Travelog WI

From London To Rome Summer Staycations In Southern Wisconsin's Unincorporated Towns

By Susan Siemens • September 4, 2024
(Photo of Morovian Church in London, Wisconsin) No overcrowded sandy beaches, or raucous nightlife these unincorporated towns in Southern Wisconsin have much to offer for the ultimate, Spring break staycation. There are so many often overlooked villages in our region that are car-stop worthy. In no particular order, as Summer break is all about spontaneity and freewill here are a number of towns for consideration. London, Newark, and Rome are not just major, international airport hubs they are also destination worthy, towns in Southern Wisconsin. N ewark The town of Newark for example, is the birth place of Dorr Eugene Felt (1862-1930.) If you have ever used a Comptometer then you know who to thank. The Comptometer is the world's first, mechanical calculator. According to the U.S. Patent Office Mr. Felt, though only attending high school for one year, produced over 25 foreign and 46 domestic patents. He also wrote and a number of publications, and papers related to labor relations in the U.S. Loyola University in Chicago is home to a number of his writings. Newark's most famous resident the Beckman Mill is worth a visit any time of year. Built in 1868, the mill continued to operate until the late 1950s. In 1977 the Beckman Mill was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. The best thing about a stopover in Newark, you can break a sweat while learning about history, Beckman Mill County park offers 50 acres of wetlands, woods and a garden.
Second Summer is Outdoor Fun in the Sun. Pictured is a female wearing sunglasses

School Is Back and Second Summer Is Here

By Web Content Manager • September 17, 2021
Forget the long lines, large crowds, high humidity and heat Second Summer is back and more beautiful than ever. These are the days in the 70s and lower 80s and crisp, clear nights to open the window to.

As of June 1st Wisconsin state parks have opened facilities as more Wisconsinite are vaccinated

By Web Content Manager • June 14, 2021
Pictured above is Devils' Lake State Park Another sign that normalcy has returned to the Summer vacationing season in Wisconsin, the DNR announces on June 1st a number of changes to its' operations across the state. As the number of daily cases of COVID-19 in the Badger State continues to decline and the number of vaccinated Wisconsinites rises DNR officials are now allowing indoor group camps, with both indoor and outdoor camps returning to their capacity of 350. State park properties and State Natural Areas (SNA) which were closed last summer and now open incliude: Gibraltor Rock, Pewitt's Nest, Dells on the Wisconsin River, and the popular Rock Island State Park. Also, in time for Summer all enclosed shelters are now open, as well as playgrounds and towers such as Lapham Peak State Park and Peninsula State Park. Open air shelters and amphitheaters can have maximum capacity or 350 people, as well o utdoor-only concession activities. However, visitor centers, office buildings, and nature centers remain closed until further notice. Some state park, drive-up windows may be open for admission purchases. If you are not sure where facilities are open or closed you can now visit DNR service centers Fitchburg, Green Bay, Madison and Spooner to purchase a state park sticker or fishing license. The DNR assures that it will continue to operate with safety in mind for all visitors and staff based on the Badger Bounce Back Plan COVID-19 precautions such as encouraging social distancing, and park capacities are still in place. The DNR recommends visitors enjoy parks at off-peak times or other properties less popular. State parks that are subject to capacity limits include: o Copper Falls o Devil's Lake o Governor Dodge o Governor Nelson o Harrington Beach o Hartman Creek o High Cliff o Interstate o Kinnickinnic o Kettle Moraine Southern Unit o Lapham Peak o Perrot o Rib Mountain o Roche-a-Cri o Whitefish Dunes o Willow River The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources recommends you visit those natural areas listed above during non-peak hours before 10 a.m. and after 4 p.m. According to the DNR "The majority of Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources properties are open, with special conditions to help limit the spread of COVID-19 and protect natural resources."

Post-Pandemic RV Downsizing Trend Drive High Demand for Teardrop Campers In WIsconsin

By Lakes Edition Web Content Manager • June 1, 2021
LIght weight, and relatively inexpensive, teardrop campers offer affordable alternatives for camping in the great outdoors with the little comforts of home.

