A world where cranes can flourish— and people can thrive.
Nestled between the Wisconsin Dells, Baraboo Bluffs, and the Wisconsin River, the International Crane Foundation’s Crane Discovery Center is the only place to see all 15 crane species from around the globe. Cranes are found on five continents and live in some of the most remote and wild places on the planet. Wisconsin is fortunate to be home to North America’s two species of cranes: Sandhill Cranes and the highly endangered Whooping Cranes. Just like here, cranes around the world share the landscapes they need to survive with people. Located in Baraboo, just a short drive from Wisconsin Dells, the Crane Discovery Center is open daily from May 1 – Oct. 31, from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Check our website for information regarding daily public tour times, educational opportunities, and special events, like our annual Evening with the Cranes. Visit to learn about the world’s cranes, walk the nature trails, and browse our popular gift shop.
FEATURES DEPARTMENTS
18 Destination: Epic Campus
Go on an adventure through Wonderland, see a working farm or visit Central Park by exploring the six campuses at Epic Systems in Verona.
26
Wisconsin Art Museums
Discover different types of art around the state, including statues and architecture. Get hands-on with DIY opportunities.
30
Wine-d Around Wisconsin
Taste all that the state has to offer by visiting different wineries by region. Check out wine taprooms for a fun night out.
34 Outdoor Winter Festivals and Celebrations
Fun for everyone, here is a roundup of winter celebrations, St. Patrick’s Day parades and maple festivals.
14
New and Noteworthy
Turn a New Page
New books by Wisconsin authors are here to keep you entertained during cold winter months.
22 Field Guide
Ski, Ride & Glide Wisconsin
Nothing says snow like skiing and snowboarding. Find down-hill and cross-country options, with options for experts and beginners.
38 The Dish Kringle and Coffee
Warm up this season with two Wisconsin favorites, made locally. Learn the history of kringle and where to find it.
Wine-d Around Wisconsin
Wisconsin Art Museums
Destination: Epic Campus
Ride & Glide Wisconsin
Winter Wonders
Snow might be falling and temperatures might be freezing, but there is still plenty to do around Wisconsin in the winter. With indoor activities, as well as outdoor fun, the Dairy State proves that just because it’s cold, doesn’t mean that you can’t go on an adventure. From reading a book, to visiting fantasy worlds, to traversing wooded trails, you can discover all that Wisconsin has to offer.
If you’re looking to stay out of the cold, there are plenty of options. Visit an art museum (page 26), where you can not only view art, but get hands on with it. Have you always wanted to visit Wonderland or the Chocolate Factory? Take a free tour at Epic Campus in Verona (page 18). Staying home can be just as interesting with new books by Wisconsin authors (page 14), visit your local library or bookstore for a copy!
Getting outdoors is easy to do in the winter, with many activities and festivals. Skiers, both advanced and beginner, can find down-hill and cross-country options across the state (page 22) Outdoor festivals abound, from winter celebrations to St. Patrick’s Day parades to maple festivals, find the one nearest you on page 34
Entertainment and food take center stage this winter, with events all over Wisconsin. The southeastern region provides a soup crawl and cheese festival, while the northeastern region boasts a brewfest complete with a pretzel necklace (page 8) Country music and jazz are readily available in the western region for avid fans and new listeners alike. As the weather begins to warm you can take in the city of Beloit while attending their International Film Festival or learn all about nature’s pollinators at the Chippewa Valley Bee Expo (page 11).
Beverages are always on tap throughout Wisconsin. Check out page 30 for wineries in each region, as well as wines on tap. Our “Made in Wisconsin” feature introduces a brewery that you can find in the Northwoods and in Madison, as well as at your local liquor store. “The Dish” features some state favorites: kringle and coffee. Learn more about kringle history in Wisconsin and where to find the perfect pairing.
With options for all ages, snow doesn’t have to mean bound when you winter in Wisconsin!
Best wishes,
Tegan Beese // Editor
1
INK & IVY BOOK BOUTIQUE | MADISON, WI
Owned by a mother-daughter team, this indie bookstore is one-of-a-kind. Alongside books, they offer seasonal reading challenges and author visits. As a new mother, I am particularly excited about their Postpartum Book Club (one of three clubs they offer), where babies are welcome!
2
ROCKET BABY BAKERY | WAUWATOSA, WI
This made-from-scratch bakery has traditional favorites and unique offerings. Known for their pastries, they also serve coffee, soup and sandwiches. Their selection varies each day, and once it’s gone, it’s gone! My favorite (pictured above) is their lemon rosewater cheese danish.
3
THE TREASURY | DELAVAN, WI
For private or public events, The Treasury is a hidden gem. The space is in a renovated Wisconsin State Bank, complete with marble walls, an antique bank vault and wonderful natural light, the event possibilities are endless. We took headshots here and they are beautiful!
Experience Wisconsin — a fully digital leisure and travel platform — invites you to spotlight your unique destination to 150,000+ regional travel enthusiasts through our three annual digital issues, website and social media channels.
| (262) 215-2997
Eat, Play and Learn: Winter Fun in Wisconsin
LOOKING FOR FUN THIS WINTER? YOU CAN EAT, PLAY AND LEARN YOUR WAY THROUGH WISCONSIN! ATTEND A BEER AND CHEESE FEST, LEARN ABOUT LOCAL WILDLIFE, TAKE IN A FILM OR LISTEN TO A BAND. THESE EVENTS ARE SURE TO HEAT UP YOUR WINTER CALENDAR.
February
FEBRUARY 20-22, 2026
NEILLSVILLE WINTER CARNIVAL
NEILLSVILLE
A full weekend of fun events can be found at this unique winter carnival. Starting Friday evening with a variety show, visitors can participate in a polar plunge, a trophy trap shoot, a card tournament, a cornhole tournament, a free family swim and more. Finish off the weekend on Sunday starting with a delicious pancake breakfast.
FEBRUARY 21, 2026
MANITOWOC WINTER BREW FEST
MANITOWOC
An event that would make Manitowoc Minute’s Charlie Berens proud. Come try local beers, as well as domestic, while helping support the community! Hosted by the Manitowoc Noon Rotary, proceeds from this event will be used for community projects. Not a beer fan? This event also features mocktails and coffee samples, as well as pretzel necklaces and charcuterie.
Manitowoc Winter Brew Fest
FEBRUARY 28, 2026
WILD GAME FEED AND SPORTSMEN’S EXPO OGEMA
Calling all avid sportsmen! This free event features 20 vendors, a keynote and guest speakers, as well as the chance to view various mounts. Participants can partake in various foods provided, as well as bring their own wild game entree to pass. All attendees age 12 and up will be entered for a raffle.
Manitowoc Winter Brew Fest
Manitowoc Winter Brew Fest
Wild Game Feed and Sportsmen's Expo
March
MARCH 7, 2026
THE FRENCH FAMILY BAND
TOMAH
Join The French Family Band for an evening of country music and past hits! The French family is Nashville based, by way of Australia. Finding fame during Covid, the Frenches are loved by thousands. Come listen to covers of songs by Waylon Jennings, Karen Carpenter, Eric Clapton and more.
