hidden valleys of southwestern wisconsinsouthwest wisconsin auto tours


hidden valleys events
9/11/2010
Apple Dumpling Days
Elroy is the center of three abandoned railroad beds that have all been converted to bike trails. Th... (more info)

9/11/2010 - 9/12/2010
Burr Oak Winery Harvest Fest
Share in the fun of the harvest with local artists, crafters, musicians and wine tasting.... (more info)

9/11/2010 - 9/12/2010
St. Pat's Fall Festival
Famous roast beef dinner, small craft raffle, cake walk, silent auction, chinese raffle and outside ... (more info)

9/18/2010
Whooping Crane & Wildlife
Festival
Celebrate the whooping crane with crafters, food, tours and much more. for more information call 608... (more info)

9/18/2010 - 9/19/2010
Fall Festival of the Ages (note date change)
Renaissance Fair with food, music, mock fighting, bed of nails, belly dancing, fire eating. Dress in... (more info)


Pleasant Valley Log Cabins are located in beautiful Southwestern Wisconsin on 80 secluded acres.
www.pvlc.com


ITBEC-SW - The International Trade, Business and Economic Development Council provides participating counties in southwest Wisconsin with a mechanism to identify and formulate regional goals and strategies leading to improvements in tourism, economic development and exporting.
http://audiocartours.com/hidden_valleys.htm



Cheese Country
This tour features: History, Highlights, Attractions, Culinary Delights, Recreation, Fun for Kids, More Information

Of course the entire state of Wisconsin is famous for cheese!

After football fans started wearing those yellow wedge-shaped foam hats in support of our favorite team, we became officially and affectionately known as "cheeseheads." And we consider the nickname a compliment!

Here in southern Wisconsin we are also cheese eaters, cheese lovers, and most importantly - cheesemakers. This tour along scenic back roads and over rolling hills also highlights history, outdoor recreation, and kid-friendly stops along the way. Another way to enjoy the scenery of Cheese Country is by taking an off-road trip on the Cheese Country Trail - a multi-use trail (popular with ATV's) running through Green, Lafayette, and Iowa counties.



Download Details: CheeseCountry.pdf

BRODHEAD
(see photo on right)
Website: http://www.brodheadchamber.org
Begin your tour of Cheese Country in Brodhead. Climb on your bicycle and ride just north of the city on the Sugar River Trail to a replica of the Clarence Covered Bridge. Check out Earth Rider Cycling downtown, complete with showers for you AND for your bike. Visit the Brodhead Depot Museum, with an engine and caboose open for exploration outside, plus lots of local history in the depot - including a display on the local cheese and dairy industry.

Brodhead Depot Museum
(see photo on right)
1108 - 1st Center Ave.
Brodhead, WI 53520
608.897.4150 From Brodhead, take Hwy. 11/81 west to Juda.

Maple Leaf Cheese Factory Outlet
W2616 Hwy. 11/81
Juda, WI 53550
608.934.1237

CHEESE STOP!

Continue west on Hwy. 11/81 to Monroe.
MONROE
Website: http://www.monroechamber.org
Begin downtown on Monroe's Historic Courthouse Square, a bustling shopping district surrounding the majestic 1891 Green County Courthouse. Stop in for a limburger-with-onion-on-rye sandwich at Baumgartner's Cheese Store and Tavern. Just west of the square is the Monroe Arts Center, featuring performing arts and a gallery with rotating exhibits. And get a taste of Swiss history at Turner Hall, just two blocks south of the square.

Alp and Dell Cheese
657 – 2nd St.
Monroe, Wi
608.328.3355

CHEESE STOP!  FREE TOUR!
Historic Cheesemaking Center
(see photo on right)
2108 - 7th Ave.
Monroe, WI 53566
608.325.4636 Located in the beautifully restored Monroe Railroad Depot, the center houses memorabilia and cheese factory replicas showcasing the cheesemaking process of the past.

Joseph Huber Brewing Company
1208 – 14th Ave.
Monroe, WI
608.325.3191
Website: http://www.berghoffbeer.com
Take the “taster’s tour” and witness the brewing process at the nation’s second oldest family-owned brewery. Finish the tour with samples in the Founder’s Tap Room. Five fun flavors of premium sodas for the kids

Monroe Arts Center
1315 - 11th St.
Monroe, WI
608.325.5700
Website: http://www.monroeartcenter.com
Performing arts center, and a gallery with rotating exhibits - located in a beautifully restored church just west of Monroe's Historic Courthouse Square.

MONTICELLO
(see photo on right)
Website: http://www.monticello-wi.com/
Stop along Hwy. 69 and enjoy the view of Lake Montesian, or stroll through the Montesian Gardens, with blooms from spring til frost. Downtown Monticello offers several unique restaurants (try Mary's homemade pie at M&M Cafe) and the works of local artists featured at the Balcony Gallery.

