The Area

On-Site Activities
• Two kayaks, a canoe and a rowboat are available to explore
Prairie House’s more than one half mile of Lake Sinissippi shoreline
where blue herons, white pelicans and bald eagles are frequently sighted.
• Enjoy birdwatching through the seasons with a hike through
the prairie and 14-acre oak/hickory woods.
• Guests are welcome to in-season berries, herbs, and vegetables,
from the organic garden. Spring brings forsythia and lilacs,
morel hunting in the woods, and fresh asparagus from the garden.
• Winter activities may include cross-country skiing, ice skating,
snowshoeing, and sledding. Or relax by one of the two natural
stone fireplaces and enjoy the views, the game room, or the whirlpool spa.

Nearby Activities
• Horicon Marsh Wildlife Refuge. www.horiconmarsh.org
Offers guided bird hikes or boat tours of the marsh.
The largest freshwater marsh in North America is on the
major flyway for hundreds of migratory birds.
• EAA AirVenture Convention Experimental Aircraft Association
annual air show, in Oshkosh, WI (70 mi.). www.airventure.org
• Road America. Internationally renowned road racing course
at nearby Elkhart Lake, WI (60 mi.). www.roadamerica.com
• Washington County Golf Course (23 mi) 18 holes, 4.5 star rated
www.golfwcgc.com
Rock River Hills Golf Course. 18 holes on the rock river.
in Horicon (7 mi.).
• Horicon Aquatic Center. Outdoor family waterpark with slides (10 mi.).
• Schauer Performing Arts Center. www.schauercenter.org (20 mi.).
• Audubon Inn. Fine dining in a historic inn. www.auduboninn.com (35 mi.).
• Columbus Antique Mall. “Largest antique mall in Wisconsin”
(40 mi.) www.columbusantiquemall.com
• Madison and Milwaukee. Cultural opportunities are only a
fifty mi. drive away.
• Some Local Favorites
Cycling - Wild Goose State Trail www.dodgecounty.com/wildgoose.htm
Holy Hill - National Shrine of Mary with spectacular views of the
fall colors. (35 mi.) www.holyhill.com
Honey Acres - honey museum www.honeyacres.com (30 mi.).
Downhill Skiing/Snowboarding - www.skisunburst.com (45 mi,);
www.devilsheadresort.com (55 mi.).
Devil’s Lake State Park - great for rockclimbing and hiking (55mi.).
Widmer Cheese - factory tours www.widmercheese.com
Fishing - www.stateparks.com/pike_lake.html
Nancy’s Notions - nationally acclaimed sewing/quilting workshops.
at their retail store in Beaver Dam www.nancysnotions.com (17 mi.).
Nitschke Mounds - county park with over 40 ancient effigy mounds to explore
www.dodgecounty.com/parks.html
Hartford Heritage Auto Museum - home of the antique Kissel and Nash
www.modelatrader.com/maffi/hartfordmuseum.html (20 mi.).
Dane County Farmers Market - huge farmer’s market and entertainment
on the Madison state capitol square www.madfarmmkt.org (50 mi.).

For fishing enthusiasts, carp and bullshead are caught mostly from the Prairie House pier, and an occasional walleye, northern or panfish are caught mainly below the dam in the nearby Village of Hustisford. There are several lakes in the area noted for gamefishing such as Beaver Dam lake www.beaverdamchamber.com or Pike Lake. www.statepaarks.com/pike.lake.html
fall
Flocks of migratory geese traverse the sky and hiking and biking are great ways to enjoy the cooler weather and fall foliage. Guests can enjoy the fall harvest with squash, pumpkin, fresh tomatoes, herbs, and apples from the Prairie House garden and orchard up until frost. Holy Hill, National Shrine of Mary,(35 minute scenic drive) is a favorite spot to view the fall colors. www.holyhill.com There are many antique shops in the area. Columbus (25 minutes drive) boasts the largest antique mall in the midwest.
winter
Winter sports such as sledding, cross-country ski, ice skating and snowmobile trails are conveniently located to the Prairie House. Great family downhill skiing and snowboarding slopes are within a 45 minute drive at www.littleswitz.com or www.skisunburst.com. Or relax by the fire or soak in the whirlpool and enjoy the winter landscape and wildlife viewing on the Prairie House grounds. Cultural opportunities of Milwaukee and Madison are only 50 minutes away.

Area activities

Horicon Marsh National Wildlife Refuge
www.horiconmarsh.org, www.enjoyhoriconmarsh.org, or www.dodgecounty.com
The largest fresh-water marsh in North America is on the major flyway for hundreds of migratory birds.
Arrange naturalist-led birding hikes or tours of the marsh, or attend the Horicon Bird Festival in May.

Blue Heron Landing www.horiconmarsh.com Guided boat tours of Horicon Marsh

EAA Convention

The American Club

Road America www.roadamerica.com

Wisconsin Dells

Historic Audubon Inn Restaurant

Columbus Antique MalL

Antique Kissel Auto Museum

Schauer Performing Arts and Activities Center

Indoor Pools/Gym:
Hartford Recreation and Aquatic Center
TAG Center, Mayville

Outdoor Water Parks:
Horicon Aquatic Center
Watertown Pool

Nancy’s notions

Waldvogels pumpkin farm/market/corn maze/petting farm

Nitschke mounds

widmer cheese www.widmercheese.com

Honey Acres www.honeyacres.com

area Map