MARCH 20-29, 2026
BELOIT INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
BELOIT
Have you ever wanted to attend Tribeca or Sundance Film Festivals? You can attend a festival just as great, according to The New York Times, right here in Wisconsin! This 10 day event allows visitors from all over the world to watch independent films at a variety of locations. Directors, writers and others involved in making the films attend, allowing viewers to ask questions and discuss all things movies.
The French Family Band
Beloit International Film Festival
Beloit International Film Festival
April
APRIL 11, 2026
SPRING BASH & AUCTION CUSHING
Looking for fun for the whole family? Cushing’s Spring Bash and Auction is sure to delight! Starting off with a lasagna dinner, both adults and kids can participate in games of bingo to win prizes. After the games there will be a live auction for all to enjoy.
APRIL 17-18, 2026
CHIPPEWA VALLEY BEE EXPO
CHIPPEWA FALLS
It’s no secret that bees make the world go round. Come learn more about these small, but mighty pollinators at a bee expo! Whether you’re a beekeeper, looking to get into beekeeping or you just love bees, there is something for you. Attendees will learn about pollinators and sustainable living, along with the opportunity to engage with vendors.
APRIL 17-18, 2026
THE EAU CLAIRE JAZZ FESTIVAL JAZZ CRAWL
EAU CLAIRE
Jazz enthusiasts and all music lovers will be able to enjoy a night full of live music as downtown Eau Claire turns into an all-ages, New York jazz crawl. With 18 venues and over 50 different groups, there is sure to be something for everyone. Venues include all-ages and 21+.
APRIL 25, 2026
WISCONSIN GRILLED CHEESE CHAMPIONSHIP
DODGEVILLE
Sandwich makers across the state will compete to see who can make the best gourmet grilled cheese. Attendees will not only be able to see the chefs in action, but sample foods from a variety of vendors and food trucks, as well as indulge in treats such as Bloody Marys or hot cocoa! ew
The Eau Claire Jazz Festival Jazz Crawl
Chippewa Valley Bee Expo
Wisconsin Grilled Cheese Championship
New Books by Wisconsin Authors
Wisconsin is, and has been, home to a wide variety of writers. From self-published authors to literary giants, books by local authors are in the hands of readers across not only the state or the country, but the world. Read on to find some of the newest titles by Wisconsin authors.
GIRLFRIENDING BY SUSANNA DANIEL
Release: February 10, 2026
Genre: Contemporary
Susanna Daniel, an author from Madison, is releasing her third novel, an adult contemporary title called Girlfriending, this February. This is the story of a woman whose marriage ended in divorce after a messy affair and is trying to begin again. Along with her best friend, she sets out to go on ten first dates, to not only maybe find love, but her way back to herself.
WILDWOOD BY AMY PEASE
Release: January 6, 2026
Genre: Thriller
THE UNVEILING BY QUAN BARRY
Release: October 14, 2025
Genre: Horror
If you’re itching to pick up a new book now, look no further than University of WisconsinMadison English professor, Quan Barry. Barry’s fourth novel, described as “literary horror” and entitled The Unveiling, was released in October. This novel follows Striker on an Antarctic cruise as she scouts locations for an upcoming film. When she and some fellow travelers are stranded on an island of ice, they must not only survive the elements, but each other.
A native to Wisconsin and graduate of the Madison Writer’s Studio, Amy Pease’s sequel to her debut, Northwoods, is releasing this January. Another adult procedural thriller set in Wisconsin, Wildwood, is the continuation of small town Deputy Sheriff Eli’s story. When the FBI rolls into their quiet community, Eli and his mother, the town sheriff, learn of a violent crime community that will have them questioning everything, and everyone, that they know.
TOP: SUSANNA DANIEL, MIDDLE: GROVE ATLANTIC BOTTOM: SIMON & SCHUSTER
NEARLY BELOVED BY KENDRA BROEKHUIS
Release: November 4, 2025
Genre: Christian
Released right ahead of the holidays in November, you may have missed Milwaukee resident Kendra Broekhuis’s newest novel, Nearly Beloved. In this Christian fiction story, Dylan discovers a life altering secret after her father passes away: she is not biologically related to him. When her mother won’t provide answers, she sets off across the country to find them. Told in prose and epistolary styles, this novel explores the idea of if we’re better off knowing the truth or a carefully constructed lie.
THE ROAD FROM NOWHERE BY AVI
Release: January 6, 2026
Genre: Historical
Prolific University of Wisconsin-Madison graduate and author, Avi, is releasing his newest middle grade (ages 8-12) historical fiction novel this January. Set in the 1930s during the Great Depression, Ollie is trying to make a better life for his family by finding silver in the local mines. When a geologist comes to town and assists them in discovering unmined treasure, Ollie, his brother and his best friend must figure out how to get their share and leave town before they’re stopped by the mine’s owner.
Release: October 7, 2025
Genre: Nature Nonfiction
If you’re a nonfiction reader and nature lover, this book by Wisconsin author and podcast host, Dexter Patterson, is your next buy! Released in October this guide is sure to help you find all of the native birds in the area. If you plan on traveling around the state and visiting sites, this guide will help to familiarize you with the local birds. Or if you’re looking to get into birding, this book, and the author’s podcast, are sure to get you started.
SKYLARK BY PAULA MCLAIN
Release: January 6, 2026
Genre: Historical
Though she has since moved, once a Wisconsinite, always a Wisconsinite. Paula McLain (known for The Paris Wife) is releasing her newest novel, an adult historical fiction story, in January. Told through two perspectives, in two different time periods, readers will learn about a side of Paris they never knew existed. Alouette, a young girl in 1664, is locked up in an asylum when she attempts to free her father from being wrongly imprisoned. Kristof, a doctor in 1939, must help his Jewish neighbors when the Nazis descend upon Paris. These two stories of justice seekers will entwine in surprising ways. ew
BIRDS OF THE GREAT LAKES BY DEXTER PATTERSON
The Mystical, Magical World of
Take a self-guided indoor tour to explore Epic’s six campuses
By Amanda Wegner
When you look north while driving along Highway 151 through Verona, a bright splash of color will catch your eye. Seemingly from nowhere, an expanse of rich red, punctuated by bright white window frames, punches up from the horizon.
It’s the Barn, one of the many mystical, magical buildings housing staff supporting the development of healthcare software on the Epic Systems campus. It is also open for public exploration via a self-guided tour of Epic’s 1,670-acre campus. With campus buildings connected by a network of tunnels and enclosed skyways, winter presents a prime opportunity to schedule a visit to escape the dreary and enter the dreamy.
WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?!?!
On a recent afternoon, my partner and I headed to Verona for our pre-scheduled self-guided tour. I selected a 4 p.m. slot on Thursday, which is not recommended, as tours end at 5 p.m.
Navigating the campus we dodged Cow Bikes, which employees are free to use to move around the property, we arrived at Epic’s Intergalactic Headquarters. Be on the lookout for nursery rhyme character Humpty Dumpty, who sits as a sentry outside the entrance.
After signing in at the front desk our greeter informed us that each campus takes about an hour to explore and asked which one we wanted to visit. On a whim, we selected the Storybook campus. He confirmed that we made a good choice.
With a tour packet in hand and some brief directions, we headed to King’s Cross, the starting point for the Storybook campus tour.
While the indoor tour is a delight in itself, the grounds are also well worth the visit. With six campuses to explore — Prairie, Central Park, Farm, Learning, Wizards Academy and Storybook — each has a distinct look and plenty of outdoor art. On our walk we find a snake sculpture hiding in the landscape and a steed crafted of horseshoes, standing at the ready.
