Dolly's Pedaler's Rest

AREA ATTRACTIONS

What Else is There to do Besides Biking? Lots!!

Canoeing
Just 12 miles from Dolly's Pedalers Rest is the Kickapoo River, known as "the crookedest river in the world." The Kickapoo runs from Ontario and Wildcat Moutain State Park to the Wisconsin River at Wauzeka. Visit Drifty's Canoe Rentals for information on tour options.

Fishing
Guests are invited to fish for trout in the Baraboo River as it meanders withing walking distance of Dolly's Pedalers Rest to the Kendall Village Park. Please be cautious of the cattle and horses that share pasture lands. Need a fishing license? You can purchase one at the Wilton Hardware Hank.

Horseback Riding
Circle S Trail Rides is just 4 miles over the hill from Dolly's Pedalers Rest. The horses keep an even pace over cropland, into the woodlands, up to the ridge tops, and back to the barn. Call (608) 435-6975 for more information.

The Kickapoo Valley Reserve and Wildcat Mountain State Park also have equestrian trails. Visit their websites for more information.

Golfing
There are several golf courses in our area, including:

  • Spring Valley Golf Course, a 9-hole course in Union Center, just 9 miles from Dolly's Pedalers Rest.

  • Hiawatha Golf Club, an 18-hole course in Tomah.

  • Holiday Lodge Golf Resort, an 18-hole course in Wyeville.

  • Castle at the Bay (formerly Northern Bay Golf Resort), an 18-hole course in Arkdale. Features replications of the most famous holes in golf, including two from the Augusta National and the island green from TPC Sawgrass. A golf adventure you don't want to miss!

Museums/Visitor Centers
These are a few of the museums and visitor centers in our area:

  • Deke Slayton Memorial Space & Bicycle Museum, Sparta. See progression of transportation with exhibits sharing the history of bicycles, aviation and aerospace. Antique and collective bicycles, a quarter scale model of the Wright Flyer, the history of Mercury 7 astronaut and Sparta native Deke Slayton, and an actual piece of the moon. Summer hours: 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday though Saturday, and 1 to 4 p.m., Sunday. Winter hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.

  • Little Falls Railroad & Doll Museum, 2 miles east of Cataract. Over 1,600 dolls on display, train displays and railroad memorabilia, garden railroad, children's train ride and more. Open 1 to 5 p.m., Thursday through Monday (closed Tuesday and Wednesday). Call (608) 272-3266 before driving a long distance to visit.

  • Monroe County History Museum, Sparta. Interactive displays documenting the heritage, culture and way of life in Monroe County. Open 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Housed in the same building as the Deke Slayton Museum.

  • Tomah Area Historical Society Museum. Catalogs the history of Tomah, including displays from Tomah native son Frank King, creator of the comic strip, "Gasoline Alley." Open 1 to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday, mid May through mid October. For more information, call (608) 372-1880.

  • Wegner Grotto, Cataract. A grass roots folk art exhibit of structures and sculptures made of concrete and broken glass. Open free of charge May through October. For group tours call, (608) 269-8680.

  • Wisconsin Cranberry Discovery Center. Did you know Wisconsin leads the nation in cranberry production? Housed in a historic cranberry warehouse in downtown Warrens, the Wisconsin Cranberry Discovery Center's interactive exhibit hall details the history of cranberry production in Wisconsin. After your tour, have a dish of cranberry ice cream or a slice of cranberry pie from the center's Taste-Test Kitchen. The center also has driving/biking maps available for seeing local cranberry marshes. Hours vary by season. Call (608) 378-4878 for more information.

Wildlife Viewing/Nature Centers

If you enjoy watching wildlife or hiking nature trails, here are a few places you'll want to visit:

  • Kickapoo Nature Reserve, La Farge - The reserve is an 8,569-acre tract of land located btween La Farge and Ontario in southwestern Wisconsin. Its history, resources, adminstration, and recreational diversity make it unique. Here sandstone outcroppings tower over the Kickapoo River as you paddle its quiet waters. Its native plants and animals abound in all seasons.

  • Necedah National Wildlife Refuge, Necedah - Four established trails wind through various habitat types on the refuge, several observation decks, boardwalk trails, and refuge roads are open for use from sunrise to sundown to allow visitors an opportunity to see wildlife. Beavers, porcupines, white-tailed deer, foxes or the occasional black bear, whooping cranes and timber wolf are sometimes spotted. A new visitors center opened in April 2011.

  • Norskedalen Nature & Heritage Center, Coon Valley - Norskedalen (which means the Norwegian Valley), is a nature and heritage center dedicated to preserving, interpreting and sharing the natural environment and cultural heritage of the area. Norskedalen has much to offer in so many different ways, exploring the natural beauty, regional history and traditional Norwegian heritage of the region.

  • Wildcat Mountain State Park, Ontario - Half the fun of this spectacular activity is the winding road of natural beauty that gets you there. Wildcat Mountain State Park is unglaciated with numerous rock outcroppings, stunning views, and the envy of all horseback riders who return and ride the incredible trails.

Need More Ideas?
How about a tour of the Amish communities in Monroe County? Down a Country Road, 2 miles east of Cashton on Highway 33, is a great place to start. Open May through October, you'll find Amish-made furniture, quilts, candy, jams and jellies and more. As you drive around the Kendall, Tomah and Cashton areas, you'll also find Amish homes with signs in their yard, offering goods for sale. (Respectful of their religious beliefs, there are never Sunday sales or negotiations. The Amish also do not wish to be photographed.)

We also have cheese stores, apple orchards, berry farms and farm markets in Monroe County.