Washburn County, WI Itinerary: Fun on the Farm - An AgriTour Weekend

Wisconsin has long been known as “the dairy state,” but the agriculture industry offers much more than just dairy. Here are some of our favorite spots to learn more about the agriculture industry and how our hard-working local farmers have taken their farms to the next level. 

Saturday:

First stop, Bashaw Valley Farm & Greenhouse, where you can buy everything from grass fed beef to hand-picked berries. It’s as farm fresh as you can get! After your berry picking adventure, eat like a local. Head over to River Street Family Restaurant where you’ll find a large breakfast menu with specialties like Tyler’s Belt Buster. Just be sure to leave some room for your next stop. 

After your awesome breakfast, take a wander in downtown Spooner where you’ll find the Spooner Bake Shoppe, established in 1952. You’re sure to find some home-made goodies here that will tempt your taste buds. Travel just east of Spooner to the Spooner Agriculture Research Station & Display Garden. The garden is open during daylight hours and is home to perennial and annual display gardens, an enabling garden, themed vegetable gardens and displays of small fruits, grapes and fruit trees.

If you have a taste for a burger, you’ll want to stop in Trego at Hub’s Riverbend where you’ll find nearly 20 specialty burgers, plus a huge appetizer and sandwich menu. After lunch, head to Chickadee Hills Homestead. This unique northern farm is well-known for their pasture-raised Mangalitsa hogs. A chat with one of the owners, Sherry or Matt, and you’ll see their passion for their farm and animals. An on-site store let’s you purchase direct from the farm.

For dinner, enjoy a brewpub experience like no other at Round Man Brewing Company. This family-run establishment carries some of the best brews around. Using local ingredients in not only their beer, but also in the food, Round Man is a must-stop when visiting the area.

Sunday:

Known for their modern dishes that capture the flavors of the season, The Roost of Sarona, is the perfect stop for breakfast. Owner and chef, Jeff, loves to use local, fresh ingredients whenever possible. After breakfast, enjoy some time outdoors and hit up the trails at Hunt Hill Audubon Sanctuary. This 600 acre nature reserve has seven miles of trails for you to explore.

After your hike, head over to Perlick Distillery, producers of fine spirits distilled from grains grown on site. Perlick Farms has been in the family for five generations. The tasting room offers a specialty drink and martini menu, as well as a seasonal drink menu.

For a truly unique experience, take a ride with the Wisconsin Great Northern Railroad on their Sky Parlour Wine & Cheese Train. The ride features four samples of Wisconsin produced wine and award winning cheese varieties from local cheese makers. Round out your weekend with a stop at Clover Meadow Winery, located just west of Shell Lake. The only certified organic, travel green winery in the midwest, Clover Meadow is completely off-the-grid and has been creating their own electricity for over 16 years.