TOP: JAMES KICMOL
Take a "trip" up the rocket staircase.
Scheduling & Availability
SELF-GUIDED TOURS ARE available Monday through Friday, 2 to 5 p.m., and on weekends from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tour sizes are limited to groups of seven or fewer on weekdays, and 12 or fewer on weekends. Advanced reservations are required. See availability and schedule online at epic.com/visiting.
“It’s more than I expected it to be,” says Jean Binversie, who was visiting with sisters Jody Reisler, Judy Jelinek and Jayne Nilles. “It’s like an art museum and a fantasy world in one.”
The sisters, originally from Kiel, WI, unanimously agreed it was best to plan ample time for a self-guided tour. “We’ve been here two hours. There’s just too much to see and things hidden in every corner,” says Nilles.
HUSTLING ON
Cognizant of our limited time, we turned to our Storybook tour packet after chatting with the sisters. Each tour packet provides clear written instructions and reference photos to navigate the buildings; there is also a BINGO card featuring highlights of the campus.
Following the white rabbit hallway, we began down a series of corridors marked by individual offices. Peeking in, we could see staff hard at work and collaborating in meeting rooms. Initially, it felt a bit voyeuristic, but it’s clear that staff are accustomed to seeing tour participants traversing the hallways. In fact, several stopped to ask if we needed directions when they saw our noses in the tour packet.
Once we arrive at King’s Cross, so named for a major rail hub in London, we enter and walk through a graffiti tunnel, the Roundhouse and past the railcar. We then set our sights on a psychedelic Cheshire Cat painted in the window of Alice, the first stop on the tour.
Just a few feet in, my partner’s eyes opened wide, and his first words were one part question, one part exclamation: “What is going on here?!?”
Drawing inspiration from Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland, the first room has a Queen of Hearts theme, including a large heart-shaped hearth. But look right, and things suddenly turn topsy-turvy with an upside-down staircase. It is both a visual delight and overload. And just the start.
Near the heart-shaped hearth, we met a group talking excitedly.
Since tours are available during working hours, a rule of the self-guided tour is to remain quiet in the hallways to avoid disrupting employees. For this reason, I recommend that families plan a weekend visit; with so much to see, children may have a hard time containing their excitement.
After Alice, we arrived at Oz, which, accordingly, calls on scenes from The Wizard of Oz. Here, you can take a quick detour to Munchkin Country before hopping back on the yellow brick road (in the form of carpeting).
From Oz, you head to Monster Land, which offers a detour to Castaway, which opened in 2022 and is meant to resemble a shipwreck reassembled as a building. Returning from Castaway, you hit Sci-Fi. Through the Storybook buildings, it’s clear that staircases provide great fodder for design and intrigue; to
Explore a world of magic.
Follow the yellow brick road.
Extend your Verona visit
COUPLE YOUR SELF-GUIDED EPIC Systems campus tour with a few extra stops in Verona. Here are some suggestions:
• Verona Public Library: The library features massive 35foot floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking a wildflower prairie, so settle in with a few books and enjoy the view.
500 Silent St. veronapubliclibrary.org
• Orchard: This farm-to-table gastropub is an extension of The Cider Farm, an organic orchard in Mineral Point. Enjoy one of their handcrafted ciders with some lunch or dinner. 881 W. Verona Ave. orchardrestaurants.com
• The Sow’s Ear: Known as “the Midwest’s first café and yarn shop,” grab some new knitting supplies or sit a spell with a sandwich or coffee.
125 S. Main St. knitandsip.com
• Kate & Toot’s: Best following an adults-only tour, this selfserve wine bar gives your tour group the opportunity to find their new favorite white or red.
109 S. Main St. tootandkates.com
move from Sci-Fi to Mystery, a “trip” on the rocket staircase is required.
Mystery pulls in motifs from Clue, Sherlock Holmes and Agatha Christie. This building leads to Jules Verne, evoking under-the-sea vibes, including a massive set of blue tentacles, à la Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea , crawling up the staircase. After escaping the tentacles, grab a golden ticket and make your way through the Chocolate Factory, a sensory menagerie that even Willy Wonka would appreciate.
The penultimate stop is Grimm and the Gingerbread House, where you’ll meander past the Frog Prince, Rapunzel’s luscious locks, candy poles and apples that are best left to Snow White. Arriving back at Alice, look for the Rabbit Hole, one of two slides hidden away on the campus.
With the clock just past five, we stepped outside and opted to wander a bit longer around the grounds of Wizards Academy. Depending on one’s age, this campus feels like either a stroll through an old university campus or a Harry Potter movie. There are plenty of photo opportunities through this campus, though you may need to explain what a phone booth is to younger tourgoers in your group.
With the sun starting to drop below the horizon, we head to Humpty Dumpty with a promise to return and explore more of the campus. With so much surprise and delight, one visit will never be enough. ew
Amanda Wegner is a Lifelong Wisconsinite, freelance writer and communications consultant based in McFarland.
TOP AND
BOTTOM:
JAMES KICMOL
You're off to see the wizard.
These cows moo-ve fast!
Middleton, Wisconsin
In Wisconsin, winter weather doesn’t keep anyone inside for long. Here are three ways to enjoy the season in Middleton.
Strap on your skis and take to eight miles of groomed trails for cross-country and diagonal skiing at CXC Outdoor Community Center; snowmaking December-March on two-mile trail. (Passes purchased online) Trail walking and snow shoeing is also allowed at Pheasant Branch Conservancy.
Celebrate at Capital Brewery’s 29th annual Bockfest — an outdoor winter beer and live music festival in downtown Middleton. (Feb. 28, 2026)
Enjoy one of 80 restaurants and cafes, including two wine tasting rooms, a hard cidery, and the oldest micro-craft brewery in the Midwest.
Visit Middleton, and discover the middle things.
SKI, RIDE & GLIDE WISCONSIN
By Kevin Revolinski
Wisconsin as a skiing destination may surprise some. For Nordic — aka crosscountry — skiing, the vast territory of national and state parks and forests offer endless terrain, and even county and city parks manage trails. The Badger State even hosts The American Birkebeiner, or Birkie, the largest cross-country skiing race in North America. But downhill skiing also abounds and ski hills can be found throughout the state. Whether you are a seasoned snow-rider or an absolute beginner, there’s a run for you.
DOWNHILL SKIING
All ski runs listed here maintain their snow pack artificially so the ski season does not rely on the whims of Mother Nature, and while getting way up north is great, places further south than Madison and Milwaukee are quite popular as well.
Granite Peak
227200 Snowbird Ave., Wausau, WI
skigranitepeak.com
Arguably the star of the show here, the privately managed ski area inside Rib Mountain State Park has a vertical drop of 700 feet, the greatest in the state and fourth highest in the Midwest. Located just off Interstate 39 outside Wausau in central Wisconsin, it offers 68 runs, divided equally among beginner, moderate and difficult with night lighting and fast lifts. Terrain parks serve the thrill seekers, and rentals and lessons are on offer.
