Aniwa, WI

To do:  Wildflower Walk in Dells of the Eau Claire Park
Find it:  P2150 County Road Y, Aniwa WI  54408

Photo credit:  Amy Bayer

Dells of the Eau Claire, located within the Dells of the Eau Claire County Park, is both a great place to see wildflowers and a good place to explore some unique geological features along the river. The rocky gorge provides a series of waterfalls, miniature eddies, and potholes formed by swirling gravel and water. Deep, loamy soils support a phenomenal number of spring ephemerals. Under a canopy of hemlock, sugar maple, and yellow birch, you’ll see spring-beauty, trout-lily, hepatica, and just about every other common spring wildflower. Take Highway Y west and south from Hogarty, about 3.3 miles to a parking area south of the river and west of the road. - travelwisconsin.com

Consider camping at Dells of the Eau Claire, there are 28 sites - but be prepared for rustic camping!  There are no showers and no flush restrooms.  

• Rustic camping, NO showers
• NO Dump station (Could use Marathon Park or Rib Mountain Travel Center dump stations)
• 17 sites have electric with 20 amp service; 11 sites are non-electric
• Gravel camping pads
• Paved camping roads
• All sites are back-in and vary in length from 45 to 60 feet.
• Fire rings
• Presserized jug fillers within the campground
• Vault restrooms, no flush restrooms

Madison, WI

To do: UW-Arboretum Walking Tour
Find it: 1207 Seminole Highway, Madison, WI 53711

click to open the UW-Madison Arboretum Trail Map

Coming up this weekend ... and be sure to click here for more events.

Sunday, April 16

For Love of the Earth Walk

1 - 2:30 pm

The coming week marks both Earth Day and John Muir's birthday.  Join the naturalist to search for signs of spring and renewal.  Free, no registration required.  Meet at the Visitor Center.

Find all you need to know about the UW-Arboretum HERE.

Jefferson, WI

To do:  Aztalan State Park
Find it:  N6200 County Rd Q Jefferson, WI  53549

Aztalan State Park is a National Historic Landmark and contains one of Wisconsin's most important archaelogical sites.  It showcases an ancient Middle-Mississippian village that thrived between A.D. 1000 and 1300.  The people who settled Aztlan built large, flat-topped pyramidal mounds and a stockade around their village.  Portions of the stockade and two mounds have been reconstructed in the park. - Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources

A state park vehicle admission is required.  See the fees by here - you can simply pay for a daily pass if you don't want to pay for an annual state park pass.

Here's an informative video that was produced by Wisconsin Public Television discussing Aztalan State Park.

A few photos I shot at the park when I visited in 2014.

Download a map of the park here.

Frank Lloyd Wright Trail

To do:  Frank Lloyd Wright Trail

Find it:  In 9 counties in southern Wisconsin

The Frank Lloyd Wright Trail takes travelers on a self-guided architectural adventure through nine counties in southern Wisconsin.

1. SC JOHNSON ADMINISTRATION BUILDING
2. SC JOHNSON RESEARCH TOWER
3. WINGSPREAD
4. BURNHAM American System Built Homes
5. MONONA TERRACE
6. UNITARIAN SOCIETY
7. TALIESIN AND VISITOR CENTER
8. WYOMING VALLEY SCHOOL
9. AD GERMAN WAREHOUSE

How about a Tour?

The itinerary is suggested to take 4 days/3 nights (note there are other suggested Wisconsin stops along the way in this itinerary).  Re-arrange the tour depending on where you live OR simply pick and choose the locations you'd most want to visit.

Taliesin East, photo credit:  Edward Stojakovic

Frank Lloyd Wright Tour: DAY 1

Begin your exploration in Beloit and stop at the Travel Wisconsin Welcome Center. Continue to Spring Green and spend a few hours at the House on the Rock attraction just down the road from Taliesin. Opened in 1959, it features hundreds of eclectic displays and out-of-theordinary collections, including the world’s largest carousel. Spend the evening with a picnic and show at the American Players Theatre. The newer indoor theatre, Touchstone Theatre, offers a more intimate performance experience. The outdoor theatre offers a full summer season of world-class Shakespearean and classical shows. Spend the night at the House on the Rock Resort in Spring Green.

Beloit to Spring Green: 94 miles (151 km)

Tan-y-Deri at Taliesin East, photo credit:  Permavultur

Frank Lloyd Wright Tour: DAY 2

Spend the day immersed in the architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright at his fabled Taliesin estate. The complex includes Wright’s legendary residence, Hillside Home School and three other Wright-designed structures on a 600-acre landmark property. Next, drive to Madison, Wisconsin’s capital. Explore the downtown shops, dining, nightlife and picturesque views of Lake Mendota and Lake Monona. Spend the night at one of Madison’s many accommodation options.

Spring Green to Madison: 40 miles (65 km)

Monona Terrace Convention & Community Center, photo credit:  BJ Hale

Frank Lloyd Wright Tour: DAY 3

Start your day in Madison – home of the University of Wisconsin, a Big 10 University and Bucky Badger – with a tour of the Monona Terrace Convention and Community Center that graces the shores of Lake Monona. Based on a 1938 Wright design, this dramatic building offers sweeping views of the lake. Then visit the Unitarian Church. Designed by Wright, this church is a prayerful salute in limestone, copper and glass. After lunch, drive east to Milwaukee and spend the night in the city’s historic and elegant Pfister Hotel.