Lake Montesian and Montesian Gardens Enjoy fishing and kayaking in Lake Montesian, or stroll through the community gardens nearby - with an array of blooms from spring til frost. Lake Montesian features a handicap-accessible pier and a bridge to the island.

Edelweiss Town Hall Cheese
(see photo on right)
W6117 Cty. C
Monticello, WI 53570
608.938.4094 CHEESE STOP!

Silver-Lewis Cheese
W3075 Cty. EE
Monticello, WI 53570
608.938.4813 CHEESE STOP!

Swiss Heritage Cheese
114 E. Coates Ave.
Monticello, WI 53570
608.938.4455 CHEESE STOP!

NEW GLARUS - "America's Little Switzerland"
Website: http://www.swisstown.com
Swiss immigrants admired the hilly region and decided to call it home in the 1840's. Take a glimpse into the lives of those early settlers at the Swiss Historical Village Museum. The entire village of New Glarus pays homage to the Swiss roots of the area, with preservation of architecture and cuisine. Try fondue at the Glarner Stube, the New Glarus Hotel, or the Chalet Landhaus Restaurant. Taste many varieties of locally made cheese, including a variety made exclusively from the milk of Brown Swiss Cows, downtown at Maple Leaf Cheese & Chocolate.

Green County Cow Scavenger Hunt
(see photo on right)
toll free 1.888.222.9111
Website: http://www.greencounty.org
Hunt for the herd of decorated bovines. Pick up a contest entry form at the New Glarus Chamber of Commerce, or download from the web site www.greencounty.org

New Glarus Brewing Company
119 Cty. W
608.527.5850
Swiss Historical Village Museum
612 - 7th Ave.
New Glarus, WI 53574
608.527.2317
Website: http://www.swisshistoricalvillage.com

New Glarus Chamber of Commerce
(see photo on right)
418 Railroad St.
New Glarus, WI 53574
608.527.2095
Website: http://www.swisstown.com

Located in a restored railroad depot that also serves as head of the Sugar River Trail.

From New Glarus, travel west on Hwy. 39 to Hollandale.
HOLLANDALE
(see photo on right)
Website: http://www.nicksgrandview.org

FREE TOUR! Visit Nick Engelbert's Grandview, located 1/2 mile west of Hollandale on Hwy. 39. Grandview is a tribute to the artistic talents of a man who created more than 40 concrete folk art sculptures in his yard. The quirky "monkey tree" is a tribute to his own family members.

Travel north on Cty. K.  Turn left on Langberry Rd.
BARNEVELD
(see photo on right)

You'll know you're in the right place when you see lush hillsides covered with grapevines.  In addition to wine tasting and tours, Botham Vineyards has an expansive terrace perfect for a picnic.  Ask for suggestions on wine to accompany your cheese purchases, and then enjoy both (along with a great view) on the expansive terrace.

Continue north on Cty. K, turn right on Mounds Park Rd.
Blue Mound State Park

SCENIC VIEW! Climb the observation towers for fantastic panoramic views. On clear days you can spot the state capital in Madison - about 23 miles away.

Continue north on Cty. K, turn left on Hwy. 14.
ARENA
(see photo on right) A giant mouse on the front lawn marks the home of Arena Cheese. Step inside to view the cheesemaking process and munch some of those squeaky fresh cheese curds. Further west on Hwy. 14, you'll discover two unique farm markets. Heck's Market Place is famous for their Fall display of more than 8,000 pumpkins. Peck's Farm Market offers loads of fresh produce, baked goods, and preserves. Kids love the petting zoo out back, with all sizes of animals ranging from the tiniest of pygmy goats to the tallest giant llama.

Arena Cheese
(see photo on right)
300 Hwy. 14
608.753.2501 CHEESE STOP!

SPRING GREEN
(see photo on right) Spring Green is an artisan's haven, with numerous studios and galleries. Check out the Wisconsin Artist's Showcase on S. Washington St., located in a restored 1900's cheese warehouse. If you're hungry, locals heartily recommend the "Ms. Ruthie" sandwich at The Shed - named in honor of a bartender employed there for nearly three decades. Enjoy your meal on the patio out back. Work off those extra calories at nearby Tower Hill State Park. There you'll discovr how lead was melted, and then poured down a huge tower where it hit the cold water below to form lead shot in the mid-1800's.

SCENIC VIEW! Take Hwy. 23 just south of Spring Green. Great view of the "Point of Infinity" at nearby House on the Rock.

Boeing C-97 - FUN FOR KIDS!
(see photo on right) Climb aboard the 1952 Boeing C-97 Strato-Cruiser at the Don Q Inn. Sit in the pilot's seat in the cockpit, or imagine trying to get a good night's sleep in the "bunk beds" down below. The plane was used to transport troops and cargo during the Korean War. Look closely for the signature of actress Farah Fawcett, who autographed the plane when filming a television commercial.

