Wisconsin
Trip Ideas|Small Towns

The Small Town In Wisconsin That Comes Alive In The Fall Season

Published Sep 18, 2023

Written by 

Rachel Pfutzenreuter

Are you starting to plan your fall foliage weekend? That time when thoughts turn to autumn colors, gooey s’mores cooked over a campfire, and fall festivals too. You have several options to choose from in Wisconsin – there are many documented drives to see the leaves changing, and communities celebrating the season with music, food, and fun. Let's visit a small town in Wisconsin that comes alive in autumn.

Baraboo, just south of the Wisconsin Dells, offers several outdoor opportunities for you to experience the exploding fall colors in person.

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Lipika/iStock / Getty Images Plus via Getty Images

Devil’s Lake is worth the trip any time of year, but the autumn display is quite striking – in red and gold.

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Eli Opacich/AllTrails

Mirror Lake State Park is another outdoor retreat in Baraboo where you can witness the colors of fall unfolding.

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Kyle Hittesdorf/AllTrails

Pewit’s Nest, the nature preserve complete with a gorge, provides yet another glimpse at autumn in all its splendor in Baraboo.

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Rachel Frank/AllTrails

In the summer, Pewit’s Nest is a gem of a swimming hole.

While in Baraboo, drop by the Ski-Hi Fruit Farm for some apple picking, starting in September.

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Ski Hi Fruit Farm/Facebook

The Fall Fair on the Square occurs in Baraboo in October and includes live music, food trucks, children’s activities, and more than 170 artists and crafters displaying their handiwork.

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Downtown Baraboo/Facebook

If you need a refreshing beverage during your fall trip to Baraboo, you might consider spending an afternoon at the dog-friendly Baraboo Bluff Winery, with panoramic views. Join one of the Wine Walks in the vineyard on Saturdays in October.

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Baraboo Bluff Winery/Facebook

In New Freedom, just a quick jaunt from Baraboo, you can ride the Mid-Continent train – unique rides in October include the Autumn Color Weekends and the Pumpkin Special.

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Mid-Continent Railway Museum/Facebook

I have memories of elephants bathing in Baraboo – now the elephants are happily enjoying their retirement. Come revel in what Baraboo brings us in the brisk months - a small town in Wisconsin that comes alive in autumn. Visit the Devil’s Lake State Park website, the Ski-Hi Fruit Farm website, the Baraboo Bluff Winery website, and the Downtown Baraboo website – for the seasonal events page.

Read our other articles to learn even more about Pewit’s Nest, Mirror Lake State Park, and the Mid-Continent train rides.

If you decide to stay more than a day, ponder this Vrbo cabin in Baraboo, close to the entrance of Devil’s Lake State Park.

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Trip Ideas|Small Towns

If You Only Have One Day to Visit This Small Town in Wisconsin, Here Are 3 Things You Absolutely Can’t Miss

If you're looking for day trip ideas in the Badger State, we think you'll love Osceola as a small town getaway in Wisconsin.

Published Oct 29, 2024

Written by 

Trent Jonas

Home to just under 3,000 people, Osceola is a village stretched along the bluffs of the St. Croix River in western Wisconsin. Recognized for its history, charm, and natural beauty, Osceola is a perfect destination for a small town day trip in Wisconsin. But first, a little background.

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Situated at the confluence of Osceola Creek and the St. Croix River, Osceola was founded in 1844 as a logging camp on what had been land occupied by the Ojibwe people. Ready access to the St. Croix River made the site ideal for taking advantage of the area's timber resources, and as people moved to the area, Osceola grew into a vibrant community. Now a well-preserved village - its downtown area is listed on the National Register of Historic Places - the community is one of our favorite day trip destinations in the Badger State, and here are a few things we think you need to see and do while you're there.

1. Go chasing waterfalls

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herreid/Getty Images

There are two waterfalls right in historic downtown Osceola, both on Osceola Creek as it tumbles its way down to the St. Croix. The smaller of the two, Geiger Falls, is slightly upstream and closer to 1st Ave., the main drag through town. Lovely, 25-foot Cascade Falls is just downstream and accessible by a wooden staircase that leads to a viewing platform. Continue along the trail for bluff top views of the St. Croix River.

