|
Most Americans equate Wisconsin with dairy, envisioning cows
speckled across vast farmland and little more. And while the
state's National Football League team, the Green Bay Packers
have a 'cheese head' mascot, visitors to this northern Midwest
state find there's more to Wisconsin than milk. In fact, the
state's landscape is one of many contrasts. Rolling hills
and narrow valleys in the southwest, stretching prairies to
the southeast, majestic forests, marshes and lakes in the
north, and north and east borders resting on the shorelines
of Lake Michigan and Lake Superior, comprise
the diverse terrain that gives Wisconsin its appeal for those
who want a little bit of everything.
Madison
Built on a narrow strip of land between lakes Monona
and Mendota in Southeast Wisconsin, the state's capital
Madison is renowned for its 200 parks that provide
year-round outdoor activities from hiking, biking, swimming,
and sailing to cross-country skiing, snow sailing, and ice
fishing. In the mood for shopping? Check out State Street
in downtown Madison, a pedestrian mall lined with eclectic
shops, restaurants, and outdoor cafes. For a little night
music, visitors can attend the city's symphony or relax in
local hotspots like Luther's Blues, named after blues
legend Luther Allison and enjoy live music from national
acts as well as local favorites. With big city action, small
town charm, and a recent award as the 'Friendliest City in
the Midwest' by Midwest Living Magazine, Madison is a must
for a holiday.
Milwaukee
Located on the southwest coast of Wisconsin, Milwaukee
is home to both the original Miller Brewery and the
world-renown motorcycle company Harley Davidson. Today,
visitors can experience the beer brewing process first hand
on the Miller Brewery Tour and enjoy their own frosty
sample on the house. The city's Major League baseball team
is even named the Milwaukee Brewers! If you prefer
leather and the open road, check out House of Harley
in Southern Milwaukee, where you can experience 50,000 square
feet of biker heaven. For a change of pace, hop on one of
Milwaukee's many boat cruises in Lake Michigan and
catch a glimpse of the city's skyline.
Chequamegon-Nicolet National
Forest
Covering over one-and-a-half million acres of land in Northern
Wisconsin, the history of Chequamegon and Nicolet
National Forests is that of America in a microcosm, and
their names reflect its past diverse inhabitants. The name
Chequamegon is derived from an Ojibway word meaning 'place
of shallow water,' and refers to Lake Superior's Chequamegon
Bay, while the Nicolet is named after Jean Nicolet,
a French explorer who came to the Great Lakes region in the
1600s to promote fur trading with the American Indians. Following
closely behind the traders of the seventeenth century were
lumbermen who established a timber industry that reached its
peak in the 1920s. By then, the forests were at risk of disappearing,
but by 1928 the federal government began buying land to preserve
these forests. When the Great Depression rolled across the
United States, thousands of young, unemployed men in the Civilian
Conservation Corps, established under Franklin D. Roosevelt
in 1933, planted thousands of acres of jack pine and red pine,
built fire lanes, and constructed recreational facilities
across the National Forests. Because Northern Wisconsin experiences
four distinct seasons, visitors at Chequamegon-Nicolet can
take advantage of changing scenery - from spring fishing or
canoeing to summer camping, hiking, mountain biking, or horseback
riding. As leaves turn vibrant oranges, reds and browns -
setting surroundings in an autumn blaze of color - hunting
season commences. And over a thick white blanket of snow,
winter season visitors can cross-country ski, snowshoe, and
snowmobile.
Apostle Islands
Pristine stretches of sand beach, sea caves, ancient forests,
and the largest collection of lighthouses in the Northern
hemisphere await you on the Apostle
Islands in Lake Superior. These twenty-one
primitive islands off the northernmost coast of Wisconsin
do not have shops, hotels, or restaurants. By remaining, for
the most part, virtually untouched by modern civilization,
visitors typically visit the islands to kayak or sail around
them and enjoy the peace, quiet, and raw beauty. Outdoor adventure
companies offer daytime and overnight trips to sail and trek
around the islands.
|
