Wisconsin – Wander the Country with us in our Cougar 2100rk

If you’ve been following along, you’ll know that we left off with crossing the mighty Mississippi and we went to Wisconsin.

The Second Oldest Town in Wisconsin

The city Prairie Du Chien dates back to 1785. Our last stop on this trip in Wisconsin was the historic Villa Louis. We visited the estate of Hercules Louis Dousman who is often called Wisconsin’s first millionaire. This estate is nestled along the banks of the Mississippi River. You feel like you’re walking onto the set of Downton Abby with its elegant Victorian country home. Imagine this without the British accents. The house was opened to the public as a museum in 1935. I am a sucker for anything old, so walking through this old house was definitely on my bucket list.

We began our tour of the office building. It originally started with one floor and later a second floor was added. The first floor was a man cave. It was complete with a billiard table used by both men and women. The second floor was used for guest bedrooms.

The estate has been restored to the 1890 glory days complete with period furniture and heirloom gardens. The beautiful lawns outside that once housed a horse racetrack now looks like it can host a polo match.

The wraparound porch caught my eye immediately. I could imagine sitting here with a cup of tea, reading a good book and enjoying the views outside.

Can you imagine receiving guests in the parlor? You could host a lot of guests in this room although the chairs don’t look very comfortable.

They had indoor plumbing which yells, I have a lot of money. Check out the size of the tub! I would drown in it!

The grand dining room. Everything is original and changed out periodically.

It was not uncommon for girls to share a room together. I think most girls today would be okay with it given the size of the room.

Check out the detail of the carpet design.

Servants

I can imagine Thomas Barrow and crew from *Downton Abby* spilling the tea here during their dinner time.

Many women felt fortunate to work in such a grand house. As the sign reads “It offered the ability to improve English language skills, learn American housekeeping and general absorb and master American cultural norms.”

Some servants made their home here while others came to work for a day, week or a season. Monthly wages depended on your skill. House maids made $10-$12 a month, and gardeners made $30. Estate management made even more. I can’t imagine making so little, but their room and board were covered as well as their meals. The servant’s quarters were a stark difference from the main house. There were thinner walls and lower ceilings. Multiple doors and locks separated these spaces.

Gardens

This Arteisan Well was completed in 1876. It is the largest of two wells located on site. Both of the wells had been plumbed into the estate buildings at one time. https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=284831059236817

This was the only battle of 1812 that was fought on Wisconsin soil. They do still have reenactments here as well.

If you have a couple of hours to spare, step back and tour the mansion. Touring the grounds is also recommended. Admission is only $15 and well worth the money. I wish we could have stayed longer, but we were on a time constraint. So, if you’re like me and like to pretend that you’re stepping back in time to live like royalty you have to visit. I really did feel like I walked onto the set of Downton Abby.

Madison

We love Wisconsin! More specifically, Madison. Why? The history, cheese, the dells, cheese. I’m kidding, but in all seriousness, Wisconsin was full of so many surprises that we left and came back! If it is not on your bucket list by the end of this blog, maybe it should be.

We stayed at Madison Campground in Deforrest, It looks like it is a former KOA. The campground was nice and the staff were great as well.

We didn’t spend a lot of time outside due to the humidity. Each site had a lot of space, so you were not on top of each other.

Two playgrounds designated for different ages. There was a pool here as well.

This is a nice group picnic area if you have a large group.

Any cow lovers out there? I’m definitely a Holstein cow lover. That’s why we had to stop to take this picture. We did this before going in and getting some cheese at the Ehlenbach’s Cheese Chalet https://ehlenbachscheese.com/ .

Talking about cheese, Madisonians take their cheese seriously. I have never seen so much cheese in one place. I was overwhelmed by what I wanted to buy.

After careful consideration, I ended up buying cheeses that I knew I could be creative with.

Smoked Bacon Cheddar Cheese (This was great to make Mac and Cheese)
Rosemary Olive Oil Asiago (This was great to use with pasta)
Chocolate Cheese Fudge (This was just for fun because I couldn’t believe that cheese tasted like fudge)

Fun Facts about traveling with cheese:

Cheese can travel outside of refrigeration. It must be kept at room temperature. It should be kept out of direct sunlight.
If traveling by airplane, it is usually best if you can pack your cheese in your checked luggage.

I would definitely come back to buy more cheese. I really envy Wisconsinites who have access to all of these creative cheeses.

