Monroe County is proud to be the birthplace of a U.S. astronaut and home to a U.S. military installation, and residents find creative ways to gather, with annual festivals in each of the small communities.

 

Sparta is known as the Bicycling Capital of America. Set in a scenic valley, Sparta is home to the northern end of the Elroy-Sparta bike trail, a 32-mile former railroad track that travels through three rock tunnels and five small towns, and attracts more than 60,000 cyclists a year. Sparta also houses the Deke Slayton Memorial Space & Bicycle Museum, paying tribute to the Sparta native who was one of the first U.S. astronauts, with artifacts from Slayton’s career, model airplanes on display, and even a chunk of moon rock, on loan from NASA. Also, an exhibit with more than 80 bicycles shows the history of bikes over the centuries.

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Fort McCoy is a U.S. Army reserve training center, and allows hunting, fishing, and trapping on its 71 miles of streams. Cranberries are king in Warrens, with more than 40 cranberry marshes. The Warrens Cranberry Festival is the largest in the world, and draws 120,000 visitors every September.