BackroadWisconsin

Michael November 4th, 2007

Prospective Wisconsin travelers in search of an all-encompassing vacation planning tool will find what they are looking for in the Wisconsin Activity Guide, a new publication from the Wisconsin Department of Tourism.The 80-page, magazine-style guide highlights the latest information on popular leisure travel activities across all four seasons.

The new activity guide is one of two publications that will replace the Wisconsin Department of Tourism’s former seasonal event and recreation guides. It includes all the land, water and snow activities highlighted in the seasonal publications and adds a few more such as scuba diving, charter fishing and spas.

The new format provides more sidebar articles of interest and a streamlined contact information section to help travelers plan their vacation. Separate guides for seasonal events, festivals, exhibits and performing arts are available as a companion piece to the Wisconsin Activity Guide. The Wisconsin Department of Tourism will publish the new Wisconsin Activity Guide once every two years while continuing the seasonal events guides on a biannual basis.

The guides are printed on recycled paper, as part of the Wisconsin Department of Tourism’s ongoing commitment to preserving the environment and encouraging environmentally friendly practices.

For Wisconsin travel information and free travel-planning guides, visit TravelWisconsin.com or call the Wisconsin Department of Tourism’s toll-free number 800-432-8747. Travelers can also obtain guides and information at the any one of the 10 Wisconsin Welcome Centers, located in select state-border cities.

• Events , Travel
• Comments(0)

Christine September 29th, 2007

Each fall Granite Peak Ski Area at Rib Mountain State Park opens up their new 6-person ski lift for color rides. It is a wonderful way to see the colors of the Wisconsin Valley. In the winter this lift is a high speed lift, getting skiiers to the top in a hurry for another run. In the fall, however, the lift is slowed to allow riders to enjoy the scene and the ride. 

Once you are at the top you can jump off and walk into Rib Mountain State Park for a visit. The park has observation decks and a 60-foot observation tower for a view above the trees. There are also several trails for a great hike around the mountain. 

This year the rides run the last weekend in September and the first in October. The cost is $8.00 per person.

• Events , Travel
• Comments(1)

Michael August 9th, 2007

From the University of Wisconsin: 

The University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Arlington Agricultural Research Station will hold its first field day devoted to organic agricultural production on Aug. 30 from 3 - 7 p.m.

Field crops, processing vegetables and market vegetables will all get some attention at the event, which will include information on organic weed management, cover and companion crops, soil quality, variety selection, vegetable crop trials, and no-till organic production.

Continue Reading »

• Events , Wisconsin Idea
• Comments(0)

Michael August 8th, 2007

Elkhart Lake, the quaint resort town on the north end of the Kettle Moraine State Forest hosts one of the largest Le Mans circuit races in America. Road America is a four mile permament track with fourteen turns spread over 626 acres of land. They host a variety of events featuring Le Mans cars, Karts, Motorcycles, and vintage vehicles. The weekend of August 9-12 features Wisconsin’s largest road race event: American Le Mans on Saturday and Champ Car World Series on Sunday.

According to Roger Dornboos: #14 Minardi Team USACosworth/DP01/Bridgestone:

“Road America is a high speed track, more what I’m used to in Europe. You sort of have to shift your mindset, just as you’d change the setup on your car after racing on a street course. For one thing, there is so much more speed around the turns compared with the street circuits that you have to be much more delicate and precise with the car.

The history of Road America goes back to the early 1950’s when Elkhart Lake hosted road races on the streets around the town. The Wisconsin State Historical Society has a great article available online about early road racing in Elkhart lake.

• Events , Travel
• Comments(0)

Michael August 2nd, 2007

Ferris Wheel,
originally uploaded by backroadwisconsin.

August in Wisconsin means fair time. The Wisconsin State Fair starts today and locally, the Wisconsin Valley Fair in Wausau is in full swing. The animals arrived on Wednesday and livestock judging is underway through the rest of the week, culminating with the Market Animal Sale on Saturday.

The county fairs in Wisconsin have been running since late June, but there are still plenty of fairs around the state to catch in August. The Wisconsin Association of Fairs has a calendar of fair dates, so head on over and pick one closest to you. With over 70 county fairs in the state, I’m sure you can find one that isn’t too far to drive. If you go, have some cheese curds and a funnel cake for me.

Where’s your favorite county fair, click on the comment link and share it with us.

• Events , Food and Drink , Culture , Travel
• Comments(0)

Christine August 1st, 2007

Wausau is home to an amazing pipe organ with 2500+ pipes- and no electricity (except to th ebellows- which can be pumped by footpower as well). Located in Salem Evangelical Lutheran Church on 6th Street, it has been featured on National Public Radio, as well as several recordings. It is truley a hidden gem of Wausau… but here is your chance to hear a concert… I even have a sneak peek of the program celebrating the music of Buxtehude.

