Are you a craft beer lover? Baraboo is holding their second annual Oktoberfest on Saturday, September 23rd! The event will be held inside of the historic Hippodrome at the Circus World Museum. Baraboo is approximately 1h45m drive from Milwaukee and 55m drive from Madison. THE FEST MASTERS Meet your Oktoberfest Fest Masters: Mike & Bonnie Palm. Mike is a former Mayor of Baraboo and Bonnie is very involved in the non-profit sector. They were chosen as the Baraboo Fest Masters because of their loyalty and involvement within the community. If you see them at the festival, be sure to give them a big Prost! SLEEPING ARRANGEMENTS Fairfield Inn and Suites is the presenting sponsor of this year's Oktoberfest! The hotel is BRAND NEW so if you are needing a place to stay during Oktoberfest, this is it! Fairfield Inn & Suites offers free breakfast, a 24-hour fitness center, and an indoor pool. They are a quick 5-minute drive from the festival grounds making it the perfect location for your weekend festivities. THE VENUE Baraboo Oktoberfest is being held at the Hippodrome inside of the Circus World Museum. The Hippodrome is a long-standing event space that typically houses the circus and magic performances. It is known for exciting shows and celebrations - Oktoberfest will be no different. Outside of the Hippodrome there will be food trucks, live music, and other fun events throughout the day! ENTERTAINMENT There will be an ample amount of events throughout the day to keep you entertained during Oktoberfest. Some of these include tapping of the gold keg, a costume contest, and a stein holding contest. Make sure you're in for the long haul by staying for the evening live music! Get ready to party with Madison's own Gold Dust Women's Band at the Hippodrome. Headlining Oktoberfest is the well-known 8 woman Fleetwood Mac tribute band. From 7pm-9pm you can enjoy your craft beer while jammin' out with these rockstars. THE BEER Two local Baraboo breweries are participating in Oktoberfest with their delicious Oktoberfest beers. Tumbled Rock Brewery is located on the outskirts of Baraboo near Devil's Lake State Park. With a diverse selection of handcrafted beers, from crisp lagers to bold IPAs, Tumbled Rock Brewery caters to a wide range of palates. Their Oktoberfest beer is absolutely fantastic; cheers! The second Baraboo brewery that is participating in Oktoberfest is the Al Ringling Brewing Company. The brewery is located inside the historic Al Ringling mansion and is deeply rooted in German heritage. On a standard day, you can find about 19 craft beers on tap along with a German-focused food menu. Their Oktoberfest beer is phenomenal, get it while you can. Prost!

I love a good burger. Especially burgers that are overloaded with flavor. This is a short list - there are SO many more that you should try, but these are some of my favorites. Bixenberg Tavern Technically Bixenberg is located north of Milwaukee in Germantown, but they deserve to be on this list. You can choose between a single or double hand smashed burger topped with your choice of cheese: American, cheddar, swiss, pepperjack, or beer cheese. We tried the beer cheese and it was absolutely fantastic. Pro tip: order the cheese curds. Milwaukee Burger Milwaukee Burger Company is located in Franklin, Wisconsin and obviously they are known for their burgers. We tried the Wisconsin Smashed Burger and OMG was it fantastic. Two burger patties topped with American cheese, caramelized onions, pickles, and Burger Co. sauce. Heirloom MKE I LOVE majority of the food at Heirloom MKE. Their new restaurant in Bay View is absolutely fantastic and OPENING AUGUST 26, 2023! Their Heirloom Burger is topped with Carr Valley cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion and house sauce. Pro tip: order the cheese curds. Oscar's Pub & Grill Oscar's has been on my list of places to go for awhile and I am glad I was able to check them out before I left. The Big O burger is their specialty - chipotle jack, smoked gouda, hickory bacon, chorizo, fried onions, jalapenos, and a side of guacamole. There was so much happening on this burger and it was phenomenal. AJ Bomber's AJ Bomber's is a staple spot in Milwaukee and their Milwaukee Burger deserves some recognition. This 1/4 lb patty is topped with Applewood smoked bacon, Schlitz onions, and Colby cheese. Not a lot of ingredients, but tons of flavor. Pro tip: ask for peanuts.

