Explore Wisconsin’s state, county parks
Say farewell to the warmth of summer sun and hello to the nippy but vibrant hues of autumn. Do it on foot or by pedal […]
Eco Efforts
Elephants: As population dwindles, Milwaukee zoo’s quarters enlarge
Elephants are the world’s largest mammals, and it is harder to see one in person because the species is dwindling, in captivity and the wild. […]
Lake Winnebago sturgeon flashbacks, folk art
Mary Lou Schneider, thanks for the flashbacks. On a wintry Sunday morning in the 1960s. I walk two blocks from church to the little general […]
Rural Missouri B&B operates inside Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage
Within the hills and dales of northeast Missouri are far fewer miles of paved roads than rivers and creeks. Signs at one-lane bridges warn of […]
Underwater treasures make Lake Michigan a National Marine Sanctuary contender
Deep below the surface of Lake Michigan, dozens of known shipwrecks stay intact because of isolated locations, frigid water and a lack of salt to […]
Germany’s natural world: Spreewald, Hainich
Our captain maneuvers us like a gondolier, standing as a pole propels his flatboat through a maze of canals that gingerly pass tree canopies, tiny […]
Take Ten: Women-owned farms to visit
Editor’s Note: Guest columnist Lisa Kivirist and husband John Ivanko of Browntown have earned national recognition for their farm and renewal energy work. By Lisa […]
Hot Springs: smallest national park, historic spa setting
The average spa treatment in this country involves low lights, soothing music, a heated massage table and complete privacy (unless booking a massage for two). […]
Take Ten: pretty places to hike in Wisconsin
Editor’s note: Wisconsin-native Kevin Revolinski is the author of 60 Hikes Madison, Best Hikes Near Milwaukee, Paddling Wisconsin, Best Tent Camping Wisconsin and Wisconsin’s Best […]
Take Ten: beautiful, challenging places to canoe in Wisconsin
Guest columnist Lynne Diebel of Stoughton is the author of numerous books about the outdoors, and the most recent is Crossing the Driftless (University of […]
New visitor center hikes visibility of The Ridges
A longtime but quiet force on the quiet side of Door County gains wider visibility this month. The opening of a unique visitor center at […]
Machu Picchu pilgrimage: a study in engineering, miracles
When pelting rain wakes me at 4 a.m. on a Monday, about all I can do is listen and wonder. The closest weather forecast online […]
Eagle watch: Mississippi River, Raptor Center
Up to 2,500 bald eagles winter near the Mississippi River’s locks and dams because open water makes it easier to fish for dinner. That’s why […]
Indy’s International Orangutan Center protects, learns from endangered species
Two friends move 1,000 miles together, then another 500 after meeting three decades ago. That is the mark of a special relationship, made extraordinary because […]
Your trash, their treasure: art from recycled materials
With spring cleaning comes the urge to discard and replace, but there are notable exceptions. Sometimes it’s a higher priority to reuse and recycle. One […]
For the birds in Wisconsin: fests, counts, city commitments
You could say Wisconsin is for the birds and be relatively accurate, for at least three reasons. One-third of the state’s residents who are age […]
Sheboygan’s Bookworm Gardens inspires reading in children
Gardens are about planting and growing, but most fruits of harvest on a 2-acre plot in Sheboygan are not edible. What visitors reap are the […]
For disabled travelers: Fishing Has No Boundaries
This is the second part of a series about efforts that address the challenges of traveling with a disability. — It is not unusual for […]
Megabus: Bundle up and wait, but price is right
Even on a glorious, wintry day of bright sun and no wind, we bounce uncomfortably from one foot to another. Our ride is late, no […]
Raccoon Den B&B on Shalom Wildlife Sanctuary
Second in a series about the wide range of bed and breakfast lodging in Wisconsin. Many innkeepers include breakfast for overnight guests but are not […]