La Crosse Rotary Christmas Light Display a Must See

Visit La Crosse Rotary Lights and stay at Westby House Inn
 by Marie Cimino, Westby House Inn

 Christmas lights are always a fascinating sight during the holiday season and the Rotary Lights display at Riverside Park in downtown La Crosse are beyond fascinating. Each and every child and adult  is pulled into the million plus light display each December. You can drive through the park or walk it to get yourself in the spirit.   Admission is non-perishable goods and/or cash donations that support the local food pantries.

The Park opens at 5:00 p.m. daily and gates will close after the last car in line at 10:00 p.m. with the following exceptions:

Christmas Eve..................5 to 9:00 p.m.

Christmas Day..................5 to 9:00 p.m.

New Year's Eve .......5 p.m. to 1:00 a.m.

Santa is in the park everynight from 5 pm until 8 pm or as long as kids are in line. Santa begins on Friday, Nov. 29th (right after the opening ceremony) and will be in his Santa House through Monday, Dec. 23rd.
Treat yourself with a Gift to the La Crosse's Rotary Lights and a stay at the inn. Book any room available, any day of the week, and mention you saw this blog post to receive our Gift to You of 25% off your room reservation!!!! Sorry, new reservations only. Not valid with gift cards/certificates or any other offer.

Purchase Wisconsin Bed & Breakfast Gift Certificates

by Marie Cimino, Westby House Inn

Make it easy shopping this year by giving bed and breakfast gift certificates to your friends, family and, maybe yourself this Christmas season. The Westby House Inn in Westby, Wisconsin has certificates you can purchase online through there web site- www.westbyhouse.com. 

 Turn around time is seamless too! You can print it right away are have it emailed to the recipient.Certificates are valid for one year from date of purchase. 
So make it easy on Santa and check out our web site than click on the Check Availability where you can make your purchase.   

Holiday Craft Fair Near Westby WI B&B

50th Annual Holiday Fair in La Crosse Wisconsin

Get Set...Ready.....SHOP!!!..... this annual Holiday Fair in downtown La Crosse is on November 21-24, 2013.  This huge event is the most spectacular craft show of the season. The La Crosse  Center is decorated with a holiday theme and holiday music through out the Center. Rudolph will make appearances and pictures with Santa Claus go on daily. Door prizes are given each hour every day.  This is family event or a girl's getaway!  Hours are Thursday & Friday; Noon- 9pm,  Saturday; 9am -5pm, Sunday; 10am -3pm. You will need some rest after the Fair with a overnight stay at the Westby House Inn!
Sunday: 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Rhubarb Juice Popular at Westby House Inn Bed and Breakfast

Rhubarb Juice is a Hit at the Westby House Breakfast Table

My friend Danika brought me a large grocery bag of just harvested rhubarb.  Now, I love rhubarb in any fashion or form, but as a juice, that's new to me. So here is recipe as posted on our Recipe page of the web site. Easy and very enjoyable!

 Rhubarb Juice
This recipe comes from the cookbook  Marathon County Back to Basics Cookbook. Marathon County is located in the center of Wisconsin and is Marie's hometown County.  Rhubarb was always plentiful on the farm where rhubarb crisps, pies, coffee cake, jelly and jam were made. You name it my Mom put it in everything.  Now, Juice is something she did not think of making with rhubarb!   This pretty pink beverage can be a base for punch or slush too.    Can be canned or frozen for enjoyment  throughout  the seasons.

2 lbs. Rhubarb, about 9-12 ribs  - cut into 4-5 inch lengths
5 cups water
Bring to low boil, cook until rhubarb are tender. Strain to remove all pulp. Discard pulp.

Add to the juice:
1/4 cup sugar per cup of juice (you can adjust the sweetness as you see fit.)  Spendia can be used also.
Bring to boil to dissolve sugar.
Cool juice, then refrigerate. 

For Punch- add 3/4 cup fruit juice (lemon, grapefruit, etc ) to each cup of sweetened juice. Just before serving add 1 quart of gingerale or white soda.
For Slush- To 2 quarts of Heated sweetened juice add 3oz. package of strawberry gelatin and  dissolve. Let cool. Add 2 cups vodka. Pour into freezer containers and freeze stirring occasionally until well chilled.  To serve- 1/4 cup slush in glass, fill glass  with 7-up.

