The Cabin

The Cabin is presented by the Wisconsin Counties Association and this week we’re featuring Portage County: https://bit.ly/3QBhUu1

The Cabin is also brought to you by Group Health Trust: https://bit.ly/3JMizCX

Campfire Conversation: 

Ana, Eric, and Jake give their takes on some fun winter festivals that, at this point in mid-January, are still on the horizon. Some are coming up this weekend, including Waukesha’s annual Jan-Boree Festival, a city-wide brouhaha of winter activities that span 10 entire days! Up in Superior, the Lake Superior Ice Festival offers family fun the last weekend of January. Both of these fests feature activities like ice carving, winter disc golf, sledding, bonfires, and more. The Superior festival adds ice racing, a kubb tournament, and a market and craft fair. The end of January sees the start of Lake Geneva Winterfest, a long weekend celebration that embraces rides on and above Geneva Lake, ice sculptures throughout downtown, family friendly (and grown-up) activities of all kinds, and the crowning event: the U.S. National Snow Sculpting Championships, welcoming the best snow sculptor teams from around the country.
February is filled with festivals, including Madison’s Winter Carnival with events at the UW campus both on and off the ice; the unique Scandihoovian Festival in Mt. Horeb embraces the Scandinavian way to enjoy winter, with social activities and fun with turkey bowling, fiddling, fat tire biking, and even a spelling bee. The middle weekend of February, the 15th-17th, is packed with events all over including the Northwoods Blizzard Blast centered in Conover; from the market to snowshoe baseball to outdoor recliner races on the ice plus sleigh rides, ice bowling, hockey, archery, snowshoeing, even pin-the-nose-on-the-snowman, it truly is a blast! At the same time, you can hustle across Chequamegon Bay during Book Across the Bay, the annual over-ice trek between Ashland and Washburn on Lake Superior, with plenty of fun events before, during, and after. Over on the Door Peninsula, the Sturgeon Bay Fire and Ice Festival features luminary night hikes, snow and carvers of all experience levels in the downtown crafting masterpieces and whimsical creations, even free trolley rides. For more motorized excitement, check out the Manawa Snodeo. It features snowmobile racing, ice drags, even racing with mini-bikes and lawnmowers along with hot air balloons and pyrotechnics lighting things up!

They cover several craft beer festivals happening in February too, so you’re covered there as well. Plenty of festival fun awaits yet this winter, let this episode inspire you to check more out! Links to these fests are below:

Waukesha JanBoree (Jan 19-28): https://www.janboree.org/

Lake Superior Ice Festival: https://lakesuperioricefestival.com/

Lake Geneva Winterfest & The US National Snow Sculpting Competition: https://www.visitlakegeneva.com/event/winterfest-2024/12242/

Madison Winter Carnival: https://union.wisc.edu/events-and-activities/special-events/wintercarnival/

Scandihoovian Festival in Mt. Horeb: https://trollway.com/scandihoovian-winter-festival

Northwoods Blizzard Blast: https://northwoodsblizzardblast.com/

Book Across the Bay: https://www.batb.org/

Sturgeon Bay Fire & Ice Festival: https://sturgeonbay.net/special-events/fire-ice-festival/

Manawa Snodeo: https://www.manawasnodeo.org/

More festival and road trip fun can be found at https://www.statetrunktour.com/

The Cabin is presented by the Wisconsin Counties Association and this week we’re featuring Lincoln County: https://bit.ly/3QvVgDl

The Cabin is also brought to you by Group Health Trust: https://bit.ly/3JMizCX

Campfire Conversation: 