It’s Totally Free!

What is the tallest building in the city? If you said the state capital, you would be correct. It is located in the center of Madison. That area is actually on an isthmus. An isthmus is a strip of land between two lakes.

We joined a free guided tour which showed us the Supreme Court chambers and legislative rooms. We also found the governor’s office to see where everything gets signed.

As you can see, the capital was under renovations. The dome is the only state capital with a granite dome. It’s a gorgeous white granite from Vermont. The dome is huge and elegant. It is technically taller than the one in D.C. , standing at a tall 284 feet which is 3 feet taller than the U.S. Capital.

This building is the third capital building for the state and it was completed in 1917 for $7.2 million.

Inside you will find murals, mosaics, stained glass, and enough marble to make Italy jealous.

When you are in the capital, look up into the Rotunda. You’ll see four massive murals. They represent key themes of democracy: Government, Justice, Education, and Liberty.

In the center of the inner dome is the painting of “Resources of Wisconsin.” The painting depicts a female figure representing Wisconsin. She is surrounded by other figures holding symbolic items. These items include lead, copper, tobacco, fruit, and a freshwater pearl. This painting doesn’t look very big, but it is 34 feet in diameter.

Where are the laws upheld? Of course, the Supreme Court.

This mural of one of four and sits behind the bench. This mural should look familiar, since it is the signing of the Declaration Of Independence.

The three paintings in the senate chamber depict a significant event. “The Marriage of the Atlantic and the Pacific” commemorates the opening of the Panama Canal.

The people of Wisconsin are proud of their badgers. This sculpture sits above the door of the second floor chambers.

While in Madison, you will find the quirky as well. This pink elephent was shown on the Google map as a tourist attraction. Sometimes you don’t have to go look for it, it finds you when you least expect it.

Stayed tuned as we head east in Wisconsin and go to the circus.

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Welcome to our travel blog! We are Andrew and Loralee of the scherfswanderingwheels. We love traveling around our beautiful country to learn and experience new things. We are still traveling in Wisconsin and are heading east towards the Dells.

Our first stop was the Dell Pines Campground in Baraboo, Wisconsin.

There is so much to do at the campground. Whether it is shuffle board, pickle ball, volleyball, or miniature golf, there seems to be something for everyone.

We felt like we were camping in the forest due to the canopy of trees overhead. We did play pickle ball in the evening, but I got eaten by mosquitos as well. Overall, we really enjoyed this campground and would recommend it to any traveler.

Hurry, Hurry, Hurry! Step right up, as we soar into the crazy world of the Ringling Brothers Circus

The five brothers Al, Otto, Alt T., Charles, and John began their dream with just a small tent, three horses, a hyena, and a troupe of 21. As a sign in the museum states “The five brothers worked as a simple team, dividing the labor according to talent and inclination, but always acting as one. Their partnership was never on paper, and they shared equally in what became, during a lifetime of hard work, considerable wealth.”

What started as a dream among 5 brothers with a rented horse and a wagon, turned into a railroad traveling circus. It then merged with Barnum and Bailey Circus to become the Greatest Show on Earth.

From 1884 to 1918 Baraboo served as the circus’s winter home.

These circle things in the lower part of the wall were to chain the elephants to the wall. It’s sad to think that they didn’t have much room between them.

Remember the clowns? Many people (not just kids) don’t like the clowns. For me, they are great memories of watching all the shenanigans they got into with their colorful hair, big shoes, and little cars.

I remember seeing the little purple car in the background.

The museum opened its doors in Baraboo July 1, 1959

The circus quit traveling a few years back but this gave us a chance to learn the history of the circus and see where it all started. For $23 a person, this was well worth the stop, especially if you have small children. It was fun going down memory lane.

Under the Big Top

We didn’t know what to expect in this small area, but the lights set the stage for an hour show.

We got to see clowns, a dog show, acrobatics, jugglers, camels, and trapeze artists. It was quite a show.

Al Ringling Mansion and Brewery

Al Ringling was the eldest of the famous Ringling Brothers. He helped build Baraboo with the circus as well as building opera houses. This mansion was built in 1906 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. While a restoration was taking place, a wooden box was discovered beneath the floorboards containing a historic beer recipe- which today is called the “Ringling Original”.

