Blogs from Monroe, Wisconsin, United States, North America

I mentioned The Toy Train Barn in my introduction (September 9, 2012). I've been waiting to write about it ever since I started the blog. It was the first thing I researched after I started planning the actual Big Ball of String Tour. I found it on roadsideamerica.com - http://www.roadsideamerica.com/search/tip. Now that it's time to write about it, I'm a little at a loss at what exactly to say. I mean - the place pretty much speaks for itself. Well, not exactly - you HAVE to meet Buck and Jan, the owners, and their very pleasant and friendly dog - because THEY have stories! But, we didn't know that when we decided to go there. We just went because - IT'S A TOY TRAIN BARN!! Who wouldn't want to go!? I convinced everyone else to go ... read more

What's the FIRST thing you think of when you think of Wisconsin? Well, ok "Dang Packers" was my first thought too. But AFTER that? Right. CHEESE. We spent our first night in Monroe, Wisconsin which is the county seat of Green County Wisconsin which happens to be considered the "Little Switzerland" area of Wisconsin. Driving around the county it does have a vaguely "Swiss" feel to it (if you don't mind the fact that those inclines the cows are wandering across are mostly hills and nothing even remotely reminiscent of an Alp). But what says "Switzerland" more than cheese? On Sunday afternoon we had the opportunity to visit the "National Historic Cheesemaking Center" in Monroe. My family actually thrives on these kinds of museums. With three kids between eight years and twenty-one months old our attention ... read more