Ana, Eric, and Jake explore winter activities in Wisconsin with an eye on the more unique approaches. Sure, you can go skiing, ice skating, snowmobiling, and partake in many of the other typical winter activities, but how about sleigh rides, skijoring, and everybody’s favorite New Year’s activity (or one to avoid), the polar bear dips? We cover where you can take a sleigh ride across the winter season, not just during Christmas; how skijoring became popular in Wisconsin and places where you can partake, competitively or just for fun; plus some of the most famous places to jump into the frigid waters of Wisconsin’s lakes to ring in the New Year, and a number of polar bear dips happening yet this winter, including February and March, in which you can partake. Ice boating is another popular sport you don’t find in many other states, but we cover the history, the unique nature of this sport, and how Wisconsin has some of the best (frozen) waters for ice boating and racing, including some in Madison. Another unique feature is the Ice Caves, which during particularly cold winters form along the shores of Lake Superior off the coast of Bayfield County. They already have boat tours of those areas at times, but when the lake freezes well enough a walk on foot is particularly awe-inspiring. Winter festivals around the state offer some unique takes, including the Scandihoovian Winter Festival in Mount Horeb, JanBoree in Waukesha, the ice drags at the Merrill Winter Festival and more - something we detail both in this episode and in some upcoming. Of course, Wisconsin has a number of unique spots for skiing, snowboarding, and tubing - Jake has you covered on that angle. Yes, winters get long in Wisconsin, but with this guide you can maximize the fun in ways you can’t in other states. Join us for the tour!  

Inside Sponsors:

Visit Lake Geneva: 

https://bit.ly/3wHvilf

The Cabin is presented by the Wisconsin Counties Association and this week we’re featuring Polk County: https://bit.ly/3OELsFN  

The Cabin is also brought to you by Group Health Trust: https://bit.ly/3JMizCX  

Campfire Conversation:  

In this episode of The Cabin, Ana, Eric, and Jake welcome 2024 and divvy up some resolutions in the areas of giving, healthier living, and healthier eating, respectively. Ana focuses on giving more in 2024 and explores a variety of interesting charitable events and organizations. She goes to Lake Geneva to explore things like the Mr. Lake Geneva Pageant, where men compete pageant-style to benefit area nonprofits as well as charity events centered around golf, biking, and more. She explores Cycling Without Age, an organization that provides rides to elderly people in need - it started in Denmark and now has chapters in 39 countries, including the US and Wisconsin. DoorTran, a transportation service in Door County, does similar work in Wisconsin’s most famous peninsula. Conservation alliances in Wisconsin advance the quality of life in communities as well as the environment, and Ana shares the one in Sauk Prairie, which is also active in revamping the former Badger Army Ammunition Plant grounds. Serving as a mentor is another wonderful way to “pay it forward,” and programs like the Outagamie County Mentoring Program illustrate these benefits. She also discusses a variety of walks and runs, galas, interesting contests, festivals and more that benefit communities across the state. VolunteerMatch.org provides a good resource for finding some of them.

Eric dives into some unique Wisconsin workouts and ways to get in better shape for 2024

(hey, he tries every year) and some of those workouts include yoga with goats or alpacas - oddly soothing for some reason; curling and ice skating in winter; pole fitness; bungee workouts at places like Swoop; TRX and cycle workouts at places like CycleBar, Spire, and Barre Code; and unique spots like Bounce Trampoline at Hometown Pilates in Fitchburg, which combines dance, music and bounce for a full cardio workout, and also helps with balance and coordination and studies have shown bounce is good for lymph circulation. More fun than your usual regular run or some sit-ups!

Jake discusses food as part of his resolution, and covers examples of places around the state where you can eat healthier. Places around the state are now offering fresher and healthier grab-and-go meals and you can find them at markets like The Farmacy in Green Bay, co-ops like Willy Street in Madison, People’s Co-Op in La Crosse, and Outpost Natural Foods, which has multiple locations around Milwaukee, and more. Farmers markets have greatly multiplied in number across the state where you can get fresh-grown food from area farms, bakers, and more; they’re often a great way to kick off your weekend. Many of these markets take place in the warmer months, but more and more communities have winter markets indoors. Jake also drops some favorites across the state, including Downtown Grocery in Wausau; Thai Basil in Madison; Subhouse in Hudson, and Island Cafe in Minocqua, where you’ll find a Mediterranean menu amidst an area primarily known for pub food and fish fries in the great North Woods. He provides a nice blueprint for places that offer that combination of tasty cuisine and better nutrition many of us want.

Hope your New Year’s resolutions work well and you have a happy, healthy 2024!  

