Driftless Area Painted through River Sojourn

Here is a wonderful You Tube video of how a painter shares her experiences of the Driftless Area through paintings. Watch and then plan your trip with a stay at the Westby House Inn. 

Spring Season Outdoor Adventure at the Kickapoo Valley Reserve near Westby

There is not a better way to get the winter blues out of the system then to think Spring!
Everyone is ready to enjoy some Spring like weather after this very long and cold winter Southwest Wisconsin and the country have experienced this year.

Our Rhododendron in full bloom!

So start exploring and planning the many fun and educational Springtime adventures you will find close to the Westby House Inn.

The Kickapoo Valley Reserve in La Farge should be your first stop. On Saturday, March 22, 2014  Jean Napp will have a presentation "Falling in Love with the Night Sky".  After a short indoor presentation, you can experience the amateur astronomer in you by stargazing outdoors. Jean, who is President of the Starsplitters of Wyalusing, will share the story of how she became a stargazer and tell you about the stars, constellations, clusters and nebula of the March sky. Time is 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm. $5.00 fee. Registration deadline: March 21st.  608-625-2960.

On April 26, 2014 at the Reserve will be a Spring Ephemerals Hike. The rich mesic woods of Wisconsin's Driftless Area provide on of the best places to experience the beauty of spring. Delicate spring ephemerals who only make a brief appearance while canopy above them  is still just budding out, and learn more about the natural communities that are home to these plants.

Conservation biologist, Darcy Kind will take you on this rich encounter with Mother Nature. Time: Saturday 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm. $5.00 Fee and registration deadline is April 25th. 608.625.2960.
Here are a
few more ways to experience Spring at the Reserve:
Saturday, March 08, 2014

Creative Communities Art Demonstrations & Sale

 Saturday, March 22, 2014

The Call of the Frog

The Wisconsin DNR Frog and Toad Survey invites you to a presentation at the KVR Visitor Center to listen and learn the 12 Wisconsin frog calls. Participants will get an opportunity to “speak” like a frog and information as to how to become a Citizen Scientist for the WI Frog and Toad Survey. Children are encouraged to attend. This free program starts at 9 am.
More information ben.johnston@wisconsin.gov

 Wednesday, April 09, 2014

64 Wisconsin State Parks in 365 Days
Waterfalls, wildlife sightings, big waves, lighthouses, spectacular rock formations, tense moments, and unbelievable adventures were part of Jonathan Ringdahl's quest to visit all 64 of Wisconsin's state parks in one year. Jonathan will also show some of his contest-winning photography of some of the most beautiful places in Wisconsin. Presenter: Jonathan Ringdahl. Refreshments and socializing at 6:30 pm. Talk begins at 7:00 pm. Sponsored by the Kickapoo Valley Reforestation Fund and the Friends of the Kickapoo Valley Reserve. Programs are free and open to the public. No registration required.

Valentine Dinner at Westby House Inn Wisconsin Bed and Breakfast

Romantic Valentine Weekend at Westby House Inn  includes Dinner

Return to a simpler time... Come experience a delectable Valentine's dinner at the Westby House Inn.  We serve the finest meal specially prepared for the pleasure of your palate. Delicious cuisine, an elegant atmosphere, pleasant wait staff, and comfortable, relaxing surroundings will make your Valentine's dining an enjoyable and unforgettable experience. We will be serving Friday and Saturday, February 14 &15, 2014.
At the Westby House, we attend to the comfort and hospitality of our guests, and search out the highest quality ingredients. Simplicity, elegance, and freshness... for the pleasure of your palate. We seek to compliment these gracious surroundings with the food we serve.

Stay at the Inn too! Choose from well appointed rooms to romantic whirlpool rooms and fireplaces. Check room availability.  
Call Marie to reserve your Valentine's table for Friday or Saturday of Valentine's weekend.