Devil’s Head Resort
S6330 Bluff Rd., Merrimac, WI
devilsheadresort.com
Stay the night onsite in the Baraboo Hills at this fullservice ski resort. Offering a vertical rise of 500 feet, the 30 runs are wide and long, the longest topping out at 1.5 miles. 40% of them are rated intermediate, while the rest are divided equally among beginners and advanced. All trails are maintained with snow machines, and 80% of the runs also operate at night. With standard rooms, suites and condos on-site, you can go from sleep to the slopes in no time.
Granite Peak
Cascade Mountain
W10441 Cascade Mountain Rd., Portage, WI cascademountain.com
When snow fails, they’ve got all their 48 trails covered, including a terrain park and night skiing. 11 lifts include high-speed and “moving carpet” options. Daily ticket sales are limited to keep crowd sizes manageable. Day cabins serve up to eight people and come with an outdoor firepit and food delivery. Lessons and rentals are available.
Tyrol Basin
3487 Bohn Rd., Mount Horeb, WI tyrolbasin.com
This 32-acre sweet spot 20 minutes from Madison has a 280-foot vertical drop and 24 runs that range from beginner to advanced with a bit of “expert” with tree runs and small cliff drops. The longest trail is 0.5 mile. The whole park is served by snow machines and night lighting.
Mt. La Crosse
W5549 Old Town Hall Rd., La Crosse, WI mtlacrosse.com
With the second longest vertical drop in the state at 516 feet, the 18 slopes and trails at Mt. La Crosse range from beginner to “Damnation” and feature night skiing. Three double chair lifts serve the slopes, and the “bunny hill” features an easy-to-use moving carpet-style lift.
DOWNHILL SKIING NEAR MILWAUKEE
Alpine Valley Resort
W2501 Cty. Rd. D, Elkhorn, WI alpinevalleyresort.com
With a vertical drop of 388 feet, the park offers 20 runs, the longest being 3,000 feet. Classes are available for all skill levels.
Wilmot Mountain
11931 Fox River Rd., Wilmot, WI wilmotmountain.com
Just north of the state border with Illinois, this longstanding little ski destination has a drop of 200 feet and 25 trails served by six lifts and reliable snow.
Crystal Ridge Ski Area
7011 S. Ballpark Dr., Franklin, WI crystalridge.com
Just 20 minutes from downtown Milwaukee, the ski area has a vertical drop of 230 feet and a variety of terrain with its six trails. Instruction and night skilling are available.
Mt. Ashwabay
32525 Ski Hill Rd., Bayfield, WI mtashwabay.org
The best option if you want to go all the way north, Mt. Ashwabay overlooks Lake Superior near the Apostle Islands and offers 12 runs, plus 25 miles of crosscountry trails.
Wilmot Mountain
Cascade Mountain
CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING
Many of the state parks turn one or more of their hiking trails over to skiers, and if those trails are ungroomed, you might be sharing them with snowshoe enthusiasts. Groomed trails, however, for both classic and skate-style skiing, are specifically for skiers. Many ski trails in state DNR managed properties require a State Trail Pass available at most park offices and online at dnr.wisconsin.gov.
American Birkebeiner Trail birkie.com
Host of the Birkebeiner, the continent’s largest ski race, The Birkie Trail features more than 60 miles of trails between Cable and Hayward, with nine trailheads. The Birkie is a weeklong event in February which sees more than 40,000 spectators and skiers each year. Races include the 50K/53K Skate/Classic Birkebeiner race, the 29K Korte and others such as a ParaBirkie and the Barkie Birkie — for dogs!
Minocqua Winter Park 7543 Squirrel Hill Rd., Minocqua, WI minocquawinterpark.org
With more than 60 miles of groomed trails, this town park, 14 miles west of Minocqua, got its start as a small collection of trails and a modest downhill run at Squirrel Hill in the 1960s.
Blue Hills Trail Bruce, WI
bluehillstrail.com
With an abundance of loops and crossroads for alternative paths, the 22 miles of ski trails can be combined in ways to accommodate for any skill level.
Copper Falls State Park Mellen, WI
dnr.wisconsin.gov
Famous for its waterfalls, this forested state park situated in the
“snow belt” grooms 13.7 miles of classic and 6.5 miles of skatestyle ski trails.
Northern Highland-American Legion (NHAL) State Forest Wisconsin's largest state forest sprawls through three northern counties near Minocqua, Woodruff and Boulder Junction and offers 42 miles of combined classic and skate-groomed trails and 74.6 miles of ungroomed trails. The red loop of the McNaughton Trail system is groomed for skate skiing, while all other trails/loops are groomed for classic skiing only.
MECCA Trails
Mercer, WI
With sections marked easy, moderate or difficult, the 21-kilometer system has groomed classic and skating trails and a log chalet with a wood stove and changing room.
Door County
Groomed trails for both skate and classic skiing are found in all three mainland state parks: Peninsula (16 mi.), Potawatomi (8.5 mi.) and Newport (26 mi., 12 of them groomed). While the parks don’t rent equipment, there are many outfitters in the nearby towns.
Rib Mountain State Park Wausau, WI
Situated next to Granite Peak ski area, the park rents snowshoes and
offers eight miles of trails including a groomed two-mile loop.
Mirror Lake State Park E10320 Fern Dell Rd., Baraboo, WI dnr.wisconsin.gov
Just south of Wisconsin Dells, the park offers more than 17 miles of trails through the woods groomed for classic and skate style. Watch for special candlelight ski nights.
Kettle Moraine State Forest dnr.wisconsin.gov
Following a 100-plus mile long curving stretch of glacial deposits, this forest is divided into five units, with almost 100 miles of ski trails. The Greenbush Trails in the Northern Unit, has 25 miles, serving all skill levels. The Southern Unit features the long Nordic Trail with colored loops based on challenge level. Lapham Peak Unit, west of Milwaukee on I-94, covers all the bases: 10 miles of easy to challenging, groomed trails, with a 2.5 mile section lighted for night skiing. It is also one of the few parks with reliable snow-making and ski rentals. ew
Kevin Revolinski is a Wisconsin outdoors and beer writer and author of "Backroads and Byways of Wisconsin," a guidebook to the best paddling throughout the Badger State. See his website at themadtraveler.com.
American Birkebeiner – Barkie Birkie
Blue Hills Trail
Be
It’splaytime!
Wisconsin Art Museums
By Melanie Radzicki McManus
Wisconsin is home to a wide range of art museums, parks and installations, which together offer an exciting mix of creativity to uncover. Some of these attractions focus on a particular art form or subject, for example, while others are more comprehensive. Several boast rooftop or outdoor gardens. Most offer hands-on art classes and special events.
Ready to start exploring? Below are several possibilities. Many of these places are part of Wisconsin Art Destinations, a new art museum-based collective with 14 members. Visit any member museum and you’ll be eligible for discounts at area lodging facilities, restaurants and other attractions.
COMPREHENSIVE ART MUSEUMS
Milwaukee Art Museum
Wisconsin's largest art museum perches along the Lake Michigan shore in downtown Milwaukee. Home to more than 34,000 works, its art genres include American and European paintings, sculpture, photography, folk and self-taught art, conceptual and minimalist art, prints and drawings.
Entry for children 12 and under is free, and kids can check out activity bags, borrow sketching supplies or try
on costumes inspired by the museum’s artworks. Everyone is welcome to craft their own piece of art in the Kohl’s Art Studio on Saturdays and Sundays. Time your visit to catch the opening or closing of the building’s famous outdoor “wings,” which are part of a moveable sunscreen.