Inside Sponsors:

Jefferson County: https://bit.ly/3gt0Nau  

In this special Sunday release of The Cabin, Episode 209 is all about looking back at 2023, finding the 10 most-streamed episodes, and sharing more about them. You’ll hear clips of each while Eric and Ana dive into more details about the guest, the topic, even other behind the scenes memories that make each episode even more fun.

Episodes include the Top 10 Most Photographed Sites in the State (and 10 That SHOULD Be); Farm to Table Dining featuring guest co-host Apurba Banerjee; Wondrous Wisconsin Woodlands with guest co-host Ramsay Plautz; Where to Find the Best Brats in Wisconsin, where we were joined Josh Ostermann and Michelle Gormican Thompson; Wisconsin Historic Sites You Need to Visit; Indoor & Outdoor Skating Rinks in Wisconsin; What To Love About Winter in Chippewa County, a show we took on the road; Legendary Wisconsin Animals: Real AND Imagined; one of our Wisconsin Dive Bars; and our Uniquely Wisconsin episode covering Sheboygan County We dive into some honorable mentions and extras, too. It’s a great way to wrap up 2023!

The Cabin is presented by the Wisconsin Counties Association and this week we’re featuring Marquette County: https://bit.ly/3n3gXuF

The Cabin is also brought to you by Group Health Trust: https://bit.ly/3JMizCX

Campfire Conversation: 

In this episode of The Cabin, we check in with emerging Wisconsin native country artist Madeline Consoer. The Eagle River native followed her passion initially into college but then The Voice, where she first gained national exposure. Today, she lives and works in Nashville in the heart of the country music industry, working with other singers, songwriters, and producers. Her touring activity is also picking up, which brings her to various locations around the country including venues in Wisconsin and Chicago. Madeline shares her story with us, including how some unlikely and sometimes spontaneous experiences turned into promising opportunities, how support from family and friends gave her the ability to head to Nashville, and how she continues to expand her songwriting, singing, and performing. Her music is a mix of pop and country and she continues to explore additional genres with her songs. Some of her most popular releases include “How Do I Next.,” “Mama Said,” “Thank God,” “I Told My Mom About You,” and “Runnin Into A Heartbreak,” songs that are gaining streams on numerous platforms including Spotify, YouTube, and increasingly on radio. Along with her story, enjoy some anecdotes, how a “fun hang” can help you discover your talents and follow your dreams, and even a deeper dive into today’s music industry.

Check out Madeline Consoer on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1bw2RHxmR0mo75zcrlarDo

Inside Sponsors:

• Ho-Chunk -  https://bit.ly/3l2Cfru

Shop Discover Wisconsin - 

https://shop.discoverwisconsin.com

The Cabin is presented by the Wisconsin Counties Association and this week we’re featuring Jackson County: https://bit.ly/3zxUStd

The Cabin is also brought to you by Group Health Trust: https://bit.ly/3JMizCX

Campfire Conversation: 

With the meat of snowmobiling season still just ahead of us, Eric, Ana, and Jake welcome Dylan Rose and Jack Sarama into The Cabin. These Wisconsin natives host the snowmobiling show Boondock Nation, where they tour all over the U.S. and Canada and sled coast-to-coast to showcase trails and destinations. In this episode, they focus on Wisconsin’s snowmobiling trails and destinations. Discussions include the extensive network of trails (over 25,000 miles of trails criss-cross Wisconsin), the intense work involved in grooming and maintaining thousands of those trail miles, plus some great stops along the way. Some particular destinations receive focus, including the Eagle River and Land O Lakes areas and over to St. Germain and Sayner, where the modern style snowmobile was invented. The trails in many North Woods areas and the adjoining U.P. of Michigan often use former railroad rights-of-way and expansive lakes that allow you to really “open up” on the trails. Additional trail systems exist throughout the state, including Langlade County which bills itself as the “county of trails.” Additional systems in southern Wisconsin, where the seasons are shorter for snowmobiling, also offer trails closer to the larger cities. When you wish to ride off-trail but still want to have guidance and avoid private property, apps like OnX Offroad help you do just that. Yes, some key apps and equipment for better snowmobiling gets covered in this episode, too. Some events centered around snowmobiling happen across the state too, including radar runs and group rides; we dive into some of those, too, including the one at Bent’s Camp near Land O Lakes, which Jack and Dylan frequent when they’re not filming out west. This episode will definitely prep you for snowmobiling season, and as Jack said, remember: in the end, we’re all squeezing the same throttle.

