Seek the Unique                                September 2013 

Photo: Courtesy of O'Neill Manor, Neillsville.

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Greetings!

Crickets chirping, yellow school buses chugging along, parents dropping off kids at the dorm, tailgating at football games. The signs of fall are undeniable here in Wisconsin. And with the transition comes a crop of new ideas for experiencing Wisconsin B&Bs. 

Photo courtesy of Ludlow Mansion, Monroe.

 

 Back

Back to School, Yahoo 
Photo: Bradner Suite at Lazy Cloud B&B, Lake Geneva.
 
 
  
 
Don't feel guilty if you rejoice at back-to-school time. We get it, sometimes you just need a break from the kids, whether those kids are grade schoolers or graduate students. As for weekend getaways, maybe your preference at this point in the year tips in favor of lodging that only permits adults. We have 13 member B&Bs in Wisconsin that fit that criteria, woo hoo!
 
 
 
 
 
towns
College Towns 
Photo: Wilson Schoolhouse Inn, La Crosse.

If you're missing your freshman son or daughter or making plans for your annual alumni get-together, check into B&Bs in the area for an especially authentic college weekend. Here's a sampling of Wisconsin college town B&Bs, with an emphasis on private colleges:

Tailgating Towns 
Photos courtesy of Astor House B&B, Green Bay.
We invented tailgating in Wisconsin, or so we like to claim. When in Madison for a University of Wisconsin football weekend, stay at B&B near campus, then join Bucky Badger and the marching band at Camp Randall Stadium for a rousing rendition of "Varsity." In Green Bay, tailgating before a Packer game is nearly required. Warm up after the game at Astor House B&B, where they do not raise their rates for Packer game weekends! 
Brewery 
Brewery Towns 
Photo: Dreams of Yesteryear, Stevens Point. 

 

You don't need Oktoberfest as an excuse to embark on a Wisconsin brewery tour, but it doesn't hurt. The list of microbreweries here is as tall as a growler of ale, so we'll just focus on two of the most historic breweries. In Monroe, the Minhas Craft Brewery is the second oldest in the nation, circa 1845, and offers small-batch handcrafted beers. Stay at the stately Ludlow Mansion, circa 1857. The Stevens Point Brewery was established in 1857 and provided beer to Union troops during the Civil War. Nearby B&Bs include A Victorian Swan on Water and Dreams of Yesteryear, both historic inns. 

Fermentation 

Fermentation Fest 
Photo: Ricotta cheese made at Parkview B&B, Reedsburg over poached pears.

O.K., with a name like Fermentation Fest, we couldn't resist. This annual event will be held October 4-13 in Reedsburg. It's a food and farming festival that focuses on fermentation in all its forms - hand-crafted beer, sauerkraut, yogurt, wine, chocolate, cheese, sourdough bread and more. Don't miss the temporary outdoor art installation on a 50-mile backroad stretch of farm fields. There are two B&Bs right in Reedsburg, Pine Grove Park B&B Guest House and Parkview B&B, with September Farms B&B in La Valle not far away. At Parkview B&B, innkeeper Donna Hofmann really gets into the spirit of Fermentation Fest. She tells us: "...we make ricotta cheese and use it in our breakfasts during the event as well as our sorbets made with beer and wine served with cheese." Donna has graciously donated a one night stay for two as part of our Get-Away Give-Away. Click here to enter to win! 

 

Caramel 

Caramel Apple Bar Recipe from a Likely Source 

 

We love that Apple Tree Lane B&B in Waupaca submitted their recipe for Caramel Apple Bars for the newest recipe book from the Wisconsin Bed & Breakfast Association. Innkeeper Kerri Thiel adapted it from a recipe in "The Joy of Apples" cookbook; the cookbook was a gift from a guest. So our thanks to Kerri and her grateful guest both!  

 

Photo: Apple Tree Lane B&B, Waupaca

 

Caramel Apple Bars   

1 cup dark brown sugar, packed
� cup butter, softened
� cup solid shortening
1� cups all-purpose flour, plus 3 Tbsp
1� cups quick-cooking oatmeal
� tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
4 cups apples, peeled, cored and coarsely chopped
(Granny Smith or a combination)
� tsp pure vanilla extract
1 14-oz. bag caramels, melted

 

Preheat oven to 400�F. Mix sugar, butter and shortening in a large bowl
until well blended. Stir in 1� cups flour, oatmeal, soda and salt. Reserve
2 cups of the mixture and set aside. Press remaining mixture into an
ungreased 13x9-inch baking pan.

 

Mix apples, 3 tablespoons flour and vanilla. Spoon over crumbly mixture.
Pour melted caramels over apples. Sprinkle with reserved mixture
and press down lightly. Bake 25-35 minutes or until apples are tender
and topping is lightly browned. Cool slightly, then cut into bars. Refrigerate
leftovers. Yield: 36 bars.

 

Click here to view a printer-friendly .pdf version of this recipe.

 

 

 

 

Thanks for reading the September issue of "Seek the Unique"!

You're Unique Stay that way.

 

Kris Ullmer

WBBA Administrator

Phone: 715-539-9222

Email: [email protected]