Cedarburg Bed and Breakfast

Cedarburg’s  history began with the advent of several grist and fabric mills taking  advantage of the hydropower of nearby Cedar Creek in the 1840s. German  immigrants dominated the early population of the community that sprang  up around the mills. The 1870s saw the first train line connect Chicago,  Milwaukee, and St. Paul, Minnesota, with a stop in Cedarburg. This greatly enhanced the small town's commerce as the mills' products found new and larger markets. Electricity came to Cedarburg in 1897 with the implementation of the first electric generator.

Cedarburg continued to prosper for decades until the 1960s. By then, most of the  mills had closed and the town’s growth slowed. It wasn’t long, though,  before tourism started to make an impact as people from the busy urban  centers looked for places to relax and unwind from the daily grind of  big-city life. Hotels, inns, and restaurants began popping up, providing  visitors with comforts and amenities that blossomed into the bed and breakfast industry prevalent today.

Set aside a full day to explore The Historic Third Ward just south of historic downtown Milwaukee. Over 70 buildings from the renowned Milwaukee Public Market are included on the National Historic District list. The scenic Third Ward Riverwalk courses throughout and entices shoppers to seek out the next deal at  upscale retailers, high-end boutique shops, and creative art galleries.  Enjoy international cuisine at one of the many creative cafes or a brew pub along the way that will make your day.

Another famous destination to be explored is the Harley-Davidson Motorcycle Museum in Milwaukee. With over 450 bikes on display, the oohs-and-ahhs won’t stop even if you’re sworn to the safety of a car.

Major leagues sports always draw the crowds, and Milwaukee has you covered, summer or winter. The Milwaukee Brewers bring baseball’s best to town, and you can lounge in the stands sipping an ice-cold local one. The Milwaukee Bucks provide high-flying entertainment as your favorite hoops stars challenge for bragging rights above the rim.

Not all activities near Cedarburg are located at points south. A short 45-minute drive north to Sheboygan, WI, is where you’ll find the enchanting Bookworm Meadows.  This wireless zone is a highly engaging 35-acre wonderland for kids of  all ages (maybe some adults too!) to explore nature, art, music, and  reading that have references to over 60 famous children’s books. Quiet  nooks and crannies inspire inquisitive minds to learn more about their  surroundings. A visit here may convert your techie toddler to a  dirt-digging wonder!

Cedar Creek is the feature that gave rise to the community over 180  years ago when the first mills were constructed to harness the water’s  power. Today, the creek maintains its pristine nature while playing host  to historic mill sites, covered bridges (great for photography), and  canoe and kayak put-ins.

Two other terms come to mind that define this region: bogs and boreal forests. Despite its ominous-sounding name, Cedarburg Bog State Natural Area is the location of diverse flora and fauna. Beautiful stands of ash,  beech, and oaks carpet the area comprised of six small glacial-era  lakes. Both the lakes and forests are more typical of the boreal forests  of northern Wisconsin.

Just  to the east, of course, is the inland-ocean Lake Michigan. Home to  sailors and fishermen for centuries, the lake is an essential route of  commerce between Milwaukee, Chicago, Green Bay, Detroit, and points farther east to New England and Canadian ports of call.

The Ozaukee Interurban Trail is a beautiful path that connects several of Ozaukee County’s other small towns with Cedarburg.  Winding thirty miles across the region, hikers, bikers, skaters, and  cross-country skiers maintain their fitness year-round on a scenic  trail. Named “The Great Wisconsin Birding Trail,” due to its many wildlife sightings, it is one of the  few tracks in the state that remains free for pedestrian use.

As a community forged on the milling of fabrics, it’s no surprise that The Wisconsin Museum of Quilts and Fiber is a popular destination. With over 8000 quilts on display, the museum  hosts classes and workshops on quilting for children and adults. It also  hosts artists’ lectures and luncheons as well as special events and  fundraisers.

After all that finger-numbing work, head over to the Cedar Creek Winery for more exciting history. The winery began as a woolen mill in 1864  and ran strong for 105 years until synthetic thread made its appearance  in the market place. Lying vacant until 1972, a winemaker completely  redesigned the property into today's very popular destination.

Historic Cedarburg is home to another exciting attraction at the Cedarburg Cultural Center on Washington Street. Functioning as the area's cultural hub for over  thirty years, adults and children will find classes and events related  to music, art, and theater.

Cedarburg’s  weather is an interesting mix of what is termed continental climate.  With its proximity to Lake Michigan, an interesting phenomenon occurs  during the mid-day called “lake breeze.” With the heating of the day,  convection brings a breeze from the water 5-15 miles inland that cools  off hot summer afternoons. At night, this process reverses with a “land  breeze,” resulting in a warming of the late nighttime hours. These lake  and land breezes do not occur daily but tend to influence the forecast  when west, southwest, or north winds are not as prevalent through the  area.

While high humidity levels make a summer day feel hot and  sticky, rarely does it get much warmer than the upper 80s. Winter lows  can reach well below average, though, courtesy of icy winds from the far  North. Thunderstorms can be surprisingly violent across the region all  summer, and spring occasionally will produce a tornado to keep things  interesting.

Wisconsin is home to more dairy farms than any other state in the US. It also has  a professional sports team named after beer. This would naturally lead  one to conclude that cheese and beer are two of the predominant food  “groups” statewide. Even the football fans share the humor, wearing  over-sized blocks of “cheese” in the form of hats at famous Lambeau  Field, home of the Green Bay Packers. Humorous cheeseheads aside, dairy and beer is serious business.

The Stilt House in Cedarburg is an iconic destination whose clever original owner put his bar on  stilts to by-pass a local ordinance forbidding food to be served on the  second floor of an establishment. Today it offers craft beers, various  wines, small plates, as well as a full menu.

Vintage Café and City Deli has casual cuisine of wraps and sandwiches, fresh-made soups and salads  for some lighter fare. First-class views come with the gardens and  scenic Cedar Creek flowing nearby.

Get down-in-the-dough at Tomaso’s, Cedarburg’s family-owned pizzeria. Known for their fresh ingredients and knack for exquisitely layering the pizza’s toppings on the bottom of the pie, you gotta dig deep for the good stuff.