Wisconsin Weekend Activities December 4 - 6, 2009

We've decided to reformat our weekly listing of Wisconsin events, by location instead of by date. What do you think?

Bayfield, Wisconsin Events -

• Wassail Luncheon Concert. "Wassail Dinner Concerts combine great food and holiday music performed by the Rittenhouse Chamber Singers. Wassail has broad appeal to those seeking an alternative to the commercialized Christmas. Wassail Season runs from November 28 until December 26. 12 Noon Luncheon & 6:30pm Dinner Concerts are open to the public by reservation. Lodging packages include dinner concert tickets, full breakfast, and sweets in your room."


• Christmas Tea at the Bayfield Inn from 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM on Saturday December 5, 2009.

Burlington, Wisconsin Events -

2009 Holiday Season Christmas Parade on Friday December 4, 2009. The parade begins at 6:30 pm and kicks off the Grand Opening of Santa at the Chalet.

Cassville, Wisconsin Events -

Christmas in Cassville on Saturday, December 5, 2009. " Parade of Homes, Decorating Contests, Horse & Wagon Rides, Musical Programs, Vendors, Refreshments, & Holiday Open Houses at Cassville Businesses."

St. Charles Advent Breakfast. Breakfast served from 8:00 am to Noon, Santa's Workshop, Raffle, and Visit from Santa.

Eau Claire, Wisconsin Events -
Make Your Own Snowshoes from 9:30 - 3:30 on December 5 and 6, 2009. "Snowshoeing is a popular winter activity. Make your own snowshoes in this two-day workshop and be able to say with pride "I made these myself!" Choose from three styles of snowshoes: Green mountain bear paw (10" x 36"), Alaskan trail shoe (10" x 56") or the great all-purpose Ojibwa style (11" x 54"). Class fee includes snowshoe kit, bindings and instruction." Call Beaver Creek Reserve for more information at 715/877-2212.

Hudson, Wisconsin Events -

• Candlelight Stroll on Friday, December 4, 2009. "The streets of downtown Hudson will be aglow with luminary candles to set the mood for this holiday event. Festively decorated shops and bistros will greet you with the sights and sounds of the season. Many participating businesses will have special events and offerings throughout the evening. (Pick up a map & schedule of events at your first stop) Carriage rides will be available during the evening. The main pick up point will be by the Hudson Arch. Watch for other stops marked with the wooden soldiers."


• Octagon House Light Up Night on Friday, December 4, 2009. "Light Up Night (6-8 p.m.) Lamp-lit tours, music & refreshments. Cost: Adults $7.00; Students (13 to 18) $3.00; Children (6 to 12) $2.00; and 5 and younger free."


• Reindeer in the Park on Saturday, December 5, 2009. "Santa and his reindeer will make their annual visit to Lakefront Park in downtown Hudson. Youngsters can spend time with the jolly old elf, sharing Christmas wish lists. Live reindeer will be waiting for the perfect holiday photo—be sure to bring your camera! A children’s activity tent offers make and take crafts, including magic reindeer food and evergreen decorations. Kids can learn about nature programs and take home free toys and treats. Horse drawn wagon rides give visitors a trip along the sparkling St. Croix River and a chance to enjoy Hudson’s festive holiday streetscape. Rides will start at Lakefront Park and travel throughout the downtown."


• Holiday Boutique on Saturday, December 5, 2009. "Youth Action Hudson and the St. Croix Valley Youth Court are partnering to present the 2009 Hudson Holiday Boutique at Hudson High School. The event will be open 9am – 4 pm and will feature a wide selection of crafts, holiday gift and decorating items from over 70 crafters. Admission is free to the public. Refreshments and gift wrapping will be available.

Monroe, Wisconsin Events -

• Candle Tree Lighting and Gingerbread House Contest at Turner Hall on Friday, December 4, 2009. "A very special traditional Alpine event of singing carols of German origin and lighting a live Christmas tree with real candles.
  Free will donations welcome."


• Festival of Trees from 6:00 - 8:30 on the night of December 5, 2009. "The annual Festival of Trees event is scheduled for Saturday,
  December 5th and will be held at Peppercorn Banquets & Catering facility. Cocktails will begin at 6:00 p.m. and dinner and charity live and silent auctions will begin at 7:00 p.m. Our charity organizations this year include Green County Habitat for Humanity, Green County Humane Society, Green Haven Family
  Advocates, and the Monroe Theatre Guild Stage Right Youth Theatre. All of these charity organizations depend on you to bring a brighter future to others throughout our community."

Neenah, Wisconsin Events -

• 8th Annual Holiday Home Tour on Friday, December 4, 2009. From 10:00 am - 2:00 pm and again from 4:00 pm - 8:00 pm, you can tour 4 festively decorated Neenah homes.

• Community Christmas Event on Friday, December 4, 2009. From 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm - "Living Window Displays in Downtown Neenah. Carolers & Horse Drawn Carriage Rides too! Rudolph Run. Watch Santa hang the wreath on the Clock Tower from atop the N-M Fire Dept. ladder truck."