If you ever wanted to sip a cold one in a place that is across from an opera house and a three-ring circus, we found the place. We originally drove to see the mansion and then discovered there was a brewery, so of course we had to stop. I am not a beer fan, but Andrew is a huge stout beer fan. I ordered him a stout and myself a sweet drink as well as an empanada.

Rumor has it that the Gavioli organ plays live and the beer bar top is a bowling lane.

So, if you’re in the area, it is a fun experience to sit and enjoy a beer and eat some food while possibly listening to some live music and dancing. It was a quiet afternoon, so we enjoyed the ambiance of the bar. Be sure to tour the beautiful mansion for just $20. So cheers to history, heritage, and hops.

Devils Lake State Park

This state park is located in Baraboo, Wisconsin and what a gem it is. For us non-Wisconsin residents, we had to pay an entrance fee of $16 but it was well worth it. The park is very big, encompassing approximately 10,000 acres. This is Wisconsin’s biggest state park. There seems to be something here for everyone. There are over 30 miles of hiking trails, boat rentals, and camping.

This is beautiful Devil Lake on the north shore! At this time in the evening the lake was so calm and serene. The lake is approximately 47 feet at its deepest point with roughly 3.5 miles of shoreline.

I was very intrigued by the Bat Condo. Have you ever seen one of the these?

The drive was just beautiful through the tree canopy!

We watched the sunset from the south shore and what a site it was!

We did check out the campground with 423 sites for next time and we think it will be a great place to relax and just be. So, if you’re coming for an hour or a few days there is plenty of things to see and do if you desire.

We next headed north to the Dells, and it is a total tourist attraction. We tried not to get roped into a lot, but it was very hard. Think Las Vegas but without all the lights and heat. The hotels are jazzy and look giant to draw you in.

This hotel was closed for renovation, but this seems to scream route 66 hotel, doesn’t it?

Quack, Quack, Duck

Have you heard anything about these ducks? I had, but wasn’t so sure about it. It is a land and water boat. Andrew was very excited to share this experience with me. It is an 8 1/2 mile route that takes roughly an hour.

This is a World War II era water vehicle that takes you around the dells on a one hour tour. The tour is 30 min. on land and 30 min. in water. This duck tour claims to be the only continuous tour since 1946. It was built to ferry troops and supplies directly from the ship to shore. The website states, “It was given the name duck because the the truck was assigned a code DUKW. D represents 1942, the year of its design. ‘U’ indicates a utility vehicle. ‘K” means all-wheel drive capabilitu. And “W” signifies duel rea driving axels.”

While on land, we saw some wild life. Can you see it?

And here we are on the water, touring the dells while the tour guide is giving us Dells history, local legends, and humorous quips.

Final Quack: We did enjoy the ride, one of us more than the other. For me, it definitely was a tourist thing to do for $40, but now I can cross this off the bucket list as something I didn’t know I wanted to do. It was the weirdest ride on land and water wondering if we will sink in the Dells or crash in the forest; it is a must do at least once.

Lake House Grill and Bar

After our duck tour, we were inspired to have a nice lunch over looking Lake Delton.

We had a beuatiful lake view while eating our lunch. It wasn’t too warm, the weather was perfect.

The food was really good. I had a Buffalo Chicken and bacon wrap. Andrew had a summer house burger.

If you’re looking for a relaxing, out of the city place to enjoy some really good food, this is the place to go.

Root Beer Museum

If you’re a fan of root beer, this is the place to visit. This is a museum that immerses you in a foam- fueled journey through flavor, history, and root beer nostalgia. It is in the heart of the Dells right on the main tourist strip.

There are over 3,000 root beer brands lining these shelves. Its awesome to walk around here and see all the different brands of root beer.

Fun Facts

Root Beer dates back to colonial America
The original flavor came from the sassafras root, but the FDA banned sassafras oil.
It came before Coca-Cola, dating back to 1876.
The classic root beer float was supposedly invented in the 1890’s.

So if you’re in the area, and you’re looking for something cheap and fun to do where you can learn something along the way, try the Root Beer Museum. And while you’re there, pick up some unique root beer to try at home. I walked out with a case of 6 different root beers.

We love this part of Wisconsin. There is so much to see and do, but watch out for all the tourist things that can easily take all your vacation money. For me, my favorite part was the Ringling Brothers circus in Baraboo. It definetly made me think about the times I went to the circus as a kid and taking my kids to the circus as well.

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Category: Wisconsin

Exploring Prairie Du Chien: Wisconsin’s Historic Gem