Sights and sounds of Driftless Wisconsin

The full moon hung above the river bluffs like a stage light casting a soft glow on the river’s surface. I expected dancers to enter stage right, but only the tugboats were moving, guiding their cargo-laden barges between the buoys with amazing precision. The...

Opening Day

Not coincidentally, Driftless Wisconsin is ready too. May 1 marks the opening day for attractions, trails, and all things outdoors. Mother’s Day, Memorial Day, and Father’s Day are just around the corner and Driftless Wisconsin can pack more into every day than any...

The Mississippi River in spring

While the media tends to focus on the debilitating effects of flooding – and there are many – the villages and cities along the river in Driftless Wisconsin remain open for business. For example, while “Main Street” – a residential street running along the...

Dropping into the Kickapoo Valley

On this day, a coniferous forest accessible by hiking, biking, and horse trails greets me at the Kickapoo Valley Reserve boundary. ‘Old’ Highway 131 now serves as a trailhead leading into the Reserve’s interior. Signs announce that trails will soon be...

A Road Trip through Amish Country

A road trip through Driftless Wisconsin represents a casual excursion of discovery. On this particular day, I set out to see some of the northern stretches of Driftless Wisconsin. Even for someone who lives here, every day in Driftless Wisconsin is an adventure.I...

Spring Is Coming

I went down to one of our many boat landings on a sunny Sunday afternoon in late February. Perhaps I was thinking wishfully or maybe making sure I remembered the way. I found no anglers checking their lures, kids donning their life jackets, or boaters waiting their...