• Build a Gingerbread House on Saturday, December 5, 2009. Join us at the City Hall Lobby at 10:00 am to create your very own Ginger Bread house!


• Downtown Neenah Open House on Saturday, December 5, 2009. "During this event, businesses in the Central City will be offering in-store specials and activities including gifts with purchase, snacks, music, discounts, and prize drawings. Business will have fliers detailing the days activities which will be available prior to and during the day of the event."


• Holiday Family Day at Bergstrom-Mahler Museum on Saturday, December 5, 2009. Make Christmas ornaments and cards and enjoy holiday treats at the Bergstrom-Mahler Musuem in Neenah, Wisconsin.

New Glarus, Wisconsin Events -

St. Nicholas Day and Tour of the Arts on Saturday, December 5, 2009. "Combine the artistic expression of the holiday season with fabulous shopping and sweet treats at the first ever Tour of the Arts. Tour of the Arts will showcase works by emerging and established artists and designers - with each one being hosted by a different business or retail store throughout the village. Maps showing the artist locations will be available at the New Glarus Chamber (Depot Building on Railroad Street) starting at 10 a.m. This festive Tour of the Arts day also features traditional Swiss holiday treats and a tasty array of other sweets at the popular Swiss Church Cookie Sale. Bring the kids for visits with Santa at the Anderson Mall and horse-drawn wagon rides downtown. For more information: 608.527.2095."

Richland Center, Wisconsin Events -

• Christmas Tea on Saturday, December 5, 2009. "Tea, crafts & displays to benefit Tree of Continued Caring. (Light in honor or memory of a loved one $5)"


• Area Days Celebration at House on the Rock. "Free Admittance to local residents on Sunday December 6 - Monday December 7, 2009. A valid driver's license or ID required by 1 person in your party. Must show proof of residency in Gotham, Ithaca, Lone Rock, Richland Center or Sextonville.
  (Some other communities in the area are also invited - call for a list.) For more information - 608-935-3639.

Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin Events -

• Ultimate Hockey Tournament December 4 - 6, 2009. "Join us for the Girls U12, Squirt, PeeWee, Bantam: A and B/House tournament. Ultimate Tournaments provides a great weekend getaway of fun & lots of hockey. All of our tournaments have at least four games PLUS on Sunday everyone has a chance to win the championship. All kids get an Ultimate Tournament Tshirt and the top 2 teams receive Trophies."


• 2009 Canadian Pacific Railway Holiday Train of Lights from 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm on Sunday, December 6, 2009. "A family fun event high lighting a visit and stop by the Canadian Pacific Railway 14 car & locomotive Holiday Train. Train arrives at 2:45 pm. Entertainment, Santa Claus, food and beverages, sleigh rides. Raffle for great prizes including Packer tickets. Show including Santa from the train. All local donations and proceeds benefit the CWCAC Food Pantry."

Do you know of an event we've missed? Have you been to any of these events before? Will you be at one this weekend? We want to know! Email us at WanderingWisconsin@gmail.com. Find us on Twitter @wandering_wisco. Or just leave us a comment here on the blog.

Have a great Wisconsin weekend everyone!

Wisconsin Dells Restaurants – Buffalo Phil's

Buffalo Phil's Grille
Tanger Outlet Complex
150 Gasser Rd.
Wisconsin Dells, WI 53965
Ph: 608-254-7300
Fax: 608-253-2215

Located within the Knuckleheads Family Entertainment Center, in Wisconsin Dells, Buffalo Phil's advertised an all you can eat pizza buffet that we just couldn't pass up. After spending some time playing arcade games at Knuckleheads, we were ready to eat a lot of pizza.

Walking into the restaurant, I was surprised by the décor, it was beautiful. There was wood everywhere, very country cabin, up north inspired. Definitely not what we were expecting of a restaurant located in an arcade/bowling alley. And definitely not like any other pizza buffet I had ever been to!

The salad bar included with the pizza buffet was great, lots of fresh veggies to top off your salad. There were plenty of dressing choices and side salad options as well. The soup was awful. The sign said it was a baked potato, but truthfully, it had no flavor. The rolls offered were good, though they had been sitting there for awhile, they weren't fresh.

Moving onto the actual pizza buffet… There were 2 types of pasta offered, a baked manicotti as well as spaghetti with sauce. Much like the rolls, the pasta had been sitting for awhile, and looked like something that was served at my high school cafeteria. There were only 2 kinds of pizza on the buffet when we went up, pepperoni, or cheese. Not exactly a large or diverse selection, but we went with it. The cheese pizza was ok, it was definitely much fresher than the pepperoni. Another pizza was brought out, with sausage and veggies, that was much better ((probably just because it was right out of the oven)).

The salad bar was definitely more of a draw than the pizza buffet, which is too bad. I'm sure many families playing at Knuckleheads come in for the pizza, and would probably be just as disappointed as we were.

Though I can't say anything about the regular menu, it's not some place I'll be rushing back to any time soon. Perhaps we were just there at a bad time, maybe this place actually does have a really great pizza buffet, and we just missed out. With all the great Wisconsin Dells restaurants, I won't waste any more meals at Buffalo Phil's.

