Apostle Island Ice Caves

Although the snow and cold sometimes make you want to hide away 'til spring, one thing special about Wisconsin's winters are the Apostle Island Ice Caves.  Many of these sea caves are only accessible by boat, and once the ice begins to form nature shows off her winter beauty. This year it has been so cold that you can walk across the lake to the caves, which has brought many visitors to Bayfield Winter Of 2014 Brings Record Crowds To View Ice Caves At Apostle Islands National Lakeshore

If you get the chance head to Northern Wisconsin to see this winter wonder.  Spring will come...eventually, and then you'll have to wait until next year.  Lake Superior Ice Caves

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Polar Plunge for Special Olympics

Across Wisconsin people are "Freezin' for a Reason" and jumping in local lakes to raise money for Wisconsin Special Olympics.

Although many events have already taken place - there are still 12 more Polar Plunge events scheduled for 2014 across Wisconsin. Visit the Special Olympics Wisconsin Polar Plunge page to see events, sign up or donate. Polar Plunge for Special Olympics Wisconsin

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Outdoor Sport Snow Conditions

If you love winter outdoor sports, here's where you can keep up with where to find the snow.

Travel Wisconsin has an interactive snow report, with information frequently updated on snowmobile trails, downhill and snowboarding hills and cross-country skiing trails.  Currently many ski hills have been making snow and are open, while trails are still mostly bare or in poor condition.

Get your snow report here Snow Conditions Report

Real Estate makes a great Christmas gift!  Find Homes, Condos, Businesses and Land listed across Wisconsin at LocalThatsAll.com

American Birkebeiner

The American Birkebeiner, or "Berkie" is the largest cross country ski marathon in North America. It is comprised of many races, but the premier events are the 54 km (34 mile) classic and the 50 km (31 mile) freestyle races from Cable to Hayward. Over 10,000 people take part in the Berkie each year.

The 40th Annual Birkebeiner takes place February 21st to February 23rd. Registration for this year's eighteen races has past, but there are many events all around Hayward to enjoy before and after the races.

Find more information, event and activity times, and a history of the race here American Birkebeiner

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Winter Wisconsin

No, this isn't about things to do in the snow.

Up in Sawyer County you will find the Village of Winter!  It wasn't named for the season, but for John Winter, a railroad man who help develop logging in the area.

Any time of year is a great time to visit Winter, which sits near the center of the Tuscobia State Trail, and near the Chequamagon National Forest and Flambeau State Forest. Many sites for camping, fishing, hiking, ATVing, hunting and more are all around the area.

Check out Winter Wisconsin.

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Cross-County Skiing

Wisconsin is a great place for Cross-Country, or Nordic, Skiing.  Over 700 miles of trails to explore, and events such as candlelight skiing, make this winter sport very popular in the state. It's a great way to get outdoors and enjoy winter's natural beauty.

Check out more information on trails and skiing events at Travel Wisconsin Escape to the X-C Trails

Looking for property with your own cross-country trails?  Find wooded acreages across the state at BuyWisconsinLand.com

Wisconsin and Michigan Win Awards for "Mitten State Debate"

If you remember last winter Travel Wisconsin, the State Tourism office, used a mitten to represent our state for it logo for a seasonal campaign.  Many residents of Michigan were outraged, claiming they were the "Mitten State" (see blog post from December 8th, 2011).

Pure Michigan, that State's Tourism office, and Travel Wisconsin encouraged the debate, all in good fun, and then created the "Great Lakes Mitten Campaign" to collect mittens and warm clothing for charities (see blog post from January 10th, 2012).

Now Michigan and Wisconsin have won the U.S. Travel Association Mercury Award for their handling of "Mittengate".  By promoting the "controvery" both states enjoyed $17 million dollars of free publicity and collected 3,100 mittens and winter clothing items for Wisconsin charities.

See these articles:
Mitten feud wins for Wisc., Mich. tourism officials  - Janesville Gazette
'Mittengate' garners award for Wisconsin tourism agency - The Business Journal
Mitten flap between Michigan and Wisconsin wins state travel departments national recognition - MLive.com

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Great Lakes Mitten Campaign

The 'State Mitten War' (see blog post from December 8th) has blossomed into the Great Lakes Mitten Campaign!

Pure Michigan and Travel Wisconsin have teamed up to collect mittens for local charities.  But you only have until January 15th - so check out this website to find the collection location nearest you - Mitten Love

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One Special Christmas Card

One Christmas card travelled back and forth between two friends for over 50 years. By Suzanne Loudamy tricountyleader.com

In 1950, Acker Hanks began sending a Christmas card to his friend Lee Kelley and this year, it has received its last post.

The two men had met right out of college as they began their careers. Hanks was a teacher in New Waverly and Kelley started his job with the U.S. Forestry Service.

Full Story The traveling Christmas card

Happy Holidays! A very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from all of us at BuyWisconsinLand.com

Who's the Mitten State?

If you are on Twitter or Facebook you already know that Travel Wisconsin, the State Tourism Bureau, has changed it's logo to a mitten that has the shape of Wisconsin.  In fact, they recently changed the original brown mitten to a green and gold one, in light of the Packers success.

What you may not know is that many people in Michigan are quite upset about this.  They believe that their state, not ours, looks like a mitten and that Wisconsin has taken their identity.  Many news stories and blogs have been showing up about this issue.  Here's a selection of them, from both sides, so you can decide where you fall on this mitten state debate.

From WBAY.com in Green Bay - The Great Wisconsin-Michigan Mitten Flap

From Examiner.com - Mittengate - Wisconsin adopts mangled hand logo

From NPR.com - Michiganders Get Territorial About Mitten Comparison

From the Detroit Free Press - Freep.com readers take the gloves off in mitten debate

From USAToday.com - Michigan gives thumbs down to Wisconsin's mitten travel campaign

From the DailyMail.com in the UK - The gloves are off! Michigan and Wisconsin trade blows out over which state looks more like a MITTEN

From Gawker.com - Dumbest War Ever Erupts Over Which State Looks Most Like a Mitten

Shopping for Property In Winter

Last week we ran a post in our Wisconsin Land, our investing in property blog, about why looking at vacant land and large acreage property during winter can be beneficial for you as Buyer. This advice applies when buying a property for recreational use as well, because the more information you have, the happier you will be with your land purchase.

Check out this post Buying Property In Winter and then check out BuyWisconsinLand.com for the latest listings. And when you come out to see property, don't forget your boots!

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