Connect to Boondock Nation: https://boondocknation.com/

Discover more about the onX Offroad app: https://www.onxmaps.com/offroad/app

Connect to the Association of Wisconsin Snowmobile Clubs: https://awsc.org/

Get maps of snowmobile trails across Wisconsin: https://www.sco.wisc.edu/maps/snowmobile-trail/

Inside Sponsors:

• Washington County -  https://bit.ly/3qayJAL
• Shop Discover Wisconsin - https://shop.discoverwisconsin.com  

The Cabin is presented by the Wisconsin Counties Association and this week we’re featuring Oneida County: https://bit.ly/3D9yHwf

The Cabin is also brought to you by Group Health Trust: https://bit.ly/3JMizCX

Campfire Conversation: 

Eric, Ana, and Jake dive into ice in this episode - well, not INTO ice but into the topic of the sculptures people make with ice around Wisconsin in wintertime. These are icy creations you can see, and sometimes even interact with.
Many are at festivals. Examples include the Knickerbocker Festival in Lake Mills, named after a company that harvested ice from the city’s own Rock Lake. They offer plenty of fun activities, including ice sculpting demonstrations throughout the downtown area and an ice bar with Tyranena Brewing Company, which was named after the lake’s original name. Other fun activities like ice golfing, ice skating, and an activity named “Ididherdad” which you’ll just have to hear about in the episode. This year, it takes place February 3-4, 2024.
Lake Geneva offers similar fun from January 30-February 4 with their classic Winterfest and US National Snow Sculpting Competition, which also features ice sculptures meticulously crafted and presented at locations throughout the city’s downtown. You can also enjoy Winter Realms at Geneva National in the Lake Geneva area, which opens in January and will continue as long as the weather allows. Winter Realms is an update of the annual Ice Castles event, featuring sleigh rides, an ice volcano, igloos, tubing activities, mesmerizing ice sculptures, and ice slides. Meander among snow caverns, tunnels and an ice throne as you experience a world of winter magic. 
More ice-filled events kicking off in January include the massive Waukesha Jan-Boree, a 10-day festival encompassing activities across the city from January 19-28. Ice-related activities include sculpting demos and completed works, ice skating, ice dancing, ice fishing clinics, and more. More sculptures and crafted ice art can be found nearby at events like New Berlin’s Winterfest January 6th and Dela-FREEZE in Delafield January 13th with live ice carvings taking place throughout the day.
At the other end of the state, late January features the Lake Superior Ice Festival in Superior the weekend of January 26th & 27th, which not only has ice carving and sculptures but an ice throne you can sit on! Just not for too long…
That weekend kicks off Friday the 25th with the Winterfest Ice Carving Competition in Green Bay, which pins carvers against each other to create works of art that are proudly displayed in the Broadway District for as long as the weather allows. And yes, they have an ice throne, too!
February festivals featuring ice carvings and sculptures include the Kenosha Snow Daze Festival February 4th, which includes tons of demonstrations; Winterfest in Cedarburg February 16-17, where the ice sculpting is a contest; and Appleton’s Avenue of Ice, which debuts the 3rd weekend in February every year with over 30 unique ice sculptures displayed in front of the unique boutiques, specialty shops and restaurants.
Other sites for ice sculptures include Roger Nelson’s Ice Formations, which is a place in Maiden Rock where the Rush River rushes towards the Mississippi and pushes enough water and ice up strategically placed wood and other materials to freeze on them and create some unique looks people are welcome to come and see. They have a Facebook page with photos and regular updates, as Mother Nature basically makes these at random.
One fantastic annual creation is in Eagle River: the Ice Castle. The beautiful monument to the city that heads up the World’s Largest Chain of Interconnected Freshwater Lakes and Snowmobile Capital of the World is perched at the western edge of the city’s downtown right where all the main roads converge. It dates back to 1933 and began with only 250 blocks of ice; today it utilizes over 3,000 blocks and rises over 20 feet, incorporating obelisks and colored flood lights that bring illumination all night long. The Ice Castle, made from foot-thick blocks of ice harvested from nearby lakes and rivers, generally rises around New Year’s and stays as long as weather allows. It’s a staple of Eagle River’s winters almost every year and a beautiful sculpture creation done by volunteers.
Companies like designed by Krystal Kleer Ice Sculptures, LLC and Art Below Zero often create the ice sculptures for events, but many establishments hire companies and artists like these to create ice bars for them that patrons love to frequent whilst imbibing outdoors in the cold months. Ice Bars get set up in places like Titletown District establishments in Green Bay, Belair Cantina at The Corners of Brookfield in the Town of Brookfield, Third Ward and the Milwaukee Public Market in Milwaukee, at the Baker House during Winterfest in Lake Geneva, and many more spots around the state. Look forward to the big freeze and enjoy these icy works of art this winter in Wisconsin!