Chazen Museum of Art
The University of Wisconsin-Madison is home to the the Chazen. Open daily with free admission, the museum houses more than 24,000 artworks covering every culture, period, media and genre. The Chazen also offers numerous special events, such as lectures, musical performances, films and conversations with curators.
Kids will enjoy visiting during Family Days, when attendees can explore various mediums through hands-on workshops. Family Days may focus on making music, too.
Madison Museum of Contemporary Art
The free Madison Museum of Contemporary Art houses some 6,000 objects. Significant holdings are in Mexican Modernist prints, photography and Chicago Imagism. Sprinkled throughout the building are Learning Centers containing artmaking activities and educational resources geared toward families. Special events include art markets and drink-and-draw events.
The museum also contains a popular rooftop sculpture garden, which is being renovated and updated with native plantings, a water feature and more. It’s scheduled to reopen in spring 2026.
John Michael Kohler Arts Center
Sheboygan’s free John Michael Kohler Arts Center boasts eight galleries, two performance spaces and a drop-in artmaking studio. Its collections and exhibitions focus on self-taught and
Milwaukee Art Museum
contemporary artists, while program offerings are vast. Think community arts projects; dance, film and musical presentations; a summer concert series; summer camps; and various classes and workshops.
Three miles west is the JMKACaffiliated Art Preserve, which contains the museum’s collection of artistbuilt environments. Don’t leave either building without using at least one of its restrooms, all of which were created by artists as a way to show art can be enjoyed everywhere.
THEMED ART MUSEUMS
Bergstrom-Mahler Museum of Glass
This free Neenah museum opened in 1959, thanks to Evangeline Bergstrom’s lifetime fascination with antique glass paperweights. While she was a child
when first fascinated by these sparkling objects, Bergstrom didn’t begin collecting them until she was 63. Over the years her collection and subject expertise grew, and after she and her husband passed away, they left both their Tudor mansion and a substantial sum of money to the city of Neenah to create a museum for her collection.
Today, the Bergstrom-Mahler Museum of Glass contains more than 3,500 glass objects — Bergstrom’s paperweights, but also art glass, Germanic glass and contemporary glass. Art classes aimed at adults, kids, families and those with memory loss are frequently available, and there’s a monthly Art Activity Day, where visitors can create their own glass treasures. Once a year, the museum hosts an outdoor Glass Arts Festival; if
you go, save time to stroll through the property’s gardens.
Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum
This bird-focused Wausau art museum is free and located in a former Tudorstyled home. In addition to its emphasis on the avian world, exhibits focus on the connection between nature and art. Check out the artwork inside the building, then stroll through both the outdoor and rooftop sculpture gardens.
The museum’s Art Park gallery is the spot for hands-on activities, creative play and storytelling, while its Glass Box Studio is the spot where teens and adults can create artwork using their own materials. Special events are numerous and include musical performances, drop-in artmaking and even art sessions for kids two-yearsold and younger.
Museum of Wisconsin Art
The Museum of Wisconsin Art, located in West Bend, began in 1961 as the West Bend Gallery of Fine Arts. Its sole purpose was to showcase the work of Carl von Marr, a Wisconsin artist whose most famous creation was the painting The Flagellants. Over the decades, the
Milwaukee Art Museum – Kohl's Art Studio
Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum
John Michael Kohler Arts Center
museum expanded its collection and mission, tweaked its name and today has an expansive definition of what constitutes “Wisconsin art.”
Its main campus in West Bend features indoor and outdoor exhibits and installations, and offers programs for adults, teens, younger kids and families. There’s also a satellite facility in Milwaukee’s Saint Kate — The Arts Hotel. Additionally, you can find MOWA collections and programs in various spots throughout the state, including an annual exhibition at the
Governor’s Residence in Madison and at MOWA on the Lake, a gallery open to the public that’s housed in Saint John’s on the Lake, a downtown Milwaukee retirement campus.
OUTDOOR ART
Eau Claire Sculpture Tour
Eau Claire is home to more than 120 rotating sculptures that you can enjoy while strolling around town. Every year a new set of sculptures is installed and the public votes for its favorite. The winning sculpture remains on the
streets, where it will be surrounded by a new set of sculptures the following year. Tour maps are available at select locations. You can also find the sculptures’ locales on Google Maps.
Mt. Horeb Trollway
Mt. Horeb celebrates its Norwegian heritage via its popular Trollway, a collection of hand-carved wooden troll sculptures scattered throughout the village. More than three dozen trolls line the town’s main streets, with a few inside local businesses. The trolls are engaged in various activities, such as watering flowers, tending chickens and eating ice cream. Taking selfies with them is encouraged.
Wisconsin Concrete Park
Tucked along Hwy. 13 just south of Phillips, Wisconsin Concrete Park contains more than 200 sculptures created by the late Fred Smith. The self-taught Smith began crafting the towering statues at age 65, using cement, glass shards and other found objects. They are both generic and mythic — a cowboy drinking beer, Paul Bunyan, the Budweiser Clydesdales. The free park includes a nature trail, restrooms and picnic facilities.
Dr. Evermor’s Forevertron
This free, outdoor art park contains a wealth of metal sculptures created by the late Tom Every, a.k.a. Dr. Evermor. Every, a demolition expert, collected antique machinery, scrap metal and other objects throughout his lifetime to create “Forevertron,” reportedly the largest scrap metal sculpture in the world. The futuristic “Forevertron” contains lightning rods, high-voltage components from 1920s-era power plants and even the decontamination chamber from the Apollo 11 spacecraft. The rest of the grounds are dotted with an assortment of other metal artwork, including frogs, musicians, aliens and insects.
Also be sure to check out the 27 mural Janesville Public Art Trail. ew
Melanie Radzicki McManus is the author of “100 Things to Do in Wisconsin Dells Before You Die.”
Museum of Wisconsin Art
Wisconsin Concrete Park
Wine-d Around Wisconsin
By Nikki Kallio
No matter the region, Wisconsin offers a variety of winery options. For seasoned tasters to wine newbies, the state’s vintners will not disappoint.
You don’t have to travel to Napa to find a great winery experience — there are so many options right here within Wisconsin. After all, what pairs better with a perfect wine than a perfect cheese? No matter which region of the state you visit, you can find a special venue that offers tastings of locally-produced wines, events, tours and gift shops. Here are a few:
DOOR PENINSULA
VON STIEHL — ALGOMA
vonstiehl.com
Making wines since 1967, Algoma-based Von Stiehl claims status as Wisconsin’s oldest licensed winery, producing wines from West Coast grapes as well as those from Door and Kewaunee counties. The winery was established by Dr. Charles “Doc” Stiehl, who wanted a license to legally sell his cherry wine. The winery, located inside a historic building constructed in 1868 and formerly home to the Ahnapee Brewery, features a 10,000-square-foot production facility and European-style underground wine cellars. The winery has a cider-and-spirits bar, daily wine tastings and tours May through October. The winery hosts concerts outside on its Terrace Bar, which overlooks Algoma Harbor. The winery is open all year, with shorter hours January through April. Von Stiehl offers subscription wine and cider clubs.
