Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
CC; from here south via CC you could whip out the gazetteer and head to the Laura Ingalls
Wilder wayside in Pepin.
The name of this place belies its actual size, in the top five for dearth of population in Wis-
consin. But what an unbelievable amount of stuff this town of fewer than 100 people has
to offer—artists and galleries (even Mississippi pearls, extinct since dredging reduced the
numbers in the 1930s, appear in shops), upscale eateries, and great lodging.
The name was no accident. Scandinavian settler Eric Peterson showed up in 1851 and
stuck around; others from his hometown of Kalskoga arrived soon after, making it one of
the oldest Swedish settlements in the state. The toponymy is a loopy mishmash of river jar-
gon and “-son” appellations.
There's nothing to do here, really, other than to snoop around the tomes of history and
a few Swedish artifacts at the
Swedish Institute
(
www.stockholmwisconsin.com
)
under
the old post office. Shopping is the real lifeblood of the town. Artisan galleries and shops
galore line the few streets. The
Maiden Rock Winery & Cidery
(W12266 King Ln., 715/
448-3502,
www.maidenrockwinerycidery.com
)
has free tastings and tours ($3) by appoint-
ment. Definitely try the cider.
A mile south of town is a
historic overlook
at the site of a 1686 fort built by Nicholas
Perrot. From here the French laid claim to all of the Mississippi's drainage, “no matter how
remote,” for King Louis XIV.
The
Stockholm Village Park
has a boat ramp, swimming area, and
camping
for $10.
Not to mention a few grand B&Bs. They're all very good. Check out the village website
(
www.stockholmwisconsin.com
)
to help make your choice.
Youwillprobablyeatatthe
Bogus Creek Café
(715/442-5017,9am-5pmdaily),awon-
derful place—soups, salads, fresh specialty-bread sandwiches, and lovely garden seating.
Try the Swedish pancakes. They have barbecue nights Friday and Saturday. For dessert
headtothe
Stockholm Pie Company
(Thurs.-Mon.)nearby,whichdrawsinnational food-
ies. I adore their savory apple-cheddar-sausage pie for lunch.
One of the coolest experiences: if you're here on a Tuesday night, head east of town
on Highway J and follow the cars along Anker Lane to
A to Z Produce
(715/448-4802), a
pizza farm—that's what everyone calls it—where you can indulge in a massive pizza with
all ingredients made on the farm in a friendly picnic atmosphere.