 

Knickerbocker Ice Festival in Lake Mills info: https://enjoyjeffersoncounty.com/events/lake-mills-knickerbocker-ice-festival/

Winterfest/US National Snow Sculpting Competition in Lake Geneva info: https://www.visitlakegeneva.com/winterfest/

Winter Realms at Geneva National: https://www.winterrealms.com/winter-realms-lake-geneva/

Cedarburg Winterfest: https://www.cedarburgfestival.org/winterfest

New Berlin Winterfest: https://www.newberlinwi.gov/1064/Winterfest

Kenosha Snow Daze: https://www.visitkenosha.com/event/snow-daze-festival/461/

Lake Superior Ice Festival: https://lakesuperioricefestival.com/

Green Bay Winterfest: https://downtowngreenbay.com/explore/broadway-events/winterfestonbroadway

DelaFREEZE: https://delafieldchamber.com/delafreeze

Waukesha JanBoree: https://www.janboree.org/

Rush River Ice Sculptures Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/people/Rush-River-Ice-Sculptures/100070987761204/

Inside Sponsors:

• Jefferson County -  https://bit.ly/3gt0Nau

Shop Discover Wisconsin - 

https://shop.discoverwisconsin.com

The Cabin is presented by the Wisconsin Counties Association and this week we’re featuring Calumet County; https://bit.ly/3JJJyPv

Campfire Conversation: 

Eric and Ana discuss some holiday traditions popular in - and in some cases practically exclusive to - Wisconsin while educating Jake (a relative newcomer from California) on how awesome the holidays are in this state. Wisconsinites definitely have a sweet tooth, and traditions often brought from the “old country” gave the state tendencies to lean toward desserts and treats that others around the country don’t get to experience as often. We profile plenty of bakeries around the state baking up treats like stollen and Danish kringle (the official pastry of Wisconsin), along with holiday cookies, candied fruit, spices, and nuts. Even We Energies, formerly Wisconsin Electric Company, puts out their annual “Cookie Book” and has every year for generations at this point.
Both bars and traditional basement parties in Wisconsin would mix up quite a concoction of cocktails that are particularly popular in the holiday season, including the hot toddy, the Tom & Jerry, and the Brandy slush (this state consumes a lot of brandy.) Hot chocolate is also very popular, and some towns in the state have bars that organize “hot chocolate crawls” to keep people warm as they “crawl” from spot to spot.
Another big holiday tradition, especially in eastern Wisconsin, is tiger meat or steak tartare - raw beef with onions, salt, pepper, on rye. Some even crack raw egg on top. The German version - mettbröchen - consists of raw minced beef or pork & onions on a bread roll.. it’s known as the “cannibal sandwich” in the Milwaukee area. And yes, we discuss what the Department of Health has to say about these sandwiches.
The holiday decor is another topic, and those unique and cool-looking aluminum trees that became hugely popular in the early 1960s came out of Manitowoc, where they made them and shipped them all over the country. You can still find them, and enjoy a huge display of the in Manitowoc every holiday season with “Evergleams on Eighth” downtown. We cover all of this and more as we’re fully imbibed into the holidays on The Cabin!

