Tag: Madison

5 Things to Do in the Wisconsin Dells

There are all kinds of things to do in the Wisconsin Dells area – from water fun to wineries. But one of the most interesting things you can do is plan a glamping stay at Yukon Trails in one of their super fun, super cool, super cute shipping containers. The Tiny House Container Village at Yukon Trails has five ultra-hip shipping containers that have been transformed into the perfect glamping accommodation. All five have kitchens and full bathrooms. Four of them sleep four comfortably while the fifth is a cozy retreat for two!

Once you’re settled in, consider these five fun ways to explore this beautiful area of Wisconsin:

1. Make sure to visit the Driftless Glen Distillery, an award-winning craft distillery in Baraboo. Take a guided tour and learn how they create the spirits here which include bourbon, rye whiskey, gin, and vodka. They also turn out a fabulous variety of olive oils and balsamic vinegars. The tours last about an hour, so you can choose to enjoy the Distillery’s fabulous restaurant before or after your tour. Located along the banks of the Baraboo River, outside dining is an option, weather permitting. To learn more about Driftless Glen, visit driftlessglen.com.

2. If running away to join the circus was something you considered as a child, you may enjoy a visit to Baraboo’s Circus World (circusworld.wisconsinhistory.org). Located on the grounds of the original home of the Ringling Brothers circus, visitors can see all kinds of artifacts from circus life including historic wooden circus wagons set among seven historic buildings. The Robert L. Parkinson Library and Research Center onsite here has a massive collection of all things circus dating from 1793 to present day. There is also a collection of over 9,000 iconic circus posters. Walk the grounds, see the history, or check out one of the frequently held special events.


3. Does lavender ice cream sound yummy? Visit the New Life Lavender Farm where you can opt to walk the fields of lavender or take a guided wagon tour that also includes views of the farm’s bees, wildflower fields, and some adorable cows and sheep. The gift shop has plenty of lavender items from aromatherapy to lavender springs, and that yummy lavender ice cream. For more information visit newlifelavender.com.

4. Mirror Lake State Park is the place to go for hiking and biking trails, fishing opportunities, swimming, kayaking, canoeing, and picnicking. The views of the sandstone bluffs are amazing and birdwatching and glimpses of wildlife are definite possibilities here. Speaking of views, if you have the time, try to grab dinner at one of the ultimate Wisconsin supper clubs, Ishnala, which is located within the park. They don’t take reservations but the views of the sunset on the lake are well worth the wait. The food is pretty darn good, too!

State Capitol Building, Madison WI


5. If you’re planning to stay a while at Yukon Trails, then a day trip to Madison could be on the agenda. The State Capital is about an hour’s drive from the Dells and attractions here include Olbrich Botanical Gardens; the 28-acre Henry Vilas Zoo (opened in 1924), or a tour of the Capitol Building (available daily) to see the building’s French and Italian marble, the colorful murals, and the breathtaking skylight. If you’re heading into Madison on a Saturday, don’t miss the Farmers’ Market on the Square, considered one of the best around! Architecture buffs will appreciate the Monona Terrace and Convention Center on the campus of the University of Wisconsin, which was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.

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Green City Getaways

With April having two dates that recognize the importance of taking care of our Earth (Earth Day and Arbor Day), it makes sense to plan a trip to visit a Green City this month (or in the future).

Cherry tree blossoms on the waterfront in Portland, OR.

According to treehugger.com, there are several things to take into consideration in determining how “green” a city is. Those include efficient public transportation, quality public space, plentiful parks, and the availability of bike lanes as well as composting and recycling programs. One other interesting item is whether a city offers “good green fun,” which means farmer’s markets, plenty of organic fare served up in the local eating and drinking establishments and music festivals and outdoor events that feature solar-powered stages and valet parking for bicycles. There are several more “green definers” and combined that’s a lot for a city to tackle, yet slowly but surely, more and more of our urban areas around the country are hitting the mark when it comes to being green. Additionally, there are many different groups providing different rankings for these cities, but some consistently make the grade across the board.

  1. San Diego, California: San Diego’s nickname is “America’s Finest City”, but it can also boast being one of America’s greenest cities. San Diego is home to Balboa Park, one of the largest urban parks in the country. Other green things about this southern California city include dozens of weekly farmer’s markets, a major “Farm to Fork” movement in the dining industry, a variety of public transportation including trolleys, shuttles, and pedi-cabs, and plenty of opportunities for green fun including kayaking, mountain biking, and surfing.

Book a cabin or cottage stay at Pio Pico or Oakzanita Springs for a San Diego Green Getaway.

Tiny House Savannah at Mt. Hood Tiny House Village in Welches, OR.
  1. Portland, Oregon: With over 90,000 acres of green space and a top-notch biking/walking trail system, Portland is definitely eco-friendly. In fact, they have the highest rate of workers biking to the office than any other U.S. city. They were also one of the first cities to ban the use of plastic bags. For green space, visitors and residents alike need to look no further than the city’s Forest Park, a 5200-acre urban forest, featuring hiking and biking trails, waterfalls, and plenty of greenery!

