Description
New Glarus is a small little Wisconsin town, south-west of Madison. Known as "America's Little Switzerland," New Glarus is named after the alpine farmlands of Glarus, Switzerland. This community is home to many Swiss settlers who fill the town with the Swiss-German language, music, food and tradiditons.

Highlights (i.e. best things to do, memorable moments, etc.)
Every year, thousands of visitors, including hundreds of Swiss tourists, are drawn to New Glarus to enjoy the atmosphere that thrives here and nowhere else outside of Switzerland. With small town friendliness and enthusiasm, New Glarus shares its Swiss heritage, its chalet-style architecture, its famous ethnic festivals, and a wealth of specialty shops and restaurants serving savory Swiss food. We heard a few times over the weekend that you may not arrive Swiss, but you become Swiss in New Glarus.

There are two museums in New Glarus to visit, the Chalet of the Golden Fleece Museum and the Swiss Historical Village, which has actual buildings build by the pioneer settlers of the area. We spent most of our time wandering around downtown and participating in activities which were part of the annual Wilhelm Tell Festival.

Visiting the specialty shops was our favorite activity and we loved sampling all the Swiss cheeses, meats, and chocolates at the ethnic food stores. The Primrose Winery offers free tastings and beer from the New Glarus Brewery is served all over town.

Quick tips/suggestions
Do: Make a picnic. Visit Reuf's Meat Market to pick out some sandwich meat, the Maple Leaf to pick up some cheese and the famous New Glarus Bakery for the bread. All three shops are located on the same short block. Head to New Glarus Woods State Park which is less than a mile away.
Don't: Forget to try a Spotted Cow, a light beer made by the New Glarus Brewery.
Do: Bring your bike if you have one. The Sugar River State Trail is a 23 mile trail which winds through scenic farmlands and connects New Glarus, Monticello, Albany and Brodhead. Ride as short or as long as you want. There is a $3.00 charge to use the trail for cyclists 16 years and older.

Suggested local dish to try: Fondue and Lindt Chocolate.

Best Way to get around
This is a small little town in south-western Wisconsin. Unless you bike into town, the only way to get there is with your car. Once you are there, walking around is doable because the downtown area is comprised of two square blocks.