An Organ Recital Celebrating the 300^th Anniversary Of the Life and Work of Dieterich Buxtehude (1636-1707)

Dr. John A. Behnke, organist Concordia University Wisconsin

Praeludium in C Major, BuxWV 137

Two Chorale Preludes            

Let All Together Praise Our God, BuxWV 202  (Lobt Gott, ihr Christen allzugleich)

O Morning Star, How Fair and Bright, BuxWV 223  (Wie schön leuchtet)                                

Two variations Passacaglia in D Minor, BuxWV 161

Chorale Variations on Our Father, Who from Heaven Above (Vater unser in Himmelreich)   BuxWV 219 

Three VariationsPraeludium in g, BuxWV 149

Canzonetta, BuxWV 167Fuga, BuxWV 174

Two Chorale Preludes

To God the Holy Spirit Let Us Pray (Nun bitten wir)  BuxWV 208

A Mighty Fortress is our God (Ein feste Burg), BuxWV 184

Ciaccona in e, BuxWV160

Praeludium in D Major, BuxWV 139

Here are a few more details that I received:

John Behnke, Professor of Music at Concordia University in Mequon, Wisconsin, will be presenting a Dieterich Buxtehude organ recital at Salem Ev. Lutheran Church, 2822 N. 6th Street, Wausau, Wisconsin 54403 at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday 22 September 2007.  A copy of the program is enclosed.  Dr. Behnke is planning to comment on some Buxtehude-related slides as part of the program.

The church’s Jaeckel organ is well suited for the performance of Buxtehude’s music.  Its North German construction style is based on the work of Buxtehude’s contemporary, famed organbuilder Arp Schnitger.

There is no admission charge, however a free-will offering will be received to help offest the cost of the recital.  It is being sponsored by the Wisconsin River Chapter of the American Guild of Organists.

• Events , Culture
• Comments(0)

Michael July 18th, 2007

Travelocity has updated their page of local secrets/great finds in Wisconsin. The gnome obviously knows, as each of the places listed our also on our A-list of great Wisconsin destinations. The rundown follows:

1. Bay Beach Amusement Park, Green Bay. Where else can you ride an amusement ride for 25 cents. Located on the shores of Lake Michigan in Green Bay, this park will please anyone.
2. Chocolate Fest, Burlington. Need I say anymore. If it involves chocolate, its got to be good.
3. Ella’s Deli, Madison. Let me warn you, this is not a place for people with trouble stayin on task. The restuarant is absolutely jam packed with kitsch, animated toys, and moving objects. The kids love it even though it causes sensory overload. The food is excellent too; serving up standard deli fare. Get the open face roast beef and an egg cream. Located on East Washington St, the giant carousel makes the place easy to spot.
4. Mustard Museum, Mount Horeb. A perrenial favorite with Greta, we’ve written about this place before. First, view the historical and geographical display of mustard bottles and then taste and purchase mustard.
5. American Players Theatre, Spring Green. This theater started out about 30 years ago performing summer stock Shakespeare. But they have expanded by offering a full slate of classical productions. Set in the hills of southwestern Wisconsin, the theatre boasts of a natural amphitheater in an fabulous setting.

Any of these destinations make great day trips or an overnight weekend jaunt. If you have a favorite destination, please share it with us in the comments section.

• Events , Travel
• Comments(0)

The Kids June 18th, 2007

We were at the Renewable Energy Fair. There was all kinds of ways that people of all ages can save energy. There was a type of candy that is the seeds of E85. It tasts like bubble gum, but when you fuel with E85 instead of gas, a flex fuel vehicle driver can prevent 4 tons of lifecycle carbon dioxide emission from entering our atmoshere every year. CO2 is a primary pollutant associated with global warming says the American Lung Association of MN. But there was also homade soap that had  no animal fat in them so  that way we can also save the animals. You can’t forget solar panels,  they are the most known way to save energy.What solar panels do is use the sun as a natral way to fuel things. There were also these black tubes that you can let sit in the sun so that way there is anthor way that you can heat your water and save money by useing the sun. There are all kinds of different ways that you can save energy and money and you might even think about geting a car that runs on gas and electricity.  Maybe in the future they will perfect the car that can use solar panels or just the electric car.

On the Greta Greatness Scale the Midwest Renewable Energy Fair rated 4 1\2 out of 5

• Events , Wisconsin- A Kid's Eye View , Lifestyle
• Comments(0)

Christine June 5th, 2007

Get ready for the Renewable Energy and Sustainable Living Fair coming up June 15 - 17 in Custer (just east of Stevens Point on Hwy 10). This is the largest event of its type and well worth the trip!

Their website describes the festival the best:

Since its inception in 1990, the Renewable Energy & Sustainable Living Fair has has shown 190,000 fairgoers how to change the world while having fun. Each summer the Fair transforms rural Custer, Wisconsin into the global hot spot for renewable energy education. The Fair is the world’s largest renewable energy, energy efficiency, and sustainable living educational event of its kind. Please join us this year!

If you are looking for ideas on how to make your footprint on the earth smaller- this is the place to go. They have workshops galore, even the kids can get involved.  

See you there!

• Events , Lifestyle
• Comments(0)

Christine May 13th, 2007

There are festivals all across Wisconsin that celebrate food. Choose your food and there is almost certainly a celebration for it in Wisconsin:

Brats- Brat Fest in Madison is billed as the world’s largest. But somehow it seems to make the most sense in Sheboygan at Bratwurst Day .

Cheese- The mother of all cheese festivals is Green County Cheese Days in Monroe. But there are a whole host of others across the state!

Chocolate- Where else but in Burlington- Chocolate City, USA- would you find Chocolate Fest?

Beer- They appear across the state, but here are a couple: Great Northern Beer Festival and Rock The Brewery.

Wine- There are great wineries all over Wisconsin, and some cool festib\vals to go with them: In Cedarburg for example is the Wine and Harvest Festival.

The list goes on. But the one that has made international headlines most recently is in the small town of Elderon here in Central Wisconsin. You can read more about The Testicle Festival even in the Austrailian press and in the International Herald Tribune.It looks like about 300 folks attended. Mark it on you calendar for next May.

• Events , Food and Drink , Culture
• Comments(0)