Explore Wisconsin now and you will see the telltale signs of spring – green grass, buds on the trees, and birds chirping happily. Good weather always put us in a good mood.

We are already daydreaming about all that Wisconsin has to offer. Fishing on thousands of freshwater lakes filled with trophy fish. Hiking and biking on miles of undisturbed trails listening to the wonderful sounds of nature. Enjoying a freshly cooked brat. And, don’t forget the smores.

These dreams can be a reality this summer. But….And that’s an important but…

You need to make your vacation, cabin or cottage rental reservations now!!! Places fill fast.

Put it at the top of your springtime chores list.

Do it before the house cleaning. The lawnmower can wait to be tuned up. The rake in the garage and the grass in the backyard will still be there.

To help you get started on your summertime getaway plans, start here and here. Pay attention to the word “plans.” Trust us – you need more than one Wisconsin vacation every summer.

http://www.explorewisconsin.com/browse/vacation-rentals-cottages-cabins

http://www.explorewisconsin.com/browse/cottages-private-home-rentals

Book early and book often is our motto. Particularly if you want to Explore Wisconsin this summer and enjoy our many natural treasures and pleasures.

Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, passed away on March 17, 461. About a half-century later, the Feast Day of St. Patrick began to be observed by Irish Roman Catholic families on March 17. Since then, St. Patrick’s Day has become a day of religious observance and a celebration of Irish culture and heritage.  With St. Patrick’s Day less than a week away, it’s time to set your itinerary for celebrating this special day the Wisconsin way.

For starters, you do not have to be Irish or even of Irish descent to celebrate. On March 17, everyone’s Irish. Wearing something green will put you in the proper frame of mind. Add a shamrock pin for good luck and you are ready to explore Wisconsin’s Irish heritage parade style. Fortunately, there are plenty of St. Patrick’s Day parades to choose from.

For cross-country skiers, hikers and snowshoers, mark your calendars and make your plans for a candlelight journey through Mirror Lake State Park in Lake Delton. On Saturday, February 4, 2012 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., you can traverse through the Park’s trails.

Food and beverages will be available for purchase from the Friends of Mirror Lake. There is no charge for the event, however to enter

Explore Wisconsin for places to go skiing this winter

Thankfully, all it takes is a few falling flakes to set our minds adrift with thoughts of schussingdown the mountain on freshly waxed skis, traversing through a mogul field on a snowboard or snow tubing down the hill. Here in Wisconsin we don’t need wait for Mother Nature to deliver snow. All we need is a cold air and the snow-making machines do the rest.

Mother Nature has brought the cold air to Dresser, Wisconsin and Trollhaugen is now open for skiing and snowboarding. With a little bit of luck and cold weather, snow tubing will be available soon.

While there may not be snow on the ground yet where you live, if you’re into skiing snowboarding or tubing, Trollhaugen has to be on your “bucket list” to visit. Situated along the scenic St. Croix Valley and a stone’s throw away from the Mississippi River, Trollhaugen offers 22 groomed trails with a good mix of beginner, intermediate and advanced runs.

It’s snow fun now so pull out the skis, wax up the snowboard, put on the warm winter clothes, load the family in the car and head up there. A word to the wise – check out their website before you leave for a condition report. You know what they say about failing to plan.

To find out more about Trollhaugen you can visit their spotlight page with Explore Wisconsin: http://www.explorewisconsin.com/spotlight/trollhaugen or you can go to their web-site:  www.trollhaugen.com

Our new storefront that was built after the fire.

Being born and raised on our century plus farm where our farm market stands, one becomes accustomed to subtle differences in our surroundings. Passing the kitchen window and seeing an orange glow in the early evening sky didn’t go unnoticed on the evening of October 10, 2010… the apple shed was on fire! Unfortunately all the fight we put into the flames was not enough and 106 years of our business was gone in mere hours.

BUT the past is gone and the future looks bright! We are proud to announce that just 11 months later we are ready to serve our dedicated customers once again! In December, 2010 we broke ground and began to rebuild Oakwood Fruit Farm, including a larger retail sales area, bakery, storage areas, coolers and a

An aerial view of our orchard and facilities.

state-of-the-art computerized apple packing line. We have a beautiful new facility that we are eager to share with our families, friends and customers from near and far!

