By: Aimee Katz
[googlemaps https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=208730357538086950538.0004ce7f0a69d0df25baf&hl=en&ie=UTF8&t=h&ll=44.933696,-89.846191&spn=5.444232,9.338379&z=6&output=embed&w=425&h=350]
It may not be the most efficient way to head Up North, but this route across Wisconsin will most certainly lead you to some quirky stops along the way.
Starting in Milwaukee, head downtown to the Riverwalk where you can see a collection of life-sized bronze ducks. Gertie and her babies inspired happiness among the people of Milwaukee during World War II. Not only will you find Gertie, but also Dee Dee, Pee Wee, Rosie, Millie, Black Bill and Freddie adorning the Riverwalk.
Stop to relax a bit in Sheboygan. The best place for a bathroom break is the John Michael Kohler Arts Center, where you’ll find the six most beautiful bathrooms in the world. In an artist residency program with the Kohler Company, students created these public bathrooms as works of art. From tile to marble, waterfalls and mirrored walls, you’re in for a treat. Who knew a toilet could be so glorious?
Head west and you’ll end up in the birthplace of the Ice Cream Sundae, Two Rivers. In 1881, resident George Hallauer asked the owner of the local soda fountain to top his dish of ice cream with chocolate sauce, which at the time was only used for ice cream sodas. The combination was an instant favorite, yet was only sold on Sundays. In the middle of the week, a little girl requested her chocolate covered ice cream treat, asking if the owner would pretend it was Sunday. In 1973, the State Historical Society dedicated a marker in a Two Rivers park commemorating the first ice cream “sundae.”
In Wausau, check out the Lil Ole Winemaker Shoppe for wine and gifts. There is even a free tasting at their beautiful wine bar, free classes and the chance to have a wine tasting party. There are also a variety of wine-related accessories to add to your collection. You can buy a myriad of trinkets: supplies to brew your own beer, wine racks, glasses and festive holiday decorations.
Remember Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox? In Eau Claire stop at the Paul Bunyan Logging Camp Museum, where you can find the duo lurking on the softball field. Pose at Caron Park and take your picture with these iconic statues.
Stretch your legs when you reach Superior’s Big Manitou Falls. The fourth largest waterfall east of the Rocky Mountains is sure to make your jaw drop. Walking around Pattison State Park you won’t see the falls at first, they are hidden within the woods. Your face will be lightly splashed with mist, and you’ll be mesmerized watching the water cascade down from the Black River. And of course, if you visit in fall, you’ll catch the breathtaking leaves as they’re changing.
You have arrived at your final destination, Madeline Island. Disembark from the ferry and head over to Tom’s Burned Down Bar. Literally, someone torched it. Thus, the owner eradicated the problem by backing an 18-wheeler into the ashes and reopening it for business—until the bar caught on fire again. Today, a permanent white tent covers the bar with snarky jokes written on the walls and quirky sculptures throughout.
Related Posts:
