State Trunk Tour

Port Washington may be a small town, but it has big offerings. From the incredible adventures you can have on the water and its beautiful harbor to its vibrant downtown, it's a great visit for a day trip, weekend, or for their may festivals - including their first-ever Winterfest, coming up February 6th. We dive into it all! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lake Geneva offers a world-class winter getaway experience, and with the coveted Ice Castles underway and their Winterfest & U.S. National Snow Sculpting Championships coming, it was the perfect time for a conversation with VISIT Lake Geneva's dynamo CEO, Stephanie Klett. We also hit up winter sports, amazing shopping, resorts, apothecaries, Dungeons & Dragons, breweries, wineries, distilleries, m...

Surfing in winter? Yes, they do that. Sheboygan is the Malibu of the Midwest and the Bratwurst Capital of the World. Buoyed by a diversifying food scene, a thriving arts and creative community, and a downtown people are increasingly moving to Sheboygan offers plenty of reasons to road trip. This includes upcoming holiday celebrations like the new Jingle & Mingle. Find out how to maximize your expe...

Hartford offers remarkable automotive history with its museum, natural beauty all around, some classic architecture, proximity to Erin Hills, Holy Hill, and plenty to enjoy from shopping to balloon festivals and more. State Trunk Tour's Eric Paulsen talks with Doreen Buntrock about Hartford's offerings, including the upcoming Hot Air Affair Balloon Rally. A State Trunk Tour road trip on Highways 6...

Green Bay is famous for being "Titletown." But don't let COVID-era attendance limitations at Lambeau stop you from heading to Wisconsin's oldest (and only NFL) city and taking in the sights, museums, history, gardens, family-friendly activities, breweries, and more. Brenda Krainik from the Green Bay CVB joins Eric Paulsen for more reasons to road trip to Packerland. See omnystudio.com/listener for...

It's October, and fall fun options include apple picking (and shooting them out of cannons), barn quilt views and tours, wine walks, beer gardens, corn mazes, Halloween Glow lights, even yoga with coffee along Lake Michigan. Cari Greving from Real Racine joins Eric Paulsen for a fun review of Fall Farm Fun across Racine County, east or west "of the I" on this State Trunk Tour Podcast episode. See...

In the late 19th century, Waukesha's water and Hygeia Springs had a national reputation for health, to the point where an entrepreneur tried to build a pipeline sending the water to Chicago's 1893 World Columbian Exposition. He succeeded - sort of. You can even visit this spring in Big Bend, just off Highway 164. We explore this clear-running but colorful liquid history, including the Great Pipeli...

Show of hands - who knew there was a HUGE early movement of Blues, R&B, Country and even some Big Band music in Grafton and Port Washington, Wisconsin? There was indeed, and the story is remarkable. The Paramount Music record label was created in a chair factory along the Milwaukee River, shuttling musicians from Mississippi to Wisconsin 100 years ago to make music that laid the groundwork for wha...

The Milwaukee County Zoo is one of the finest and largest zoos in the nation. Amidst a 190-acre park-like setting you can ride the Safari Train, explore Adventure Africa, check out over 2,100 animals representing 350 different species, and enjoy special events. We cover all of that Jenny Diliberti from the Zoo, from its history to the need for elephant pedicures and from the new otter exhibit to Z...

The Wisconsin State Fair ranks among the nation's best, and the 2019 edition runs August 1-11. In this STT episode, Eric Paulsen talks with State Fair Director of Public Affairs Kristi Chuckel about everything from traditional foods (cream puffs) to new foods (like bug tacos?!?) to rides, slides, music, the history, and of course, the animals and their farmers and caretakers coming in from around...

Manitowoc, Two Rivers, and the surrounding area is home to some amazing farms, bakeries, cheese factories, breweries, wineries, and even confectioneries that can tickle your taste buds. State Trunk Tour host Eric Paulsen talks with Jason Ring from the Manitowoc/Two Rivers CVB about their new Wisconsin Coastal Food Trail and its destinations. Nearly 20 locations you can connect to via car, bike, or...

Summerfest 2019 fills Milwaukee's lakefront with music from over 700 artists across many genres June 26-30 & July 2-7, 2019. State Trunk Tour's Eric Paulsen sits down with Milwaukee World Festival, Inc. VP/Marketing Sarah Pancheri to talk new stages, artists, food, ways to get in at a reduced rate or even free, all in this episode of the State Trunk Tour Podcast. See omnystudio.com/listener for pr...

