Visiting the City of New Glarus, Wisconsin - a Review

Southwestern Wisconsin can be a really entertaining tour whether by car, motorcycle or bicycle as the terrain is quite hilly and beautiful. Green County boasts several small Swiss towns that have some great restaurants, boutiques, inns and cheese houses. One town in particular that we visited was New Glarus. This little town is located about forty minutes west of Madison and has several fun things to do when visiting. Be prepared to bring some good walking shoes and a camera while exploring the town.

New Glarus Brewing Company

Upon entering the outskirts of New Glarus, we happened to see a sign off the highway indicating a brewery that was tucked away down a gravel road. The brewery was not visible from the road, but we witnessed several cars leaving the area. My curiosity got the better of me and I turned off the highway and proceeded up the hilly road leading to this tucked away brewery. The road led me to a brand new brewing facility perched up on a hill overlooking a large valley. The outside of the brew house or barn has a picturesque flagstone waterfall and stone walkway leading up to the brewing facility. The facility has a gift shop and an area to taste the crafted beers. There must have been over eight or so different microbrews available for tasting. We were on a New Glarus tour mission so I had to decline the tasting since I was the designated driver and the fact that we needed time to tour the other local establishments. I did manage to take home a six pack sampler which was sold in the distribution staging area located at the lower parking lot level. I do plan on coming back one day for the complete brew tour as well as replenish my beer stock as these brews are only available in Wisconsin.

New Glarus Bakery

As we proceed into downtown New Glarus, we see the streets are lined with Swiss Chalet style shops and restaurants adorned with flower boxes full of geraniums and other pretty flowers. The streets are lined with American and Swiss flags. The downtown shopping district probably covers a few blocks so it is quite easy to cover the whole area within a morning or afternoon. One of our first stops while downtown was the New Glarus Bakery. The bakery welcomed us in with great aromas of fresh baked breads and pastries. The glass counters contained large varieties of coffee cakes, cookies, pastries. We purchased a few almond horns and a Swiss pastry that resembled an elephant ear. This flat pastry was made using donut type dough but was covered in a delicious sweet glaze. The four of us shared this treat while walking down the streets of New Glarus. I was quickly summoned back to the bakery to purchase four more of these "elephant ears" to bring home.

Shops

The town boasts some decent shops for browsing. The shops sold everything from candles to a plethora of Christmas ornaments. The shops were very tidy and the service was super friendly. We enjoyed browsing these stores while spending the afternoon in town. I highly recommend a visit to the Christmas House, Grandmother's Clocks, and Brenda's Brumladen which sells garden supplies and outdoor décor.

Recreation

The city of New Glarus is home to some good recreational activity. One of them is the sugar river bike trial of which goes through the town of New Glarus. The trail extends for twenty one miles throughout Southwestern Wisconsin and is a great stop off point for those enduring bike tours. This stop off point allows for food and drink breaks as well as a bike repair shop right off the trail. The village of New Glarus even offers bicycle rentals for those interested in touring the trail to witness beautiful wooded scenery and wildlife.

Restaurants

One of the good stops for eats in this friendly little town is the Glarner Stube. The restaurant sticking with the theme of the town, offers some delicious Swiss specialties such as Kalberwurst, Roesti, and fondues. The local brews of New Glarus Brewing Company are offered on tap as well. The menu is friendly for those that do not want Swiss food as they offer up sandwiches, steaks, and even German delights such as Weiner schnitzel.