The Elkhorn Antique Flea Market is always a popular attraction.

By Lynn Greene
Senior Editor

Like many youngsters who have the same desire, no matter their hometown, I escaped from my growing-up place right after high school. It didn’t take long to figure out what I missed, and like so many visitors to our county, I came back often to enjoy the things I missed most. Nowadays, I live here for good, so I’m a tourist in my own backyard. When I operated a bed and breakfast for a dozen years or so, I learned what other visitors to the county loved so much about this place; it’s not so much the glitz and glam, but the engaging and natural. The lakes operate like a cluster of magnets on a would-be visitor’s mettle; they are drawn back again and again. And who can blame them?

Here’s my list of the best five things to do in Walworth County.

1. Take a hike (or a bike or a ride) in the Kettle Moraine. The last Wisconsin glacier did its job well, carving out kettles, moraines, eskers and drumlins. The Southern Kettle Moraine State Forest sweeps through Walworth County along the northern edge, with the Nordic and Ice Age trails accessible off County Highway H just north of Wisconsin Highway 12 in LaGrange. Designated trails accommodate hikers, mountain bike and horseback riders. During early- morning hikes, it’s possible to see wild turkeys and pheasants, red fox and whitetail deer. Certain sections have been reclaimed as native prairie, playing host to many species of plants and flowers, birds, reptiles and insects. Take a hike and enjoy the scenery. State trail passes are required for horseback riding and biking, and a parking pass is needed if you park at the trailhead. Call the Department of Natural Resources at (262) 594-6200 or go to http://dnr.wi.gov/.
2. A journey to the past is fun for all ages at Old World Wisconsin. You can visit every year and still find something new. This is a 500-acre outdoor living-history museum that features farm sites, heirloom gardens, historic breeds of animals, artisan handicrafts and hands-on activities. It’s open daily throughout the summer and, although there can be a good deal of walking involved, there is a tram available. On June 13, enjoy a game of vintage base ball (yes, it was originally two words) between the Eagle Diamonds and the Milwaukee Cream Cities. Day camps and field trips also are available. Call the museum at (262) 594-6300 or go to http://oldworldwisconsin.wisconsinhistory.org.
3. Enjoy Walworth County’s public-art projects while you wander around downtown. There is a vibrant art community living and working in Whitewater. The Whitewater Arts Alliance is housed at the Cultural Arts Center, 402 W. Main St. The center hosts gallery shows regularly and sponsors the fifth annual public-arts project this summer. Artists are on the move creating bicycle art, which will hang from Main Street’s lampposts throughout the summer, with an auction scheduled for August. Contact the WAA at (262) 472-0204 or go to www.whitewaterarts.org. In Lake Geneva, it is the second annual public-art project focusing on the horse. Last year’s painted ponies have given way to prancing carousel horses, which will grace the streets of downtown Lake Geneva until they are auctioned off Sept. 19. The horses are a fundraiser for SMILES (Special Methods in Learning Equine Skills); call (262) 882-3470 or go to www.smiles.nu.
4. Look for treasures at the Elkhorn Antique Flea Market. If you’ve got the antique or collector bug, this is the place for you. The fair began in 1982, and has grown into a showcase of more than 500 dealers bringing a range of merchandise. Down one aisle, you can find that perfect side chair for grandma’s dining room set, and the next aisle might offer up an antique birdbath or a perfect piece of Royal Delft porcelain. Summer shows are held June 28, Aug. 9 and Sept. 27 at the fairgrounds in Elkhorn. Call (414) 525-0820 or go to www.nlpromotionsllc.com.
5. Get rejuvenated with the resplendent scents and colors at Northwind Perennial Farm, just north of Lake Geneva in Springfield. If you’re looking for inspiration for your own gardens, wander around these beauties, which are accented with old barns, garden art and unusual treasures. Inspiration will run up behind you and grab you by your green thumb. Weekly garden tours are held at 1 p.m. Wednesdays. Educational garden walks with co-owner Roy Diblick will have your head spinning with possibilities. The farm has a full calendar of events at www.northwindperennialfarm.com or call (262) 248-8229.

Tags: Activities