After a well-received interview with Wisconsin Public Radio's "Central Time" show in January, we were invited back in March to talk about the State Trunk Tour, Wisconsin road trips, and hear from callers. This is our second WPR interview, as it aired live on March 27, 2019 on the state's radio network. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The road tripping ideas behind StateTrunkTour.com caught the attention of "Central Time," an afternoon show on Wisconsin Public Radio. On January 16, 2019, State Trunk Tour founder Eric Paulsen sat down with Rob Ferrett, discussed Wisconsin and the Tours, and got callers from around the state. Here's the interview as it aired on WPR's network of stations. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy in...

Wisconsin winters mean a lot of outdoor fun involving snow and ice. But out of what we often skate, snowmobile, or slide on - or just shovel away - some artists create incredible art and sculptures. In this episode, we talk with professional ice carver and snow sculptor Jeff Shawhan - one of the talented people who can craft amazing art that wows onlookers... before it all melts. See omnystudio.co...

Ah, New Year's Eve! We all know about the ball drop in Times Square in NYC. But did you know about the Cherry Drop? A new way to ring in the New Year is blossoming in Sister Bay, where the Door County Cherry Drop debuted to ring in 2018. And they're ready to build on it and make it a tradition. Find out how this came about and how you can have some fun there for NYE, just take Highways 42 and 57 t...

Chippewa Falls is a beautiful town in Wisconsin, known for Leinenkugel's Beer, natural beauty, and plenty to see and do - especially for a city this size. We talk with Jackie Boos, Tourism Director of the Chippewa Chamber, to cover everything from their gem of a zoo and park to the Northern Wisconsin State Fair, floating the Chippewa River, historic sites, more breweries, shopping, and all there i...

Marshfield is internationally known for its world-class Marshfield Clinic, but this city of 20,000 goes beyond medicine to prescribe a fun visit featuring the arts, historic structures, a zoo offering Kodiak bears, roaming buffalo and interactive exhibits, the unique "Jurustic Park" where words like "converted helicopter dragon" can be heard, the World's Largest Round Barn, the Blue Heron Brewery,...

Sheboygan conjures up all kinds of images. This city of 50,000 on Lake Michigan is known for brats and good ol' Wisconsin traditions. But its admired harbor area, downtown development, world class golf, surfing reputation (seriously), support from companies and young professionals, Kohler-Andrae State Park, the new Farm Wisconsin Discovery Center, and a new creation downtown called City Green is t...

On May 5, 2018, 57 venues around Racine and Racine County will hold a unique "open house," giving visitors free and full access to what they have to offer. They include museums highlighting art, chocolate, puzzles, and more; alpaca farms; high-tech manufacturing facilities; Frank Lloyd Wright-designed buildings in town; the Wind Point Lighthouse; an observatory; wineries, breweries, and distilleri...

Since the State Trunk Tour features following state highways from one end to the other, here we follow Highway 175 from Milwaukee to Fond du Lac, which uses the former US 41 route before it was rebuilt on its current alignment in the early 1950s. Where 41 used to go, 175 goes now and you can see small towns, historic crossroads, old buildings, and sights from ski hills and race tracks to cheese sh...

Racine, Wisconsin's 5th largest city, features everything from modern museums to classic Frank Lloyd Wright architecture; award-winning beaches, an extensive marina, and a classic lighthouse; a bevy of events and new development; plus fascinating history, from the invention of malted milk and the garbage disposal to displaying a gun used by John Dillinger in a robbery - at the police station! Raci...

Producer John Mitchell is a Wisconsin native who left for L.A. and returned two decades later to make a documentary showcasing his home state and its special culture, history, and appeal. Called "Cheeseheads: The Documentary," this in-depth, sometimes personal, often humorous look at the state shows why the "Cheesehead" is more than just a funny foam hat. The State Trunk Tour makes a cameo, too! I...

The State Trunk Tour is a website that explore Wisconsin road-by-road to offer great road trip ideas, background and history of towns, attractions, popular and out-of-the-way joints, and opportunities for fun and recreation. We give you the basics here - consider it a brief primer. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.