July 2009
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- Stunning sunrises over Lake Michigan? Check.
- Amazing fishing for salmon, trout and more? Check.
- Fun outdoor activities for the whole family? Check.
- Lighthouses, unique shopping and historical towns? Check, check & check.
About 30 minutes due east of Green Bay you’ll find the quaint harbor towns of Kewaunee and Algoma along the shores of Lake Michigan.
Outdoor Fun:
From hiking to biking to horseback riding, you’ll find miles of scenic trails over at the Ahnapee Trail. For the more adventurous, check out Winter Park trail for a mountain bike trail with a “fantastic single track that balances climbs and descents almost perfectly.” There are also four county golf courses for those who travel with their clubs.
And of course, lest you forget these towns sit directly on the shores of Lake Michigan, there are plenty of charter fishing opportunities from the “most productive salmon fishing harbors in the country.” For those who enjoy water sports of a self-propelled variety, be sure to try canoeing on the Kewaunee River or sea-kayaking along the Lake Michigan shore.
Don’t Miss:
Finally, end your day with “a fine meal, fine wine and fine jazz at the Kewaunee Inn” or watch the “sunset over town from out on the pier at the lighthouse”.
Mark Your Calendar:
July 25-Aug 2: Kewaunee/ Door County Salmon Tournament
Aug 14-16: Shanty Days, Algoma
Sept 19-20: Wet Whistle Wine Fest
Where to Stay:
Algoma- Algoma Beach Motel, at the Waters Edge B&B, Harbor Inn Motel, Hotel Stebbins, River Hills Motel or Scenic Shore Inn
Kewaunee- Coho Motel, Harbor Lights Lodge or Kewaunee Inn
Tags: Algoma, Algoma Beach Motel, at the Waters Edge, charter fishing, Coho Motel, Flying Pig Gallery, Harbor Inn Motel, Harbor Lights Lodge, Hotel Stebbings, Kewaunee, Kewaunee Inn, Kewaunee/ Door County Salmon Tournament, light house, places to stay, River Hills Motel, Scenic Shore Inn, Shanty Days, things to do, Voda Gallery, von Stiehl Winery, Wet Whistle Wine Fest, WIsconsin, Wisconsin Travel
Art lovers rejoice! This week there are a plethora of places to explore and discover great art and artists in Wisconsin and we’ve compiled a handful for you below…
July 24th:
- Creative Arts Walk, Rhinelander: From 4-8 pm Friday night you’ll have the opportunity meet local artists “and watch them demonstrate their craft” in downtown Rhinelander.
July 25th:
- Milwaukee Artist Market, Milwaukee: Held on the grounds of the Milwaukee Art Museum, you’ll find 80+ Milwaukee-area artists offering “One-of-a-kind paintings, drawings, jewelry, prints, sculpture, ceramics, wearable artwork, and more”.
- Art Impressions, Land O’ Lakes: Head north to the WI/ UP border for this show featuring 60-80 exhibitors and a wide variety of art and hand crafted items”.
- Art Fair at the Mill, Richfield: Held at the historic Messer/ Mayer Mill, this fine art & craft fair is free to the public. Don’t miss your chance to tour the mill for only $5 per person as well.
July 26th:
- Art in the Park, Appleton: View the works of 215 artists, from jewelry to wood, painters to sculptors; plus kids art activities, music & more.
- Arts Council Art & Craft Fair, Shawano: Over 100 artists will exhibit in the Mielke County Park & Arts Center.
July 25-26th:
- Festival of Arts & Gallery Tour, Bayfield: 47th annual event featuring over 90 artists on Lake Superior’s shore. In addition, area artists will “open their studios and galleries to visitors with open houses, demonstrations, and special sales”.
And for the kids… Messy Fest, July 25th in Whitewater: For the young, budding artists, head on over to Whitewater for Messy Fest. Activities for kids include painting with your feet, slip-n-slides, whip cream scenes & more!
As always, click on over to WisconsinLodging.info to find great places to stay in Wisconsin!
