This Charming Little Farm Town In Wisconsin Is The Perfect Place To Get Away From It All
By Ben Jones|Updated on November 30, 2022(Originally published November 25, 2022)
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Ben Jones
Author
Ben Jones is at heart an adventurer who delights in inspiring others. A former reporter and photojournalist, he explored towns large and small as a Wisconsin correspondent for USA Today. He later became a lead photographer and senior copywriter for an award-winning destination marketing agency, before founding Boldland Creative, a company that produces photography, video, and other content for travel destinations. Jones has completed photography and content projects in more than 15 states and when he’s not looking through a camera or at his Macbook you’ll find him exploring the world’s lakes and forests.
Some of the best Wisconsin experiences can be found in out of the way places. Viroqua, pop. 4,300, is one of those places. It’s an old farming town in a place that glaciers missed and in some wonderful ways, time forgot. But we’ve learned that some of the biggest and most magical experiences can happen in the smallest towns in Wisconsin. Population is no match for small-town charm! It’s time to remember this place and experience everything special in Viroqua, Wisconsin. Here’s why.
Viroqua is the county seat of Vernon County. It’s about 40 minutes southeast of La Crosse, or about two hours northwest of Madison.
Vernon County is home to the headquarters of Organic Valley, the world's largest cooperative of family farmer's. So we're deep into farm territory now and Viroqua has the beautiful scenery to prove it.
The city has been around for a long time. Europeans settled the town in the 1840s. It was first named Bad Axe and then Farwell before its name was changed once more to Viroqua in the 1870s. The exact reason for the change has been lost to history, but we suspect it's for the best. The tourism board might have some trouble attracting visitors to the town of Bad Axe.
Viroqua is surrounded by rich soil, and farms have prospered since the earliest settlers erected barns here. It’s always been a farming town, with farmers growing wheat, oats, and corn. Today the town is surrounded by a number of organic farms.
This local food economy has attracted a number of farm-to-table chefs and you can eat at James Beard nominated restaurants in this tiny town. The chef-driven food scene using local ingredients is a great reason to visit this foodie paradise.
But crops are not the only thing that prosper here. Viroqua has a thriving arts scene that includes jazz and harp festivals, bluegrass concerts, art openings, art festivals, and more.
You'll feel like you're in an episode of Gilmore Girls walking through this small town and stumbling across the serene sounds of a saxophone or guitar. If you decide to tour Viroqua for a few days at a time, there are a number of historic inns and charming bed and breakfasts to stay at. You'll quickly feel welcomed like one of the locals in this friendly town.
Viroqua is located in the heart of the Driftless Area, a region that the glaciers missed. It’s rolling, hilling country marked by the remnants of ancient mountains. The scenery around Viroqua is simply breathtaking and it has inspired many artists.
You may find yourself moved to do some plein air painting yourself, and you can learn how to at the any of the local galleries lining downtown. If you're not the artistically inclined type, enjoy the natural surroundings by going on a hike, a walk through town and the surrounding area, or a bike ride to cover the most ground in a short period of time.
If you love the outdoors, there’s a lot more to discover around Viroqua, including hiking, canoeing, biking, camping, fishing, hunting, cross-country skiing, and golfing. But you may be tempted to just explore the town’s charming collection of shops and restaurants. You’ll find everything from organic produce to vintage records.
For a small town, Viroqua has its trendy spots and you may be surprised by how hip the shops and restaurants on the main drag can be.
For more information on things to see and do in Viroqua, check out the city’s website. If you enjoy experiencing Wisconsin’s small towns, here are 10 of the most beautiful small towns in Wisconsin.
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