Midwest Monday: Wausau, WI

Hello followers!  It has been an exciting few weeks in our household.  It will be that way every year around this time considering we celebrate Christmas, New Years, our Anniversary, and my birthday all within a few weeks.  Ryan has to save up all year just to afford all the gifts for this month. :) 

For our anniversary dinner we went to this really great new place called Manila.  I love California and Philly Rolls!!!  YUM!

This past weekend we had an anniversary/birthday party with both our families.  We had the top of our wedding cake remade by Artistic Cakes for the big party.

The other big exciting news is that my sister with Danae Herrmann Photography is renting her first photography studio!  She is busy making plans and designs for the space, and also introduced a new website design for the new year.

For those of you in the Midwest area, my brother and I took a little trip to Wausau, WI this week and tried out a new restaurant that is amazing!  Definitely worth whatever drive it takes you to get there.  The Red Eye Brewery makes stone fired pizzas, wraps, and burgers.  They try to use all local herbs and produce, and their beef is from grass feed animals.  We both got one of their pizzas.  I think I'm gonna take my entire family on a road trip to try out this place again, it was that good!

 

 

While your there, Wausau has alot of great stores to stop at while downtown.  In the summer they have weekly concerts in the center of downtown here at the amphitheater.

No trip would be complete without a stop at Spoon-n-Yogurt!  So amazing!

 

Afterwards we took a short 15 minute drive out of town to Dells of Eau Claire Falls.  I got to try out my new winter boots on a hike along the Eau Claire River and the bluffs here at the falls.  It was nice to get outside and enjoy the fresh air! 

 

 

Midwest Monday: Christmas in Cedarburg

Do you feel like Christmas came up suddenly and you haven't even embraced the holiday yet?  There is nothing better to get in the Christmas spirit than to plan a day with family or friends and take part in one of the holiday festivities in Cedarburg, Wisconsin. Another charming, historic Wisconsin town-during Christmas- time Washington Street in Cedarburg turns into a winter wonderland. They have numerous holiday events that are worth checking out.

On December 14th from 5-9pm, Cedar Creek Settlement has a night of shopping with complimentary snacks and wine tasting with live holiday music.  Cedar Creek Settlement has 30 unique shops inside an old woolen mill along the river.   Check out their website for many more upcoming events.

Take a sleigh ride on the beautiful property of Paradise Ranch.

Stop in at Soulshine Arts Hot Glass & Crafts any time between 10am-5pm on Saturday or Sunday (Dec 15, 16, 22, 23) and make your own glass ornament for the tree.  Its $35 for an amazing experience you will have a remembrance of in Christmases to come.   

Cedar Creek Winery sits of the banks of Cedar Creek River and was previously an old woolen mill in the early 1800's.  Now a stone wine cellar, Cedar Creek Winery carries some of the most Award Winning Wines in Wisconsin.  Go to their website for a listing of taste testing and guided tours.

My favorite restaurant which is right next to Cedar Creek Winery is Anvil Pub and Grill.  It's an old restored blacksmith's shop which has casual dining in a really unique atmosphere.  In the summer they offer patio seating overlooking Cedar Creek Waterfall.  An absolutely beautiful spot.

While you only have a couple weeks before Christmas, this town is worth checking out any time of the year!

Midwest Monday:New Glarus, WI

While the hubby was gone hunting, my brother and I took a short trip to southern Wisconsin for the weekend to tour the cities of New Glarus and Paoli. 
New Glarus is known as the Little Switzerland of Wisconsin.  It is a very quaint little town with rolling hills surrounding it. We did some shopping downtown and our first stop was at the Vault Market.
I was in love with this place!  It was like a pinterest heaven.  All sorts of old painted furniture, windows and doors, chandeliers, framed chalkboards, and other handmade items.  The building itself was awesome with tall exposed ceilings and old brick walls.  I could have taken home many items to surprise Ryan with when he got home but I controlled myself! 

We found out that the owner also owned another store location in Paoli, so I knew that would be on our list of places to stop next!

Of course any getaway with my brother means lots of stops for coffee.  We found Fat Cat Coffee Works downtown.  They had great coffee and a really neat location.  Needless to say, we made more than one stop there over the weekend.

Just to let you know, there are lot of honest people in New Glarus.  I have the bad habit of leaving things places and didn't realize I had forgotten a purchase from The Vault in the coffee shop till about an hour later.  We went back and the guy had my bag behind the counter!  Wooh!  Somehow I always get lucky and seem to get my things back at least.

New Glarus Brewery was our next stop.  They have a gorgeous, newly remodeled building located on a bluff overlooking the city.  For about $7 you can buy a glass with a sample of any of their beers while you take the free self guided tour.  I'm not a beer drinker, but I tried the new Raspberry Tart flavor for the ladies.  Wasn't bad for a beer!  :)

 'Hard Hat' tours are available for $20 on Fridays which includes an in depth tour of all their previous and current locations along with taste testings. 

Do you have as much fun with your brother or sister as I do?

Besides that there is the New Glarus Primrose Winery, a handful of great restaurants, and many nearby state parks and trails.

Then we headed to Paoli where we visited the Cottage Goddess which was another location from The Vault Market owner.  Its a must see if you are in the area.  The historic old buildings and landscape are enough to make you want to go and check it out!

 The Paoli Schoolhouse restaurant and unique gift shop was another great stop.  They were all decorated with gifts for the holidays that you could buy.  

We brought our bikes along for the weekend so we could bike the Badger State and Sugar River State Trail which runs near New Glarus and Paoli.

We started biking on the Badger State Trail in Belleville at Library Park, just north of New Glarus. 

 About 5 miles south of Belleville you will reach the tunnel.  The tunnel curves making it impossible to see through to the other side, so you will need to bring a headlamp or flashlight to make it through.