2. Explore the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway

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St. Croix National Scenic Riverway/Flickr

The section of the St. Croix River that flows past Osceola is actually part of a National Park Service unit, the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway. This means that the river, for the most part, is in a natural state that's perfect for paddling, fishing, or simply strolling along. You can access several trails that lace the river bluffs right from downtown Osceola, or head a few minutes north of town to Interstate State Park, where you can view the river from the billion-year-old Dalles of the St. Croix.

3. Take a train to Minnesota

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Jerry Huddleston/Flickr

Although operated by the Minnesota Transportation Museum, the Osceola and St. Croix Valley Railway departs from Osceola's historic depot and meanders through the St. Croix valley on its way to and from the charming town of Marine on St. Croix, Minnesota. It's a wonderful way to put a cherry on top of a fantastic day trip to this charming Wisconsin town.

If you'd like to spend more than a day in the area - and there's certainly plenty more to do should you decide to stay - we recommend booking Dr. Combacker's Historic 1880s Home on Airbnb. This property is charming, perfectly located, and affordable - you won't be disappointed. What are some other charming communities that would make perfect small town day trip destinations in Wisconsin? Let us know on our nominations page!

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Trip Ideas|Small Towns

This Blink-and-You’ll-Miss-It Town in Wisconsin Is So Worth Exploring

Ellsworth, a charming small town in Wisconsin, is the self-proclaimed "Cheese Curd Capital."

Published Sep 13, 2024

Written by 

Trent Jonas

The Badger State is full of wonderful small towns that are all unique in their own special ways. Some are known for something made there, others have a fascinating history or are home to an attraction or natural wonder, and still others are simply charming. There's one small town in Wisconsin, though, that has a little bit of everything, and we think you should spend some time exploring it. Come along with us, as we take a look at the sweet little town of Ellsworth, Wisconsin.

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Jimmy Emerson, DVM/Flickr

Ellsworth is a village of around 3,300 people and the seat of Pierce County, Wisconsin, which is in the extreme western part of the state, near the Minnesota border. Named for Colonel Elmer Ellsworth - the first Union officer to die in the Civil War - the town is home to several historic buildings, including the Pierce County Courthouse. The main business district also exudes the kind of small-town charm you'd expect to find in a tidy, Midwestern county seat.

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Jimmy Emerson, DVM/Flickr

And in a state that's renowned for - and takes fierce pride in - its cheese, Ellsworth makes the bold claim of being "The Cheese Curd Capital," and, frankly, few would dispute it. The cheese curds from Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery are known far and wide and sold at retail outlets throughout the Midwest.

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Courtney "Coco" Mault/Flickr

As far as natural beauty goes, Ellsworth is located on Isabelle Creek, atop a high ridge in western Wisconsin's Driftless Area. Just half an hour west of the village, you'll find Kinnickinnic State Park, on the wild and scenic St. Croix River at its confluence with the park's eponymous river. With more than nine miles of hiking trails tracing the bluffs and the park's rivers, this is a spot you could easily spend a day exploring from your Ellsworth base camp. Bring along AllTrails Plus for downloadable trail maps and other resources.

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Aaron Carlson/Flickr

We absolutely think you'll enjoy exploring this charming small town in Wisconsin. It's a perfect destination for a day trip or even a weekend adventure. You could even spend some time exploring the area with a side trip down to nearby Stockholm. It's about 30 minutes from Ellsworth, on the Mississippi River, and it's renowned for its eateries, including its famous pie. Or head 20 minutes west of Ellsworth to Prescott, at the confluence of the St. Croix and Mississippi Rivers, to learn more about the Great River Road, which passes through Pierce County on its way to the Gulf of Mexico, at the Great River Road Visitor and Learning Center.

Have you visited Ellsworth, WI, "The Cheese Curd Capital?" Let us know in the comments, and tell us about some of your favorite small towns - and cheese curds - in Wisconsin.

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