Wisconsin Woo-Hoo!


I ain’t gonna pay no dollar for a corn muffin that’s half dough!

I’m heading to Wisconsin on Sunday for a little worky work and I just can’t wait.  It’ll be my second visit, I learned the sentence above on my first visit to the Eau Claire/Chippewa Falls/Cadott area.  I was told saying it five times fast will produce a pretty good Wisconsin accent.  It’s seriously the cutest thing ever.

So this time I’ll be heading through Rhinelander to Three Lakes.  I won’t have a whole lotta downtime, but I’d love to know if any of our readers are familiar with the area and can share some must-sees or dos!  You know I can’t wait to drink a Liney and grub on some fried cheese curds.

Share with me your Wisconsin tips and remember, leave a comment on this or any post this week and you might win the awesome ABC paper cups from Pint Size Social pictured up there on the left.

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22 Comments

Tonya Lynn

I came across your site just this morning via a link from another site(which I can't remember.) I'm from Eau Claire. I'm not sure how you are getting there (if you are taking HWY 29 and going through Abbotsford you should go to to Hawkeye Dairy Store – Its right on the main drag and they have the BEST fresh cheese-curds and ice cream that I have ever had. I'm excited to read through your site! Enjoy your trip!

Here is the link to Hawkeye Dairy in Google Maps – http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&um;=1&ie;=UTF-8&q;=abbotsford+wi+cheese+ice+cream+shoppe&fb;=1≷=us&hq;=cheese+ice+cream+shoppe&hnear;=Abbotsford,+WI&cid;=0,0,5093093148220288527&ei;=sb5NTOCvL8P_nAe7hdjYCw&sa;=X&oi;=local_result&ct;=image&resnum;=1&ved;=0CBMQnwIwAA

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corrina darling

i'm from wisconsin! i love and miss it every day (especially the leines and the cheese curds). my parents have a cottage 20 minutes south of rhinelander. i cannot say that there is much to do up there when they aren't having giant country music festivals. rhinelander is home of the hodag, a very funny looking, sorta cute mythical creature, and they have a train museum. all of the towns that far north are very small and spread out, but the woods are gorgeous. it will be scenic if nothings else.

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Kristen

Want to sound like a Wisconsin-ite…when someone asks you a question, just answer "Yeah, no, yeah, noo, no, yeah". You'll fit in in no time. (My hubby and his family are ALL from there:)

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Amy

WOOHOO! Wisconsin is awesome. I live in Milwaukee so I don't have any regional tips for you for the area you are going to but wanted to say WOOHOO!

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Emily

Have a fun trip up north! The northern accent is more Minnesotan/Canadian than the southern Wisconsin, where the "a" sounds more like an "e" (ie "bag" sounds more like "beg"). I'm so jealous of your cheese curds. Enjoy America's Dairyland!

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LNC

Ask a local where to find the best frozen custard – it's like soft serve ice cream, but SO much more delicious!

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Kimberly

I grew up 20 minutes south of Rhinelander and I have no idea what you are talking about in that first sentence haha. I have no advice since I moved to Minneapolis a few years ago, but you definitely need to have some fresh squeaky cheese curds – not sure if you will find those in that area though.

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sariroo

I'm also from Wisconsin but lived by Madison so no clue what to do near Rhinelander. I do think you should drink some Leine's and eat some fried cheese curds and frozen custard. I swear I gain another 10 pounds everytime I go back to visit.

And maybe I'm crazy but there is not just one WI accent. I have never heard of that phrase but after saying it a few times fast it still makes no sense to me! lol

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AnnaPK

Fried cheese curd? Bring me back some! I love fresh squeaky cheese curd but can't get any in my area. 🙁

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Jaime

i cant wait! why is everyone describing cheese curds as "squeaky"?? what does this mean?? i'm not mocking i'm really curious. i really want to go to this hawkeye dairy like right now. corrina i have heard of the hodag and am hoping i can spot one or at least a doll or something of one to bring back to s!