We are looking forward to our Grand Opening and would like to invite all of you to join us for an opportunity to see our new facility. Labor Day weekend, September 3, 4 and 5, we will have tours available of the entire facility… retail, packing and storage. Please come and help us celebrate the commencement of our 107th year at Oakwood Fruit Farm!

Wisconsin Cheese

marvels generate 20,000 pounds of it every year. And from ten gallons of milk comes one pound of cheese. We’ll skip the math and let you know Wisconsin produces 2.6 billion pounds of cheese annually.

Wisconsin’s award-winning cheese makers produce more than 600 varieties, types and styles of cheese. Pick a letter of the alphabet and we can name you a cheese made in Wisconsin. There’s asiago, blue, cheddar…and the list goes on and on.

Our ample supply of cheese is needed because everything tastes better with Wisconsin cheese. It’s a perfect snack atop a crisp cracker. It tastes

One of Wisconsin's dairy farms

good when it’s grilled. Sprinkle it over pasta. Place a slice on top off a burger and you have the perfect summertime meal. And lest we forget, it makes for good a dessert. Even writing about cheese cake makes your mouth water.

You can buy Wisconsin’s finest cheese throughout the state and we have a list for you to choose from. Wisconsin cheese is available on the farm, in the cheese plant, around the deli counter and atop the store shelf. While you Explore Wisconsin, east Wisconsin cheese please.

Click the link for a list of our customers:  http://www.explorewisconsin.com/browse/cheese-dairy-products

July is National Blueberry Month and to celebrate we think you should do more than just buy a blueberry muffin or eat a handful of “star berries” – the Native American term for blueberries. Pick your own blueberries and there’s no time waste as mid-July through early August is the harvest season. And we have the perfect place for you to go – Cain’s Orchard in Hixton, Wisconsin.

Picking starts at 7:00 a.m. Saturdays only, until the ripe blueberries are gone for the week. They have eight varieties to choose from. When you are done picking them, you can enjoy eating them at their picnic area. Bring the whole family and make a day of it. Good fun, good exercise and good eating – that always makes for an enjoyable time.

Check out our site at www.cainsorchard.com for more information including recipes.

Buzzard Billy's | La Crosse, WI

If you find yourself in La Crosse, WI and you’re hungry, stop in at Buzzard Billy’s

I’ve been to Buzzard Billy’s on many occasions visiting friends that went to the local University and family that lived in the area.  It’s one of my personal “go-to” restaurants because you always seem to get seated right away, their relaxed atmosphere, it’s location to other places of interest, and naturally the spicy Cajun menu.

Buzzard Billy’s has kept me from trying out other area La Crosse restaurants because of the food in general.  I’ve had their bourbon chicken, gumbo, crawfish, and the pepperjack cheese curds.  Everything is tasty, consistent, and the service is super friendly.

The location is perfect for tourists, business travelers, and convention goers since it is located next door to the Holiday Inn and half a block from the Radisson Hotel and La Crosse convention center.

The Starlite Lounge, a 1950′s style cocktail lounge is located on the second floor.  The Rat Pack atmosphere features great martinis, wines and single malt scotch.  Happy hour is Tuesday through Friday from 4 to 7 p.m., Saturday 4 to 6 p.m. and specials include 1/2 price selected martinis and appetizers, and dollar off wines and tap beers.  Live entertainment is featured Thursday from 5 – 7 p.m., and on either Friday or Saturday nights.  A great place to relax anytime and especially before or after dinner at Buzzard Billy’s, the Starlite Lounge is the “smartest place in town”.

You’ll also want to check out TJ’s Cheddarheads across the street. It is home of the original foam “Cheese Heads” you see people wearing at the Packers games and also has many other Wisconsin souvenirs.

If you’re a beer fan like I am, you’ll also want to try a “Down Town Brown” with your meal.  The DTB is a local beer made at the La Crosse Pearl St Brewery and is available with other neihboring beers that I’m sure are just as good.  I always choose the Down Town Brown because it’s dark and bold flavor stands up to everything Buzzard Billy’s has on the menu.

For more information visit Buzzard Billy’s Explore Wisconsin Spotlight page(click here) or their national website http://www.buzzardbillys.com/