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After checking in to a
Hampton Inn on the west side of Madison, we took some time to relax and tried to
figure out where to go for dinner. The Kentucky Derby was running –
it was May 3rd – and I really wanted a mint julep. Can you believe
that no one had any mint? And two of three bartenders didn’t even
know how to make one; one didn’t even know that the Derby was taking
place! (By the way – stay away from a place called Coach’s… it
definitely was no fun. Check out our excursion to Kentucky to
explore the
Bourbon
Trail.)
 After
a fairly good night’s sleep (could it have been the deep-fried
cheese curds?) we enjoyed the continental breakfast offered by the
Hampton before heading west to a place called Blue Mounds and two
very cool destinations. The first stop was the Cave of the Mounds.
It was a mere 20-minute drive from the west side of Madison on Route
18, and probably no more than a mile off of the main road. A tour of
the cave had not originally been a part of our agenda. After reading
the background info in the visitor center, I wished it had. There is
some great history there and the tour would have been worth it, even
though the cost for adults is $12. It gives me a reason to return on
another “excursion”.
 Not more than a mile or so from Cave
of the Mounds is a little place secluded back in the hills called
Little Norway. My Norse blood started to pump a little harder when
we pulled into the parking lot, at which time I was certain that May
is a great time for this sort of exploring. Once again we were two
of only eight who eventually took the tour. Scott Winner is the
current owner and Great Grandnephew of a man by the name of Asher Dahle who purchased a farm previously owned by a Norwegian immigrant
family in the mid-to-late19th century. Local Norwegian carpenters
and craftsmen have restored the buildings and Scott and his wife
Jennifer now manage the property and make its treasures available to
the public.
 Even if you are not even partially Norwegian, this
is a ‘must see’ kind of place. Its rich history and thousands of
artifacts are a real eye opener if you ever wondered how early
pioneers lived. The tour is only 45 minutes long and costs $8. And
there are some wonderful souvenirs in the gift shop that will serve
as reminders to a great little place in Nissedahle, or Valley of the
Elves. Thank you everyone for a great time.
It was time for lunch when we drove in to Mt. Horeb and stopped at
Schubert’s for a bite to eat. This was an old-fashioned kind of
store with a soda fountain, counter and wooden booths; the ceiling
was made of tin and the place felt like 1950. We sipped on cherry
phosphates – on sale for 50 cents – and waited for the sandwiches to
be served. Service was painfully slow, but hey, did I have anyplace
else to be today? Well, kinda. There was cheese waiting for me at
the Alp and Dell cheese factory! So I paid the bill, all $11.29 of
it, and we headed back south.
 On
the way back south, we decided to once again stop at Baumgartner’s (see
Green County Excursion);
I needed another t-shirt. After a quick Blumer’s root beer and a bag
of chips, we loaded up on cheese and headed home. As the miles
passed, we talked about what impressed us the most on this
excursion. It was the people. They were friendly and genuine, and we
felt welcome everywhere we went. I highly recommend Green County for
a weekend getaway. Prepare yourself for some great scenery, hearty
food and friendly natives. And thanks to the Green County Chamber of
Commerce for the idea!
R. Karl |
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