Wisconsin Dells

When I was younger, we'd go to Wisconsin Dells at least twice a year, once for a summer time trip to Noah's Ark, and again in the winter for the Wisconsin Dells Flake Out festival .

Those yearly vacations seemed to halt once I hit college, I got the occasional summer time trip to Noah's Ark in with friends, but that was about it.

In May of this year, I had the opportunity to return to Wisconsin Dells for a weekend vacation, celebrating a birthday with friends.

We arrived in the Dells on a Saturday morning, and did exactly what every other group of 21 – 27 year olds celebrating a birthday would do… We went Mini-Golfing at Pirates Cove ! The 5 different courses, kept us busy for awhile! There was a great assortment of skill levels, though we played the more "challenging" courses, there were plenty of little kids playing them too, it wasn't too tough. You are able to keep your score card and turn it in at a local shop for a free scoop of ice cream to the winner! An added treat!

After we were done Mini Golfing, we went down to the "strip", and did some touristy shopping and even got our pictures taken at Old Abe's Old Time Photography. That was so much fun! Great idea for groups, big and small. We had fun while we were there and have a great souvenir to remind us of the day. Our copy of the picture is on the fridge, and it always make

As it was May, the Wisconsin weather was just not warm enough for us to put on the swim suits and hit any of the outdoor water parks. To celebrate the birthday in style, we decided to head to the Ho-Chunk Casino for the evening.

Though no one won big, we had a great time. I stuck to the slots, but some others hit up the card tables and bingo hall. We all had a great time, Ho Chunk is huge, and offers a lot of entertainment. Though we didn't leave until 3 am, we were tempted to go back the next morning!

Instead of gambling, we decided to head over to the Tanger Outlet Mall and try out the Knuckleheads Family Entertainment Center . The Tanger Outlet Mall was nice, they had a good variety of stores. I found the shoes I was looking for, but the guys we were with definitely made the most purchases! The Nike store was a big favorite, as was the Eddie Bauer store. After we were shopped out, we walked across the parking lot to Knuckleheads. We wasted plenty of time and tokens playing some of the arcade games, and even took in a short show at the 4-D theatre! It was a great way to end a fantastic stay in Wisconsin Dells.

Though I hadn't been to Wisconsin Dells for a long time, the getaway there in May didn't disappoint. Getting there was easy, and we all said how much we'd like to go back again this summer. The attraction prices were reasonable and worth the money. On our next trip, we agreed to try out the Wisconsin Dells Ducks and hopefully an outdoor water park. I'm sure we'll end up back at Ho-Chunk for at least a little while too!

Wisconsin Dells offers fun for everyone, whether you're a family looking for some quality fun in the sun, a group of friends looking for an exciting weekend away, or a couple looking for some romantic time together.

Wisconsin Dells Restaurants – Baja Cantina

Baja Cantina

732 Oak Street

Wisconsin Dells, WI

(608) 254-1857

During a recent trip to Wisconsin Dells earlier this summer, we stumbled upon the Baja Cantina. Being a group of 6 21-27 year olds, the look of this Wisconsin Dells restaurant really won us over. The outdoor Mexican bar look only increased our hunger for all things spicy and south of the border. Our first attempt at eating Mexican that day was halted by another restaurant's lack of seating.

We seated ourselves at a long table in the corner. Though the place wasn't busy, our drink orders weren't taken, and we did not get menus. After waiting about ten minutes, we all got to thinking that maybe this was the kind of place we would place our order at the bar. So, a friend walked up to the bar, asking if that was the case. She was (rather rudely) told no, and that a server would be with us immediately. After another five minute wait, our waitress came to our table to take our drink order. Given the location, we ordered Coronas and margaritas, of course. The waitress then told us she would bring us the menus when the drinks came up. Our drinks waited a good 5 minutes on the bar before they were brought to us, without menus. At this point we were a fairly hungry bunch, having spent the morning mini golfing and shopping and all.

When the menus were finally brought to us, we were all a little shocked to discover that this was not in fact a Mexican restaurant after all. The waitress told us the specialty was the gyro platter, and the rest of the menu consisted of pretty generic bar food. Being too hungry to try to find another restaurant, we all ordered.

The mini tacos were nothing special ((we were really hoping for some Mexican food)). The burgers were good, though all of them were cooked well beyond what was ordered. The chicken strips were unbelievable. They were some of the best chicken strips I'd ever had. They weren't the processed, minced up chicken you usually get at bars, and the breading was light with great flavor. Definitely something to try if you're headed to the Baja Bar. The gyro was also very good, the tzatziki sauce was especially good.

Did I mention the margaritas were fabulous?

Though we were a little disappointed in not getting the Mexican food we were after, the atmosphere at the Baja Cantina was great. The service was really slow, so don't go there for a quick bite. We decided it would definitely be a better place to start a night out, as the drinks were tasty and reasonable. Definitely try the chicken strips though. They were that good.