THE WISCONSIN TOURISM EXPERIENCES NOT TO MISS IN 2011

01-25-2011

 

THE WISCONSIN TOURISM EXPERIENCES NOT TO MISS IN 2011
MADISON, Wis. (Jan. 25, 2011) — Wisconsin’s tourism movers and shakers never stop looking for ways to top the state’s travel experiences with the latest and greatest attractions, restaurants and new events. Even long-running festivals and cultural treasures celebrating milestone anniversaries this year have come up with original twists to showcase these traveler favorites.

So without further ado, here is your guide for everything that should be on the traveler’s must-see list for the upcoming year.

Shameless Celebrity Tie-ins

It may not be New York City or L.A. but Wisconsin does have its brushes with celebrities. In Green Bay, the Packers are big-time celebrities. But come May you’ll find a new roller coaster at Bay Beach Amusement Park that is an exact replica of Elvis Presley’s favorite coaster that once operated in Memphis, Tenn. The city purchased the naming rights to the Zippin Pippin, which also includes the actual cars that Elvis rode in. It’s the first roller coaster to open at Bay Beach since 1936. (920-448-3365;  www.ci.green-bay.wi.us/ZippinPippin/index.html)

The city by the bay will also debut its own film festival called the Green Bay Film Festival (catchy, we know). It runs Feb. 25–27 and will include screenings of nearly 70 films from nine countries, including some by Wisconsin filmmakers. There will also be seminars on filmmaking, and aspiring filmmakers can ask featured directors about their work, a la “Inside the Actors Studio.” (920-436-4777; www.gbfilmfestival.org)

	Taliesin Photo courtesy of Taliesin Preservation Inc. © Craig Jacobsen

Wisconsinites are right to lay claim to celebrity architect Frank Lloyd Wright as a native son. The proof of that resides in Spring Green, where the 100th Anniversary of Taliesin, the residence and workshop of the legendary designer, is being duly marked with a variety of special events, tours, artist workshops, lectures and performances. The celebration includes a reception on April 28 not in Spring Green but in Milwaukee — stay with us here — where the Milwaukee Art Museum will be featuring a special exhibit, Frank Lloyd Wright: Organic Architecture for the 21st Century, Feb. 12–May 15. Back at Taliesin in Spring Green, visitors will want to check out the centennial exhibit entitledTaliesin: The Work of a Lifetime, with rare photographs of Wright, the Taliesin Fellowship and Taliesin pre-1914. Other events include an exhibit by Wright’s personal photographer Pedro E. Guerrero entitled Wright and Taliesin: A Retrospective, a concert by Chicago Chamber Musicians, art workshops and dance performances. (608-588-7090; www.taliesinpreservation.org)

This year also marks the 25th anniversary of Big Top Chautauqua in Bayfield. The Big Top is one of the nation’s most revered tented theater troupes. Here, visitors can watch musicals, tent show radio, concerts and plays all performed under a canvas tent with seating for 900 and stellar views of the Milky Way and Northern Lights upon exit. Included on the summer playbill are folkabilly queen Nanci Griffith, singer/songwriter Greg Brown and guitarist Tommy Emmanuel. (888-244-8368; www.bigtop.org)

In Wisconsin Dells, all those mystery shows with big fan followings like the TV series “Lost” and cult movie favorite “Blair Witch Project” got the better of some local business owners, and they decided to create a new attraction as homage called Lost Voyage. It’s an eerie evening expedition to Cold Water Canyon on the Wisconsin River that uncovers answers to the lore of a missing tour boat. As the fictional tale goes, the year was 1943 and a new tour boat, the Badger, departed with a full load of passengers on a sightseeing excursion on the Upper Dells and never returned. This new seasonal attraction takes visitors on a boat ride to the Canyon where they disembark and explore the area on foot. Clues along the way add a layer of game playing to the adventure which can be continued online. It’s recommended for those over the age of 10. (608-254-8555;  www.dellsboats.com/Lost-Voyage.cfm?movie=23)

Some Run with Your Fun and Games

Everyone knows summer in Milwaukee is not complete without a trip to Summerfest, the world’s largest outdoor music festival. But this year, you can do more than dance to the tunes, you can run to them. New to the 2011 Summerfest lineup is the Summerfest Run, a 10K and half-marathon over the city’s iconic Hoan Bridge. Scheduled for the last day of the festival, the run will take place July 10and could draw upwards of 10,000 participants. Runners will start the race outside the Summerfest grounds and then make their way onto the bridge which overlooks the harbor and festival. They’ll cross the finish line back at Summerfest. (414-273-2680; www.summerfest.com)

	Zip Lining Photo courtesy of Lake Geneva Canopy Tours

Zip lines made multiple debuts in Door County and Wisconsin Dells last year and the state’s obsession with heights continues with the opening of Lake Geneva Canopy Tours. This year-round zip lining adventure opens early 2011. While most zip line tours take visitors up to the zip and back down to the ground, this one keeps visitors in the air the entire time. Guests can choose a 30-minute canopy tour through the tree tops or, if brave enough, the adrenaline-pumping racing zip line tour where you can race others through the forest. Each tour offers spectacular views of Lake Como and the surrounding area. (877-ZIP-ZAP1; www.lakegenevacanopytours.com)

Here’s something that’s not weather-dependent for all those amateur athletes out there: Ray’s Indoor Mountain Bike Park is celebrating its grand opening Jan. 29–30 in Milwaukee as a place to train and build skills during the winter months when mountain biking trails are typically closed. Ray’s will feature more than 110 square feet of tracks and obstacles, all in a controlled environment, and will be open to all bikers including cross country, freeride, gravity, dirt jump and BMX. (414-355-7433www.raysmtb.com)

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