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We’re giving away 18 free nights of Wisconsin lodging with 12 Days of Getaways!

December 8, 2011 in Explore Wisconsin, WisconsINN Getaways | 13 comments

12 Days of Getaways is back for another year – have you signed up to win? All subscribers to the WisconsINN Getaways email list are automatically entered to win, so if you don’t get our monthly travel deals newsletter, sign up here.

We’ve got 18 stays to give away, from resorts on a lake and quaint B&Bs to luxury accommodations in the heart of the city. See all participating properties here, and check back daily for winners! The first drawing starts today, with two more winners tomorrow!

Wisconsin Hotel & Lodging Association employees & family are not eligible to participate in 12 Days of Getaways. No purchase necessary to win. Must be 18 years or older. Odds of winning are based on number of entries, approximately 18 total giveaways will be awarded. Winners will be notified by phone or e-mail and winners will have 24 hours to claim their prize.
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Milwaukee – The Perfect Fall Getaway!

September 19, 2011 in Explore Wisconsin, Things to do in Wisconsin | 1 comment

A cool city with a laid-back vibe. Stroll past lively brewpubs along downtown’s charming RiverWalk and enjoy shopping at the Milwaukee Public Market in the trendy walk-around neighborhood of the Historic Third Ward. Award-winning brewery tours await and no one can resist the Harley-Davidson Museum, where you can have a blast playing Easy Rider!

Milwaukee Public Market

Cleopatra: The Search for the Last Queen of Egypt

Who does she think she is? The Queen of Egypt?
The world of Cleopatra VII, lost to the sand and sea for over 2,000 years, will be brought back to life through the exhibition of 150 artifacts from the smallest gold pieces to colossal statues at the Milwaukee Public Museum. The exhibition, Cleopatra: The Search for the Last Queen of Egypt, will open on October 14, 2011 and extend into the spring 0f 2012, only the third stop in the entire world and second in the nation.

Lakefront Brewery’s Pumpkin Lager and Sprecher Brewery’s Oktoberfest beer aren’t the only “spirits” in Milwaukee this fall. If paranormal activity ignites your inner ghost chaser, reserve the haunted penthouse room of Shaker’s Cigar Bar and World Café, scene of a murder at this former bordello. Take the ghost tour of the building with period authentic absinthe cocktail in hand to help coax the spirits from their corners before your stay.

Milwaukee Food Tours also serves up the haunted history of Milwaukee’s unique neighborhoods on a three-hour bus tour featuring local ghost stories through the Historic Third Ward, along Brady Street and down Wisconsin Avenue. Delicious tastings in the haunted Concordia and Fifth Ward neighborhoods with accompanying BOO-ze and spirits fill out the activities and your stomachs along the way.

From the time the leaves go from green to gold and from gold to the ground, Milwaukee rolls through fall with plenty to do and see. Milwaukee – the perfect fall getaway destination!

This blog post is presented by Visit Milwaukee – find more great things to do at visitmilwaukee.org.

Browse Wisconsin hotels, motels, resorts, B&Bs and other lodging accommodations at wisconsinlodging.org.

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Stay Longer during National Tourism Week with a 3-for-2 Weekend!

May 5, 2011 in Explore Wisconsin | No comments

Want to Stay Longer on your Wisconsin getaway next weekend? How about for free?

In celebration of National Tourism Week, 43 properties across Wisconsin are offering a free night of lodging when you stay two nights on May 13-14. Your free night can be May 12 or 15!

Check out a list of participating properties, and book your stay now!

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Have you voted yet? Help pick the cover of the 2012 Wisconsin Lodging Directory!

April 14, 2011 in Explore Wisconsin | No comments

We’ve got 12 exceptional finalists for you to choose from in the 2012 Wisconsin Lodging Directory Cover Contest! Voting is open until 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, May 8, and the contest winner will be announced here at the Stay in Wisconsin blog on Tuesday, May 10!

The Wisconsin Lodging Directory is published annually by the Wisconsin Hotel & Lodging Directory and distributed to hundreds of locations throughout the Midwest. More than 200,000 copies were printed for 2011 and are available at locations like community libraries, interstate highway rest areas, Wisconsin State Fair, local chambers of commerce and convention and visitor bureaus and more! The directory features more than 800 hotels, motels, resorts, inns, bed & breakfasts, condos and vacation homes in Wisconsin, complete with contact info, amenities listings, web sites and property photos. Need a copy of the 2011 Wisconsin Lodging Directory? Get one here.

View the 2012 contest finalists and cast your vote here!