Inside Sponsors:

• Visit Lake Geneva - https://bit.ly/3wHvilf

Shop Discover Wisconsin - 

https://shop.discoverwisconsin.com

Ana and Eric welcome Robert Reider to The Cabin, Mr Reider is Senior Marketing Director for the Ho-Chunk Nation - and a pro golfer to boot! Along with some golf discussion, a major topic is Truman Lowe, whose story was profiled by Discover Wisconsin. The story recently won an Emmy at the 65th Annual Chicago/Midwest Emmy Awards for their digital short titled “Exploring the Artistic Process of Truman Lowe.” The video tells a phenomenal story of the Ho-Chunk artist, Truman Lowe and his inspirational impact on other Natives and community members. Eric, Ana, and Robert also dive into how the Ho-Chunk government operates as an independent entity, right down to license plates and school systems. They discuss how they preserve and pass on tribal traditions, including an educational system that teaches the Ho-Chunk language to new generations. They also discuss how economics are driving the future from casino operations to artistic endeavors and small business, and the impact of notable natives like Truman Lowe. It’s a fascinating look at how a Native American government and society operates within - and occasionally independent of - the larger society here in Wisconsin. Join in on this fascinating campfire conversation and discover more about the Ho-Chunk Nation.

Ho-Chunk Nation main site: https://ho-chunknation.com/

Emmy award-winning video about Truman Lowe: https://youtu.be/oBltTFXKNLw

The Cabin is presented by the Wisconsin Counties Association and this week we’re featuring Burnett County; https://bit.ly/3pX15La

Campfire Conversation: 

We’re in full swing for holiday shopping, and Eric and Ana welcome Kortnee Hass into The Cabin for a cozy look at some great ideas for all the people in your life. Food is always a good gift, whether it’s authentic Danish kringle made and shipped from Racine; platters of cheese, sausage, nuts, crackers and more from a myriad of sources across the state; bacon from Nueske’s and other notable Wisconsin brands; maple syrup from Skinny Sticks or other sources; specialty popcorn from places like Minocqua Popcorn & Puffs or Faris Gourmet Popcorn & Treats; Sheboygan brats; or even turkey gizzards (an odd, but loved by some) from Bay View Packing Company in Milwaukee. Wisconsin beverages like Jolly Good Soda; specialty teas or coffee from one of Wisconsin’s many coffee roasters; or gift cards and passes for Old Fashioneds, craft beers, local wines, or craft spirits from the state’s many distilleries. Other crafted items such as candles, artistic custom skillets - some of which are in shapes like Wisconsin’s outline, and charcuterie (or, one brand, Char-MOO-terie) boards. Some gifts give back all year, like a State Park Pass for 2024 or City Tins, coasters that offer discounts at a variety of restaurants, breweries, and more throughout the year - the aforementioned “passports” at craft breweries, wineries, and distilleries do the same. Unique gifts include things like a Cow Yoga Calendar from Willow Creek Press. Of course, Discover Wisconsin and Cabin merch are great gifts too, and you can take advantage of some great options and holiday deals at shop.discoverwisconsin.com! Check out this episode and you might find yourself making major progress on your holiday shopping.

Find merch for Discover Wisconsin and The Cabin here: http://shop.discoverwisconsin.com

Get the Wisconsin Hop Passport for craft breweries here: https://www.hoppassport.com/partners/2024-wisconsin

Get the Wisconsin Old Fashioned Passport here: https://venturewisconsin.com/products/2024-old-fashioned-passport

Another great guide to Wisconsin holiday gifts: https://upnorthnewswi.com/2022/11/08/presents-with-purpose-your-guide-to-wisconsin-made-gifts-that-give-back/

Find the Cow Yoga calendar here: https://www.calendars.com/shop/cow-yoga-2024-wall-calendar/202400003882

Purchase a Wisconsin State Parks Pass for 2024 here: https://yourpassnow.com/ParkPass/wi

Inside Sponsors:

• Washington County - https://bit.ly/3qayJAL