Tags: Appleton, Art Fair, Art Fair at the Mill, Art Festival, Art Impressions, Art in the Park, Arts Council Art & Craft Fair, Bayfield, craft fair, craft festival, Creative Arts Walk, Festival of Arts & Gallery Tour, Land O' Lakes, Messy Fest, Milwaukee, Milwaukee Artist Market, places to stay in Wisconsin, Rhinelander, Richfield, Shawano, Whitewater, WIsconsin, Wisconsin Travel, WisconsinLodging.info
What do the midwest’s largest Civil War reenactment, national award-winning cheeses and the home of Wisconsin’s first Governor all have in common? You guessed it- all can be found in Grant County. Located in southwestern Wisconsin and bordered by the Wisconsin & Mississippi Rivers, Grant County is home to great fly-fishing for brown & brook trout, miles of biking and hiking trails, antique & specialty stores and more.
So much to do:
History buffs won’t want to miss Muskets & Memories, July 31- August 2. One of the “largest and most popular Civil War Era reenactments in the upper Midwest”, Muskets & Memories features more than just battle reenactments. Weekend activities also include a Civil War-era fashion show, tours of the military camps, childrens’ activities and much more.
Also, be sure to check out Stonefield’s Railroad Days, August 15-16. Located on the former estate of Wisconsin’s first Governor (Nelson Dewey), Stonefield includes an agricultural museum and a “re-created rural village” just north of Cassville, WI. With more than 30 shops comprising the village, visitors can tour the Barbershop, Harness & Hardware Store and more. Railroad Days “re-creates the sights, sounds and experiences of the late 19th century’s most important travel industry.”
Cheese & Wine:
Whether you’re just looking to pick up some of their award winning products or would like to fully immerse your inner-foodie in one of their new cooking classes, don’t miss Carr Valley Cheese in Fennimore. Next on the cooking school calendar: “Blended with Style” featuring Andrea Curo-Randazzo (of Talula Restaurant in Miami Beach, FL) July 27th. Wine lovers will want to clear their calendars for the 19th annual Harvest Festival, October 10-11 at the Spurgeon Vineyards and Winery in Highland, WI featuring free winery tours, tastings, live music and more.
Where to stay in Grant County:
Boscobel: The River Inn & Banquet Facility or Hubl’s Motel
Dickeyville: Plaza Motel
Fennimore: Fenmore Hills Motel
Hazel Green: Country Heights Motor Inn
Lancaster: Best Western Welcome Inn
Platteville: The Dorsey Bed & Breakfast, Mound View Inn or Super 8
Tags: Best Western Welcome Inn, Boscobel, Carr Valley Cheese, Cassville, Civil War reenactments, cooking school, Country Heights Motor Inn, Dickeyille, Dorsey Bed & Breakfast, Fenmore Hills Motel, Fennimore, Grant County, Harvest Festival, Hazel Green, Highland, Hubl's Motel, Lancaster, Mound View Inn, Muskets & Memories, Nelson Dewey, Platteville, Plaza Motel, Railroad Days, River Inn & Banquet Facility, Spurgeon Vineyards & Winery, Stonefield, Super 8 Platteville, Where to stay in Grant County, Wisconsin lodging, Wisconsin Travel, WisconsinLodging.info
With the break for the MLB All-Star Game this week, now’s a good time as any to check in on Wisconsin’s baseball teams…
Milwaukee Brewers
Having won only 3 of their last 10 games, the Brewers are still hanging on to the number 2 spot, just 2.5 games behind the St. Louis Cardinals. Great ticket deals are still available including the State Fair/ Brewers Doubleheader: 2 Terrace Reserved tickets to a Brewers game and 2 WI State Fair tickets for $24. Interesting trivia: Did you know a scene from the movie Major League, filmed at the old Milwaukee County Stadium, was actually the impetus for relief pitcher Trevor Hoffman’s “Hell’s Bells” musical intro?
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
The Timber Rattlers are also currently in second place, just 1.5 games behind the Cedar Rapids Kernals. Click on over to their site and check out ticket packages such as their “Fang-tastic” Brewers/Rattlers package for $15. Also, Brewers hall of famer, Paul Molitor will be in attendance signing autographs prior to the Rattlers game on Tuesday, August 4th. Just in case you were wondering as to the team’s level of talent, five MLB All-Star players this year have formerly played for the Rattlers.
Beloit Snappers
Currently in last place in the MidWestern division, the Snappers have only won 6 of their 17 games to date. But, as the Class A affiliate for the MN Twins, should we feel too badly for them? There are lots of fun promotions still on the Snappers calendar including this interesting one… “Salute to the Mustache Night” complete with Fireworks!