There are so many great places to sleep and eat within the Lake Winnebago Region. High Cliff State Park has beautiful campsites, there are a handful of resorts on the water and unique Airbnbs. I had the opportunity to stay at Hotel Retlaw while I was there, and it is one of my favorite hotels to date. Hotel Retlaw has been open since 1923 and is located in downtown Fond du Lac. It is on the list of the Nation's historic places worthy of preservation deemed by the National Park Service. And let me tell you, it is beautiful and perfectly located in the middle of everything Fond du Lac. Amenities include two dining options: Table One and One Main Cafe. There is also a lobby bar if you are simply looking for a yummy craft cocktail. There is a fitness center, covered parking structure, in-room refrigerator, locking safe and a HIDDEN TV! Another one of my favorite spots on this trip was Urban Fuel Coffee Station in Fond du Lac. I LOVE coffee shops and the interior of this one was amazing. The outside is pretty unassuming, but the inside consists of several tables, couches, and areas for working or pure relaxation. They also have a food list serving both breakfast and lunch options. I ordered a bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich on a croissant and it was delectable. If you are looking to host a larger event, you can rent out Urban Fuel Coffee Station. They also serve wine! It truly is a perfect spot. On the topic of breakfasts, let's talk about Sweet and Salty Pig in Fond du Lac. I have been to Sweet and Salty Pig a handful of times and there is a reason for that: it's SO good. I have never had something I didn't like. My mom joined me for brunch here on a Sunday and there was a line outside prior to opening. They serve breakfast and lunch all day and a lot of the meals they serve have bacon. We ordered the breakfast egg rolls, breakfast totchos, and a special flat bread that they were serving just for that weekend. It was a very hearty meal and everything was so flavorful. The service is always quick and friendly. Sweet and Salty Pig should definitely be on your brunch bucket list. There's a reason I keep coming back! There are two popular supper clubs in the Lake Winnebago Region. The first is Wendt's on the Lake which is located in Van Dyne, right on the edge of Lake Winnebago. You get lake views while enjoying your meal! We visited here for their Friday fish fry - something they are well known for. They offer a handful of fish options for the occasion; I stuck with the standard deep fried cod. It was served with choice of potato, cole slaw, and bread. The perfect fish fry combination. This is a pretty popular spot that does not take reservations on Fridays, so expect to wait for a table (it's worth it). They have a full bar and make a mean old fashioned which helps to keep you occupied while waiting. Schwarz’s Supper Club is the second supper club in the Lake Winnebago Region we must talk about. They are located in New Holstein which is a longer drive from Lake Winnebago, but definitely worth it if you want the true supper club experience. I got there about 30 minutes after they opened on a Saturday and the parking lot was already packed. When you walk in, there is a large bar area and a few tables for seating. You order a drink at the bar and ask for a menu. After deciding what you want, you sit the menu upwards and a waiter will come to take your order. Then your name is put on a list and called when your table is ready. I have not been at a supper club like this before but it was a great experience. The food was absolutely phenomenal and so was the service. If you are a supper club guru, you need to visit.

We all know I love deep fried cheese curds, but generally speaking, I love cheese. I love stopping at local cheese shops while I am travelling. I have been to SEVERAL more than what is included on this list - these are just some of my favorites. Renard's Renard's is by far one of my favorites. I selfishly wish they were closer so I could visit them more often. They are located in Sturgeon Bay, the perfect pit stop on your way into Door County. Their cheese curds are used in A LOT of the deep fried curds in Door County - and for good reason. They make such a wide variety of delicious cheese and have samples throughout the store for you to try. There is also a small bistro inside of the store if you're craving something more substantial. Cheesers Cheesers is located in Stoughton, Wisconsin, which is about 25 minutes southeast of Madison. The shop has been around for approximately 25 years, and absolutely screams "Wisconsin." You can sample different meats and cheese while you spend hours shopping your way through their gift section. They have fresh cheese curds! Wisconsin Cheese Mart Believe it or not, I visited Wisconsin Cheese Mart Milwaukee location for the first time just recently. They are located right Milwaukee, making it the perfect stop for Milwaukee visitors. They have a wide selection of meat, cheese, locally made beverages, and other fun Wisconsin items. There is a second location in Madison! La Clare Creamery La Clare Creamery specializes in goat cheese. Not only do they have a store inside, but there is also a cafe, greenhouse, tours, and more. You can read about it here. La Clare is located in Malone, Wisconsin. This made the list as one of my favorites because there are just SO many options. And I don't want to discriminate against goat cheese! I sampled so many different cheeses while I was here - you can't go wrong with any of them. Hill Valley Dairy Hill Valley Dairy is located in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. This spot is a little unique because not only do they have a cheese shop - they also have a cheese bar. It is a separate area that is connected to the store where you can drink wine and taste cheeses. Try their whiskey cheddar cheese... it's one of my absolutely favorites.