May Is National Health and Fitness Month

By Greg LakesEdition • May 21, 2021
The President’s Council on Sports, Fitness & Nutrition and the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion’s (ODPHP) have created the "Move Your Way" campaign

Taking the Earth Day Pledge Every Day

By Web Content Manager • April 22, 2021
" O ur goal is not just an environment of clean air and water and scenic beauty. The objective is an environment of decency, quality and mutual respect for all other human beings and all other living creatures," Wisconsin's "conservation governor" Gaylord Nelson said of Earth Day the worldwide event he had founded. On April 22, 1970 the first Earth Day was celebrated by over 20 million Americans. The event brought communities across the country together to support the environment. Today, Earth Day is celebrating its' 51st year and while the mission is the same the message is more clarion and dire than ever before. But in this media landscape of doom and gloom there are signs in Washington D.C. and small towns across the U.S. that people finally understand what Gaylord Nelson's Earth Day truly is. This single day event has brought communities across the globe together to think sustainably, plant trees, save rain forests, prairie and wetlands and foster meaningful legislative action from the world's largest economies to those countries less economically blessed in the global south facing the constant threat of climate change every day. The United Nations Climate Change Conference which will hold COPP 26 in Glasgow this November owes a great deal to Wisconsin's very own, the man from Clear Lake, Gaylord Nelson. In the age of the internet, Earth Day is not only a one day worldwide celebration but a dedicated website https://www.earthday.org/ that nurtures community connections and actions in a Social Media driven context.. The website is vast and somewhat daunting for a first time visitor. If you were fortunate enough to visit Earthday.org on Earth Day you were treated to a livestream of dignitaries and every day people speaking up for the environment and highlighting the actions their communities or organizations have taken to make this planet a healthier place for all of us to live. But the Earth Day website outside of April 22nd offers -downloadable toolkits and action plans that even a single individual can take on. There is the "Earth Challenge" which invites citizens around the globe to document point sources of pollution. The Great Global Cleanup (#GreatGlobalCleanup) encourages people to seek out groups in their community that are cleaning up trash around their neighborhoods and parks. Or you can pledge to make your next meal plant based. These are just a few Earth Day actions that you can do every day, whether your at home or on vacation use Earthday.org as your guide to live a greener, cleaner life and as U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelosn succinctly put it, "(create) an environment of decency, quality and mutual respect for all other human beings and all other living creatures."

Healthy To Go Meals For Your Day Trips To Southern Wisconsin

By Lakes Edition Web Content Manager • April 1, 2021
Healthy to go meals for your day trip adventures through Southern Wisconsin
Downtown London Wisconsin

From London To Rome Spring Break Staycations In Southern Wisconsin's Unincorporated Towns

By Lakes Edition Web Content Manager • March 12, 2021
From London To Rome Spring Break Staycations In Southern Wisconsin's Unincorporated Towns unexpected treasures to visit.
a native Wisconsin timber wolf in snow covered forest

Getting On The Ground Level With Your Local Animal Friends This Winter

By Lakes Edition Web Content Manager • February 19, 2021
Enjoy your local animal friends before it's too late. We have to appreciate what we have now because they may not be around in the future.
Cave of the Mounds a balmy 50 degrees in February

Winter Is A Great Time To Socially Distance In Wisconsin's Oldest Classroom

By Lakes Edition Web Content Manager • February 10, 2021
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11 Great, Free Day Trip Attractions In Southern Wisconsin 


Summer in the Badger State offers many captivating outdoor destinations for active families, couples day tripping or great solo recreation opportunities. In Southern Wisconsin there is no shortage of places to visit so choosing which attraction for a top eleven list is a challenge. Trails are currently uncovered with some icy passages. Please stay up to date with local forecasts before wandering out into the great outdoors of Southern Wisconsin.

Since Lakes Edition's focus is primarily in Southern Wisconsin the chore of creating a list of free. visit-worthy recommendations is a little bit easier.

Lakes Edition 11 Free Activities >

(Photo above of sign at the Lake Koshkonong Effigy Mounds)


1. Visit the historic, sacred grounds of Lake Koshkonong Effigy Mounds, near Ft. Atkinson. A spectacular setting with a sloped view down to Lake Koshkonong. Effigy mounds were often positioned close to bodies of water as the builders were honoring the plentiful natural resources offered closeby such as fish, muskrats and wild rice. The 11 remaining mounds here were built by people living the region between 700 - 1100 A.D. Wisconsin has the highest number of effigy mounds of state in the U.S. and the World for that matter.



