My closet at the Mineral Point Hotel
If you can forget those things for me, I'd be happy too forget them as well.
The Mineral Point Hotel, Mineral Point Wisconsin
The story is that I have been out of town twice in the last two weeks for a total of 7 days. All that does is make more laundry with less time to do it.
Stairway of the Mineral Point Hotel
Everyone knows if you have a trip, there is one day preparing to go and one day re-acclimating after arriving home, so if I count in those additional 4 days, then I've been worthless around the house for 11 of the past 14 days.
(Whether I count those additional 4 days or not I've been worthless around the house.)
Lobby of the Mineral Point Hotel
Have you ever toured Wisconsin? It's more than just cheese, although if you want cheese there is plenty to be had. And beer. And wine. I lost count of the breweries, wineries and cheese stores, and I visited my fair share of both. Wisconsin is a beautiful state and I wanna go back there, if for no other reason than the beer. And cheese. And wine.
Leinenkugel Beer Crates holding tourist information
Our trip started out in the northern part of the state where my little buddy Janel from Nellie Bellie lives, and ended in the southern part. I have not figured out how to combine traveling with people who don't know I blog and also visiting bloggers, so I peeked in her windows on my way by, ate a piece of cheese and downed a beer in her honor.
Bessies Blend, an award winner from Carr Valley Cheese, and Spotted Cow from New Glarus Brewery to be exact.
There are so many little towns in Wisconsin that have a story and ooze with charm. The town of Mineral Point is no exception. They have a very active arts council that has helped oversee a revitalization to their quaint downtown. And they have done it very well.
Shake Rag Alley Center for the Arts hosts visiting artists who conduct hands on workshops. Say you wanna learn about blacksmith-ing, this is the place for you. Jewelry making. Hone your writing skills. Bent willow furniture making. Photography. Gardening. Community plays. Just check out their list of classes. Antique shops, entertainment, trails, restaurants, B&B's, this town has it all and the population hasn't even hit 3,000.
Have you heard of the Little Free Library? Take a book, leave a book. Cute little book stands like this scattered around town. We traveled with friends, and George is a writer so he was intrigued with this concept.
Want some wine? They've got that too. Local and organic.
There is also a brew pub, the Brewery Creek Restaurant, where I had the best burger of my life. The brewery is also a B&B. I was going to take a picture of my plate of food like good bloggers do, but I was running out of reasons to give our travel companions for why I was taking photos of odd little things.
FINE... the truth is that I ate it all before I even considered taking a picture. Do you feel better for forcing me into that confession? I had the specialty fries too.
The pub brews it's own beers.
View of a room entry at the Mineral Point Hotel
The owners of the Mineral Point Hotel also help run Shake Rag Alley. I noticed the hotel is for sale, and I'm guessing the way the town is booming with shops and tourists that the owners can't keep up with both.
Our huge bathroom. No I did not take a long, relaxing soak in the tub. I'm not sure why, other than the bed was so comfortable I wanted to sleep.
We discovered so many interesting towns in Wisconsin, if you get a chance to go, do it. Mineral Point was by far the highlight of our little tour. Stop by Shake Rag Alley and find out how they were able to turn the town into a thriving little artsy mecca, then tour the town.
*All photos taken by a crummy little point and shoot camera loaned to me by my daughter because it fit so nicely in my purse.