We loved our time at the GalPaca Farm and seeing these mystical creatures. Pronounced Gal-Paca, not…read moreG-alpaca! The owners (2 Gals) were super friendly and interactive with us on any questions we asked. We loved hearing their story and how close the community around them is. On this street alone, you can hit a pumpkin patch and an apple picking farm all 5 minute drive from one another. They currently had a 'Yarn Hop' going on which we thought was so fun. With that, they really put standards in place for COVID safety precautions. At the front entrance, there was someone waiting to understand how many people were in your car (and if there were any children) so that they could contain crowds. Masks were worn and there is specific areas for parking marked. When we arrived, we were given a couple of carrot bags to feed the alpacas. They were all roaming, minding their own business eating the grass, but once you shake your plastic baggy of carrot goodness, they'll start walking to you instantly. They eat with their bottom teeth and are just the cutest things. I'm also extremely jealous of their eyelashes, extensions can't get you that amount of volume! Right next door, they have a another barn with their shop of goods, including honey/bee products. My friend got the alpaca gloves, another got the body butter, and I snagged a GalPaca shirt. There's lot to choose from and they're all labeled nicely. The cutest thing is, if you purchase yarn, there are the names of the specific alpaca it came from. So cute! Even though it's getting a little chillier, I would make my way out here to explore! A short 30-40 minutes from Madison and lots of other farms to see. You can also then go to more of the city area of Mt. Horeb afterwards.

Loved my time at GalPaca alpacas! We went during the local Yarn Hop even though my friends and I…read morearen't avid knitters. It was well worth it to spend some time there and watch the alpacas! Right away as we pulled in, we were given a baggie of carrots and the alpacas perked right up and came straight to us at the gate. Seeing and feeding the alpacas was so much fun! GalPaca Farm Alpacas was very conscious of the pandemic and made sure to ask about the number of people we had in the car and to limit the amount of visitors to make the experience fun and safe for all. Definitely check out the store inside, they have a full variety of items like alpaca wool gloves, socks, and dryer balls. I picked up some wood cutting board balm and some solid lotion bars made in-home and I love using both on a daily basis. Hope to get back out there when the weather is warm again!

Amazing apples, house dipped caramel apples, perfect cider donuts, home made caramel, farm raised…read morebeef... lots to see. Some unique nicknacks too. Super friendly, welcoming family running the show. We might have discovered a new favorite apple called "Zestar". It's not a petting zoo but they have horse(s) and such and it's nice to wander or stretch your legs. Double check their website for hours. https://munchkeyapples.com. The drive is really quiet, relaxing rural Wisconsin (100% paved). Take your time. Strongly recommended. Nice weekend activity. Check out neighbors' pumpkins and such.

Great apple cidar donuts, great selection of apples. Well organized, fun event attendread more

This is a blink-and-you'll-miss-it museum on the way to House on the Rock. It is totally worth…read moreyour time to stop. Fantastic collection of local, regional, and global crystals, fossils, gems, and rocks. The owner will give you some history on the collection and then you can just wander and gape at all the cool stuff. There's an entire room of fluorescing rocks. There are massive geodes. There are even more massive fluorite specimens. There are even fossilized lightening strikes! That's right, lightening strikes. There's also a stable so you can go for a ride and visit the museum in one stop.

While it may look unassuming, this is an amazing little museum. The specimens are truly remarkable…read moreand the owner is a kind old man who's happy to share his passion with you. It does cost $7 to get in, but that's a small price to pay for the intimate experience. There is also a small gift shop that's perfect for mineral or fossil nerds (plus it's very reasonably priced. If you're stopping by House on the Rock, Taliesin, or Cave of the Mounds, you need to stop by here! It's criminally underrated! Definitely going to stop by here again.

While there are a growing number of wineries near Madison, nothing has come close to the quality…read moreand creativity behind the wines at American Wine Project. AWP is a great option for a day trip from Madison or if you're looking for things to do near Spring Green, WI. Drop by for a wine tasting, take a picnic to the garden when the weather is nice, and join the wine club to start appreciating unique, delicious wines made by a winemaker with both a world-class résumé and pride in being from Wisconsin. Though I don't live in Wisconsin anymore, I'm getting used to the sound of bottles rattling in my trunk as I drive back home to the East coast. Stock up!

Amazing afternoon at the American Wine Project. This woman-owned business is an easy 45 min bucolic…read moredrive down hwy 151 from Madison. The wine is delicious and high end, not your grandma's Midwest wine! The piquet spritzer is amazing refreshing on a hot summer day. The owner and head wine maker trained and worked in New Zealand, Sonoma Co and Nappa prior to starting this business, and she brings a delightful originality and freshness to the Wisconsin wine scene. #foodandwine knows what it's talking about https://www.foodandwine.com/wine/wisconsin-wine-is-worth-your-time I can't wait for my next visit!