Northwoods League Ball
Overall standings for Wisconsin’s Northwoods League teams in the South Division:
1st Place, 29-15: La Crosse Loggers
3rd Place, 25-19: Madison Mallards
4th Place, 23-18: Eau Claire Express
5th Place, 18-25: Green Bay Bullfrogs
7th Place, 14-30: Wisconsin Woodchucks
Lots of fun and affordable promotions are still on the calendar this summer including “Youth Baseball Night” for the Eau Claire Express and Simpson’s 20th Anniversary Night – anyone named Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa or Maggie receives free admission for the Madison Mallards game on July 30th!
Vintage Base Ball
Nope, that’s not a typo – Base Ball was originally two words! Load up the family and head out to Old World Wisconsin to see the Eagle Diamonds take on either the Milwaukee Grays (July 18th) or the Greenbush Dead Citys (August 15th). Teams recreate “the styles, speech, rules and terminology of the 1860s game” playing without gloves and in replica baggy uniforms.
As always, click on over to WisconsinLodging.info and begin planning your next Wisconsin baseball getaway!
Tags: Beloit Snappers, Eagle Diamonds, Eau Claire Express, Green Bay Bullfrogs, Hells Bells, La Crosse Loggers, Madison Mallards, Major League, Milwaukee Brewers, Milwaukee County Stadium, Northwoods League, Old World Wisconsin, Paul Molitor, Prince Fielder, Simpsons 20th Anniversary Night, Trevor Hoffman, Vintage Base Ball, WIsconsin, Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, Wisconsin Travel, Wisconsin Woodchucks, WisconsinLodging.info
From one side of the state to the other, Wisconsin is brimming with fun fests & fairs… Check out the four below & hit the road this weekend!
Door County Folk Festival – July 8-12
With singing & dance workshops, dance parties, stress relief sessions and children’s activities, you’ll find fun for the whole family in the Door this weekend! The Folk Festival even includes the requisite Door County Fish Boil on Saturday evening. See the full line-up of activities and find amazing places to stay throughout the Door here.
Northern Wisconsin State Fair, Chippewa Falls – July 8-12
From livestock judging and live music to Guitar Hero & Wii Bowling, this fair has it all! Click over to their site for the full schedule of events. For over 110 years the Northern Wisconsin State Fair has been delighting visitors to this west central Wisconsin town. Where to stay: Check out the AmericInn Motel & Suites, Holiday Inn Express or Indianhead Motel.
Bastille Days, Milwaukee – July 9-12
For the past 27 years, Downtown Milwaukee has been home to this Parisian fest featuring “impromptu street performers, roaming minstrels, a variety of interactive and musical entertainment, and the signature 43-foot Eiffel Tower replica.” Check it out here and then click over to find your Milwaukee-area lodging here.
32nd Annual Hodag Country Festival, Rhinelander – July 9-12
Four days of live country music in Wisconsin’s Hodag country… Featured performers include Miranda Lambert, Phil Vassar, Blake Shelton, Julianne Hough, (as my 9 year old would say “Miley’s Dad”) Billy Ray Cyrus and more. See the full schedule of performers here and find the best places to stay in Rhinelander at WisconsinLodging.info.
Tags: Bastille Days, Chippewa Falls, Door County, Door County Folk Festival, Hodag Country Festival, hotels, inns, lodging, Milwaukee, motels, Northern Wisconsin State Fair, places to stay in Wisconsin, Rhinelander, search, WIsconsin, Wisconsin Travel, WisconsinLodging.info
Congratulations to Katey H. from Madison, WI! Katey is the winner of the July WisconsINN Getaways free night give-away at the Kalahari Resort in Wisconsin Dells.
If you’re interested in being entered to win a different free night each month, simply sign up for the WisconsINN Getaways monthly e-newsletter. Every month, you’ll receive an email with up to 10 special deals or packages for amazing places to stay in Wisconsin & each month you’ll be entered for a chance to win a free stay.
Upcoming giveaways include:
* Holiday Acres Resort in Rhinelander
Click over to the WisconsINN Getaways newsletter to sign up today and again, Congratulations to Katey!
Tags: Holiday Acres Resort, Kalahari Resort, Rhinelander, Wisconsin Dells, wisconsin getaways, Wisconsin Innkeepers Association, Wisconsin Travel, WisconsINN Getaways