Book a stay at the Mt. Hood Tiny House Village for a Portland Green Getaway.

Cozy cabin Yukon Trails in Lyndon Station, WI.
  1. Madison, Wisconsin: Did you know that the man behind Earth Day was from Wisconsin? Gaylord Nelson, who served as both governor and senator of the state was not only a politician, but also an avid environmentalist, calling upon the citizens of America to bring awareness to problems with the environment. So naturally, it makes sense that Madison would be a green city – it’s in the genes! Madison consistently ranks as a green city thanks to its abundance of green space – from plenty of city parks to acres of lakes and miles of biking and hiking trails. Madison is home to more bikes than cars and the city is very walkable. The city has more farmer’s markets than you can shake a cucumber at, and in fact, Saturday on the Square, an event that features more than 250 vendors, is a popular destination for visitors and Mad-Town residents like.

Book a cabin stay at Yukon Trails for a Madison Green Getaway.

Lake Eola Park in Orlando, FL.
  1. Orlando, Florida: While green space is not as abundant as in some of the other green cities, Orlando makes the green grade thanks to its continued efforts and eye to the future when it comes to being, and staying, green. With goals like a 40% city-wide tree canopy coverage by 2040, the One Person One Tree initiative to help expand the urban forest, and a host of programs to protect the ecosystems found here, Orlando is definitely putting a green foot forward. And to clarify, they have plenty of green space to the tune of more than 100 parks, plus plenty of lakes and wetlands.
Colorful cottage stay at Tropical Palms in Kissimmee, FL.

Book a colorful cottage stay at Tropical Palms for an Orlando Green Getaway.

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Wonderful Wisconsin Part II: Madison and The Dells

Lake Monona • Madison, WI

Plan a trip to Wisconsin and take in the state’s capital, and the state’s capital of water fun in one fell swoop. This can be accomplished by visiting Madison and the nearby Wisconsin Dells, which are a little less than 50 miles apart.

Let’s start with the state’s capital city – Madison. The town Madison is an isthmus, as it sits on the land between two lakes, Lake Mendota and Lake Monona. In addition to being the state capital, Madison is routinely ranked as one of the best college towns in the US, as it is home to the University of Wisconsin, which gives it a cool vibe as well.

One of Madison’s main draws in the summer is the Saturday Farmer’s Market, which is set up in Capitol Square (located outside the domed capitol building) and runs from mid-April until November. Meats, flowers, plants, hand-crafted soaps, produce, and of course, Wisconsin cheeses, are all on display and available for purchase.

A unique Madison attraction (it’s in Middleton, just about 6 miles from downtown Madison) is the National Mustard Museum which houses a collection of more than 6,000 mustards from the US and 70 other countries. Free admission adds spice to a visit to this museum which also houses mustard pots, other antique mustard jars, holders, as well as vintage mustard-related advertising. For hours of operation and more information, visit www.mustardmuseum.com.

Thai Pavilion • Olbrich Botanical Gardens • Madison, WI

Both Lake Monona and Lake Mendota provide an outlet for water sports including canoeing, kayaking, stand-up paddling, and lakeside walks and jogs. Ranked by Livability.com as one of the healthiest cities thanks to its wealth of outdoor activities, another great way to see Madison is by bike. There’s the UW-Madison Arboretum Trail, or a two-hour ride around Lake Monona that will take you past the Olbrich Botanical Gardens.

Speaking of water, less than an hour from Madison, you will find the Wisconsin Dells, often called “The Waterpark Capital of the World,” thanks to the multitude of locations dedicated to water fun that include Noah’s Ark Waterpark, which is America’s largest waterpark at 70 acres, and The Wilderness, which with its combined indoor and outdoor waterparks, is considered the largest combined waterpark in the country. There are more than just waterparks here, though. There is the downtown Dells, with its sometime kitschy, sometimes quaint array of shop along Main Street. There’s also the Dells Boat Tours, which takes you by water to explore the amazing rock formations, or dells, which gave the area its name and first attraction before the waterparks took over.

There are two wineries to check out – the Baraboo Bluff Winery, the Broken Bottle Winery, and the Big Sky Twin Drive-In Theater provides a bit of nostalgia while you take in one of today’s popular movies on one of two big screens. Adventure seekers will be happy to note there is zip-lining, a ropes course, axe-throwing, go-carts, and escape rooms in the Dells, and serenity seekers should be happy with the miles of scenic trails for hiking, birding, and taking some great pictures.

Cozy Cabin • Yukon Trails RV & Camping Resort

Yukon Trails RV Campground is your best choice to make camp while exploring both Madison, and the Dells area. Onsite fun at this wooded Wisconsin retreat includes disc golf, horseshows, a free movie theater, and cornhole.

Reserve your Wisconsin getaway today at www.RVontheGo.com.