A few of you were understandably reluctant to give up your favorite Wisconsin spots, but more than 200 readers had no problem sharing their top destinations for all to enjoy. See more secret spot
NATURAL GEMS
My favorite
Wisconsin "Secret Spot" is Slough Gundy off County Highway M in the
Flambeau River State Forest, southeast of Winter. It is beautiful and secluded,
with the sounds of rushing water. Hike the trail and cross the creek to see the
Turtle Flambeau Flowage. There is a bluff there where we used to jump into the
river. I've seen deer, eagles and maybe one time I spotted another person. I
love it.
Cindy Maiorella
Waukesha
Parfrey's Glen
is a magical place. It isn’t well advertised, but is preserved as a state
natural area. If you appreciate unique plants, the site has an abundance of
them. The fact that flooding in recent years has caused a natural reshaping of
the surroundings makes it even more special.
Tom Weber
Menomonee Falls
PARKS
Lower Cato Falls
County Park near Manitowoc has a wonderful trail, terrific fall colors and
unique plants near the falls including liverworts and ferns. We have fished
there on occasion, too. There are usually not too many people there and you
feel like it is your very own secret spot.
Nancy Gill
Reedsville
Ellison Bluff
County Park in Door County features several different types of forests and is
right on the coast, making it the perfect place for a stroll at sunset with a
backdrop of beautiful bluffs.
Amy Irving
Madison
In the spring,
Lizard Mound State Park’s forest floor is covered with beautiful trilliums and
other wildflowers. It is so soothingly quiet to walk in the cool forest,
looking at the ancient effigy mounds and thinking about what life was like for
the Native Americans who built them. I always think of the park with a quiet
reverence and it remains one of my best childhood memories.
Marge Warnier
Greenfield
Murphy County
Park, just south of Egg Harbor, is a quiet place with a small beach and a long
dock. It looks out over Horseshoe Bay and into Green Bay. In the early spring,
with the ice just melting and the trees budding, the sunsets are just
beautiful. It's a great place to escape to and relax with an awesome view.
Eric Button
Mequon
Hobbs Woods near
Fond du Lac is as peaceful and as natural as it comes. Man-made trails lead to
natural bridges made out of fallen oak trees and large stones perfectly placed
by nature to allow you to explore meandering streams and natural trails. It is
a small piece of heaven on earth.
Kristine Ruehl
Oakfield
CAMPING
Luna–White Deer
Campground, east of Eagle River, is a wilderness paradise in the heart of the
Chequamegon–Nicolet National Forest. I had the honor of being the “workamper”
there in 2003 and 2005, and although I have been all over the United States,
Luna–White Deer remains my favorite place to enjoy nature.
Tom S.
Pensacola, Florida
WATERFALLS
Stephens Falls,
located in Governor Dodge State Park near Dodgeville, is a beautiful little
waterfall and grotto that are part of my heritage because my
great-great-grandparents homesteaded this property in the mid 1850s. The
waterfall is part of a series of very scenic hiking trails in the park and is a
must-see for its serene beauty.
Dennis Stephens
Franklin
CAVES
The Ledge View
Nature Center and Park, located just south of Chilton in Calumet County, is the
perfect day-trip adventure for the whole family. While there, explore the
caves, trails quarry, forest and observation tower, offering breathtaking views
of the Niagara Escarpment.
Kelly Nieforth
Chilton
Far from the
most-traveled paths of Governor Dodge State Park, there is a cave in a rock
outcropping. You have to hunch down to enter, but there is a large room once
you get inside. Park maps show the hiking trail to get there. For the GPS
users: N 43° 01.645 W 90° 05.529
Ken Braband
Mequon
LAKES
There is a
state-owned lake in Iron County called North Bass Lake. There are no inlets or
outlets to this serene, out-of-the-way lake that has a public access boat
launch and a small parking and picnic area. Out in this peaceful area, I once
took a canoe and paddled around for hours. There was nobody out there except
the eagles, osprey and some biting flies, but it was awesome. I wish I could be
there right now!