The Lake Winnebago Region has no shortage of things I enjoy: wineries, distilleries, and ice cream. If you can relate, you are in the right spot. One thing about me is that I LOVE a local winery. I love learning the stories of where they began and I love tasting lots of different wines. While I was in the Lake Winnebago Region, we stopped by two wineries and I loved them both. Ziegler Winery is located in Malone, Wisconsin on the east side of Lake Winnebago. The tasting room sits on a huge vineyard - approximately 12 acres and 7,000 vines. Their tasting room is one of the largest in the state of Wisconsin with two stories and a few fireplaces to help you relax. There is plenty of room for big groups making this a perfect spot for a special occasion get together. They also have an outdoor patio set up with a live music stage for entertainment during the summer months. We ordered a flight of wines to taste. They have so many options to choose from! I am usually a red wine drinker, but I loved the 2020 La Crescent wine. It was so fruity and flavorful. They serve food here as well, mostly appetizers - their Bavarian Pretzel is to die for. The second winery we had the pleasure of visiting was Vines & Rushes Winery located in Ripon, Wisconsin. This space was also quite large - a room for sampling, an event space, and a room with lots of tables and chairs. They have live music here as well with a stage indoors. We did a wine tasting and learned a lot about how the winery came about and the history of the wines. My favorite wine was the Brianna 2020 wine - named after one of the winemakers’ daughters. Vines and Rushes is known for the wood-fired pizza and I knew by the delicious smells alone they would not disappoint. If you are not a wine drinker and prefer hard liquor, Ledgerock Distillery is here to save the day. They are located in Fond du Lac and distill vodka, bourbon, moonshine and gin. We sampled a few of the options and I was impressed by how smooth they were. They know what they're doing! There is a gift shop inside as well as a small bar to order a cocktail. There are tables in the building and picnic tables outside. The weather was nice enough that we were able to spend some time in the sun and enjoy our drinks. The distillery is located in more of a secluded area, and it was nice to sit back and relax. Since we're in Wisconsin, I obviously have to talk about dairy in the Lake Winnebago Region. LaClare Creamery was one of my favorite spots on this trip. If you are unfamiliar, LaClare produces mainly goat cheese and has won several awards for their delicious creations. We were able to tour the facility which includes an event space, a full greenhouse, a large barn with goats, a café, and a gift shop. There is so much to do! LaClare also hosts different events such as goat yoga, grilled cheese competition, and artisan markets. The café has a wonderfully unique menu, and each item is served using some type of cheese. They also make ice cream in-house if you are looking for a sweet treat. Speaking of sweet treats, if you are in the Lake Winnebago Region area, there are two ice cream stops you HAVE to make. The first is Gilles Drive-in located in Fond du Lac. It's an old school drive-in serving up some of the best food and ice cream around. They've been open since 1949! I ordered a sundae with vanilla ice cream, peanut butter, graham crackers and brownie bites... YUM. The drive-in itself is such an experience. The second spot you must visit in the Lake Winnebago Region for ice cream is Kelley Country Creamery. They are in Fond du Lac and refer to themselves as the "best ice cream in the middle of nowhere." They have a menu of rotating flavors which are sure to please anyone. It seemed to me like it is a place that always draws a crowd, but the line moves quickly so don’t let it deter you. There is seating inside but also several picnic tables and rocking chairs outside to enjoy your ice cream in the sun. I ordered a double scoop in a waffle cone, and it was by far the most generous double scoop I have ever received. Kelley Creamery was voted Best Ice Cream Shop by Good Morning America and named among the top 10 ice cream places in the nation by People Magazine.

