The hillside out my window is awash in green. Every curve of the land and limestone outcropping, visible only a few weeks ago, now hides behind a lush summer foliage. A hike up the hill with our dog Riley finds plenty of new growth to explore.
The drywash running by the house has been scoured clean by a recent heavy rainfall. The topography of Driftless Wisconsin lends excitement to any storm, channeling water from ridge top to river through winding ravines like a giant waterslide. The Mississippi River is high and impressive, filled with early summer rains, burying islands under water and stretched wide like an inland lake.
It is summer in Driftless Wisconsin. The land is alive. Crops burst from the rich black earth into neat rows of corn and soybeans. Fun, cooped up under roofs during the long winter and spring, has been let outside. Children can be heard hollering at swimming pools and baseball fields; and seen gawking at Fourth of July parades.
Grownups are having fun too. My wife and I took a bike ride yesterday into the valley, where the hot summer sun gave way to a cool valley breeze. We’re not the road touring types, but the Driftless area is well known among bikers as a place that gives back far more than it takes, rewarding each climb with stunning scenery; and oh, that exhilarating ride down the backside.
And the attractions are open for tours. Major historic attractions, such as Norskedalen in Coon Valley, Vernon County Museum in Viroqua, and the Villa Louis and Fort Crawford Museum in Prairie du Chien; give perspective to the Native Americans, explorers, military, and immigrants who shaped the story of this historic region.
Driftless Wisconsin is blessed with parks that give the visitor an unparalleled view of the unique Driftless topography. Whether from a ridge top overlooking the Mississippi or Kickapoo Rivers, or from a native prairie set in the valley; the parks and natural areas add memories and more than a few photos to your summer vacation.
Summer fun in Driftless Wisconsin has many faces. Time to add your face to those family photos set against the Driftless backdrop.