Forget snow.  Record high temperatures for the third week of March – we’re talking high 70s to low 80s! - have been set all over the state, from Wausau to Green Bay to Stevens Point to Oshkosh.  According to meteorologists, we can thank the jet stream for the mild readings.  How wonderfully odd to see people out biking, hiking and even golfing.  A great number of the state’s golf courses opened early, so if you’re itching to tee up a combo golf/B&B getaway, you’re in luck.  Many of our more rural member inns have excellent hiking trails on their own acreage or state and county park trails nearby. Dare we predict that summer is just around the corner?     [caption id="attachment_524" align="aligncenter" width="199" caption="Cameo Rose Victorian Inn, located in Belleville (less than 10 miles south of the heart of Madison) has four miles of private and beautiful hiking trails. Cameo Rose is a mile from the Badger State Bike Trail, six miles from the Military Ridge Bike Trail and 12 miles from the Sugar River Bike Trail. Daily and annual bike trail passes can conveniently be purchased from the innkeepers."][/caption]   [caption id="attachment_525" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="The Red Forest B&B in Two Rivers is your home base while biking the Rawley Point Trail or the Mariner's Trail. The Rawley Point Trail, six miles of hard packed limestone trail, connects Two Rivers and Point Beach State Park, winding through pine and hemlock forests, dunes and fields. The Mariner's Trail is six miles of paved lakeshore trail joining Manitowoc and Two Rivers, with lake views and flower gardens along the way."][/caption]

Ahhh, fall golf in Wisconsin. Manicured greens against a brilliant backdrop of reds, yellows and golds. Golfers getting their fill before the snow flies. Seems like a perfect time to tee up our new golf and B&B map, which is what we did today. Click on the golf pin flag icon and it will take you to a list with links to all the, well, links in that area. The golf course list is followed by a list of B&Bs nearby that do a nice job of catering to golfers. Thanks to the Golf Course Owners of Wisconsin association for their partnership on this!

Why is it that Dads are notoriously more difficult to buy for than Moms when it comes to their annual day? Sure, you can get him tools, or clothes, or a new grill. Ho-hum. Maybe he needs to be sent packing, on a Wisconsin B&B getaway that is. If he likes to golf, get him an overnight at an inn in the vicinity of courses in Wisconsin that play host to big-time events, like the Blackwolf Run and Whistling Straits courses in Kohler. Blackwolf is hosting the 2012 U.S. Women's Open and Whistling Straits was the site of last year's PGA championship. The easiest way to find a Wisconsin B&B near your favorite course is to search by region. The Wisconsin Bed & Breakfast Association is also partnering with the Golf Course Owners of Wisconsin. The first of Wisconsin B&B/golf packages has just been posted to their web site and one of these might be a nice fit for Dad. An easier fit, we might add, than trying to remember his shirt size.