What's one Wisconsin experience that everyone should have at least once in their lifetime?

We posed that question to members of the Wisconsin Trails Reader Advisory Board, and here's what they had to say. What do you think? Tell us your Essential Wisconsin Experience using the form below and we'll share your comments with our readers on wisconsintrails.com.

• Lakes and Loons (Terri Sorenson, Reader Advisory Board): “Sitting at night on a pier by a quiet lake, watching the stars and listening to the loons.”

• Spring and Harvest Farm Drives (Eric Brown, Reader Advisory Board): "Driving through rural areas in the spring when the crops are just beginning to grow, and driving through the same areas in the fall before or after the crops have just been harvested. There are many special views, especially along the designated Rustic Roads. Sometimes the views remind me of a Grant Wood painting."

• Floating on Devil's Lake (Susan Jacobs, Reader Advisory Board): "Floating on a rubber raft in the middle of Devil's Lake on a hot summer day—it's like being in a huge bowl of perfect sound, color, and warmth. Even if the soaring birds are turkey buzzards, everything looks graceful, mellow, and as it should be."

• Joan of Arc Chapel (Mary Beth Schutte-Taylor, Reader Advisory Board): "In the heart of Milwaukee on the campus of Marquette University sits a small gothic building. It is known as the Joan of Arc Chapel. It's far from its original home of Chasse, France. It was built there in the 15th century and stood for over 500 years. In 1926 it was transported it to an estate in Long Island, NY, and was the only building that remained after the estate was gutted by fire. In 1964, the Gavin estate passed to other family members until this little chapel survived a painstaking dismantling, stone by stone, and was donated to Marquette University. It is a Wisconsin place everyone should experience for the architecture and to see the memorial tomb in the floor of a famous French knight and the Joan of Arc altar stone. The experience is one of quiet awe of the history that exits here and one of marvel that in the middle of a Milwaukee college campus sits a medieval structure."

• Lake Superior (Cindy Owen, Reader Advisory Board): "Everyone should experience Lake Superior. Go and look at its cold clear waters. Breathe its sharp, pure air. Watch a beautiful sunset. Sail, hike, swim, fish, paddle its waters. Gaze at the spectacular night sky."

• The Great River Road (Nancy Wight, Reader Advisory Board): "Wisconsin's section of the Great River Road leads to Wyalusing State Park, one of Wisconsin's oldest state parks. A short hike in the park leads to an overlook at the top of the bluffs where the confluence of the Mississippi and Wisconsin rivers is visible. It is a magnificent view. An article in Wisconsin Trails introduced me to this Wisconsin experience."

• Fall Road Trip in Door County (Trenton Kranz, Reader Advisory Board): "For a true ‘Wisconsin' experience I would highly recommend a fall colors road trip of Door County. It possesses postcard-worthy scenery of the local state parks and the Green Bay and Lake Michigan shorelines, combined with quaint small towns, events, and a wealth of history."

• A Mix of Urban/Rural Experiences (Nancy Berlin, Reader Advisory Board): 1) Kayaking and sailing the Apostle Islands in Lake Superior. 2) Using the Wisconsin Gazetteer to take a new back-road route from Milwaukee to the Mississippi River each time. 3) Stockholm, along the Mississippi, is my favorite location—home of my Swedish ancestors. My sisters and I celebrate our birthdays each year at Great River B&B in Stockholm and dinner at Harbor View in Pepin. 4) Dinner at Coquette Cafe in Milwaukee on snowy winter evenings. 5) Walking the Lake Michigan beach in the morning at Schlitz Audubon—sometimes it is so quiet you'd never know we were just 10 miles from downtown Milwaukee! 6) The Milwaukee Art Museum. 7) The Farmer's Market in Madison.

• Sunset at Anderson Dock, Door County (Maggie Rossiter Peterman, Reader Advisory Board): "Sitting on the Anderson Dock in Ephraim watching the sun set over Horseshoe Island off shore from Peninsula State Park. It renews your spirit."
  

• Road Trip Around the State (Leanne Their, Rhinelander): "Grab a map, pick a destination, and then stay off the freeways and take back roads. There is an unspeakable freedom, and a great sense of adventure. Stop along the way in little towns, where you'll find warm smiles, plenty of advice/directions, and surprising talents/specialty items to that area. You'll enjoy yourself more and half the fun is getting there."

• Wildcat Mountain State Park (Kathleen Krebs, St. Lawrence): "For a monastic experience, visit Wildcat Mountain State Park near Ontario, Wisconsin. Select a picnic area that overlooks the Kickapoo River. The view is absolutely breathtaking."

• State Capitol (Norb Wurtzel, Reader Advisory Board): "Every citizen of Wisconsin should spend a day at the State Capitol building. The visit should include the tour provided as well as extended observations of our legislators during floor sessions."

• Okauchee Lake (Julie Fabris, Beaver Dam): "Boating on Okauchee Lake—I was first introduced to this lake experience when I was a freshman in college. I couldn't believe how exciting and alive this lake community was. The boats all congregate on the lake at a place called party island where music, dancing, and grilled food are all shared. I came full circle when me and my husband parked our boat there for a summer and I could share the experience with our children."