Please only vote once for one cover. A valid e-mail address must be entered for your vote to be counted (don’t worry, WH&LA does not sell or otherwise distribute e-mail addresses!) and any duplicate votes from one e-mail address or votes for multiple covers from the same address will be disqualified. Employees and owners of finalist properties are not eligible to vote.

Finalist properties include:

Comfort Suites, Hayward
CopperLeaf Boutique Hotel & Spa, Appleton
High Point Inn, Door County
Landmark Resort, Door County
Newport Resort, Door County
The Osthoff Resort, Elkhart Lake
The Pfister Hotel, Milwaukee
Red Crown Lodge, Arbor Vitae/Minocqua
St. Croix River Inn, Osceola
Westphal Mansion Inn B&B, Hartford
Wilderness on the Lake, Wisconsin Dells

 

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Vote for two Wisconsin towns in their quest to be named ‘coolest’

February 3, 2011 in Explore Wisconsin | No comments

Two Wisconsin towns are in the race to be named one of Budget Travel magazine’s “America’s Coolest Small Towns” – Ripon and LaPointe. The magazine received more than 80 nominations and narrowed the field down to 20. The finalists are now up for a public vote at the magazine’s website – cast your vote here!

Votes will be accepted until February 11, 2011, and the top vote-getters will be featured in the September 2011 issue of Budget Magazine.

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12th (and last) Day of Wisconsin Getaways Giveaways!

December 23, 2010 in Explore Wisconsin, Uncategorized | 22 comments

It’s already the 12th Day of our 12 Days of Getaways campaign… time to draw our last four gift certificates! Today’s certificates are for:

Bella Vista Suites in Lake Geneva

Chula Vista Resort in Wisconsin Dells

Winfield Inn in Bayfield

Fairfield Inn & Suites, Milwaukee Airport

Prizes will be drawn from the subscribers list of our WisconsInn Getaways email list, sign up now if you aren’t already!

Want an extra chance to win? Tell us, in a comment on this blog, what your very favorite holiday ornament is. Here are a few from our staff:

-Glass Santa Clause

-Millennium Falcon

-Star on top of the tree

-From someone who studied in Scotland, a Loch Ness Monster with a holiday bow!

-My tree topper. When I was a kid I made an angel for my mom out of a paper plate and some shiny gold foil paper.

Note that today’s drawing will be at about 12:00 noon, a little earlier than the previous 11 days. Good luck!

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Explore the Door this Autumn

September 28, 2010 in Explore Wisconsin | 1 comment

Full disclosure: I truly love Door County.

Over the years I’ve discovered some really COOL places, encountered so many really NICE people and thoroughly enjoyed every trip in and through “The Door”.  However, I’ve only ever been there in spring & summer – not fall.

So, with that in mind, I set out to discover what makes Door County an amazing place to visit in autumn…

Family Fun:
Many visitors come to the Door in fall to experience Mother Nature’s beautiful fall foliage, and there are so-o many ways to get out and enjoy the crisp fall days. From horseback riding to carriage rides, to mini-golf, go-karts and paintball target shooting you’ll find enough to do to keep the whole family entertained. Need even more? Grab your bikes or lace up your sneakers and head for one of the five state parks in Door County. Looking to spend some time on the water? Check out a Family Kayaking Tour or perhaps a Fall Color cruise on the Harbor Lady or Deaths Door Lighthouse Cruise.

Nighttime Fun:
GHOST TOURS OF DOOR COUNTY – “Trolley of the Doomed” departs nightly from Orchard Country Winery in Fish Creek
TWILIGHT ZIP TOURS – “Walk the trails back to the zip lines by candlelight and glowsticks while the guides share stories of their adventures!” Gravity Trails, Ellison Bay
Catch an evening performance of GUYS & DOES (Monday through Saturday) at the American Folklore Theatre, Fish Creek

Grown Up Fun:
ROCK & ROLL ART NIGHT at Hands On Art Studios, Fish Creek
Check out the “complementary tasting bar” at the DOOR PENINSULA WINERY, Sturgeon Bay or take a “WINE ENCOUNTERS” tour at Stone’s Throw Winery in Egg Harbor
HAUNTED TROLLEY PUB CRAWL picks up in Egg Harbor most Fridays & some Saturdays through October

Mark your Calendars:
Oct 9th-10th: FALL FUN FEST AND CIDER PRESSING PARTY – Washington Island Farm Museum

Oct 9th-10th: PUMPKIN PATCH FESTIVAL – Egg Harbor
Live music, arts & crafts, plus face-painting & kids activities throughout Egg Harbor.

