Conscious Choice: Fun Towns

January 2002

Fun Towns

by Keli Trousdale

Saugatuck, Michigan

Located near the shore of Lake Michigan in southwest Michigan, Saugatuck is known for its rich artistic heritage. It is home to several private art galleries and craft boutiques along with an artists’ summer camp at Oxbow Lagoon. The town also hosts a midsummer Chamber Music Festival and several summer theatre programs.

Saugatuck was settled in the mid-1800s by lumber interest groups. For decades, the city supported thriving sawmills and wood production firms. The town contributed much of the lumber used to rebuild Chicago after the great fire of 1871.

When the trees were gone, however, the lumber community died and an artists’ community emerged. A group of Chicago artists established the Summer School of Painting on Oxbow Lagoon in 1910. This led to Saugatuck’s reputation as an artistic haven and established the region as the art coast of Michigan.

The Art Institute of Chicago now operates Oxbow and offers a range of summer courses including metalsmithing, printmaking, performance art, glassblowing, writing, ceramics, painting, and drawing.

There are some twenty-six art galleries, studios, and museums in Saugatuck. One of the most popular is the Cain Gallery, which features contemporary art by Midwestern artists, including paintings, prints, ceramics, glass, and jewelry. The Good Goods gallery, located in a restored Victorian boarding house, sells contemporary crafts, wearable art, ethnic artifacts, furniture, and fine arts. De Graaf Fine Art Gallery and Discovery Art Center feature works from domestic as well as international artists.

The quality and quantity of Saugatuck’s art is comparable to what can be found in large metropolitan museums. But, distributed throughout many small galleries in a rural setting, the art of Saugatuck is more fun and rewarding to discover.

The Grand Escape Inns of Saugatuck feature a Sweetheart Sampler and Culinary Tour the weekend of February 22 and 23. The weekend consists of a welcome party, cozy lodging, delicious breakfasts, Saturday dinner, and time to explore the beautiful shorelines, shops, and galleries. The Saturday dinner includes a romantic candlelight dinner featuring prized recipes from Saugatuck’s various inns, with each course enjoyed at a different inn, plus a tour of the guest area in each Inn. Prices start at $350 per couple. Call 800-647-6023 for reservations.

Visit www.saugatuck.com or call 616-857-1701 for more information.

Cedarburg, Wisconsin

Only twenty minutes north of Milwaukee, Cedarburg, Wisconsin is a small town that offers plenty to do. Each year, thousands of visitors are drawn to its historic landmarks, seasonal festivals, galleries, and art fairs.

Two of its districts are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and more than 200 historically significant buildings remain in use as shops, homes, museums, and public buildings.

The town’s two most popular inns, the Stage Coach Inn Bed and Breakfast and the Washington House Inn, are restored Victorian houses. Built in 1853 and 1886, respectively, these inns offer guests the modern luxuries of spacious rooms, whirlpool baths, fireplaces, homemade continental breakfasts, and complimentary wine.

The Cedarburg Cultural Center hosts the annual Stone and Century House Tour. The tour features historic homes such as the Kuhefuss House, built in 1848, which serves as a replica of an early 20th century schoolroom.

Inside the center is an art gallery, theatre, and museum dedicated to preserving the history of southeastern Wisconsin while enhancing its contemporary culture. It offers performing arts programs, folk heritage fests, ethnic music and dances, fine arts fairs, and exhibits.

Works produced by members of the Cedarburg Artists Guild can be found here as well as in the Ozaukee Art Center and at the numerous art fairs that take place year round. Many of the artisans and craftspeople in the guild have earned local and even national recognition for their work.

The General Store Museum offers a collection of antique packaging and advertising art, dating from the early 1900s through the 1940s. Vintage grocery tins, apothecary items, and dry goods are among the many items that evoke the essence of the old-time general store. It is believed to be the most extensive exhibit of its kind in the Midwest.

Other points of interest are the Cedar Creek Winery and the Silver Creek Brewing Company, which give tours and complimentary drinks.

Those looking to experience Cedarburg’s culture firsthand may want their stay to coincide with one of the town’s seasonal fests. Each February, Winterfest features contests in ice-carving, ice skating, and ice golfing, as well as Alaskan Malamute dog weight pulls, pancake breakfasts, and hayrides. This year’s Winterfest will take place February 2 and 3. Cedarburg’s Fourteenth Annual Cure for Cabin Fever Antique Show will be held on January 19 and 20 at the Community Center.

Anyone unfamiliar with the town is encouraged to stop by the Cedarburg Visitors Center. Here, a staff of Cedarburg residents is eager to help visitors learn what the town has to offer and answer any questions they might have.

Visit www.cedarburg.org or call 800-237-2874 for more information.

Galena, Illinois

Tucked away in the northwest corner of Illinois is Galena, a town of 3,460 that attracts almost as many tourists as it has residents. When the glaciers of the Ice Age leveled the Midwest, they detoured around Galena, leaving its rolling hills and rugged cliffs intact. Nowadays, visitors are drawn to Galena’s rich architecture and beautiful landscape.

The town’s unique history began in the 1820s when it experienced an economic boom that repeated itself thirty years later. People flocked to Galena to mine its mineral-rich soil along the Mississippi River. As fortunes accumulated, elaborate architectural works were constructed and Galena became one of the wealthiest towns in Illinois. But after the Civil War and the replacement of steamboats with railroads, Galena’s economy fell.

It wasn’t until the 1960s that Galena regained some of its popularity. Hippies, artisans, and architecture fans restored many of the buildings and Galena began receiving national recognition for its beauty and antiquity.

Today, 85 percent of the town is listed on the National Register of Historic Districts. Its nineteenth century architecture includes Federal Italianate, Greek Revival, Queen Anne, Gothic Revival, Second Empire, and Romanesque Revival. Many of the restored mansions have been turned into museums, hotels, and bed and breakfast resorts, allowing visitors a glimpse of Galena’s past.

Visitors can take guided walking and trolley tours through the town’s historical districts. One of the most notable attractions is the Ulysses S. Grant Home State Historic Site. Originally from Galena, Grant was presented with this home after returning from the Civil War. Its 1860s appearance has been restored on the inside and out. The house was given to the City of Galena by Grant’s children and is open year-round for walking tours.

In Galena, even buildings open to the public for everyday use are of historical significance. The Galena Post Office and Customs House, built in 1859, is the second oldest continuously operating post office in the U.S. It was the first to be named a "Great American Post Office" by the Smithsonian.

But there is more to the town than its historical sites. Bordered on the west by the Mississippi River, Galena offers riverboat cruises that last anywhere from two hours to two days. Visitors can also take hot air balloon rides over the town or toboggan through it. Chestnut Mountain Resort offers a 2,500-foot slope for people to slide down on a wheeled sled during any season. During the summer, visitors can enjoy horseback riding and hiking, while the winter months offer skiing and ice skating.

Visit www.galena.org or call 888-8-GALENA for more information.

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