DODGEVILLE - namesake Henry Dodge, 1st Governor of the Wisconsin Territory
Website: http://www.dodgeville.com/
Built in 1859, the Iowa County Courthouse is the oldest continuously operating courthouse in the state. Satisfy your sweet tooth just down the street with a "square" ice cream cone at Corner Drug Store, or a "popover" (fruit filling tucked into a pillow of pie crust and drizzled with icing) at Quality Bakery. You can even stop in to check your email on the computer at the Dodgeville Chamber of Commerce.

MINERAL POINT - "the place where Wisconsin began"
Website: http://www.mineralpoint.com/
Mineral Point is home to numerous artisan studios and galleries, plus an assortment of other shops featuring coffees, gifts, books, toys, and more. Stop downtown for some traditional Cornish fare at Red Rooster, or enjoy a fresh seasonal beer with your sandwich at Brewery Creek.

Hook's Cheese
320 Commerce St.
Mineral Point, WI 53565
608.987.3259 CHEESE STOP!

Mineral Point Railroad Museum
(see photo on right)
11 Commerce St.
608.987.2769
Website: http://www.mineralpointrailroads.com/

Orchard Lawn/Gundry House Museum
(see photo on right)
2 blocks east of the Water Tower on Madison St.
Mineral Point, WI 53565
608.987.2884

Guided tours June - September.

Insert driving directions here.
BELMONT
Website: http://www.belmontwi.com/
Visit the home of the First Capital for the Wisconsin Territory in 1836. Lawmakers huddled through the cold fall and winter months of build the framework of law and order that would develop into the state of Wisconsin 12 years later.

SHULLSBURG
Website: http://www.shullsburgwisconsin.org
Founded in 1827 after local fur trader and lead miner Jessie Shull. Father Samuel Mazzuchelli platted the community and named the streets Friendship, Charity, Justice, Judgement, Mercy, and Hope. Visit the Water Street Business District - home to a diverse and eclectic collection of shops, restaurants, and lodging establishments.

Gravity Hill
Website: http://www.shullsburg.com/gravity/gravity.htm
FUN FOR KIDS!  Drive about 1 mile south from Shullsburg past the water tower and check out this eyebrow-raising phenomena on Cty. U.  Stop your southbound vehicle next to the curve/25 mph sign.  Put the vehicle in neutral, and roll backward UP the hill.  HONEST!  (This is a public highway, so watch for other cars.)



BRODHEAD

Brodhead Depot Museum

Historic Cheesemaking Center

MONTICELLO

Edelweiss Town Hall Cheese

Green County Cow Scavenger Hunt

New Glarus Chamber of Commerce

HOLLANDALE

BARNEVELD

ARENA

Arena Cheese

SPRING GREEN

Boeing C-97 - FUN FOR KIDS!

Mineral Point Railroad Museum

Orchard Lawn/Gundry House Museum

Take a video tour of Hidden Valleys on some of the sites and activities to see and do.
• Click here to view the video
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To download our complete 2010 Hidden Valleys Tourism Guide click here.  (53MB PDF)
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Hidden Valleys of Southwestern Wisconsin • Click here for more information
 Crawford • Grant • Green • Iowa • Juneau • Lafayette • Monroe • Richland • Vernon •
Calendar of Events // Auto Tours // Photo Gallery // Contact Us // Board of Directors and Sales Reps // Home

Here are just a few activities and attractions to enjoy in the Hidden Valleys Area:
Biking, Hiking, Skiing, Eagles, Bird watching, Fishing, Canoeing, Shopping, Meetings/conventions, Rails to trails, Birding, Mississippi River, River Boats, Museums, River Tours, Southwest Wisconsin, Star Spangled Celebration, Center Color Fiesta, Frank Lloyd Wright, Richland Center, WI HS Rodeo Finals, Country Living Showcase, UW-Richland, Red Door Gallery, Pine River, Rockbridge, Lone Rock, Viola, Horse & Colt Show, Country in the Country, Sugar River, Green County Cheese, New Glarus, America's Little Switzerland, Cheese Days, Cheese Country Trail, Limburger, Monroe, Badger State Trail, Yodel, Alphorn, Mississippi River, Mississippi River Cruises, Grandad Bluff, Riverboat, Historic Downtown, Great River Road, Oktoberfest, Riverfest, City Brewery, Holiday Lights, Jazz Fest, Irishfest, Deke Slayton Airfest, Sunfish Days, Paddlewheel boat, Wild West Days, Czesky Den, Wildcat Mountain State Park, Kickapoo River, Kickapoo Valley Reserve, Vernon County, Elroy Sparta Bike Trail