We camped at Governor Dodge State Park that night.  It ended up getting down to about 24 degrees so we had a chilly night but it was fun to sit by a campfire again!  You may not want to camp there anytime soon if you don't like the cold, but there are alot of great hikes in the park if you have the time.

Hope you get a chance to go visit New Glarus and Paoli!  Its well worth the stop!

Midwest Monday: Galena, Illinois

If you are looking for a romantic getaway this winter, look no further than Galena, Illinois!  There is so much to do while you are there!  The area is absolutely beautiful with rolling hills, and the town has a unique historic charm.  Stay in one of the historic homes at one of the bed and breakfasts, or in a local hotel.  Also check out this beautiful Luxury 1800's log cabin through VRBO that I found.  It is definitely on the list for an anniversary getaway for Ryan and I. 

HISTORY

1. Tour the Ulysses S. Grant's museum or tour President Grants home which is open all year wedn-sun 9-4:45.

2. Tour Apple River Fort State in Elizabeth, Il.  The fort that President Lincoln camped outside of in 1832.  Come visit as they reinact the lives/jobs in the fort at that time.

3. The Dowling House- First house built in Galena in 1826 right downtown.  Tours are available.

4.  Galena Trolley- take a trolley tour of historic galena sites, winery tour, haunted night tour, or tour of homes.

5. Ryans Mansion- Tour Ryans Mansion with champagne and by candlelight as the butler takes you throughout the home.  This was a really neat experience to see all the maids and butlers dressed up like old times and to hear about the history of the home.





OUTDOOR RECREATION

1. Chesnut Mountain- Ski hill and alpine slide available in summer.

2. House on the Rock- Take a tour of this amazing architecture.  Alex Jordan built his home into and around the chimney of a rock.  See his unique collections, displays and galleries throughout the home.  Starting in November, the home is transformed for the holidays with Christmas decorations.  It has expanded to also offer lodging, golfing, and a spa. 

3. Crystal Lake Cave- open for tours May-October. 30-45 minutes.

4. River Boat Twilight- River boat cruises along the Mississippi river.

5. Tri State Market Pumpkin Barn- Open in the fall.  Fresh produce market including pumpkins, apples, hayrides, corn maze, and small animal farm.

6. Galena Carriage- Take a romantic carriage ride through the historic main streets of Galena or down Park Avenue by the historic homes.  They even offer 'carriage ride and dinner' packages where they are your transportation to a restaurant of choice. 

WINERIES

1. Massbach Ridge Winery- taste testing and tours available.

2. Galena Cellars- taste testing and tours available.

As you can see there is so much to do in Galena!  Shop downtown Main Street and visit all the boutiques and antique stores.  There are many options for restaurants.  Tours of mansions.  Art galleries.  You can easily fill up a weekend with the events they have going on, or even spend an afternoon driving around the rolling countryside. 

Hope you get a chance to check it out! 

Has anyone ever been to Galena?  Did you enjoy your stay?

MM:Christmas in the Fox Cities

What is MM (Midwest Monday)?  For years I have researched and written down any place, event, or scenic spot that has sparked my interest.  Whether I read it in a magazine, heard it through a friend, or found it online, I love finding new adventures and sharing them with others.  Midwest Monday is my chance to give you ideas of things to do, whether it be a seasonal activity, one time event, or a getaway vacation spot.  They may be located right in the Fox Valley, or somewhere in the close Midwest.  So instead of spending your nights in front of the tv, take one of my MM ideas and try something new!  Don't miss out on the memories to be made and the beautiful things Wisconsin and the Midwest have to offer! 

So with Christmas around the corner, don't miss out on these activities available over the next few weeks in the Fox Valley.

1. Garden of Lights at Green Bay Botanical Gardens-Open after Thanksgiving through Christmas, for $5 a person you can walk through this beautiful decorated garden or for $9 go through on a hay covered wagon.

2. Oshkosh Celebration of Lights- November 21-December 31st from 5-9pm.  Bring a non-perishable food item to get $2 off and pay $6 per vehicle to drive through Menominee Park in Oshkosh.

3. Nutcracker in the Castle- The Paine - Check out the Paine in Oshkosh December through January 7 to see the historic rooms decorated for the holidays.  Candlelight tours available in the evenings. 

4.  Hearthstone Victorian Mansion- Christmas Around the World, admission is $7 for adults or $4 for children. Visit the historic house featuring more than a dozen decorated trees.  Explore different cultures and their traditions through the stories of the trees, activities and crafts.   Hearthstone Mansion is located on the corner of Prospect and Memorial Drive in Appleton.

5.  Black Friday Fitness Class!  If anyone is looking for a way to help stay fit during the Thanksgiving holiday, Appleton Alliance Church is offering a free Fit Fest class Black Friday, November 23 from 9:15-11:30.  There are 6 different classes to choose from every half hour, 2 health speakers, and healthy food options and door prizes throughout the morning.  Find for information here.   This is a great way to check out their new workout facility and get some exercise in after all that turkey!

Perfect Fall Day in Fish Creek

After our trip to Maine we weren't quite ready for vacation to be over.  So we took a little road trip to Door County for amazing breakfast at The Cookery, one of my favorite restaurants in Fish Creek.  I have never been dissapointed!

We also did a little wine tasting at Orchard Country Winery.

Penninsula State Park still had beautiful fall foliage.  We took a nice hike to the tower for a great overlook.

 

Do you see anything hiding in this next picture?  Yes, thats my husband behind the tree playing 'Wheres Waldo'.

View from the tower

Aww.......

We also made a stop at Cana Island Lighthouse before sunset near Baileys Harbor.

It was a beautiful day and great way to end a perfect vacation!