When we woke up the next day, we traveled about 3 hours to a city called Homer which was still on the coast but on the peninsula. Unfortunately, the weather was still pretty crappy but we tried to make the most of it. The "downtown" of Homer is called the "Homer Spit" which is basically a road that goes to the edge of the peninsula filled with mostly restaurants and tourist shops. I wasn't having it because it was raining, though, so we decided to visit a few places instead: Homer Brewing, Grace Ridge Brewery, and Bear Creek Winery. It eventually stopped raining which was great because I don't think we would have fully appreciated the beauty of Homer if the weather was shit the entire time. It. Was. Gorgeous. The beach and the mountains and MAN if it wasn't in Alaska I'd probably move there. It was just breathtaking. We stopped at a local dive bar called Salty Dawg Saloon and had a drink. It was a very different place but came highly recommended. Dollar bills covered the ceiling and walls and everyone in there was having the time of their lives. We went to dinner at a place called Kannery Grill where I ate the most delicious food - my favorite was their salmon and bacon dip. We decided to call it a night after that. The next morning I decided to go for a run. I know, I know, who works out on vacation? But I mean the VIEWS of this run were absolutely worth it. It was our last day in Alaska so we headed back to Anchorage. On the way, we stopped at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center and saw a bunch of awesome Alaskan animals - grizzly bear, bison, moose, elk. When we got back to Anchorage, we headed "downtown" which, again, had a bunch of touristy shops and restaurants. Then we took another long walk down a trail that was right on the coast. It was a really nice day out this day - of course, the day we leave. We stopped at a brewery called 49th State Brewing Company for a drink and then headed to the airport. Overall it was a very good trip. Lots and LOTS of driving, lots of money but also lots of beautiful views, new experiences and memories with my mother.

Port Washington is a lakeside town just 30 minutes north of Milwaukee and 1 hour and 45 minutes from Madison. Port Washington is known for many things - their marina, the lighthouse, their food scene, and their fun events. However, today we are focusing on their ice cream options. There are several spots in Port Washington to find a delicious treat, and what is better than eating it while looking at beautiful Lake Michigan? Dockside Deli Dockside Deli is located just steps from the water, making it a popular choice for fisherman and boaters. They are known for their freshly baked bread and delicious sandwiches, but they also serve ice cream! You can choose from a variety of flavors in a waffle cone, cake cone, or a dish. Grab yourself a sweet treat after feasting on one of their hearty sandwiches. Frankie's Ice Cream Frankie's Ice Cream is a seasonal ice cream spot, open from Memorial Day through Labor Day each year. Why are they only seasonal, you ask? Because Frankie's is an Airstream Safari! They are located in the heart of downtown and offer several picnic tables and Adirondack chairs for seating. They serve lots of flavors of Cedar Crest Ice Cream AND fresh, hot mini donuts. We ordered a donut sundae - donuts on the bottom, ice cream on the top. Best of both worlds! The Chocolate Chisel The Chocolate Chisel is an artisanal chocolate shop creating indulgences like truffles, chocolate bars, caramels, and more. They hand make all of their chocolates along with the molds that they are made in! It is so impressive. In additional to their chocolates, they serve ice cream! We tried the lavender honey and peanut butter fudge - both were fantastic! This is a perfect spot to visit if you are looking for a sweet treat to eat now and one to take home for later. Toucan Custard Toucan Custard is newer to the Port Washington area and if you prefer custard over ice cream, this one's for you! Along with their full menu of food items, Toucan Custard has an extensive menu of sundaes, banana splits, and more. They rotate different flavors of the day so you have the opportunity to try something new each time you visit! They have a beautiful outdoor patio as well as indoor spots so you're covered no matter what the weather. I ordered the Peanut Butter Fudge Oreo Sundae and it was absolutely loaded with toppings; my favorite.

