WISCONSIN Great River Road TRAVEL & VISITOR GUIDE Wisconsin’s National Scenic Byway on the Mississippi River | Learn more at wigrr.com ALL-NATURAL FRESH WHOLESOME DELICIOUS World Famous Wisconsin Cheese A REAL TREASURE OF THE MIDWEST! COME VISIT THE CHEESE CURD CAPITAL AND HOME TO BLASER’S PREMIUM CHEESES, THE ANTONELLA COLLECTION, ELLSWORTH VALLEY AND KAMMERUDE GOUDAS. TWO RETAIL LOCATIONS! OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK - 9AM-6PM 232 NORTH WALLACE 1858 HIGHWAY 63 ELLSWORTH, WI COMSTOCK, WI ELLSWORTHCHEESE.COM LIKE US AT /ELLSWORTHCHEESE Welcome to the Mississippi River & Wisconsin’s Only National Scenic Byway… the Great River Road! t is my pleasure to welcome you to Wisconsin’s Great IRiver Road, voted the “Prettiest drive in America” by readers of The Huffington Post. This stunning 250- mile drive on Wisconsin State Highway 35 parallels the Mississippi River and winds through 33 delightful river towns that are just waiting to be explored. From Prescott to Potosi, the Great River Road is home to breathtaking bluff views, countless recreational activi- ties and old-fashioned hospitality that will make you feel right at home. Take your time to savor the journey with side trips that include biking, hiking, fishing and paddling. Discover historic towns dotted with boutiques, artist’s galleries and wineries, and find cozy lodging at one of the many charming bed and breakfasts. As you page through this visitor guide, you will find plenty of useful information to help you plan your trip. More resources and great travel information are also available at TravelWisconsin.com, on your desktop, tablet or mobile device. You can also “Like” us at Facebook.com/TravelWisconsin or follow along on Twitter at Twitter.com/TravelWI and Instagram at TravelWisconsin. We invite you to find travel and adventure on Wisconsin’s Great River Road, and on behalf of Wisconsin’s Tourism industry, we look forward to welcoming you. Sincerely, Stephanie Klett Secretary, Wisconsin Department of Tourism TABLE OF CONTENTS TRAVELING DISTANCES Annual Festivals & Events ....................6 To La Crosse (Central Gateway) Step Into History .............................7 Beloit: 190 miles Superior: 233 miles GRANT County. 8 Green Bay: 202 miles Wausau: 146 miles Kieler, Dickeyville, Tennyson, Potosi, Cassville, Glen Haven, Bagley, Wyalusing Madison: 144 miles Milwaukee: 210 miles Best Places To Bike ........................ 11 Chicago, IL: 284 miles Sioux Falls, SD: 298 miles CRAWFORD County ........................ 12 Dubuque, IA: 117 miles Prairie du Chien, Lynxville, Ferryville, De Soto (62 miles to Prairie du Chien, Southern Gateway) Best Places To Fish ......................... 15 Galena, IL: 135 miles VERNON County ........................... 16 (76 miles to Prairie du Chien, Southern Gateway) Victory, Genoa, Stoddard Twin Cities, MN: 160 miles LA CROSSE County ......................... 18 (35 miles to Prescott, Northern Gateway) La Crosse, Onalaska, Midway, Holmen Wine Tasting Adventures ................... 21 WISCONSIN GREAT RIVER ROAD MAP ....22 & 23 The Great River Road Itinerary. 24 Boating & Paddling ......................... 25 Iconic Views from the Great River Road. 26 TREMPEALEAU County ...................... 28 Centerville, Trempealeau BUFFALO County. 30 Fountain City, Buffalo City, Cochrane, Alma, Nelson Mississippi Flyway ......................... 33 National Scenic Byway ..................... 31 PEPIN County .............................. 34 Pepin, Stockholm Travel Resources .......................... 37 Get Away & Golf ........................... 38 Birding .................................... 38 River Boat Stops ........................... 39 PIERCE County. 40 Maiden Rock, Bay City, Hager City, Diamond Bluff, Prescott Top 5 Winter Activities Along the Road ...... 42 Wisconsin Mississippi River Parkway Commission PO Box 171, De Soto WI 54624 | Phone: 800.658.9424 Email: [email protected] Cover photos contributed by TravelWisconsin.com Scan or visit www.WIGRR.com for information. Designer: Kristin Mitchell Design, Inc. Each county offers information in their section Printer: La Crosse Graphics of this visitor guide. Visit www.wigreatriverroad.org for more information about4 | www.wigreatriverroad.org events and to order additional travel guides. WORTH THE TRIP WOW Moment! Midwest Living Travel, 2015 Best of the Midwest Prettiest Drive: Ultimate Road Trip in the US The Huffington Post Byway to Beauty Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Great River Road to Delicious Discovery Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Feasting on Wisconsin’s Great River Road Chicago Tribune Tops for Convertible Car Owners Rochester Post Bulletin Wisconsin Life Offers Scenery & Unique Towns Toronto Sun Loaded With Wonder London Times Rollin’ on the River Chicago Tribune Wisconsin’s Beautiful Byway San Diego Times ENJOY THE RIDE Whether you are cruising the Road in your favorite car or motorcycle… or just taking time to travel the Road and checking out the scenery, small historic river towns and views... we want you to enjoy the ride! The Wisconsin Great River Road and the Mississippi River offer something for everyone as you explore their treasures. Spend more than a day. It’s more about the experience and disconnecting from hectic schedules not about driving from Point A to Point B. Relax! Reserve lodging in advance. Lodging is abundant at Onalaska, La Crosse & Prairie du Chien. If your travel plans include a stay along the route in a charming local inn, cabin or B&B, advance reservations are recommended. Mid-week stays frequently are offered at discounted rates. Take a side trip, drive the back roads, stop at a historical marker or point of interest. The entire region is rich with opportunity. Check out the Interpretive Centers. Interpretive Centers, Museums & Displays offer the traveler information and learning experiences. Enjoy the Mississippi River! It’s not often you can experience a “bucket list” item… this is the time! www.wigreatriverroad.org | 5 ANNUAL FESTIVALS & EVENTS Watch the website event calendar at www.WIGRR.com for a full list of upcoming FUN events. JANUARY – MARCH Dog Days of Stockholm, Stockholm Bald Eagle Appreciation Day, Prairie du Chien Kornfest, Holmen Bald Eagle Day, Ferryville Great River Folk Fest, La Crosse Bald Eagle Days, Cassville Potosi Brew Fest, Potosi Eagles on Ice, Alma Kickapoo BRAVE Ride (bicycling), Gays Mills Kickapoo Valley Reserve, Winterfest, La Farge Cassville Classic Car Cruise, Cassville Snowmobile Trails Day, Chaseburg Potosi Catfish Festival, Potosi Railroad Days, Stonefield at Cassville APRIL Crawford County Fair Between The Bluffs Beer, Wine & Cheese Festival, La Crosse Roots & Bluegrass Festival, River Falls SEPTEMBER DRIVE THE GREAT RIVER ROAD MONTH Spring Flood Run, Fountain City to Prescott Alma Music & Art Fair, Alma Farm Fest, Fountain City MAY Villa Louis Carriage Classic, Prairie du Chien 100 Mile Garage Sale, Prescott to Fountain City Prescott Daze & Classic Car Show, Prescott 7 0 Mile Rummage Along The River, Crawford & Vernon Counties Laura Ingalls Wilder Days, Pepin Reggae Fest, Trempealeau Driftless Area Art Festival, Soldiers Grove Spring Bird Migration Hike & Events, Ferryville Apple Festival, Gays Mills Mid West Music Fest, La Crosse Potosi Brewery Bike Tour, Potosi Syttende Mai Festival, Westby Bicycle Fest, La Crosse Winding Roads Art Tour, Start in Viroqua Fall Fest, Ferryville Tromp and Chomp Trail Run, Kickapoo Valley Reserve Art On The Kinni, River Falls JUNE DAIRY MONTH Bacon Bash, River Falls Dairy Breakfast Held in Each County Oktoberfest, La Crosse Prairie Villa Rendezvous, Prairie du Chien Vernon County Fair, Viroqua Spring Fresh Art Tour, Pepin & Pierce Counties Viola Horse and Colt Show, Viola Tour de Pepin, Lake Pepin OCTOBER Buffalo Bill Wild West Show, Cassville Fall Fresh Art Tour, Pepin & Pierce Counties Artspire, La Crosse Quilting By The River, Alma Winneshiek Landing Day, De Soto Flyway Film Festival, Stockholm, Pepin & Alma JULY Great River Road Fall Fest, Stonefield at Cassville Riverfest, La Crosse Oktoberfest, Prairie du Chien Catfish Days, Trempealeau Kickapoo Reserve Dam Challenge, La Farge War of 1812 Reenactment Events, Prairie du Chien Octoberfest – Hillsboro Brewing Co., La Farge Stockholm Art Fair, Stockholm NOVEMBER Prairie Dog Blues Fest, Prairie du Chien Driftless Area Film Festival, Vernon County River Bluff Daze, Ferryville River Falls Days, River Falls DECEMBER Driftless Music Festival, Viroqua Community-Wide Holiday Events Lorem Ipsum Vintage Motorcycle Rally, Viroqua Droppin’ of the Carp, Prairie du Chien Larryfest Music Fest, La Farge AUGUST Country on the River Music Fest, Prairie du Chien Dairy Breakfasts Fountain City Days, Fountain City Swiss Heritage Days, Alma JUNE IS DAIRY MONTH Ashley For The Arts, Arcadia Enjoy a good breakfast and tour a Irishfest, La Crosse working dairy farm. Great family event! Find locations and times at 6 | www.wigreatriverroad.org dairydaysofsummer.com Some of Wisconsin’s oldest communities are located along the Wisconsin STEP INTO Great River Road. Because of their proximity to the Mississippi River, several Wisconsin river towns were among the first places settled by HISTORY Europeans in the New World. FORT CRAWFORD MUSEUM 33 HISTORIC RIVER TOWNS & VILLAGES Prairie du Chien Prairie du Chien is full of remnants of the French Great River Road Interpretive Center culture which dominated Fort Crawford Museum is located on the Fort Craw- the 17th century Missis- ford Military Tract, the Fort Craw- sippi River. Places like Potosi ford Hospital is the