TL;DR: Embark on an RV road trip in Wisconsin, exploring top cheese destinations. From Farm Wisconsin's interactive museum to Sassy Cow Creamery's ice cream the rich cheese heritage of Wisconsin. Delve into Wisconsin's cheese culture, taste award-winning varieties, and enjoy the springtime journey.
As the weather starts to warm and springtime begins, RVers will begin to travel to places that were perhaps too cold for a visit over the winter. These include states such as Wisconsin, Michigan, Wyoming, Minnesota, and so many more. The state of Wisconsin in particular is an excellent place to travel. Here, visitors of this state typically enjoy state parks, outdoor recreation on Lake Michigan and the state’s many rivers and lakes, museum visitation, arts and culture, the city of Milwaukee, and of course, cheese!Out of the fifty United States, Wisconsin is responsible for about twenty-five percent of the country’s cheese production, a figure that the state tends to be very proud of. If you enjoy both cheese and food tourism, then you’re in luck. Buckle up and take a ride with us as we head out on an RV road trip, seeking out some of the best cheese to be found in the state of Wisconsin. Don’t forget to clear out your fridge to make room for all your cheese purchases! See more RV camping in Wisconsin.
1. Farm Wisconsin
Our cheese tour of Wisconsin begins at an interactive discovery center called Farm Wisconsin. Located just a short drive from both Milwaukee and Green Bay, this fun stop sits right beside Lake Michigan. Here, a large museum is dedicated to educating visitors on agriculture in Wisconsin and has over 15,000 square feet of exhibits available. It was even named on Time for Kids’ 50 Coolest places for 2019, making this an excellent place to bring your family. Visitors can tour the discovery side of the museum before enjoying a meal in their farm-to-cafe restaurant, followed by ice cream from their gift shop. Land O'Lakes birthing barn is located right on site, offering the possibility of seeing a calf birthing. There is even the option to add a farm tour from a local dairy farm onto your museum admission package. Harvest Hosts members can even stay overnight after they finish exploring the museum with no camping fees, making this a memorable first stop indeed.
2. Sassy Cow Creamery
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Our next stop is at the Sassy Cow Creamery in Columbus, Wisconsin. This operation is run by two brothers and their families, and it has been in their family since the 1940s. They have about 850 cows on site, which produce over 6,000 total gallons of ice cream per day. When you visit, you can purchase both milk and ice cream, which comes in a variety of flavors. They also have cheeses and other local Wisconsin products on sitefor purchase.
3. Hook’s Cheese
Our next stop is at Hook’s Cheese, a family run operation in mineral Point, Wisconsin. This farm has been in operation for forty-five years, and they produce over fifty varieties on site. They’re wide variety of cheese comes from milk produced by cows, sheep, and goats, with varieties such as Gouda, Havarti, Swiss, monterey jack, and cheddar in a variety of ages, including one that was aged for fifteen years. Hook’s Cheese sells at the Dane’s County Farmers Market every Saturday, and they have a full list of cheese and wine pairings on their website for those wanting a little something extra to accompany their cheese.
4. Carr Valley Cheese Co.
Our next stopping point is at Carr Valley Cheese Co. in La Valle, Wisconsin. Carr Valley Cheese Company is over 100 years old, and the current owner-operator is the fourth generation in his family to continue the business, keeping many of their processes and recipes the same. This operation uses milk from cows, goats, and sheep to produce a variety of artisanal cheddars, which are available for purchase in eight locations across the state. In addition to cheddar, they produce curds, goat milk cheese, sheep milk cheese, bleu cheese, mixed-milk cheese, and a unique variety of Finnish cheese called bread cheese. Their products have won many prestigious awards, so be sure to stop by and see what the hype is all about.
5. Holland’s Family Cheese
Our second-to-last stop is at Holland’s Family Cheese in Thorp, Wisconsin. This operation has been in business for over a decade, and they specialize in Gouda cheese. The owner was born in the Netherlands, and after emigrating to the United States, she traveled back to her home country to learn the process for making Dutch cheese. Today, this farm produces about twenty varieties of Gouda, with many having won various prestigious awards. Be sure to stock up before you hit the road!
6. Grazin’ Acres Dairy Farm (HH)
Our final stop is at Grazin’ Acres Dairy Farm in Dallas, Wisconsin. This Harvest Hosts location offers visitors the opportunity to experience a real working dairy farm, complete with the feeding, milking, and care of the cows. Some visitors have even reported being able to take part in helping care for the cows. This farm primarily sells raw milk to its club of buyers. Overnight visitors can talk to the owner to learn more. Don’t forget to make a small purchase if you use your Harvest Hosts membership to stay overnight.
Wisconsin farms produce some of the most delicious cheeses and dairy products in America. As the snow thaws and the spring season begins, consider taking a cheese tour across the state to learn more about the dairy industry and sample amazing, local products.
Have you been to a dairy farm in Wisconsin? How was your experience? Feel free to share in the comments below!
Harvest Hosts is a unique RV camping membership that offers self-contained RVers unlimited overnight stays at 9,600+ unique locations across North America with no camping fees. Stay at farms, wineries, breweries, museums, golf courses, attractions, and other one-of-a-kind destinations while enjoying memorable travel experiences and the peace of mind that comes with knowing a safe place to stay is always nearby.
