Good morning!
I am on a mission to visit as many European inspired or European style towns America has to offer. New Glarus, WI was on of them.
This unique town is about 3 hours from Chicago and while it may seem like a long drive, it goes by quickly. My husband and I enjoy driving so for us the drive was peaceful and a great experience overall.
But if you feel extra adventurous, you can be in Madison, WI in an additional 30 minutes! Make it a fun weekend trip.
“New Glarus is proud to be the home of the Swiss Center of North America. Connecting, archiving, showcasing, educating, promoting and celebrating all that is Swiss in North America.”
A unique, interactive experience that inspires awareness and understanding of our Swiss roots.
According to www.newglarusvillage.com, New Glarus was established as a Swiss Colony in 1845 and incorporated as a Village in 1901. The Village has retained its Swiss charm with Alpine-style architecture, ethnic festivals and Swiss delicacies. The Village is located in beautiful Green County in south central Wisconsin.
We visited New Glarus on a cold Sunday in March and it didn’t feel as touristy as I would have liked. But I knew that going in and it was beautiful nevertheless. The architecture was exactly what I had imagined. The options for Swiss and American fare were plentiful. The locals are very proud and definitely enjoy this town as well. When asked for a good place to eat, everyone pointed us to the same places.
We walked around and stopped in all of the stores that were open. We missed a few because of Sunday hours and some museums were closed as well. But we plan to go back in the summer and partake in one of their Swiss festivals. The kids enjoyed looking at the different style of homes and especially finding all of the cows around town.
On the way back we had to stop at the New Glarus Brewing Co. You can’t miss it. It is nestled on top of a high hill and the view from up there is very cool. Lots of picnic benches and a nice walking trail all around the property.
“Some people paint, some sing, others write … I brew.”
—Daniel Carey
The drive to the top was quick but very cool. Reminded me so much of European streets and villages. Which is kind of the point here I think! There is definitely a nice story to this Brewery and we cannot wait to go back and take it all in! Plus we still have to try their all natural beer.
They offer guided and self tours but make sure you check their hours before you visit.
There is a list of things you can do and visit in New Glarus but come back in Spring, Summer or Fall. We sure will!
x, Dijana
[…] New Glarus, WI […]