Fun fact: In 2009, Von Stiehl released a special wine called Cherry Bounce, blending cherry brandy and the winery’s original cherry wine recipe in honor of founder Doc Stiehl.
HELIOTERRA — FISH CREEK
helioterrawines.com
Anne Hubatch, a Sheboygan native, earned a degree at the University of Wisconsin in geology and environmental studies and took her love for the land to Oregon where she found her way to winemaking. She launched her urban
winery Helioterra in Portland, Oregon in 2009 and brought a tasting room back to her home state, opening in Top of the Hill shops in Fish Creek in June 2025. Helioterra produces and sells 20 different wines from grapes grown in Oregon and Washington. Offerings include Willamette Valley and single vineyard pinot noir, aromatic whites and Rhône variety reds. Helioterra’s Fish Creek location is open every day and offers wine by glass, flight or bottle..
Fun fact: The name Helioterra is inspired by Hubatch’s studies, named after heliolite, the Oregon state gemstone, and terra, for earth.
STONE’S THROW — BAILEY’S HARBOR
stonesthrowwinery.com
Stone’s Throw in Bailey’s Harbor is the only all-California grape winery in Door County. The winery made its first vintage in 1996, with friends and family driving rented refrigerated trucks from California to the winery for crushing in Door County. The winery includes a tasting room, wine and tapas bar and a variety of indoor and outdoor spaces, including a barrel room or sculpture garden, where you can host a party. The Vino!Vino! wine and tapas bar includes a full menu of Italian tapas. The winery, named Wisconsin’s Best Wine Bar two years in a row by Lux Life, also offers a wine club with regular delivery of your favorites; a bonus of membership is free tastings at the wine bar.
Fun fact: The winery features bocce ball courts.
ELMARO
VINYARD
Elmaro
CENTRAL WISCONSIN
MUNSON BRIDGE — WITHEE
munsonbridgewinery.com
Centrally located in the heart of Wisconsin, where farmland begins to meet the Northwoods, the 40-acre Munson Bridge’s fruit wines can be found with a short detour off Highway 29. The winery features special wines made from elderberry, boysenberry, crabapple and other fruits, as well as a maple syrup wine and other seasonal wines from locally grown ingredients. They serve lunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., have an olive oil and vinegar bar and space to reserve for special events and photography. Its ‘Wine Not? Wednesdays’ feature appetizers like a big pretzel with fondue, warm brie, an olive oil and vinegar dipping tray and more. The winery is open seasonally starting in April and remaining open through December.
Fun fact: The winery also hosts yoga classes.
SOUTHWEST WISCONSIN
WOLLERSHEIM — PRAIRIE DU SAC wollersheim.com
Wollersheim is a favorite stop among visitors to the scenic hills of the driftless area in southwest Wisconsin and has a long history, with a presence in the region since the 1840s. A top seller is its Prairie Fumé, a semi-dry white with citrus and tropical notes and Double-Gold winner at the Finger Lakes International Wine Competition. The wine was first released in 1989 by winemaker Philippe Coquard, who aimed to share a new kind of wine with broad appeal to give a boost to the business. The winery also has a distillery and a bistro kitchen, and offers private and group tours for visitors.
Fun fact: Wollersheim Winery is a National Historic Site.
NORTHWEST WISCONSIN
BAYFIELD WINERY & BLUE OX CIDER — BAYFIELD
bayfieldwinery.com
This small Lake Superior city has long been a draw both for both vacationers and those who decided to shift gears permanently, sometimes after a vacation to the region. That was the case for Jen and Phil Bratsch , who visited in 2012 and ended up buying a 10-acre apple orchard, later purchasing Bayfield Winery in 2020. Bayfield Winery offers white wines like the dry, sparkling Idlewild and reds such as the dry, medium-bodied Devil’s Island, as well as a full list of hard ciders. The winery is open seasonally starting in April and offers afternoon summer concerts every weekend starting in June.
Fun fact: Ian Hauser, son of former Bayfield Winery owners Scott and Renate Hauser, stayed on as head winemaker.
WESTERN WISCONSIN
ELMARO — TREMPEALEAU
elmarovineyard.com
The five family-member owners of the Mississippi River Valley’s Elmaro have worked together since 2006 when they planted the first vines and created ‘Your Napa, Close to Home.’ Elmaro comes from the names of owner Mark Delaney and his parents (Elaine and Robert), who farmed
Elmaro
Bayfield Winery
Wollersheim In Winter
the land originally belonging to Mark’s great-great-greatgrandparents. Mark planted the grapes in 2010, and he and (wife) Lynita May Docken, who earned an enology (winemaking) certificate from the University of CaliforniaDavis, have created a list of whites, reds, rosés, sangrias and special reserve wines like a port-style and currant wine. The winery hosts a calendar of music, yoga classes, food truck visits and pizza night. Its vineyard is available for weddings and an outdoor pavilion can be rented for special events.
Fun fact: Lynita Docken had a previous career as a master plumber.
UP NORTH/NORTHWOODS
THREE LAKES WINERY — THREE LAKES
tlwinery.com
Three Lakes Winery has been making Wisconsin Cranberry Wine since 1972, and now produces a variety of wines made from fruits and berries including strawberry, blueberry, blackberry, elderberry, raspberry, and wild plum, and even vegetables like pumpkin and rhubarb. The winery’s historic tasting room was built in 1880 within the Chicago and Northwestern train depot. Visitors can taste up to six wines free of charge. Visitors to the winery’s website also can find recipes for specialty drinks like Hot Pumpkin Mulled Wine to recreate the experience at home.
Fun fact: Three Lakes’ Old Glory wine is a blend of cranberry and blueberry, the two berries native to America.
NORTHEAST WISCONSIN HAMMEN FAMILY ORCHARD — BONDUEL
hammenfamilyorchardandwinery.com
This orchard launched in 2019 as a retirement project of Paul Hammen, who had spent nearly 30 years planting and growing heirloom fruit trees and making wine in his time off from work. The now-16-acre orchard is a fully-fledged family operation offering wines, meads and hard ciders made with fruits from the orchard as well as locally sourced fruits and honey. Some offerings include a dry bold red Frontenac and semi-sweet white Niagara. The orchard’s wine bar is open daily for tastings and in the summer features an outdoor patio. Non-alcoholic beverages and a selection of domestic and craft beers also are available. The winery also features a gift shop offering a variety of fresh and canned goods, winerelated gifts and homemade dog treats.
Fun fact: The family dogs, Tara and Blue, are official greeters at the winery. ew
Nikki Kallio is a fiction writer with an MFA from Goddard College. When she’s not writing fiction, she works as a freelance writer, editor and instructor in Wisconsin.
THREE LAKES WINERY
Three Lakes Winery
Outdoor Winter Festivals and Celebrations
By Tegan Beese
Winter weather doesn’t stop Wisconsin from celebrating! Outdoor festivals and celebrations are a seasonal staple from January through April. From ice festivals to hot air balloons to maple fests, fun abounds for all ages.
A weeklong event, purchase a button for $1 and participate in a variety of activities, including a weeklong medallion hunt! Event times vary depending on the activity.
Hudson Hot Air Affair
February 2-6, 2026 - 7:35 a.m. Hudson, WI
hudsonhotairaffair.com
Watch hot air balloons take to the sky! Once balloons are launched, attendees can participate in a variety of other outdoor activities, so be sure to bundle up.