Wisconsin is known for cheese, and better yet, cheese curds. If you know me, you know I love a good deep fried cheese curd. Perfectly battered, melty cheese, served with a side of house made ranch dressing. Give me all of them. I visited Madison recently to try out more of their deep fried cheese curds AND get some deals using their Craft Beverage Trail Pass. Every order of curds I ate were delicious, and each craft beer I tried paired perfectly. Let’s take a little adventure, shall we? Lone Girl Brewing Lone Girl Brewing located in the town of Waunakee and they have been brewing their own beer since 2016. Their cheese curds are made with muenster cheese and battered with their own lite beer. I paired the curds with their new Orange Pop Cream Ale which was super tasty. Their Craft Beverage Trail pass gets you BOGO on beer – make sure to use it! Starkweather Brewing Company Starkweather has only been open for about a year, but they know what they are doing when it comes to beer and cheese curds. These are also made with muenster cheese and served with homemade ranch. They have jalapeno ranch, too, which I LOVED. I paired my cheese with their HOP-MYHZ Hazy IPA beer. The Craft Beverage Trail Pass gets you BOGO on beer here, too! Vintage Brewing Company Vintage Brewing has 3 locations in the Madison area. I visited the one near Capitol Square and it was a vibe. We were there during brunch time and the menu looked absolutely fantastic. Their curds are breaded, not battered, and the cheese is from Ellsworth Creamery. The breading was nice and thick – just like the ranch. The Craft Beverage Trail gets you $1 off of one of their beers! Coopers Tavern Now we head down to Capitol Square to check out the curds at Coopers Tavern. Coopers uses PBR in their batter which makes the curds nice & crispy. They are made with Ellsworth Creamery cheese and served with their homemade ranch. Merchant A few blocks away from Coopers Tavern is a pretty hip spot called Merchant. It is a very chic spot and their curds are made to match. They are battered in buttermilk, perfectly melty, and served with ranch & hot honey. I’m a ranch gal, but the hot honey was a nice touch. Lucille Lucille was decorated so wonderfully for the holiday season. I had not been here previously, but I was extremely impressed. Their cheese curds did not disappoint, either. The cheese for these curds comes from Cedar Grove and they are served with marinara and ranch. The marinara came out piping hot and was a great addition to the cheese curds. Fromagination Ending the day at Fromagination, an artisan cheese shop on the square. Even though they do not have deep fried curds, they have numerous other cheese options to choose from. In addition to cheeses, there are locally made items such as jam, wine, and crackers. It is a great spot to purchase gifts or to stock up on your favorite cheese.

Cedarburg is a quaint little city located about 20 miles north of Milwaukee. It is known as one of the best towns in Wisconsin because of it's historic architecture, cozy restaurants, and specialty stores - like Frannie's Market. This was my first time visiting Frannie's and I was overwhelmed in the best way. The store is curated to perfection and you can feel how much love and hard work goes into the space. Frannie's was founded in November of 2020 by the owner, Sarah. The market focuses on specialty food products and quality goods. Looking for a quick snack? A gift for the friend you haven't seen in awhile? Interested in taking a succulent wreath-making class? Craving a new cheese? Frannie's should be your one-stop shop for all of it. Let's focus on the cheese first because... well it's me. And I'm the cheese girl. Frannie's has an awesome selection of specialty cheeses that are cut-to-order. I was lucky enough to snack on a few delicious items during my visit. I tried Blakesville Creamery -Lake Effect. This is goat cheese from one of my favorite goat cheese creameries in Wisconsin. If goat cheese isn't really your jam, you might be able to hang with Lake Effect. It's more mild with a thick snowy rind. I also got to enjoy some amazing artisanal crackers by Flower Co. These gorgeous little things have literal dried flowers in them! So pretty AND delicious. I paired them with some Fig and Black Tea preserves by Quince & Apple. It was the perfect amount of sweet and salty. A few more things on my snack plate included Hook's 5-year cheddar, Wisconsin Old Fashioned Salami by Underground Meats, Uplands Pleasant Ridge Reserve (this was SO tasty), Smoking Goose Coppa (pork collar rubbed with black pepper, garlic & paprika) AND Velvet Bee's honey butter. You have not lived until you have tasted this honey butter. I have never seen a brand more accurately described. In addition to the cut-to-order cheese, Frannie's has a variety of cheeses to grab out of the cooler. Some include The Big Moo Cheese, (CODE: WCP15 for 15% off) Hooks Cheddar, and Sartori. The cheeses aren't the best part, though. The best part of the market is everything you can purchase to accompany the cheese: wooden charcuterie boards, jams and spreads, wine, specialty meats, chocolate, and lots of delicious snacky additions. I'm telling you, Frannie's carries some of the coolest, most delicious stuff. I suppose we can talk about something other than cheese. I felt like each time I did a lap through the market, I found something I hadn't already seen. I was on a treasure hunt. Gourmet pastas, homemade granola, locally sourced honey, beautiful terrariums. Sarah tries to use as many local vendors as possible and I admire that. I am a huge advocate for shopping local, and I recognized so many of my favorite brands at Frannie's. I briefly mentioned classes earlier - let's dive into that. In addition to all of the unique item in-store, Frannie's offers a handful of different classes like terrarium, charcuterie, succulent wreath-making. There is truly something for everyone. Classes are offered a few times each month and you can register right on their website! Frannie's also hosts collaboration events which include dinners, cheese pairings, and more! If you have not yet checked out this adorable little market in Cedarburg, consider yourself to be missing out. It is one the best specialty food stores I have ever stepped into.