Madison to Milwaukee: 80 miles (130 km)

Greek Orthodox Church, photo credit:  Samuel Goertz

Frank Lloyd Wright Tour: DAY 4

In the morning, a drive along Milwaukee’s Lake Michigan shoreline underscores Frank Lloyd Wright’s architectural legacy. You’ll discover many fine homes built between 1910-1925 that embody Wright’s Prairie Style. Next, visit the Greek Orthodox Church, one of Wright’s last major commissions. After lunch, drive to the SC Johnson headquarters in Racine. Built from 1936-1939, the Administration Building, and the Research Tower (built in 1950 and recently opened to the public for the first time), are true architectural wonders and a must-see for Wright aficionados. After a tour of the building, bid a sad farewell to your adventure. The memories won't soon be forgotten.

Milwaukee to Racine: 30 miles (50 km)

Do you want to spend the night in a Frank Lloyd Wright home?

Aldebaran Farm, 1861 – Spring Green

Schwartz House, 1939 – Two Rivers

Seth Peterson Cottage, 1958 – Lake Delton

Click HERE to read up on the full details of these homes.

Verona, WI

To do:  West Madison Agricultural Research Center
Find it:  8502 Mineral Point Road Verona, WI

I first came across the UW Madison Agricultural Research Center through an announcement on the Internet.  My Dad, son & I visited the location and enjoyed looking at the variety of coleus plants they had in the gardens.  My husband, son & I returned a year later to enjoy the gardens again and to get ideas for planting in our own yard.  It's a beautiful location and so fun to see the variety and learn from those who work/volunteer there.

Please join us in enjoying the beautiful flowers, abundant vegetable selections, and perennial fruit collection.  Exciting and fun demonstration projects are found throughout the garden: We are an All America Selections location showcasing the best of both ornamentals and vegetables. Stop by to see other demos: Easy Care Perennial Gardening, Rain Garden, organic vegetable production, many fruit trees and vines, and many more.

The gardens are maintained by summer interns sponsored by the Brittingham Trust. A network of volunteers and Master Gardener apprentices assist during the off-season.

Find more details about the UW-West Madison Agricultural Research Center here.

Here are some photos I shot at the research center.

Horicon, WI

To do:  Ledge Park 

Find it: N7403 Park Road Horicon, WI 

I happened upon Ledge Park while my son & I were in Horicon, WI one day in 2014.  We finished our afternoon visit at the Horicon Marsh and I saw a sign for Ledge Park.  I thought before driving back home, "let's check that out!" and I'm so happy we did.  Ledge Park was a fun place for Devlin to run around and explore and a great place for me to take photos.  We went back one more time to do some exploring.  They even have a parkour course there!

Ledge Park lies along the Niagara Escarpment, a natural rock ledge which divides the park into upper and lower areas and provides a breathtaking overlook of the famous Horicon Marsh and surrounding countryside.

The upper portion is heavily wooded and offers expansive picnicking areas, group shelter, hiking trails, 46 campsites, a restrooom/shower facility, a dump station and the Fort Ledge playground.

The lower portion also offers a group shelter, picnic areas, hiking trails, a wildlife pond and play equipment.  The hiking trails wind along the ledge, between and over interesting rock formations and through heavily wooded areas.  Ledge Park is located in the north central part of Dodge County, between Horicon and Mayville, off of Hwy TW.  It's a convenient place to stay while exploring the Horicon Marsh, the wild Goose State Trail, the Horicon Aquatic Center and many other attractions in Dodge County.

Find details on Ledge Park here.

Here are some photos I took while visiting Ledge Park with my son, Devlin.

Madison, WI

To do:  Olbrich Botanical Gardens & Bolz Conservatory
Find it:  3330 Atwood Avenue Madison, WI  53704

Olbrich Botanical Gardens is one of MY favorite places in Madison to visit year-round.  It is ever-changing and no matter when you visit, you are sure to find beauty & peace here.  Enjoyable for all ages and best of all free for the visit (or a very in-expensive outing).  Consider becoming a member (great benefits, including admission to over 300 gardens throughout the country) or donating to help keep the gardens free.  It's worth the contribution!

Olbrich Botanical Gardens—Free admission every day (except holidays)

Stroll through 16 acres of breathtaking outdoor display gardens featuring the ornate Thai Pavilion—the only one in North America and only one in four pavilions located outside Thailand.

Bolz Conservatory—Admission is free to all on Wednesday & Saturday mornings between 10 am - 12 pm (except during their Blooming Butterflies event).

Step inside Olbrich Gardens indoor garden space, a glass pyramid that reaches to 50 feet tall and is filled with exotic plants, bright flowers, a rushing waterfall and free-flying birds.

Click the image below to see my photographs from Olbrich Botanical Gardens and the Bolz Conservatory.  

SPECIAL EVENT:  MARCH 31, 2017  7 - 11 PM Cocktails in the Conservatory Sip cocktails in the tropical Bolz Conservatory and enjoy the beats of local DJ's. All proceeds benefit the Gardens!