Calendar of area events
Parks and hiking
Bicycling paradise
Snowmobiling/skiing and winter recreation
Canoeing/kayaking
Antiques, shops, wine and breweries
River boat cruises
Golf courses
Restaurants
Museums/historic sites
Scuba diving

Deer often graze in the fields right outside our front door.
Hummingbirds come in droves to drink from the feeders on our porches.
Part of the farm operation is a small group of pigs.
From a picnic basket to muck boots, to field glasses and a wildflower book, we've got all you need to enjoy the beauty of our land.

From a picnic basket to muck boots, to field glasses and a wildflower book, we've got all you need to enjoy the beauty of our land.
The Antique Mall in Hixton is a former K-12 school which is full of antiques from the top to the bottom, including the former gymnasium. This is a must stop if you enjoy antique browsing.

Things to do, area attractions

No matter what the season or time of year, there is always something to do or see near Brambleberry Bed and Breakfast.
Enjoy the splendor of every season on our hiking trail, teeming with wildlife. Visit Tenba Ridge winery (May through December, but also open by appointment), artisans, Amish craftspeople, state parks or browse antiques shops in nearby Hixton. Dine at one of the area's restaurants or enjoy a romantic picnic at one of our lovely sites.
Spend an evening stargazing, reading a good book, chatting over a glass of wine by the fire or enjoying a relaxing whirlpool bath. Sit on one of our two porches or our patio and watch whitetail deer and turkeys in the fields or hawks soaring in the skies. As you drift off to sleep, you might hear the whippoorwill sing, an owl hooting or the coyotes howl.

Spring
Along our nature trail, spring is the time for wildflowers including cowslips, wild lupine, apple blossoms and the showy foliage of skunk cabbages. Jackson County ATV trails reopen. Turkey hunting begins in April. May brings two big concerts to the Trempealeau Hotel -- Reggae Sunsplash May 3 and Blues Bash May 17. Tenba Ridge Winery reopens for the season and the inland fishing season opens. There's also a local Amish auction on May 17 featuring quilts and other handmade crafts.

Summer
Outdoor recreational opportunities abound, with biking, canoeing, kayaking, Mississippi River boat tours, hiking in Perrot State Park, Black River State Forest and Wazee Park, which features some of the Midwest's best scuba diving. Visit the 6,226-acre Trempealeau National Widlife Refuge for some of the nation's best birding opportunities. The refuge, along side the Mississippi River, serves as a major migratory flight path for several species of birds. Many of our Amish neighbors sell produce. The strawberry and blueberry crops are available at pick-your-own farms. Almost every weekend features an area festival, including the annual Riverfest celebration in La Crosse the week of July Fourth. Enjoy a month of Shakespeare at the annual festival in Winona, June 27 through July 27.

Fall
The fall colors dot the hills and valleys, highlighting a busy season of activities, which include Oktoberfest in La Crosse, Cranberry Festival in Warrens, apple orchards and pumpkin patches and hunting. With approximately 200,000 acres of public lands and a bountiful supply of deer, it is not surprising that Jackson County is known as the "Deer Capital of Wisconsin." The Jackson County Forest and Black River State Forest provide a perfect habitat for deer, ruffed grouse, squirrel and wild turkey. Dike 17 and the Black River bottoms provide excellent waterfowl hunting for ducks and geese. (Guest hunting is not allowed on our property, but we are one mile away from public hunting. Our nature trail is closed during gun deer season week.)

Winter
Winter is a great time to visit our inn, where you can snowshoe or cross-country ski on our open fields. We're located only two miles from Jackson County snowmobile trail No. 1, which connects with a system of trails that extend more than 300 miles. Connections can be made with every trail in the state. Enjoy a day on the trails and relax in front of our fireplace.
If cross-country skiing is your winter fun, the Black River State Forest has 24 miles of groomed trails. Wazee Park has 11 miles of ungroomed trails, which offer a view of Wazee Lake, which even features scuba diving under the ice for the truly adventurous. Perrot State Park has nine miles of groomed trails. Mount La Crosse offers downhill skiing with 18 downhill slopes and snowboarding. Bruce Mound in nearby Clark County offers downhill skiing and other winter sports as well.

No matter what the season, whether you're looking to "get away from it all" or enjoying the area's attractions, Brambleberry B&B is the place where time slows down.

Onsite amenities: Hiking on our trail (muck boots provided), snowshoeing, abundant wildlife, stargazing, evening fires outdoors (weather permitting), books, DVDs, lawn games and board games. High-speed wireless Internet access is available.

Nearby: Tenba Ridge Winery, Perrot State Park and Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge, Black River State Forest, Mississippi River, Black River canoeing, 10 area golf courses within 30 miles, Sand Creek Brewery, state bike trails, Trempealeau County bike tours, antiques, Amish goods and crafts, artisans and restaurants. Shopping and restaurants in the La Crosse, Onalaska and Winona, Minn. areas are within 27 to 35 miles.

La Crosse offers a variety of places to visit, including Grandad Bluff, City Brewery, river cruises on the three different boats (Island Girl, La Crosse Queen and Julia Belle Swain), Hixon House Museum and a beautiful historic downtown with lots of unique shopping and restaurants. For more information, visit La Crosse Area Convention and Visitor's Bureau



Brambleberry Bed and Breakfast has a large reading selection, including four bookcases and three window seats running the entire length of the guest lounge. Guests can curl up on the comfy overstuffed furniture or on the window seats, all in full view of our fireplace. Our reading selection includes many cookbooks, travel books, home and garden books as well as a large selection of British and Scottish magazines.
 

 
John Gill at Tenba Ridge Winery offers a variety of award-winning and unique wines.

Day trips
Here are six great trips that are an easy drive from Brambleberry.

1. Visit Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge. Hike in Perot State Park. Rent a kayak and paddle a backwater of the mighty Mississippi River. Rent a bike or end the day with dinner at the Trempealeau Hotel.


2. Spend the day visiting stores, Sand Creek Brewery gift shop and browse antique shops in Black River Falls and Hixton. End the day with dinner at Club 95 in Hixton.


3. Canoe the Black River and eat dinner at the Riverview Supper Club with a canoe and dinner package. Shuttle service provided by Riverview.


4. Taste wine at Tenba Ridge. Hike the Black River State Forest and Wazee County Park, where scuba diving is available. End the day with dinner at High Water Restaurant or Riverview Supper Club.


5. Spend the day in La Crosse, visiting antique shops on Third Street and Caledonia Street. Visit Hixon House museum and the Pearl Street shops. Be sure to stop at The Pearl Ice Cream parlor. See La Crosse from atop Grandad Bluff. Take a river boat cruise on the Island Girl or La Crosse Queen. Tour the City Brewery. For more information on things to do, visit La Crosse tourism. End the day with dinner at Piggy's, Buzzard Billy's or Ciatti's.


6. Visit Sugarloaf Antiques in Winona, MN. Downtown features various shops. Visit various museums, including the Minnesota Marine Art Museum. For more information on things to do, visit Winona tourism. End the day with dinner at the Hillside Fish House.

Sparta calls itself the biking capital of Wisconsin, with easy access to the state trail system.
Canoe the Black River or kayak on a Mississippi River backwater.
Enjoy breathtaking scenery and hiking at Perrot State Park, Black River State Forest, Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge or Lake Wazee.
The La Crosse Queen offers scenic Mississippi River tours through Oct. 26. Click here for a complete schedule
Oscar Peterslie serves the area's best homemade ice cream and malts at The Pearl Ice Cream Parlor in downtown La Crosse.