Travelling with friends and family gets harder as we get older. It's difficult to agree on where to go, a timeframe that works, and what to do while you're there. This leaves you with one option... travel alone. It sounds scary, but I promise you that it is absolutely worth it. You should not miss out on going to new places and trying new things just because you don't have someone to go with! At this point, I've gone on 4 trips via plane by myself and a handful of road trips with just me and my pup. Did it feel weird at times? Yes, of course. But I don't regret any of those trips but I know I would have regretted not going. I'm planning more road trips for me and Kona in the upcoming months. To ease your solo travel anxiety, I have compiled a list of some of my solo road trip essentials. Disclaimer: as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. SNACKS! I am a huge snack gal ESPECIALLY on a road trip. You can't drive when you're hangry so make sure you have something to snack on! I like things that are easy: protein bars, nuts, goldfish, and of course, cheese. Water Bottle Keeping your stomach happy is just as important as keeping yourself hydrated. I like this water bottle because it keeps water COLD and it fits perfectly in your cup holder. Bring some Liquid IV while you're at it. It will double your hydration and tastes better than regular water. Fanny Pack I really like this particular fanny pack for a few reasons. I enjoy hiking, and for short hikes that may not require a backpack, having this fanny pack to hold my keys, phone, etc. is very helpful. It's not bulky like most fanny packs so it's easy to hider underneath clothing. And because of how stretchy it is, it can hold a lot more than you'd think! Portable Charger Having a charged phone is extremely important when traveling alone. If your phone dies, your lifeline is gone. This portable charger is super compact... definitely small enough to fit in your fanny pack! It plugs right into your phone so there is no need for extra cords. Emergency Roadside Kit Never, and I mean NEVER, take a road trip without an emergency roadside kit in your car. I bought this one a few years ago and it has everything you need if you have car issues. It comes in a compact kit so it won't take up a ton of space in your car. You need it! AirPods If I am on a trip alone, that means I don't have someone else to talk to (aside from myself). I always make sure to bring my AirPods with me so I can listen to music and podcasts. Sometimes, on solo trips, I will start the day with a quick meditation and having it play in my ear helps my focus. Hiking Backpack I am absolutely obsessed with this backpack. There are so many different compartments to help keep you organized. It's also water resistant, so if you end up hiking in the rain or spilling something, nothing inside will be ruined. Even if you're not hiking, this backpack is great to use for packing because it holds SO MUCH. Kindle Oasis I love reading so bringing my Kindle on a solo road trip is a no brainer. Travelling alone can get a little lonely at times, so having something to keep me occupied is important. Sometimes I bring an actual book, but I like the Kindle because it allows me unlimited options.