New Winery Opens Near Westby House Inn

Branches Winery Opens just Minutes from Westby House Inn

Branches Winery has opened up off Highway 14/61 and just minutes from the Westby House Inn in Westby.
The rural Westby winery is offering four wines made from their grown grapes.  Complimentary wine tastings and winery tours are available Friday, Saturday and Sunday. 
The wines are their Explorer made from Marquette grapes, Coulee Crisp -La Crescent Grapes, Vine Dance a sweet wine from Edelweiss grapes and the fourth wine is Flying Geese made with Frontenac Gris grapes.  Gene and Therese Bergholz, owners of the winery, chose the local favorite Cranberry to highlight in their Celebration Berry wine. 
A must visit during any stay at the Westby House Inn.
Here is an article on the winery that ran in the La Crosse Tribune .

Norwegian Syttende Mai Events Center Around Westby B&B

 Westby House Bed and Breakfast Inn is Center Stage during Syttende Mai!  

Viking Ship

Car Show on Saturday

Sunday's Parade

Whenever you hear or read about Norwegian history, Syttende Mai is a topic most visited.  Ever wonder how to pronounce it...??? It's simple, just say  "Soot in my eye!!  Now that you can say it, here is some history on Westby's annual festival. The 2013 weekend dates are May 17,18,19, 2013.

Westby's Annual Syttende Mai Festival commemorates Norway's Independence Day. In December 1813, Denmark ceded Norway to Sweden. Therefore ending a 434 years of union between Norway and Denmark. The Norwegian Constitution was signed on May 16, 1814 and was ratified by Christian Frederik on May 17th.  To this day, May 17th is celebrated as the Norwegian national day. Thus Syttende Mai - 17th of May.  The day Norway achieved independence for Denmark. However, on July 27, 1814, the Swedes attacked and Norway was forced to surrender. The union was formally dissolved in June 7, 1905, when Norway declared itself independent of Sweden.

The Norwegian immigrants brought the tradition of celebrating Syttende Mai with them to America and the first Westby festival was officially organized and celebrated in1969. To this day the three-day celebration features Norwegian traditions, heritage and good old fashion ethic food. A bicycle tour, 5 k walk/run, arts & crafts, kiddie parades and children's games, are just part of the fun.  Arts, Crafts and Vintage Commercial Tents are ongoing Saturday and Sunday. Church meatball dinners, rommegrot, and lefsa are in abundance during the weekend; along with great local entertainment and Saturday's outstanding car and bike show and huge parade on Sunday! 

Visit the festival web site at www.westbysyttendemai.com for a complete list of activities and more information on events and the Saturday entertainment of  "Tina & Lena" Singers with Zingers! 

The Inn is the perfect location to overnight stays when you attend the festival. Arrive and park your car on Friday and don't need to get back in the car until you depart!    Dates of Festival - May 17 -18-19, 2013

"Mange takk min ven, ha en behagelig reise" - Many thanks my friend, have a pleasant journey!

Viist

Westby House Inn Can Cure Your Spring Fever

Victorianne Room

Atrium Room

Westby Room

Spring Fever got you going crazy?  Then come to the Westby House Inn for the cure! As one guest experienced, "the B&B is the unique blending of a tastefully decorated grand historic home, lovingly restored and maintained, with the comforting kindness of hosts who treat you like family and nourish you with delectable meals. It's a must-stay whether you happen to be in the beautiful southwest Wisconsin region, or make it a destination."  To help plan your time here the DriftlessWisconsin.com visitor's site has things to do and places to explore along with great dining ideas. If  fly-fishing is a way of relaxing we have over 200 miles of Class A trout streams just minutes from the inn. Hike Wildcat Mountain or the trails through the Kickapoo Valley Reserve. Spring brings Farmers Markets in Viroqua and the Amish start to gear up for sales of the crafts they worked on over the winter.  For the foodie folks, check out the many artisan cheese shops, the organic food co-op and Driftless Organic Cafe.
With so many things to do and explore you better start planning a are return trip in the summer and fall!  You can always check for room availability on our web site with just a click on the Check Availability button. Think Spring and you maybe here before you know it!!