Fire & Ice Festival
February 13-14, 2026
Sturgeon Bay, WI
sturgeonbay.net/special-events/fire-ice-festival
This two day festival celebrates all things winter. Enter to compete as
an ice sculptor, or view these works of art. Event times vary depending on the activity.
Winter Festival
February 21-22, 2026
Cedarburg, WI
cedarburgfestivals.org/winter Fun for everyone, Cedarburg’s Winter Festival has receipt raffles, bed races, a dog sled pull and more! Vote for your favorite ice carving, enjoy a warm beverage in their Après "Ski Lodge" and participate in winter Ice-Burg golf. Event times vary depending on the activity.
Flannelfest
February 28, 2026 - 11 a.m.
Janesville, WI
janesvilleflannelfest.com
Channel your inner-lumberjack at Flannelfest, where you can compete in the Lazy Man Run, vote on home brewed beer and try over 90 craft beers. Both VIP and general tickets are available for purchase for this 21 and over event.
Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day by enjoying a variety of floats in this parade. Food will be available at a local restaurant, as well as food trucks, and enjoy a beverage from the Bloody Mary tent!
Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade
March 14, 2026 - 11 a.m.
Sturgeon Bay, WI
sturgeonbay.net/special-events/stpatricks-day
Start off your celebration at Kitty O’Reillys Pub with breakfast, then take in the parade and find live entertainment throughout the city. Visit their last 2026 Indoor Winter Market and enjoy a meal of traditional corned beef and cabbage!
Hudson Hot Air Affair
58th Shamrock Club of Wisconsin St. Patrick’s Day Parade
March 14, 2026 Milwaukee, WI saintpatricksparade.org
Starting the Friday evening before with a kick-off party, Milwaukee celebrates St. Patrick’s Day like no other. Inspired by two Irish movements, the city has hosted this parade since 1843. Restaurants and businesses throughout the city will join in on the fun! Event times vary depending on activity.
New Dublin Parade and Irish Fest
March 16-21, 2026 New London newdublin.com
For a week in March, New London becomes New Dublin, where leprechauns find their way to schools, businesses and others in the community. Activities include Irish caroling, a traditional Irish Céili and meals of corned beef and cabbage, culminating in the parade and outdoor festival. Event times vary depending on activity.
FLANNELFEST
February 28, 2026 - 11am Janesville
MAPLE FESTIVALS
Maple Fest at Covenant Harbor
March 15, 2026 - 7:30 a.m. — Lake Geneva, WI covenantharbor.org/maple-fest
Complete with oatmeal pancakes (and maple syrup), vendors and fun activities, everyone will enjoy th is family-friendly event. Play carpet ball and learn some maple recipes!
MapleFest at Glenna Farms
March 28-29, 2026 - 10 a.m. — Amery, WI glennafarms.com/events.html
This free event celebrates all things maple! Attendees can partake in a free pancake breakfast, horse-drawn hayrides, a farm tour and cooking demonstrations.
Plymouth Maple Festival
April 4, 2026 - 9 a.m. — Plymouth, WI plymouthmaplefestival.com
With activities for everyone, this is a great family event. Taste a variety of syrups and maple flavored foods, learn about sap collection and syrup production, visit local vendors and enjoy a pancake breakfast!
Phelps Maple Syrup Fest
April 11, 2026 - 9 a.m. — Phelps, WI phelpswi.us/event/maple-syrup-fest
Come enjoy sweet treats, like maple taffy on snow; try tapping your own sap; browse the craft show and more! Activities and sugarbush tours are free for attendees. ew
MapleFest Hayrides at Glenna Farms
Sap collection bucket at Glenna Farms
Tegan Beese is an editor, writer and librarian. When she is not editing Wisconsin travel guides, she writes fiction for teens and adults, and recommends books as often as possible.
Making Maple Taffy
Racine
Choose your winter adventure in Racine County! Come for a weekend to discover something incredible! If you like the weather chilly, there’s always something to do outdoors –snowshoe at Riverbend Nature Center, take a winter stroll through downtown Burlington, or even play Pickleball at Mount Pleasant’s Campus Park on the warm days! You can camp at Jellystone Campground and check out all their creative and fun events at Ember Lodge or go for a horse-drawn carriage ride at Apple Holler. The Racine Zoo also is open year-round for visitors! If indoor activities are more your vibe, experience the thriving art scene with a performance at the Racine Theatre Guild or check out the hilarious “Snowdance, the 10 Minute Comedy Festival” at the Sixth Street Theatre. SC Johnson’s Frank Lloyd Wrightdesigned buildings are open for tours this winter too! Make this season your very best in Racine County – stop in the Visitor Center for more information or just to say hi!
Kringle and Coffee
By Kristine Hansen
If there’s one pastry that’s iconic to Wisconsin, it’s kringle. In fact, back in 2013 Wisconsin’s lawmakers declared it the state’s official pastry. These oval-shaped, fruit- or nutfilled pastries with a sugar-y glaze and thin layers of flaky, buttery dough can be found at family-owned bakeries around the state, mostly in Racine.
While their origin dates back to Denmark during the 13th Century, Danish immigrants brought kringle recipes to Racine beginning in the mid-1800s. These bakeries continue to use the same recipes to honor their ancestors, earning the city a title of “kringle capital of the world.” Kringle has been made for decades at several bakeries here, including Bendtsen’s Bakery, Larsen Bakery, Lehman’s Bakery, O&H Danish Bakery and Racine Danish Bakery. You can either
drop in and buy kringle on site or order them online, to be shipped directly to your home. When translated, “kringle” means “ring,” which is exactly what the pastry looks like when you slip it out of the bag.
With each new season or holiday, these bakeries roll out a new flavor. For example, pumpkin during the autumn months or cranberry for Thanksgiving. There are also definite nods to Wisconsin, such as O&H Danish Bakery’s and Uncle Mike’s Bake Shoppe’s Old Fashioned Kringle, folding in the ingredients of the state’s official cocktail: brandy, caramel and cherries, with orange zest in the vanilla icing.
Occasionally found in big box stores, nothing beats a fresh made kringle. Here are a few family-run bakeries to support in Racine, as well as one in Green Bay.
O&H Danish Bakery — Wisconsin Kringle
BENDTSEN’S BAKERY RACINE
Founded in 1934, the location remains the same as when Laurits Bendt Bendtsen, an immigrant from Denmark, opened his bakery, at just 29 years old. You can buy them here, or at Danny’s Meats & Catering. Flavors include a variety of fruit fillings, including apricot, cherry, apple and blueberry, as well as pecan and almond.
LARSEN’S BAKERY RACINE
In 1969 Ernie Hutchinson bought the bakery from its founder, Elner Larsen, and now Ernie’s children, Debbie and Don, run it. Nearly every fruit is used in a kringle recipe, including apple, apricot, blueberry, cherry and raspberry, along with nut-based options (almonds or pecans). Many fruit kringles are also paired with cheese, such as blueberry cheese or cherry cheese, and chocolate is another ingredient for a sweet touch, whether it’s chocolate cherry or turtle.
LEHMANN’S BAKERY RACINE
As Racine’s oldest continually operating kringle-maker, the flavors range from one of their best-sellers (raspberry) to apple cinnamon, as well as strawberry, cherry, cranberry, apricot and blueberry. In some cases, fruits and nuts are combined, like with the pineapple pecan or cranberry walnut flavors.