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IRWSMom

Squeaky cheese curds do just that! They squeak when you eat them but they must be at room temperature. The best! I am from WI but down by the Dells. So if you really want to be tourist-y, the Dells is the place to go :)))
Enjoy your trip!

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Stephanie

Well I live next door in MN, which is quite a nice place to live! However the one thing that I know about WI is never speed. The thing about WI is you have to pay on the spot. However that area you are going to is beautiful. You will have to come to MN some time.

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Hilary

I'm excited for you. I live in Ladysmith, just 40 minutes north of Cadott, where my husband grew up.

sarah, I agree that there is definitely more than one WI accent! My dad grew up in Milwaukee, which he always says, "Mahwahkee" and he drinks from a "bubbler" not a water fountain.

We Northern Wisconsinites don't have accents at all! (LOL)

Anyway, I'm not too familiar with the Rhinelander area, but I sure hope you find our people friendly!

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Katy

Our family is from Rhinelander! Have fun and if you have time, try out the Alpine Resort. Enjoy some leinenkugels and fired cheese curds!!!

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Amy Lynn

The cheese curds squeak when you bite into them. As an old school Wi purist (back in the '70s from Spooner) we only had yellow or white cheese curds now you can get any flavor you could think of. I am very jealous that you get to visit my homeland…have a great time and don't speed!

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wiscogirl

This feed is too funny! We do drink from 'bubblers', call soft drinks 'soda', eat burgers that have butter dripping from them and are surprised when we travel and no one else knows how to make an Old Fashion (you must try one at the local tavern). Gibbsville Cheese Factory has wonderful curds, but Sheboygan County is nowhere near where you'll be. But, if you want to travel a little further southeast (along Lake Michigan), I'd be happy to suggest some great places and food. Happy travels!

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Kimberly

"However the one thing that I know about WI is never speed. The thing about WI is you have to pay on the spot. However that area you are going to is beautiful. You will have to come to MN some time."
– No you don't, in Michigan you do though. I would know I've gotten speeding tickets in both lol! I do agree you will have to come to MN some time!

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Practically Spent

Good luck with your trip. I'm born and raised in WI, lived across the country, but am back in Madison. Although the scenery will be quite pretty, I have to say I'm partial to Madison. Be VERY glad you're coming in the summer instead of the winter!

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Sally P

This is so funny. We were up there this week but not in that area. The Dells are amazing–shows, waterparks (indoors & out), duck boats. Paul Bunyeons for breakfast was delicious. We also visited the train museum in New Freedom & rode the train. The boys had a great time. Hope your fun did not get rained out.

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Niki

Yay Im in wisconsin as well!! Near Green Bay! Its great here, born and raised and I dont think i will ever move!! Good luck with your trip and be safe! Im sure you will have a great time!

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corrina darling

Oh yeah, the corn muffin phrase doesn't make any sense to me either. But, I'm from Green Bay, and not very familiar with the western part of the state.

Fresh, squeaky cheese curds ARE the best. I live on the East coast, and when I do find cheese curds they aren't orange and they don't squeak (even fresh farmer's market ones!). Fresh cheese curds SHOULD squeak. I realize coloring cheese orange is silly and completely unnecessary, but it's still burned into my brain that cheddar (ugh, decent cheddar is also hard to find outside WI. NY cheddar is THE PITS.) and curds should be orange.

You do not have to pay tickets on the spot in WI.

And, Hodag paraphernalia is ANYTHING but hard to come by in Rhinelander. If you are driving into Rhinelander on 17 there will be a giant Hodag statue on your right as you come into town, if I remember correctly.

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heather

Hi there! I know I'm late to the party but it was because I was traveling in North WI this past week (normally based in Milwaukee). I thought it was funny though that even traveling within my own state brought different WI things…like Spotted Cow on tap and fried white cheese curds at every restaurant we visited! Hope you had a fun trip!

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