New books: Great Lakes biking, Chicago fun, Iowa food
On my desk is a growing stack of recently released books, and I crave time to delve into them. The arrival of summer should make […]
New: Geneva Lake app, Shake Rag classes, APT shows
One of the prettiest waterfront walks in Wisconsin is the 21 miles around Geneva Lake, and now a new, free phone app helps explain what […]
Thrill for gearheads: Tesla rental at Mall of America
Summer is an easy season for fun and fantasy, but Minnesota’s Mall of America in Bloomington knows how to trump it up all year. This […]
The American Club turns 100: from immigrant housing to luxury lodging
A better life: That is what Old World immigrants sought when leaving European homelands and taking a treacherous ocean voyage 100 years ago. They arrived […]
Now is the season for open-air dining in rural Wisconsin
About 65 scenic miles separate two Wisconsin restaurants that serve pasta, brick-oven pizza and wine from around the world. The classy Italian menu at both […]
Taliesin ‘learn-by-doing’ philosophy extends to restaurant
The panorama is rarely less than stunning at Riverview Terrace Café, inside the Frank Lloyd Wright Visitor Center near Spring Green. Diners gain wide and […]
Take Twelve: Cool custard stops in Wisconsin
Culver’s, kingpin in the frozen custard world, introduces six new flavors this year. That hasn’t happened since 2012, and all of the Prairie du Sac […]
Sometimes little luxuries make one great memory
One of my favorite names for a specialty shop is Little Luxuries, on State Street in Madison. In the offbeat inventory are fancy hair clips, […]
Kentucky destinations, for horse lovers, extend beyond the Derby
Horse lovers know the arrival of May brings the grace and thrill of high-stakes thoroughbred racing. It all begins with the Kentucky Derby in Louisville […]
Showtime nears: High hopes for new Milwaukee Bucks home
East of the river: That’s where most of downtown Milwaukee’s modern-day growth and revitalization have occurred, but one massive exception is emerging. The $524 million […]
Reader mailbag: Quilt retreats, snowball vs. snow cone, awards
Time to take a dip into the mailbag. A belated, public “thank you” to those who sent notes about quilt retreats. Two were sent a […]
Cheese, please: Regional traditions turn into others’ trends
Count our squeaky and deep-fried curds, plus the South’s pimento spreads, among the beloved cheese traditions that are gaining attention far away from home. Classic […]
Plot your next getaway while waiting for spring to truly arrive
“In the Spring, I have counted 136 different kinds of weather inside of 24 hours.” The quote belongs to writer Samuel Clemens, better known as […]
Take Ten: Running with accessibility, beyond the basics
State tourism embraces accessibility in a new marketing campaign, and the star is a four-time Paralympic athlete. Matt Scott, a 2016 gold medalist in wheelchair […]
Milwaukee Art Museum’s “Road Trip” photos remove the filters
Smart phones and digital cameras make it possible for almost anybody to take a good picture, on purpose or by accident. Gone are the days […]
Wisconsin film fests: Entertainment is one part of their value
The worth of a well-crafted film goes way beyond entertainment, in little and large ways. A good movie helps us walk in somebody else’s shoes. […]
Where to find Danish hygge – contentment – in Wisconsin
What sets the stage for a happy life: Joy through toys? Lack of stress? Unconditional love? Popularity? Achievement? Money? Denmark boils the correct answer into […]
Pagel legacy challenges farm-to-table assumptions
The plump bacon cheeseburger, weighing in at one-third pound, was a blend of ground chuck, brisket and short ribs. The cheese: a medium cheddar. The […]
Trendsetters in lodging: Yotel, Kinn Guesthouse
Hands off, and hands on: We apparently want it both ways while traveling. We want memory-making vacation experiences that are immersive and personal, in groups […]
Deep discounts make wintry travel to NYC, Chicago worthwhile
Hibernating through winter is a good thing unless too much coziness feels like confinement. Thin is the line between peaceful solitude and bleak isolation. One […]