7 Wisconsin Destinations for Small-Town Charm

There’s that word, charming. It implies friendly, quaint, engaging and delightful, and what small town doesn’t want to be known for that? Here are seven towns in Wisconsin that are the essence of charming, each in their own endearing way.

New Glarus: Alpine Flavor

The old-world charm of New Glarus is evident with first view of the pretty Alpine-style architecture and colorful flower-filled window boxes. It’s called “America’s Little Switzerland” – it was originally settled by the Swiss in the mid-1800s – and you’ll even hear Swiss music piped downtown. Make the Swiss Historical Village Museum one of your stops to get the full story.

Come with an appetite and a thirst. The family-run New Glarus Brewing Company is a landmark here, having racked up lots of taste awards since opening in 1993. Tour the brewery and then enjoy a sampler. Shop Edelweiss Cheese for cheeses made by their master cheesemaker. Maple Leaf Cheese & Chocolate Haus has 100+ cheeses from Green County and homemade fudge. New Glarus Bakery makes its Swiss delicacies just as it did in 1910. The New Glarus Hotel Restaurant serves everything that ends in “schnitzel.”

Susie Weiss, executive director of the Chamber of Commerce & Visitor Center, added Puempel’s Olde Tavern with its 100-year-old murals to the list for food stops. She also said “there is live music somewhere every weekend, and it’s not always polka music.”

To balance all that eating and sipping, bike the 23-mile Sugar River State Trail. You’re bound to see a few Brown Swiss cows along the way.

Best Fests: New Glarus clearly loves a party. There’s Polkafest, Swiss Volksfest (Switzerland’s Independence Day), Wilhelm Tell Festival, and Oktoberfest.

Read the full article at https://www.travelwisconsin.com/article/tours/7-wisconsin-destinations-for-small-town-charm