We have new innkeepers we’d like you to meet. One runs a breathtaking castle, another is near the deepest inland lake in the state, and yet another is nestled in the heart of the countryside. What they have in common is a passion for hospitality and introducing guests to the experiences the locals love. Joining the Wisconsin Bed & Breakfast Association is no small thing. Our member inns are all inspected, licensed and insured, for starters. And each one offers a unique take on travel. Time to meet our newest members.   [caption id="attachment_2574" align="aligncenter" width="476"] Castle La Crosse Bed & Breakfast, La Crosse WI[/caption] New to the WBBA in March, Castle La Crosse Bed & Breakfast owners Billy Banes and Brandon Rigger opened up their home and a piece of La Crosse's history to guests in May 2017. Also known as Castle on Cass, this beautiful home was constructed in 1892 and features all of its original Richardson Romanesque details. Billy and Brandon both strive to find the freshest, most delicious and in-season ingredients for all of their made from scratch breakfasts. All entrees and dishes are made from local eggs and meat products provided by a local family-owned farm in Houston, MN and the surrounding area. Produce and other products are sourced seasonally from the La Crosse Farmers Market, Peoples Food Co-op and other community members.   [caption id="attachment_2576" align="aligncenter" width="619"] Miller's Daughter Bed & Breakfast, Green Lake, WI[/caption] Miller's Daughter Bed & Breakfast in Green Lake welcomed new owners Paula and Ross Bilodeau after they purchased the inn in April. This lovely inn was built in 1905 as a parsonage for the First Congregational Church. The inn was moved to its present location in 2002 to save it from demolition and lovingly renovated into the beautiful Green Lake inn it is today. The property is surrounded by majestic pine trees and the gardens burst with color throughout the summer to complement the peaceful setting. Miller's Daughter's philosophy is to keep things simple so that you can relax and take a break from the routine and stress of everyday life. Breakfasts are cooked using fresh ingredients, locally sourced and seasonal when possible. It is a pleasure for them to indulge their guests with delicious and creative combinations.   [caption id="attachment_2578" align="aligncenter" width="385"] Shane Acres Bed & Breakfast, Juneau WI[/caption] The WBBA's newest member, Shane Acres Bed & Breakfast in Juneau, holds a family based business that enjoys having company and that strives to make your stay a B&B experience like no other. Owners Richard Lowe and Jackie Shane offer something more than just a bed and breakfast, they offer a home away from home. Set on ten acres of rolling countryside, it's an escape from stress to a place where leisure comes naturally. Shane Acres is located nearby to many area attractions. Whether you love antique shopping, visiting breweries, golfing, or hiking, you'll find all your favorite activities just a stone's throw away from the comfortable, welcoming atmosphere that Richard and Jackie have to offer.  

Are you ready to Seek the Unique?