We all know I love deep fried cheese curds, but generally speaking, I love cheese. I love stopping at local cheese shops while I am travelling. I have been to SEVERAL more than what is included on this list – these are just some of my favorites. Cedar Valley Cheese Store Cedar Valley is by far my favorite cheese store. It is located in Belgium, Wisconsin, approximately 40 minutes north of Milwaukee. They have such a large selection of their own cheese, including their world-famous string cheese. There is a small café in the back of the store along with a gift shop. AND HOMEMADE ICE CREAM. I visit here a few times each year and always leave with a nice cheese haul. Mullins Cheese I had the opportunity to check out Mullins on a road trip and I’m so glad we were able to stop. The store is small, but there are so many things to choose from. You can take home a frozen pizza, or order some of the hot food they whip up right in the store. They have some of the best cheese curds in the Wausau/Stevens Point area. Clockshadow Creamery Clockshadow Creamery makes the cheese curds that are used in a lot of my favorite deep-fried orders. Their shop in Walkers Point is small, but don’t let that fool you. They make fresh cheese curds several days a week and sell tons of locally made products. If you get lucky, you might even see the cheese being made! Mars Cheese Castle Mars Cheese Castle is a MUST if you are in southern Wisconsin. Located right off the highway in Kenosha, you cannot miss the giant castle. The amount of goodies they have here is astronomical. All of the cheese you could imagine, meats, an entire liquor selection, baked goods, local jams and spreads, and Wisconsin branded gear. There is also a restaurant inside of the store – try their deep fried curds! Fromagination Located right on Capitol Square, Fromagination is a stop you must make while visiting Madison. Think “high-class cheese” (lol). They have cut-to-order cheese as well as artisan gift sets and even fondue. Fromagination also hosts cheese classes if you are looking for something a little different!

At the top of my list of things I love the most: My dog. I know this is a travel blog, but a lot of the local travel I do is with my bestie: Kona. I adopted Kona on a total whim in 2016. I worked at a mortgage company and helped organize a holiday donation drive to one of the area shelters. I went with a group of coworkers to drop off the donations and there she was. She was so terrified in the back of her kennel - head down, sad eyes, hating how loud it was. My heart hurt for her. I took her into a room to show her some affection and she was the sweetest angel I had ever met. Gave me all the kisses, wanted all the pets. I hesitantly filled out the adoption application thinking that it would take a few days - a.k.a. give me time to change my mind. I was wrong. They looked over the application front and back and asked what time I was coming the next day to pick her up. That's how I ended up with my dog. I will say - she was a total nightmare when I brought her home. She destroyed two dog beds, she ate the plastic tray in the bottom of her crate, she LOVED eating the garbage, she pooped in the house at least a dozen times, and her separation anxiety was at an all time high. On top of that, Callie (my cat), despised Kona. The day I brought Kona home, all I could think about was how much of a mistake I had made. After a few hours, I crated her up and went to the bar to drown my sorrows. I was SO torn on what to do. I never had a dog growing up. We were always a cat family (and bunnies... a parrot...) but never dogs. I was not prepared for the kind of responsibility that comes with a dog. You can't leave them at home for 3 days unattended like you can with a cat. They require much more attention, more at-home time, more activity, more everything. I was 26 years old at this point and quite frankly I felt like adopting Kona was going to be the end of my social life. She had been abandoned twice already, and I couldn't bring myself to be the third. I decided to stick it out. It kills me when people adopt dogs and don't give them a fair chance to become part of the family. We had a rough couple of months, but eventually, we found our groove. She no longer has separation anxiety, she hasn't had an accident in the house in almost 6 years, her and Callie (my cat) are best friends, and she is fine to stay at home alone for up to 10 hours. If I would have brought her back to the shelter, I don't know where I would be today. Kona absolutely changed my life the day I adopted her. She changed it for the better. She made me grow up and forced me to become more responsible. I stopped staying out all day and night because I had to be home to take care of her. A few months after her adoption, I literally bought a house with a fenced-in backyard for her. She has made me a more active person by being the reason I need to go outside for a walk(s) every day. 26 didn't seem young to me at the time, but looking back at the 6 years we have had together, we have accomplished a lot. She has helped me through some really dark moments by allowing me to snuggle with her in bed all day but still requiring her daily walks. Fresh air helps on the bad days. I always make sure to include her in things whenever I can. We go on road trips just the two of us; I take her out for ice cream and cheese curds. We play hide and seek in the house when crappy Wisconsin weather strikes. And we share a bowl of popcorn together on our Friday movie nights. The dog is literally my best friend. Want me to cry on command? Talk about the fact that she won't be here one day. I want to make sure that she has the absolute best life while she's around. She loves hiking and going on car rides just like her mama - which is why she's the perfect travel partner. When I began writing this post, I had intended it to be a list of my favorite places to walk Kona. Instead, it ended up as a Kona appreciation post. I'm ok with that because she deserves it. You can find the dog walking lists here and here.