Green County 2021 Guide

fun facts + things to do in new glarus

Start your visit to New Glarus with a step into the past. The statue on the front lawn of the Swiss United Church of Christ marks the site where the first settlers built a shelter after their long journey from Glarus, Switzerland in 1845. Downtown New Glarus is everything a downtown should be! It’s easily walkable – with plenty of benches for relaxing – plus lots of options for shopping, dining, and tasty treats. Shop local! You’ll find on-trend apparel and accessories for all seasons, jewelry, giftware, home and garden décor,

bath and body, floral, toys and games, antiques and vintage. Foodies will quickly discover that there are many options to yodel about: award-winning artisan cheese, pastries and treats, sausage, buttercream fudge (homemade at Maple Leaf Cheese and Chocolate), wine, beer and more. While downtown, stop in at the tasting room at Hawk’s Mill WineHaus, featuring fruit wines made locally at their flagship rural

Eat local. Swiss favorites include cheese fondue (the Swiss national dish), roesti (ramped-up hash browns) raclette (melted cheese over boiled potatoes and pickles), kalberwurst (fresh veal sausage), and authentic Swiss artisan breads and cookies. You’ll also enjoy outstanding fare like pizza, pasta, and specialty salads (Sugar River Pizza), dishes with Mexican and Southwest influence (Kristi’s Bistro), signature burgers and mac-n-cheese of the

New Glarus Chamber SwissTown.com 800.527.6838

week (Tofflers Pub & Grill), or Limburger cheese on rye or hearty soup served up in a bread bowl (Puempel’s Olde Tavern). Many restaurants have taken steps to make ordering “to go” food (and drinks!) quick and easy. Try a specialty cocktail kit from Kristi’s. Summer days are perfect for an al fresco meal – with chefs and servers ready to bring the flavor outside. A few favorites: the grand wrap-around porch at Kristi’s, the back deck at Tofflers, and the shady garden at Maple Leaf Cheese and Chocolate Haus. Chalet Landhaus has summer cook-outs on the patio, and Sugar River Pizza has “fire tables” that are ideal for larger groups. The New Glarus Chamber (located in the restored railroad depot that doubles as trailhead for the Sugar River Trail) is your one-stop shop for maps and visitor information. Friendly staffers Annie and Bekah can answer questions and provide directions. Bring your own wheels (or rent a bike at the chamber office) to explore the trail or the backroads and rolling hill countryside. Trailside parking is available. This is also a great spot to park a trailer and unload your snowmobiles. New Glarus Woods State Park is a great spot to “embrace the green space” of Green County (see map on page 18). Unique to the park is a handicap- accessible, tree-top level platform offering a birds’ eye view of the forest canopy. See how you measure up to the life-size bison that resides in the north prairie area. Special touches at the park (like the wildlife footprint path) are due to advocacy by Friends of New Glarus Woods State Park. The group also sponsors educational events, and a trail run is planned for August 14.

location Hawk’s Mill Winery near Browntown. Hawk’s Mill offers a full range from sweet to dry, but specializes in sweeter blends and fruit wines. Owners Ric and Teresa invite you to a tasting at their WineHaus where you'll enjoy “delicious wines without the attitude.” The best spot to really dig into the roots of New Glarus is at the Swiss Historic Village. It's just a quick walk up the hill from the downtown area. Take a tour to discover why the original settler's cabin on the museum grounds is so well-preserved despite being built nearly 165 years ago. The museum offers a glimpse into the daily lives of the brave immigrants who left families behind in Switzerland to start a new life here. You'll see where they lived, where they shopped, where they worked and worshipped, and where their children attended school. The heritage of the early settlers is honored today in traditional celebrations, folk art and music, architecture, cuisine, and even the herds of Brown Swiss that still graze the rolling green hillsides. If you’re lucky, the New Glarus “house band” duo might make an impromptu performance on a street corner or the front porch at Puempel’s Olde Tavern. Look for two guys carrying curiously long wooden horns: alphorn aficionados Heinz and George will blow out some tunes on these musical instruments that were traditionally used by shepherds to communicate across the mountains and valleys of Switzerland. Sit, sip and savor! Bailey’s Run Vineyard offers wine with a view. Their covered patio and expansive lawn space make social distancing a breeze. Enjoy live music on the weekends. Try the excellent wood-fired pizza or one of the artisan food plates designed to pair with wine – Sparkling, White, Red or Fruit. Bailey’s bonus: well-behaved doggers are invited to visit too!

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