The Perfect Pair
THE PERFECT PAIRING WITH KRINGLE IS A CUP OF COFFEE BORN OUT of beans roasted in Wisconsin, for an ideal Dairy State duo. Here are a handful of boutique coffee roasteries in the state that have a unique origin story. All of these whole-bean options can be ordered through the roastery’s website or, in some cases, purchased at one of its cafés. Grind them up at home for a little jolt, brew a cup and you’ve got the perfect complement to your pastry.
BARNWOOD COFFEE COMPANY, TWO RIVERS
Based in an 1891 Two Rivers farmhouse, this roaster is Wisconsin’s first coffee roaster to be Bird Friendly® certified by the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center. What this means is that it’s 100% organic and also free of deforestation as the coffee plants are grown on farms that have a conservation plan in place. Three coffees are certified Bird Friendly ®: el vuelo (translates to “the flight,” featuring Guatemalan beans), el canto (“the song,” Bolivian) and el arbol (“the tree,” Honduran). Order the beans online.
DOOR COUNTY COFFEE & TEA CO., CARLSVILLE
This roaster’s cafe is a popular spot for travelers to Door County to stop for a cup of coffee as they make their way up the peninsula, just past Sturgeon Bay. What this roaster excels at is offering seasonal, flavored coffees, such as Door County Maple for fall and White Chocolate Cranberry for winter. Or, you could totally lean into the kringle pairing with Vanilla Almond Kringle flavored coffee. For those who aren’t keen on flavored coffees, single-origin and other blends are available, including Jamaican Blue Mountain Blend and Death’s Door, a blend of beans from Sumatra and Costa Rica.
NORDSKOV COFFEE ROASTERS, WHITEWATER
Roasting in a Nordic style, which leads to a lighter and cleaner flavor profile, these two BFFs sell their coffee beans at the Janesville Farmers Market, local cafes (Little Local in Whitewater, Lark Market in Janesville and The Langholf in Fort Atkinson) and through their website. “Wake” is one of their signature blends, featuring beans from Brazil as well as a female-farming project in Guatemala.
RUBY COFFEE ROASTERS, NELSONVILLE
This coffee roaster’s founders, Jared and Deanna Linzmeier, started roasting in a Portage County garage in 2013, fueled by Jared’s barista experience on the West Coast, and now operate out of a 4,000-square-foot facility because their coffee’s that good. Focused on sourcing from microregions around the world, in direct-trade relationships, their coffee is sold at its Nelsonville and Stevens Point cafés and also through its website.
VALENTINE COFFEE CO., MILWAUKEE
Founded by two friends with culinary experience, in the food, whiskey and wine industries, this roaster’s coffee is poured in many area restaurants, as proof that it’s a good pairing with any food. They also have three cafes in Milwaukee, and take online orders through their website. One of their rarest coffees is Bali Blue Moon, as this Indonesia island’s coffees don’t often make it to the U.S.
WONDERSTATE COFFEE, VIROQUA
Powered by solar energy, this Driftless Region roaster launched in 2005 and now has three cafes: in Bayfield, Viroqua and Madison. They literally source beans from around the globe, including Peru, Colombia, Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia and Guatemala, and nearly all are organic. Offerings are a mix of single-origin coffees and blends, like “Off Grid,” which is 50 percent Guatemala and 50 percent Peru.
Nordskov Coffee Roasters
RACINE DANISH KRINGLES RACINE
Owned by Mike and Roylene Heyer and now operated by their son, Christopher Heyer, Racine Danish Kringles (Kringle. com) has been family owned and operated since 1982. Offering more than 35 kringle flavors, the selection ranges from newer favorites like Peppermint Brownie, Cheesecake and Chocolate Chip to classic staples such as Raspberry, Almond and Praline Pecan. Each Kringle is handshaped, hand-iced and hand-crafted, honoring the time-tested traditions of authentic Wisconsin kringle and the state pastry the family is proud to represent.
O&H DANISH BAKERY OAK CREEK, RACINE AND STURTEVANT
With several locations, including the Petro Travel Center on I-94 in Sturtevant, this kringle maker goes all out for the holidays, creating unique recipes, such as a Day of the Dead kringle, egg nog kringle and a kringle around Thanksgiving that emulates the flavor of cranberries and pecan pie. It was founded in 1949 by Christian Olesen and is now on its fourth-generation owner, Peter Olesen.
UNCLE MIKE’S BAKE SHOPPE DE PERE AND GREEN BAY
This kringle maker — started by thirdgeneration baker Mike Vande Walle in 2001 — has three locations and also skews a bit differently in how its kringles are baked: instead of an oval, the kringle is pretzel-shaped. Mike’s wife and children have continued his legacy after his death in 2020. Many of the recipes are designed just for sweet tooths, layering in fruit and chocolate or caramel, such as S’Mores, birthday cake, chocolate raspberry, The Big Hawaiian or caramel fudge. With strawberries, tequila and lime, Strawberry Margarita is an edible version of the cocktail and one you’re not going to find anywhere else.
Based in Milwaukee, Kristine Hansen writes about food, travel and design in Wisconsin and is also the author of Wisconsin Cheese Cookbook: Creamy, Cheesy, Sweet and Savory Recipes from the State’s Best Creameries and Frank Lloyd Wright’s Wisconsin: How America’s Most Famous Architect Found Inspiration in His Home State.
O&H Danish Bakery — Apple and Almond Kringle
Racine Danish Kringles — Chocolate Chip Kringle
O&H Danish Bakery — Shaping the kringle
UPCOMING EVENTS
4TH
ANNUAL GALENTINE’S — FEBRUARY 14, 10AM-4PM
Gather your gal pals and make a day of eating, shopping, and MORE! Search for a hidden Ken doll! Grab a bingo card from a participating location and spend a minimum of $5 to be checked off. Get a Bingo?! Return cards to Luberry’s to be entered into a drawing to win a basket of goodies from local participating locations!
5K THE WISCONSIN WAY – APRIL 11, NOON-4PM
Spoiler Alert: This is not an actual 5K! Will there be any running? Absolutely not. Walking? YES, from spot to spot! Drinking to support our Downtown? ALSO YES. Have a great time in downtown Burlington with your friends where you will sample wine, beer, & Wisconsin themed foods at participating businesses for this BEER & WINE WALK!
MINOCQUA BREWING COMPANY
Wisconsinites know their breweries, and if you head up north you’ll find a brewery unlike any other, the Minocqua Brewing Company.
Purchased by Kirk Bangstad in 2016, MBC has been growing rapidly ever since. When the company sold their original brewpub, they opened up in an old Texaco station, creating a unique venue for their unique products. They also opened a taproom in Madison, allowing those visitors farther south an opportunity to try their brews on tap. While beer is their main focus, they also have wine and non-alcoholic options. Their Progressive Beer line includes a sour, IPAs, a stout and more. Their Choice Wine line (in conjunction with Equality Vines out of California) includes a Rosé of Pinot Noir, a Sauvignon Blanc and a Pinot Noir. They also offer their line of Woke Coffee, Rainbow Land Soda and Nope Sparkling Water. If you’re looking to bring a piece of MCB home, they have a variety of wearables and other gifts such as coasters, posters and more. ew