Oct 15th-17th: FALL FESTIVAL - Sister Bay
This one includes a 10,000 ball ping pong ball drop!

Oct 30- Nov 1: JACK O’LANTERN JAMBOREE – Fish Creek
One word: HALLOWEEN!

Did You Know?
> You can drop by for Open Knitting at Red Sock Yarns, Fish Creek, Thursdays from 9:30 am-12:00 pm
> Lou Close entertains the crowd with his accordion at the White Gull Inn’s Fish Boils from May through October
> The Door County Visitors’ Bureau offers a free 172 page Visitors’ Guide – order one here or view an online version here

As always, click on over to WisconsinLodging.org to find amazing places to stay on your Fall trip to Door County! I know there’s even more that’s fabulous about Door County in the fall – what did I miss? Click the comments link at the top of this post & share YOUR recommendations!

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Great Wolf Lodge named to Top 10 Best Hotel Swimming Pools for Kids

September 1, 2010 in Explore Wisconsin | 2 comments

Coming in at number 4 on the list, the Great Wolf Lodge in Wisconsin Dells makes the cut on this Top 10 list due, in part, to it’s “four-story, super-soaker, treehouse-themed indoor water park with rope bridges, soaker buckets and water slides”.

Already named a Top Family Destination in the World, you’ll find plenty of wet AND dry fun in the Dells – just remember, if you’re looking to make it to Noah’s Ark yet this year, they close for the season in just a few short days.

Find more area info before you go at WisDells.com and view their printed & online travel guides. For more information on Great Wolf Lodge, or other Wisconsin Dells accommodations, be sure to click on over to WisconsinLodging.org.

Congrats again to our friends at the Great Wolf Lodge!

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Experience Eagle River

August 23, 2010 in Explore Wisconsin, WH&LA Members | 3 comments

Located near the headwaters of the Wisconsin River and part of the chain of 28 lakes, Eagle River is truly a ‘Northwoods’ vacation experience!

Outdoor Fun:
With miles of clear lakes & rivers, Eagle River is a fishing heaven with dozens of guides & outfitters to choose from. Whether you’re in search of that trophy musky or just looking to cast a line with the kids, you’ll find your perfect spot in Eagle River. When you’re ready for a break from fishing, hop on your bike, lace up your shoes and head out for one of the many area biking & hiking trails. With autumn just around the corner, the Northwoods will soon erupt into a beautiful array of fall colors.  If snowmobiling is more your speed, you’ll find hundreds of miles of groomed snowmobile trails in this “Snowmobile Capital of the World”.  Be sure to check out snowconditions.com and get all the latest info for area trails & ski resorts.

Don’t Miss:
Northwoods Children’s Museum- If you’re headed to Eagle River for the Festival of Flavors this weekend, be sure to stop at the Children’s Museum & pick up cheese hats for the kids to decorate & wear in the Kids Cheese Hat Parade
Eagle River’s Ice Palace: Construction takes place around New Years each year & is all done by hand by volunteers & headed up the fire department
Soda Pops on Main Street where you’ll find dozens of unique, unusual and fun sodas to choose from
Grandma’s Toy Box & The Rock Shop – located in downtown Eagle River, Grandma’s features educational games, toys, puzzles and more

Mark Your Calendar:
August 28-29: Eagle River Festival of Flavors
October 2-3: Cranberry Fest
January 7-16, 2011: Snowmobile Championships
March 5-6, 2011: 21st Annual Klondike Days
June 11, 2011: Great Northern Beer Festival

Where to Stay:
There are wide range of accommodations to choose from and here are our recommendations:
-Country Inns-
Edgewater Inn & Cottages
-Hotels-
Best Western Derby Inn, Days Inn of Eagle River, or Settle Inn & Suites
-Motels-
Bridgewater Inn, Riverdale Motel & Resort, or Super 8
-Resorts-
7 Mile Pinecrest, Bear Paw Vacation Homes, Chanticleer Inn, Eagle River Inn & Resort, Eagle Waters Resort, Gypsy Villa Resort, Lake Forest Resort & Club, Maplewood Resort, Pitlik’s Sand Beach Resort, or Wild Eagle Lodge
-Vacation Homes-
Boettchers Country Lakehouses

Flickr photo credits: Fishing signs: Still a Fan of FOTC, Snowmobiling: firehole

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And the winner is…

August 10, 2010 in Explore Wisconsin | No comments

Lucky #1!  Commenter Kerri wins the free four pack of tickets to the Why Not Wausau arts and music festival!

Kerri – send an email to communication@wisconsinlodging.org with your address so we can send out your tickets right away. Have a great time, and let us know how you liked the festival!

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