Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Undoubtedly the tops in town is
Hotel Mead
(451 Grand Ave., 715/423-1500 or 800/
843-6323,
www.hotelmead.com
,
$89-204), in the heart of downtown along the river. Full-
service amenities include a health club, lounge, indoor pool, sauna, and whirlpool. Hotel
Mead has gotten mixed reviews in the past, but it's under new management and things are
improving.
Conley's Inn Kellner
(4320 80th St. S., 715/424-0414, dinner Tues.-Sun., $10-30) is actu-
ally east of town a bit but is a classic supper club. Go for the shrimp or prime rib, though
the Friday fish fry is worthwhile as well.
Grandma's USA Cafe
(1920 Wylie St.) is a greasy spoon in a WWII-era Quonset hut.
The food is cheap and good.
The
Wisconsin Rapids Chamber of Commerce
(2507 8th St. S, 715/423-1830 or 800/
554-4484,
www.visitwisrapids.com
)
has decent tourist information.
TheCastle RockandPetenwell Damsareconsummate examples ofwhytheupperWiscon-
sinRiverhasbeencalledthe“HardestWorkingRiverintheNation.”Thesetwodams—east
and southeast of Necedah—created the fourth- and second-largest bodies of water in the
state, respectively 23,300 and 32,300 acres.
SurroundingthetwolakesarenumerouscountyparksandRoche-A-CriStatePark,west
10 miles on WI 21. You can't miss this park; it's dominated by a towering, 300-foot-tall
cragjuttingfromahillatthebase,resultinginaheightofmorethan1,200feet.Atrailleads
to the top of the spire, where outstanding views of the surrounding countryside unfold.
Parts of the Castle Rock dike system are being used as a trout fishery, and the local
power company has constructed osprey nesting stands. Petenwell Dam sloughs are a great
place to spot bald eagles. East of the Petenwell Dam is the
Van Kuren Trail,
a short mul-
tipurpose trail with excellent vistas; to the southwest is the
Petenwell Wildlife Area Hik-
ing Trail,
skirting the shallow southern rim of Petenwell Lake through Strongs Prairie.
These and other county parks are accessible along WI 21 and Highway Z.
Alsocheckout
Petenwell Rock
onthewestbankoftheriver,thelargestrockformation
intheregion.Apocryphaltalestellofamanwhoshowedupandfellinlovewithanalready
