A short adventure in Wisconsin

When we arrived at Devils Lake State Park in Wisconsin, the fall color had yet to reach its peak. The daytime temperatures were in the 60s, falling into the low 50s at night, but that had all changed by the end of our stay. Midweek a cold rain arrived, most of the sites emptied, and the colors changed immediately. Devils Lake State Park is just outside Baraboo and centrally located, with many things to do and see. We needed another trip with the ORV before winterizing the rig; this state park, a half-day drive from home, was perfect.

The campsites at Devil’s Lake State Park were spacious, with good access to the hiking trails.

Just a few miles from the entrance to the campground is Parfrey’s Glen Natural Area. This 580-acre preserve was established in 1952 to protect a unique microclimate. Following a small stream, the trail leading into the glen is deceptively easy. The further along we walked, the ravine’s sandstone walls grew closer until we were climbing over and around large boulders to a small waterfall. I spent over an hour taking photographs and enjoying the quiet solitude of the area until a busload of very young schoolchildren splashed up the stream. It sounded like at least 2000 kids with the echoes bouncing off the rock walls; there were probably about 40 or so. They were having a great time; we made a hasty retreat.

The trail into the glen was easy most of the way, then came the scrambling over and around the boulders

About 35 miles south of the park is Frank Lloyd Wright’s home, studio, and school, Taliesin, a National Historic Landmark. The 800-acre property was given UNESCO World Heritage Site designation in 2019. The two-hour tour was a perfect rainy-day activity. I have been a lifelong fan of Write with his Prairie design style. We were impressed with the detailed knowledge of the docent leading the tour. He was able to discuss the uniqueness of the structures but also the quirky backstories. For instance, Write wanted to use a priceless Persian rug in a room he had added at his wife’s request. The rare rug was a few inches wide to fit around a support column. He used scissors to cut a notch in the carpet to fit the smaller space. I asked so many questions as we walked from one room to the next, and the docent was able to explain everything. While in one room, he discussed some of the problems with the roof design as I was standing next to a steady drip of rain. After leaving Taliesin, we took a spin through Spring Green. I want to shout out to Arcadia Books in the historic area of town. A well-stocked bookstore with a good coffee bar.

Every detail of the building was purposeful to enhance a visitor’s experience.

The International Crane Foundation, located in Baraboo, works in 50 countries on five continents to preserve cranes and the ecosystems where they live. The Baraboo location has a collection of about 100 cranes, including examples of all 15 species worldwide. The natural habits in the viewing area are large, with ponds surrounded by native prairie grasses. A few of the exhibits are designed with covered seating within the enclosures. Perfect for getting out of the rain and taking a lot of photos.

The way the habitats were presented allowed for close access to the cranes without disturbing them

On the drive home, we stopped overnight at a Harvest Host location. Alpine Ridge Orchard, in Brooklyn, WI, is a small family-owned farm that can accommodate two rigs with available power. The apples were the best, but the frozen pie “to go” was even better.

We were able to bring home a few pumpkins along with apples and a pie

Dennis