to school ... and this time, relax in Scandinavian-modern furnishings in an historic schoolhouse that welcomes small groups. The Wilson Schoolhouse Inn, LaCrosse, pairs contemporary comforts - even a full kitchen - with the historic schoolhouse architecture."]contemporary B&B in historic school, Scandinavian-modern comfort, Wilson Schoolhouse Inn, LaCrosse[/caption]    
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