Heidi Antoni
Waupun
RIVERS
If you kayak, canoe or tube down the Wisconsin River, put in just below the Rainbow
Flowage Dam in the Town of Lake Tomahawk. Just after a group of small rapids there is a little inlet with a picnic area, fire pit and room to camp. Take out at the bridge at River Road. It’s especially beautiful in the fall, and because the river never freezes, it’s a great New Year’s Day trip for the more adventurous.
Geri Miller
Milwaukee
HIKING
The Emma Carlin
Trail in the Southern Kettle Moraine is challenging with plenty of hills,
mostly at the end of the system. The forest there is beautiful with a few
scenic drops along the way, and there’s even a blackberry patch for a quick
snack (in July). Of the three trails, ranging from two to four miles, my
favorite is the four-mile trail.
Tom Streicher
Waukesha
I like the
"other" Old World Wisconsin – the hiking trails that take you off the
beaten path and through areas few tourists have been to. These back roads that
connect the various settlements of Old World Wisconsin are quite beautiful and
feature prairie, oak openings, forest and ponds.
Clay Shannon
Oconomowoc
Sandhill Wildlife Area near Babcock is a wildlife refuge with a wonderful network of hiking trails and rustic roads for driving tours. The landscape varies from woods to bogs to bluffs, and you might even spot a bison from one of the observation towers.
Padraic Durkin
Wisconsin Rapid
BIKING
The Rock Lake trail system in the Chequamegon–Nicolet National Forest near Namakagon
has some of the best single-track mountain biking in the Midwest. Wooded and completely isolated, you can bike around a secluded lake and see what Wisconsin looked like 200 years ago. I’ve never seen more than two cars in the lot – not bad for a place with more than 20 miles of trails.
Michael Nord
Whitefish Bay
RESTAURANTS
John Henry's in
Egg Harbor. Great food, great atmosphere and great people!
Jennifer Lind
Princeton, Illinois
Julie's Park
Cafe, located at the Fish Creek entrance to Peninsula State Park, is wonderful
for breakfast. The food is unbelievable!
Rebecca Moon
Aurora, Illinois
The Rendez’vous
Tiki Lounge in Kenosha is a secret island getaway with delicious tropical
drinks and delightful decor. It is a must-visit when you are in the Kenosha
area! You won't be disappointed when you "name your poison.”
Judy Mitchell
Kenosha
For a quiet breakfast try the Once in a Blue Moon Restaurant in Princeton. It’s perfect for a girls’ day out – my friends and I meet there on a Saturday morning and then enjoy the day in this wonderful little town. Our favorite: cafe mocha with crème brûlée banana oatmeal!
Cindy Boelk
Oakfield
SCENIC DRIVES
One of my
favorite drives is the back roads north of Blue Mound State Park, south of
Mazomanie. The nooks and crannies in this area are like those you might find in
more mountainous regions. It would be a very relaxing place to live – provided
you own a four-wheel-drive vehicle for winter.
Gaye Klocke,
West Des Moines, Iowa
Chippewa Falls
is one of the most beautiful places along the drive to and from Minnesota.
While I’m there, I stop at the Leinie Lodge for a cold beer.
Tim Stolp
Albertville, Minn.
The ride on
Snake Road in Lake Geneva is especially beautiful in the fall, but its beauty
lifts my spirits any time of the year.
Judith Miller
Elkhorn
HISTORY
My favorite
place to step back into the past is at the historic Noble House Museum and
History Center located in the heart of Fish Creek. The home, which is on the
National Register of Historic Places, was built in 1875 and contains many
artifacts of it original owner, Alexander Noble.
Douglas Blahnik
Fish Creek
ART
Lakes Gallery in
North Lake is a hidden garden of wonders. Work by artists from across the
country is displayed in a beautifully restored Tudor house, which can be rented
for any occasion.
Ruth Bridgeman
Zenda, Kansas