Sample Menu of our Valentine's Dinner
HORS D'OEUVRE
Parmesan Chicken Spinach Cakes
Hearts of Romaine & Mixed Greens Salad

ENTREE
Char-grilled 6 oz. Filet Mignon, with Choice of:
Shrimp Scampi or Parmesan Encrusted Salmon
Herb Roasted Potatoes with Dill Cream
Fresh Sauteed Vegetable Du Jour

DESSERT
Chocolate Romance Crumb Cake and Fresh Strawberries

Special Heart Memento Gift for Each Lady

Price: $40.00 per person. excludes taxes and gratuities.

Cocktails, Wine List and Champagne are Available at Your Table
Meals served with Breads and Butter, and Coffee Service

Kickapoo Valley Reserve Winter Events

The Kickapoo Valley Reserve is a winter haven for the outdoor enthusiast!  Located near Wildcat Mountain and just 23 miles Northeast of the Westby House Inn, there is something for everyone, including Willow Basket Weaving for the crafty person..  Here is their list of events from December through February.


December 21, 2013 – February 1, 2014 – Snowshoe Hike Series

Attend a series of slow paced winter adventures that will include lots of outdoor discoveries. Participants will have the chance to try traditional and modern snow shoes. Kid- and adult-sized snowshoes will be available for use. Saturdays, December 21, 2013; January 4 & 18, February 1, 2014. Instructors: Ken and Michelle Workowski, snowshoe enthusiasts and owners of The Nature of Things. 1–4 pm. Fee: $5/Person/Hike; $4.50/KVR Friend/Hike; $2.50/kids 12-16/Hike. Registration deadline: December 14. To register call 608-625-2960 or email kickapoo.reserve@krm.state.wi.us. Kickapoo Valley Reserve, S3661 State Hwy 131, La Farge, WI 54639. 

January 11, 2014 – Winter Festival

The KVR Winter Festival is a wonderful family event that highlights fun winter activities.  Activities include skating, sledding, skiing, archery, snow sculpture, ice cave hikes, face painting, horse-drawn bobsled rides, snowshoe exhibit, Tristate Malamute Club Sled Dog Race and weight pull, mutt race, and much more.  La Farge Lions Club hosts an annual chili and bread contest for the public.  Kickapoo Quick Auction of goods and services produced in the Kickapoo Valley with proceeds benefitting the KVR Education Program.  To view the full schedule visit http://kvr.state.wi.us/winterfest. Kickapoo Valley Reserve, S3661 State Hwy 131, La Farge, WI 54639. 

January 19, 2014 – Cross-Country Ski Workshop

Learn proper classic and skate cross-country ski techniques, including basic stride-and-glide, fall recovery, proper pole positioning, turning techniques, and speed control. Workshop also welcomes experienced skiers who want to brush up on their skills. Open to all levels. Instructor: Dan Goltz. 1-4 pm. Fee: $15/Person; $13.50/KVR Friend; $7.50/Kids 12 and under (with adult) Registration deadline: January 11. To register call 608-625-2960 or email kickapoo.reserve@krm.state.wi.us. Kickapoo Valley Reserve, S3661 State Hwy 131, La Farge, WI 54639. 

January 25, 2014 – Dam Phunski

The Dam Phunski is a scenic classic and freestyle cross country ski course along the scenic Old Highway 131 Trail. Proceeds benefit the Kickapoo Valley Reserve Education Program. Courses include a 1k loop for youth, a 5k point-to-point for juniors and phunskiers of all ages, and a 10k point-to-point for adults. For more information or to register visit http://kvr.state.wi.us/phunski. Kickapoo Valley Reserve, S3661 State Hwy 131, La Farge, WI 54639.

February 8, 2014 – Ice Cave Hike
Visit several rarely visited ice caves and frozen waterfalls. Participants will learn some geology, biology, and history of the Kickapoo Reserve along the way. The hike is rated moderate to difficult. Dress for the weather and don’t forget your camera! Instructor: Chuck Hatfield, amateur geologist and ice cave enthusiast. 12:30-4 pm. Fee: $5/Person; $4.50/KVR Friend; $2.50/Kids 12-18. Registration deadline: February 1. To register call 608-625-2960 or email kickapoo.reserve@krm.state.wi.us.

Kickapoo Valley Reserve, S3661 State Hwy 131, La Farge, WI 54639. 

