While taking a fall drive along the Cranberry Highway in central Wisconsin, enjoy exploring miles of brilliant yellows, burnt oranges, and a sea of ruby red.
Fall is a fabulous time in Wisconsin—all the classic staples are available to enjoy. Here, the apples are ready for picking, the pumpkins are ready for carving, and the leaves are starting to change. This is also the perfect time (before the temperature and leaves drop) to take a trip along Wisconsin’s Cranberry Highway and experience all the beautiful views.
If you’re really looking for a gorgeous fall background with blazing oranges, yellows, and rich reds, grab your pumpkin spice latte and get ready to hit the Cranberry Highway. Enjoy an incredible scenic drive by adding this activity to your bucket list this fall.
What is the Cranberry Highway?
The Cranberry Highway is a stretch in central Wisconsin that runs from Wisconsin Rapids to Warrens for 50 miles. Here, in the heart of Wisconsin, you’ll find cranberry beds and picturesque fall foliage.
As beautiful as the flooded cranberry fields are during harvest, they’re also a pretty big deal for Wisconsin’s agricultural scene. Over half of the US’s cranberry supply comes from Wisconsin and our state has been at the top of the chart for the last three decades.
Beholding the beauty of the cranberry fields isn’t the only thing you can do when you visit the Cranberry Highway. Along the route, you’ll also find unique shopping, cranberry wagon tours, harvest experiences, and more.
Where should you stop on the Cranberry Highway?
While visiting the Wisconsin Rapids area, you will find tons of cranberry-themed experiences to enjoy.
Central Wisconsin Cultural Center
2651 8th Street South, Wisconsin Rapids
This non-profit has been open since 1996 to celebrate and advocate for the arts. Its exhibits are open Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and it offers several hands-on art classes throughout the season.
Rooted in Red Cranberry Marsh
1060 Center Street, Wisconsin Rapids
Rooted in Red has been in the cranberry business for over 100 years. Their cranberry farm has partnered with the University of Wisconsin, conducting research to develop hybrid growing methods that support environmentally sustainable growing practices. They offer hands-on cranberry experiences, including wagon tours of the marshes or even wading into the flooded fields yourself during harvest season.
State Historical Marker #86: “Cranberry Culture”
WIS 54, 5 miles west of Port Edwards in Wood County — Off the north side of WIS 54 west of County Hwy GG
This scenic stop is a great place to learn more about cranberries, how they came to be, and how they’re harvested. Visitors describe the area surrounding the marker as a picture-perfect backdrop that captures all your favorite fall colors.
Discover Cranberries & Cranberry Country Cafe
204 Main Street in Warrens
Stop by Discover Cranberries & Cranberry Country Cafe for a little bit of everything central Wisconsin has to offer. Since 1989, Discover Cranberries has been a museum and gift shop, and upstairs, you’ll find the country cafe. Here, you’ll find tons of cranberry-infused treats. In the gift shop, you’ll find other Wisconsin-made cranberry treats like cranberry mustard, salsa, jams, and even cranberry wine. They also offer tours of the marshes, as well as self-guided tours or in large groups.
This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.
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