Explorer's Guide Wisconsin

Book excerpt: With city sophistication and small-town charm, Wisconsin offers much more than cheese! From Milwaukee’s ethnic festivals to Green Bay Packers games to spectacular scenic drives through Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest; from the boisterous water parks of the Dells to the tranquil beauty of cranberry marshes in autumn, author Mollie Boutell-Butler introduces you to a friendly and interesting state with an abundance of traditions and attractions. No other guidebook on Wisconsin is as comprehensive, none as passionate about all the riches nestled between Lakes Michigan and Superior. In these pages you’ll find detailed information on lodging and dining options—including where to find native dishes like kringle and booyah—in places where tourists congregate and places where they don’t; you’ll go up the coastline to the lighthouses, cherry orchards, and antiques markets of Door County; stroll through the offbeat shops and restaurants of Madison; and head inland, where over 1,200 miles of bicycle paths weave among 15,000 glacial lakes. There’s a greater variety of amusements in the Badger State than you ever imagined. Helpful icons make it easy to locate places of extra value, gay-friendly establishments, wi-fi hotspots, family-friendly activities, and lodgings that welcome pets. Regional and city maps cover everything from Green Bay to the expansive forests and Native American reservations of the Northwoods. An alphabetical What’s Where section provides essential facts and figures and simplifies trip planning and getting around. All the information you need to have a great time in Wisconsin is right here!