February 15, 2014 – Winter Willow Basket Weaving Workshop
Come join us for a day of weaving in willow. From locally harvested willow shoots, we will form and weave one of a couple varieties of baskets that have helped people to gather and store their precious food for thousands of years. Learn how to identify and harvest willow, how to create a balanced form, and keep the weaving tight. Bring a sack lunch and your favorite knife or pruners (a few pairs will be provided). Expect to spend a full day weaving and come away with a unique creation. Please pack a sack lunch. Instructors: Nicholas Gale and Kindred Wazee have been weaving willow baskets for over 10 years. Seeking versatility in willow craft as a functional wilderness skill, they have made willow baskets for many practical purposes. 9 am–4 pm. Fees: $50/person; $45/KVR Friend. Materials Fee: $10 payable to instructor. All materials provided. Registration deadline: January 31. To register call 608-625-2960 or email kickapoo.reserve@krm.state.wi.us.  Kickapoo Valley Reserve, S3661 State Hwy 131, La Farge, WI 54639. 

Christmas Greetings with Winter Events at Kickapoo Valley Reserve

Christmas is the time of year we reflect on the who,what and where.  Everyone has a Christmas story from years gone by like Ralphie in A Christmas Story.  Some of the things Ralphie reflected on when telling is story brought laughter to every face. Famous lines like "My little brother had not eaten voluntarily in over three years". "I want an Official Red Ryder Carbine-Action Two-Hundred-Shot Range Model Air Rifle!"  Don't  forget, "Oh my god, I shot my eye out!" 
So what's your Christmas story? Is it family, the gift giving, volunteering at a charity event, awaiting Santa or sharing the true meaning of Christmas.  Whatever it is, celebrate the wonder of it all, the every joy of it, the fun of it all. Wishing all a wonderful Christmas worth telling!  Marie & Mike,                                                    A Christmas Story of 16 years of innkeeping at the Westby House Inn.

Check out these winter events at the  Kickapoo Valley Reserve during the winter.  

Cross-Country Skiing

The Kickapoo Valley Reserve maintains approximately ten miles of groomed cross-country ski trails, for both classic and skate skiing. The five miles of the Old Highway 131 Trail provide an excellent opportunity to experience the solitude and beauty of the Reserve.  Other groomed trails include the Dam Trail, Old Harris Road Trail and Star Valley Road.  Additional trails may be groomed as time permits. The more adventurous are welcomed to make their own tracks into the wild.  NOTE:  Skiers may not ski on the snowmobile trail.  Call the Reserve Visitor Center for a winter trail map and directions to ski trails, (608) 625-2960. Ski Trails are also available at Wildcat Mountain State Park.

Snowmobiling

A segment of Wisconsin's self-funded snowmobile trail system winds its way through the Reserve.  A local snowmobile club grooms and maintains the trail from December 15 through March 31, snow cover permitting.  Enjoy the Reserve's scenic ridges and valleys by snowmobile, the only motorized vehicle allowed to operate on Reserve lands.  Snowmobile enthusiasts are required to stay on the designated snowmobile trail. Map of Winter Trails in KVR (pdf)

Snowshoeing

Snowshoe enthusiasts are welcome to explore the hidden wonders of the Reserve. There are not designated nor groomed snowshoe trails. NOTE: Please avoid walking on the snowmobile trail or on the cross-country ski tracks.  Enjoy the unbeatable scenery - visit the ice caves, and get the work-out of a lifetime!

For all winter sports enthusiasts, a reminder that the Reserve does not provide any water or toilet facilities except at the Visitor Center. Trails are not maintained during the winter months, with the exception of the snowmobile trail and cross country ski trails. The Reserve Visitor Center is open Monday through Saturday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., for information and assistance. Visitors are asked to pay attention to changing weather conditions while enjoying the Reserve's wintry landscape.

All winter sports enthusiasts are required to purchase a trail use permit before venturing out. Snowmobile trail users are only required to purchase a $4/day vehicle parking permit or display of annual pass, if parking in the Reserve's signed 'parking permit required' areas. Snowmobiles simply passing through the Reserve are exempt from fees.

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.