FDL Guide 2019

GREAT EATS What ya hankerin’ for? The tastes of our region will delight! Don’t miss breakfast at the iconic Schreiner’s Restaurant, Bakery & Bernie’s Pub. Enjoy a delightful lunch at Sunset on the Water Grill & Bar on the shores of Lake Winnebago or homemade culinary fare at Mr. & Mrs. P’s Eatery in Ripon. Dine at the renowned Schwarz Supper Club, recognized as one of Wisconsin’s top ten Supper Clubs, or enjoy a hand-muddled Old Fashioned at Jim & Linda’s Lakeview Supper Club! ROCKIN’ & CHILLIN’ Yes, we all scream for ice cream—and the best in the U.S. is here in our region! Climb up on a big old-time rocking chair and enjoy farm-fresh ice cream at Kelley Country Creamery in Fond du Lac, recently recognized by Good Morning America as “The Best Ice Cream in America.” More sweet treats await at Frogg’s Ice Cream and The Chubby Seagull in Sherwood, the Ice Cream Station in Horicon, Scoops Ice Cream in Chilton, and Gilles Frozen Yogurt in Fond du lac. A NIGHT OUT Love art? Love music? Love good times? You can find it all here. Take in internationally acclaimed visual art and live performances inside and out at the stunning Thelma Sadoff Center for the Arts (THELMA) in Downtown Fond du Lac. Get inspired at Waupun Fine Arts, entertained at the Calumet County Community Theater, and relax with wine and music at Vines & Rushes Winery in Ripon. JUST ADD WATER Our region is filled with lakes offering great opportunities for nature and thrill seekers of all kinds! One of the country’s largest inland lakes is right here in our region too—the mighty Lake Winnebago. It’s your playground for summer and winter fun! SAY CHEESE When it comes to producing delicious, award-winning Wisconsin cheese and other farm-fresh dairy products, there’s no place like our region. Our dairy heritage, culture, and pride run deep, and our traditions of cheesemaking and dairy manufacturing are second to none. Commune with an adorable baby goat at LaClare Family Creamery and enjoy shopping and delectable foods! More cheese can be found at Widmer’s Cheese Cellars in Theresa, Baker Cheese in St. Cloud, Vern’s in Chilton, Henning’s in Kiel, and Knaus Cheese in Rosendale.

SOMETHIN’ SWEET We’re sweet on the Fond du Lac area for good reason, and you will be, too. Start with some vital, exhaustive research on the region’s best homemade candy. Is it Confections for Any Occasion by Joel in Theresa? Guth’s End of the Trail Candy Shoppe in Waupun? The Candyman on Pioneer in Fond du lac? Or any of the many more candy shops and stops awaiting you. Mmm, research is delicious. SUMMERTIME AND THE LIVIN’ IS EASY Summertime is definitely the high season for festivals in our region! It seems that nearly every weekend has a festive vibe that brings with it exciting new events paired with activities that have stood the test of time and remain on the locals’ social calendars year after year. One new local happening is Art All Around in early June (the name says it all—it’s a region-wide celebration of art!). Also, in June is the granddaddy of them all, Walleye Weekend—equal parts family fun; live music; and, of course, walleye! Waupun comes alive in the summer with their signature events, including Celebrate Waupun, the Truck-N-Show, and Volksfest. Fond du Lac’s Downtown District hosts what is widely considered the world’s foremost celebration of Fondue during Fondue Fest just as summer segues to fall. BACK IN TIME The history of our region was written hundreds of years ago. Start your day by opting to shunpike and travel the scenic roads between the Niagara Escarpment overlooking the mighty Lake Winnebago over to the “Everglades of the North,” Horicon Marsh. Then get your history on by exploring the Carriage Museum at the Wade House before walking the shaded sidewalks of the Galloway Historic Village among the lovingly restored buildings of yesteryear and the Little White Schoolhouse in Ripon. Check out more history at the Timm House in New Holstein, Malone Area Heritage Museum in Malone, and the Calumet County Historical Society Museum in Chilton. WINTER FESTIVAL! There’s something about the prehistoric, predator-looking sturgeon that brings out the best of Fond du Lac—as well as thousands of visitors. So plan to redefine family fun with a very heavy dose of quirkiness thrown in for good measure at the annual mid-February festival, Sturgeon Spectacular—“A Celebration of Winter and Really Big Fish.” Comedy, outdoor hockey, snow sculpting, chili crawl, and a massive community bonfire in Lakeside Park featuring the traditional ‘Burning of the Sturgeon Effigy.’ Outdoor curling in the Downtown District and tons of live music all weekend! Hangin’ out with the good people of Fond du Lac and the Lake Winnebago Region, you’ll be hard pressed to find a nicer group of folks. C’mon in, there’s lots to discover!

Photo courtesy of John Sibilski.

Pedal boating on Lake Winnebago. Photo courtesy of Todd Dacquisto.

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