2. Tour the grounds of Wisconsin's First State Capitol, Belmont. On April 20, 1836 President Jackson signed a bill creating the Wisconsin Territory. Iowa, Minnesota, North and South Dakota and Wisconsin comprised of this territory governed by Henry Dodge. Find two remaining structures (the Council House, where the legislators met, and the Supreme Court House,) under the purview of the Wisconsin State Historical Society in what remains of Belmont. Belmont is located Northeast of Platteville on Hwy 151. BONUS: Still got that wandering spirit? Hike to the top at Belmont Mound State Park, located just a 1/2 mile east of the Capitol site, the bluff has great views of the southwest edge of the Driftless region.



3. Hike Rock County's second highest point, Magnolia Bluff, for a great view of Southern Wisconsin. Located, just south of Evansville go south on Old 92 for about three miles, then west on Highway 59 1 mile, then south on N. Croak Road 0.5 miles to the park entrance.



4. Begin with a stroll along the two block, river walk and then tour historic downtown Janesville. The city of Janesville is home to more than 80 structures listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) spread across four historic districts.


5. Wander the historic grounds of one of America's great abolitionist institutions Milton College, Milton. Often overshadowed by the Milton House (the only standing structure of Wisconsin's role in the Underground Railroad) Milton College was established in 1844 as an academy by abolitionist, Joseph Goodrich. Notable Milton College graduates include former NFL, quarterback Dave Krieg and Hollywood actor, Kerwin Williams. 

6. Travel back in time with a visit to the historic Beckman-Howe Mill, Beloit , Beloit. The only standing mill in Southern Wisconsin retains much of its' identity from mid-1800s early industrial agricultural age. 

7. Bird watch at the University of Wisconsin's world renowned, Arboretum, Madison. Located in the heart of the city, this 1200 acre park, is the oldest, experimental forest preserve in the world.

8. Tour an entire town listed in the National Register of Historic Places, Cooksville Ever dreamed of visiting a quaint, New England town without leaving Wisconsin? You don't need to wander far Historic Cooksville is just a quick drive from downtown Edgerton.

9. Lower Yahara River Trail | Dane County Parks - Dane County, Wisconsin

Phase 2 of the Lower Yahara River Trail between Fish Camp County Park and Lake Kegonsa State Park opened July 3, 2024. This 1.6-mile trail is a mix of boardwalk and paved trail which traverses over Door Creek along the northern shore of Lake Kegonsa. The trail connects to the Village of McFarland to Fish Camp County Park coursing through a vast wetland to west and to the east the dramatic semi-secluded, wooded shoreline hugging the blue expanse of Lake Kegonsa. If on foot choose a weekday as a lot two-wheeled weekend warriors like to make the route from Madison down this way.

10. Hike the enchanting wilderness of Wisconsin's famous Kettle Moraine State Forest (KMSF), Southern Unit, Whitewater. At over 22,000 acres of forest, KMSF's Southern Unit is the largest natural area in our region and offers bountiful opportunities to hike, bike fish, and canoe.

11. The Wisconsin State Capitol and Monona Terrace - Two great free attractions just two blocks from each other in downtown Madison. 1st, start with the Wisconsin's State Capitol, at 284.4 feet in height the 2nd largest governmental dome in the U.S. just behind the U.S. Capitol building in Washington D.C. The existing structure is impressive built of  White Bethel Vermont Granite at 105 years old is the third structure to exist on this site the other two burned to the ground. Make sure to ask for the Capitol tour as you will be able to get outside on the building's mezzanine level affording views of both Lake Mendota, State Street, and Lake Monona. 


Next> walk two blocks south on MLK Blvd. to the Monona Terrace. This building is a living breathing connection to Frank Lloyd Wright's architectural legacy in Madison and Wisconsin for that matter. Wright designed the building in 1947 but because of 5o years of political debates and stunts the convention center was not constructed until 1997. No need to visit Wright's studio in Spring Green, Taliesin at over $50/person Monona Terrace is a great free way for the whole family to get up close with the architectural genius's esthetic and last major commission. The convention center terminates the street with a commanding view of Lake Monona. Don't forget to take the elevator or ramps to the rooftop terrace which affords visitors with great lake views and the Wisconsin State Capitol.