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HIGHLIGHTS

Our 31th year! Come join the fun!
Join us as we explore why Wisconsin is heaven for cycling! We'll start alongside the Mississippi River and roll along the scenic roads across the heart of Wisconsin. Don't miss the cheese curds, fruit pies and friendly people along the way. You soon see why cycling is world-class in Wisconsin.

"I love seeing the vast numbers of bikers of all ages participating. It’s healthy, good for the environment, and a great family outing!," Amy H. Manitowoc, Wisconsin

• The tour starts in La Crosse along the banks of "Big Muddy," the Mississippi River.
• City Brewery in Downtown La Crosse
• See the Julia Belle Swain an authentic steamboat docked in La Crosse.
• Visit Shrine of our lady Guadalupe  Just south of La Crosse. www.guadalupeshrine.org
• Stop in Sparta at the "Bicycling Capitol of America." Ask someone to name the seven original Mercury astronauts, and you'll probably draw a blank stare. Even NASA fans will be hard-pressed to get past the big names: John Glenn, Alan Shepard, Gus Grissom, Gordo Cooper, and, uh, Wally Schirra, and, uh, um, Scott Carpenter, and, uh...what was that other guy's name? Deke Slayton was that other guy. He was scheduled to fly right after John Glenn, in 1962, but an irregular heartbeat grounded him. He didn't fly until 1975, as part of the what-can-we-do-with-all-this-leftover-Apollo-hardware? Apollo-Soyuz mission. Deke Slayton's relatively unglamorous past did not stop his hometown of Sparta, Wisconsin, from giving him his own museum in 1999 -- or half of a museum, anyway. The Deke Slayton Memorial Space and Bike Museum is the only one in the world devoted to space travel and bicycling.
• F.A.S.T The Fiberglass Statute Factory Find out where the giant Muskie in Hayward came from. Bring your camera. Hwy 21 north of Sparta. www.fastkorp.com
• Relax under the restored 1929 tin ceiling in Sparta's historic downtown and enjoy a one-of-a-kind dining experience with real soda jerks and hometown hospitality at Ginny's Cupboard. They feature Wisconsin super premium ice creams, espresso bar, delicious homemade soups, chili, grilled sandwiches and fresh bakery.
• Necedah National Wildlife Refuge Whooping cranes, wolves, Karner blue butterflies, and white-tailed deer call Necedah National Wildlife Refuge "home." Ringed bog hunter dragonflies live in sedge meadows, flying squirrels in upland hardwood timber. Trumpeter swans inhabit the marshes, and badgers the savanna. The habitat mosaic, maintained by prescribed burning, seasonal mowing, and timber clearing, attracts a wide range of wildlife. Each species and habitat is monitored and maintained to insure overall vigor of the ecosystem. The 43,656-acre refuge was established in 1939 as a refuge and breeding ground for migratory birds and other wildlife. The Necedah National Wildlife Refuge consists of more than 43,000 acres of wetlands and open water areas; pine, oak and aspen forests; grasslands; and savannahs,
  Ten thousand years ago, retreating glaciers left behind vast peat bogs and sand ridges, creating the area known as the great Central Wisconsin Swamp or Marsh.Native Americans re-colonized on the heels of the reclining glaciers, depending upon the game and wild edibles that the land provided. Europeans settled the area, attempting to drain and farm the sandy land. After a series of intense peat bog fires in the 1930s, many settlers abandoned the farmsteads. In 1939, President Franklin Roosevelt set aside 43,656 acres as Necedah Refuge and, under the guidance of the Civilian Conservation Corps, several thousand acres of wetlands were restored. Ten thousand years ago, retreating glaciers left behind vast peat bogs and sand ridges, creating the area known as the great Central Wisconsin Swamp or Marsh.
• Mediatrix of Peace Shrine In the 1950s, a woman named Mary Ann Van Hoof had a vision of the Virgin Mary in her backyard and it created a sensationalistic pilgrimage by millions of people to the site. A shrine was built, complete with religious statues in hyperbolic chambers. Right off of Hwy 21, Necedah, WI
• Burr Oak Winery  Try a Castle Rock Red or White and take in the gorgeous setting! Or browse through the art gallery and gift shop Highway 12 & 16 in New Libson. http://www.burroakwinery.com/
• The Gee's Slough Group of Indian Mounds is placed on the National Register of Historic Places. These Mounds are located just outside of the City of New Lisbon. These mounds can be found throughout Wisconsin. The New Lisbon Area was a winter gathering place for the Woodland Culture Indians; they are the ancestors to the Winnebago tribe.
  Totem - this effigy usually is in the shape of an animal; Linear - a long, straight line of earth raised above the surrounding ground
  Round or Oval - this mound is mostly used as the burial mound of an important member of the tribe
  According to Indian folk lore thunderstorms were formed when the huge wings of the thunderbird flapped and lighting was caused by the opening and closing of their eyes. They were supposed to be the carriers of the lakes on their backs, which spilled when they tilted their bodies in flight, causing a downpouring of rain. The eggs that they dropped were the thunderbolts that sometimes struck the ground.
• Dairy farms We're the original "dairy state," come taste our fresh cheese curds.
• Stop in at the new Aldo Leopold's Legacy Center. The voted the Greenest Building in the World.
• Experience the beauty of Wisconsin's official Rustic Roads.
• Stop and see one of the world's rarest birds, the Whooping Cranes in at the International Crane Foundation.
• Layover day in Baraboo. Tons to see and do! It's your choice.
• Hop on the bus for a day of fun at the "Waterpark Capital of the World," in the Wisconsin Dells.
• Spectacular scenery From the bluffs of the Mississippi River valley to marshes of Horicon Marsh State Wildlife Area, it’s all here!
• See the big tent at the Circus World Museum.
• Cycle past the Horicon Marsh State Wildlife Area. It's the largest freshwater cattail marsh in the U.S. at over 32,000 acres.
• Low traffic roads Experience the joy of farm-to-market, low traffic roads. All thanks to the dairy industry.
• Family fun This is a tour for all abilities and ages. Check out the daily kids activites.
• Friendly communities Come find out why we are the premier vacation spot in the Midwest!
• Fun evening entertainment - music, games, talent show and prizes!
• Ice cream social at the beginning and Celebration lunch at the finish.
• Great people You’ll meet the friendliest people: from helpful staff to fun cycling partners.
  And much more... come join the fun!