  Foodies book vacations around a destination’s authentic food offerings. Exercise enthusiasts map their road trips around triathlons and marathons. History devotees head to reenactments. Music lovers fill up their summer calendar with live concerts. Let’s make this the summer of music getaways in Wisconsin. You may be surprised at the line-ups! Hand it to Wisconsin to host every kind of music genre around – jazz to rock, indie to folk, up-and-comers to today’s biggest headliners. Seems we just love a good party with good tunes. If music is your thing, here’s a Billboard-esque rundown of top concerts in Wisconsin this summer and suggestions on where to stay after the final curtain call. [caption id="attachment_2500" align="aligncenter" width="304"] Waterfest, Oshkosh WI[/caption] June 15-16: Metro Jam, Manitowoc. This free music fest features performers across nearly every genre. Westport B&B and Red Forest B&B offer impeccable accommodations not far from the festival. Thursdays, June 21-August 23: Waterfest live concert series, Oshkosh. Soak up the atmosphere at the outdoor amphitheater, then stay at the Brayton B&B, where it captures the best aspects of a B&B: wonderfully inviting rooms, tantalizing food, and the personal touch of Innkeepers that happily serve as concierge during your stay. July 6-7: Eaux Claires Fest, Eau Claire. This indie music and arts festival is getting lots of national attention. The Otter Creek Inn offers one acre of wooded beauty located within city limits and is abound with flowers in the summer, while the nearby Inn on Lake Wissota is famous for being tucked away in the pine-filled shores of this picturesque lake. August 2-5: Mile of Music, Appleton. After all that walking at this free, 100% original music festival featuring emerging artists, you can walk to and rest up at Franklin Street Inn, where Victorian Charm with Modern Comfort give you the experience of comfort and elegance when you sleep. August 17-18: Big Bull Falls Blues Fest, Wausau. Stewart Inn is fit for music celebrities, where it offers unmatched charm and amenities in a beautiful arts & crafts mansion. [caption id="attachment_2502" align="alignleft" width="300"] Big Bull Falls Blues Fest, Wausau WI[/caption] [caption id="attachment_2503" align="alignright" width="240"] Eaux Claires Fest, Eau Claire WI[/caption]               August 24-26: Great River Road Folk Festival, La Crosse. Four Gables B&B and Castle La Crosse offer very unique overnight experiences - Four Gables B&B is a lovely Victorian Queen Anne home listed on the National Register and tastefully furnished with antiques. Castle La Crosse, also designed in the Queen Anne form, is a grand bed and breakfast featuring numerous bedrooms, beautiful leaded and stained-glass windows, a library, and a music room. September 28: Kilbourn City Live, Wisconsin Dells. Hear up-and-comers before they hit it big, then head to peaceful Bowman’s Oak Hill B&B to enjoy 8 acres of park like setting and 23 acres of woods to wander. You will have the opportunity to rest, reflect, relax and be renewed both in body and spirit during your stay.  

Are you ready to Seek the Unique?

  Hygge is hot right now. It’s a Danish word for cozy, comfortable and content, and it’s showing up in home décor and travel trends. See how some Wisconsin B&Bs are interpreting the simple pleasures of hygge. If Pinterest is any indication of trends – and it is – hygge is big. How to hygge, you ask? Create a cozy atmosphere, be present in the moment, partake of simple pleasures, slow down, be thankful, embrace harmony, and carve out time and space for friends. Count us in! For us, this Danish word, pronounced "hue-guh", really boils down to “contentment.” And here are inns that have been serving up hygge long before it became a thing:  

Real tea and coffee: Lindsay House B&B, Manawa

[caption id="attachment_2356" align="aligncenter" width="363"] French pressed coffee, comfort, and a good book on the porch at Lindsay House B&B[/caption]  

Candles at breakfast: Garden Gate B&B, Sturgeon Bay

[caption id="attachment_2361" align="aligncenter" width="431"] Candlelight and pleasant conversation await you with breakfast at Garden Gate B&B[/caption]  

Freshly baked pastries: The Livingston Inn, Madison

[caption id="attachment_2354" align="aligncenter" width="276"] This homemade pistachio breakfast ring is just one of many delicious pastries from The Livingston Inn[/caption]  

A sprig or two of fresh flowers from the garden: Red Forest B&B, Two Rivers

[caption id="attachment_2342" align="aligncenter" width="320"] Enjoy your refreshments outdoors in the beautiful garden area at Red Forest B&B[/caption]  

Less-is-more home décor: At The Lake House, Lake Geneva

[caption id="attachment_2341" align="aligncenter" width="277"] At The Lake House offers modern simplicity to feel right at home[/caption]  

A reading sanctuary: Castle La Crosse B&B, La Crosse

[caption id="attachment_2344" align="aligncenter" width="444"] Pick out a book and set yourself up in a quiet spot by the window at the Castle La Crosse B&B library[/caption]  

Conversation nooks: 1810 Emerson House B&B, Beloit

[caption id="attachment_2338" align="aligncenter" width="387"] A quiet corner for your enjoyment at 1810 Emerson House[/caption]  

Crackling fireplace: Honeybee Inn B&B, Horicon

[caption id="attachment_1621" align="aligncenter" width="457"] Bask in the warmth of the fireplace in the Queen Bee Victorian room at the Honeybee Inn[/caption]  

Hiking path with picnic spots: Lake Orchard Farm Retreat, Sheboygan

[caption id="attachment_2363" align="aligncenter" width="449"] Rolling fields, natural woods, fruit orchards and a Lake Michigan view greet you on the trails around Lake Orchard Farm Retreat[/caption]  

Are you ready to Seek the Unique?