Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Themuseumisalsothesiteofthe
Dairy Shrine,
anassemblageofaudiovisualdisplays,
dioramas, and artifacts tracing the history of Wisconsin dairying.
Accommodations and Food
Afavoriteplaceofmineinthesepartsisthe
M
Cafe Carpe
(18S.WaterSt.,920/563-9391,
www.cafecarpe.com
,
hours vary Tues.-Sat., $4-12), one of the best casual eateries in the
state. The food is a carefree, delicious blend of Midwestern diner and downscale café. But
“the Carp” is even more famous as Wisconsin's best venue for folk music. Low-key and
friendly, this is one place you'll revisit.
Jefferson
The next town north of Fort Atkinson (via WIS 26) is Jefferson, worth a visit for its natural
beauty. The
Jefferson Marsh Wildlife and Natural Area,
east of Jefferson via Highway
Y, is a 3,129-acre tamarack preserve—the state's largest—and a sanctuary for endangered
egrets. It's even got effigy mounds.
City slickers may want to bop into the
Landmark Saloon
(138 S. Main St.), an old
brewery house with amazing original interiors (the oak bar is amazing).
Aztalan State Park
(920/648-8774), a skip off the interstate, is completely overlooked by
99 percent of passing travelers. Or, for the moment it is. The state has plans to upgrade fa-
cilities, reclaim surrounding farmland, add a chic new visitors center, and increase attend-
ance by 700 percent. Visit while it's still an isolated gem.
The park feels eerily historic; the Rock River rolls by silently, and the only sound aud-
ible is the wind shuffling through the leaves of the corn. One of the largest and most care-
fully researched archaeological sites in Wisconsin, Aztalan covers almost 175 acres and
featuresremnantstockadesandhikingtrailssnakinginandaroundthelargeburialmounds.
Scientists theorize that this spot was a strategic northern (amongst the farthest north) end-
point of a Middle Mississippian culture, whose influence stretched south to New Orleans
and into Mexico. It rivals Illinois' much-better known Cahokia. Scientists also believe it
to be one of the only places where the Mississippians lived amongst late-Woodland Native
Americans.
