The Elroy-Sparta State Trail
"The Granddaddy Of All Trails" was the first official Rails to Trails conversion in the United States in 1965. The surface of the trail is smooth, hard packed limestone. The 32 miles of abandoned Chicago & Northwestern railroad has no more than a 3 percent grade and passes through three tunnels that were dug by hand in the 1870's. Flashlights and jackets are recommended for going through the tunnels. The tunnels are located between Kendall and Wilton, Wilton and Norwalk, and the longest one is between Norwalk and Sparta. The Elroy-Sparta trail links with the LaCrosse River Trail at Sparta.

The "400" State Trail
This is considered the most scenic trail in the Wisconsin State Trail System. It was named for the Chicago & Northwestern passenger train which traveled the 400 miles from Chicago to Minneapolis in 400 minutes. The 22 miles of smooth, hard packed limestone parallels or crosses the Baraboo River the entire length between Elroy and Reedsburg.

The Juneau County Omaha Trail
This 12.5 mile long sealcoated trail is separately owned and maintained by Juneau County and has a separate trail fee. It is also on an abandoned Chicago & Northwestern Railroad bed and was opened in the spring of 1992. It is the most peaceful and secluded, and features an 875 foot tunnel.

World-class Road Bike Routes
For those who welcome the challenge of the rugged hills and steep valleys of Vernon County on county roads, there are four world-class bicycle routes traversing the county. Starting in Hillsboro, bicyclists can complete the Wildcat, Amish Country, Chaseburg and Romance Loops before returning to Hillsboro.

Depending on the time of year, you can pick apples, cut down your own Christmas tree or take home a bushel of fresh fruits and veggies from the Saturday morning Farmer's Market in Hillsboro.

One of our favorites is to stop by Organic Valley Family of Farms retail store in La Farge and enjoy high quality certified organic dairy products, made with milk from small family farms where no antibiotics, pesticides or hormones are ever used; the outlet also has certified organic orange juice and various meat products. It's open Monday through Friday, 8 am to 4:30 pm. For farm-fresh produce, eggs and baked goods from the Amish, follow Highway 33 North just past Ontario and look for a roadside stand; not open on Sunday.

One of our guests suggested a visit to nearby Amish farms with spacious greenhouses and delicious vegetables, or catch the Hillsboro Farmer's Market. On County V, about a 5 minutes drive, is Reuben Yoder's farming operation featuring two huge greenhouses with various vegetables and fruits. Just down St. Patrick's Road from the cabin is Reuben's nephew who has bountiful tomatoes growing in his greenhouse in May!

Don't have time to catch your own rainbow trout? No problem. Arrange a visit to the Trout Palace about 20 minutes away in the direction of LaFarge and pick up your fresh catch, as a butterfly filet at this one-stop family-run aquaculture operation. Call ahead (approx. 1 week) for availability and current pricing (608-625-2084). We recommend grilling the trout after letting it marinate for about an hour in bottled vinegar and oil Italian salad dressing.

We're a short drive away from the Kickapoo Valley Reserve, one of Wisconsin's premier places to canoe, not to mention go hiking. Ontario, Wisconsin, is where the canoes can be rented for the day; for canoe reservations and information call: 608-337-4381. We recommend the lower section of the Kickapoo between Rockton and LaFarge for a more natural and wild ride alongside sheer cliffs.

Nearby Hillsboro is designated "Czech Capital of Wisconsin." Try a homemade Czech specialty kolacky or sample some locally-made New Holstein Muenster, brick, Havarti cheeses at Foremost Farms Cheese Factory's retail store, open Monday - Friday, 8 am to 4 pm and Saturday, 8 am to 12 noon. Or visit Gina's Pies are Square in Wilton, Wisconsin (along he Elroy Sparta State Bike Trail. For a delicious dinner with huge portions, head to Old Towne Inn in Westby.

Large Amish settlements dot the countryside throughout Monroe and Vernon Counties. Many of the Amish familes have shops welcoming visitors six days a week (no Sunday callers please.) A wide variety of merchandise is offered for sale including wood crafts and furniture, bakery and maple syrup, quilts, toys, and other items. Suggested tours include: Hwy 33 between Ontario and Cashton; County D off of Hwy 33, about 2 miles east of Cashton; St. Mary's Ridge area between Cashton and Norwalk on County U; Country M, between Wilton and Tomah.

Wildcat Mountain State Park is located east of Ontario on Hwy 33, just 12 miles from Hillsboro. With over 3,500 acres, the park hosts thousands of visitors each year and includes a corral and access to several horse trails. Recently constructed shower and toilet facilities are available. The Old Settlers Trail and the Hemlock Nature trail offer extraordinary views of the surrounding countryside and offer informative nature markers along the way. Ice Cave Trail includes a picnic area, and an eroded sandstone rock cave where a spring creates a giant icicle that can be seen into the summer months. The park is a natural home to deer, grouse, wild turkey, numerous songbirds, and other wildlife. For more information or reservations call 608-337-4775 or write to Wildcat Mountain State Park, Box 99, Ontario WI 54651 or visit the Wisconsin DNR and search for some of the many fishing, hunting or hiking opportunities in the area.

The cold waters of the West Branch of the Kickapoo as well as the Timber Coulee, Coon Creek and their many tributaries are among Wisconsin's--if not the Midwest's--best for fly fishing.

Or come without a plan...and explore our surrounding communities:

• Vernon County
  Amish furniture, cheese curds, bicycle trails and skinny dipping, Vernon County offers something for everyone, any time of the year. Visit:

  Vernon County's excellent website

  Or... Hillsboro

  Or... Elroy to Sparta State Bike Trail and Tourism Resource Center

• Iowa County
  Perhaps most known for being the home of the world-renowned "father of organic architecture", Frank Lloyd Wright, Iowa County also offers a diverse array of cultural attractions, including the most visited tourist attraction of Wisconsin, The House on the Rock--all less than an hour's drive from Inn Serendipity Woods. Visit the Spring Green area of Iowa County

• Wisconsin Dells
  So popular, it deserves its own listing. Where else would you find the MIR Spacestation and a recycling of old WWII duck cars, turned into a tourism attraction? Visit the Dells