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Monroe, Wisconsin: Where Cheese and Fun Collide – Best & Fun Things To Do + Places To Visit

The Badger State Trail runs over 40 miles of it and you can take as much of it as you want. The Monroe Prairie Trail is the rough one out of the whole set. Cheese Country Trail and Sugar River State Trail are the two bike routes running out here. New Glarus Woods State Park Trail is the one that has all the hills in it. Indoors.

Looking for somewhere that will hold you, with cheese, beer and time outdoors in it? Monroe, Wisconsin is the answer. Set in the heart of Green County, Monroe is a town that runs a broad range of activities and attractions for visitors at any age and with any interest.

Somebody who follows food and wants to work the strongest cheeses in the country, or somebody who follows beer and wants the local breweries and distilleries, Monroe covers both. You can spend your days hiking, biking or fishing in the nearby parks and nature reserves, or go deep into the town’s history and culture through its museums, historic sites and art galleries. And when the light goes, there is a night out in it, with live music, theater and plenty else.

So what are you waiting for? Pack your bags, bring your appetite, and get ready to work what Monroe runs. From the cheeses and the beer to time outdoors and the cultural side, this town covers all of it.

Cheesy Delights in Monroe

If you follow cheese, Monroe, Wisconsin is where to be. This small town is known as the “Swiss Cheese Capital of the USA.” Here is the cheese work you can get into in Monroe.

Historic Cheesemaking Museum

Step back and work the history of cheesemaking in America at the National Historic Cheesemaking Museum. You can watch a video presentation on the cheesemaking process, visit the Imobersteg Farmstead Cheese Factory, and sometimes watch Master Cheesemakers turn out a massive wheel of Swiss cheese, made the way it was made over 100 years ago.

Swiss Colony Cheese Plant

Take Swiss Colony’s cheese at their manufacturing facility in Monroe. You can tour the plant and see how the cheese is actually made. And stop by the Milk House Gift Shop to pick up cheese to carry home.

Limburger Cheese Love

If your nerve holds, try the Limburger at Baumgartner’s Cheese Store and Tavern. This cheese is pungent enough that people have compared it to gym socks. But do not let that turn you away, because the taste is one you will not find anywhere else.

Cheese Making Process

Work the cheese-making process at Emmi Roth USA. You can tour their facility and see how the cheese is made. You also get to taste their range, the Grand Cru Surchoix among it, which took the World Championship Cheese Contest in 2016.

Award Winning Cheese Plant

Visit Klondike Cheese Company, a family-owned cheese plant that has been making cheese since 1925. They are known for their feta, which has taken numerous awards at the American Cheese Society Competition.

Milk House Gift Shop

Stop by the Milk House Gift Shop at Roth Kase USA to pick up souvenirs and cheese. They run a broad selection, their Grand Cru Gruyere among it, which took first place at the 2021 World Championship Cheese Contest.

In Monroe you can go as deep into cheese as you want. From the historic cheesemaking museums to the plants taking the contests, this small town runs all of it. So what are you waiting for? Come and work the cheese in Monroe.

Breweries and Distilleries

Craft Brewery Tour

If you follow beer, you have timed it, because Monroe runs breweries that earn the stop. Take a tour of the New Glarus Brewing Company and see how they make their Spotted Cow beer. You get to sample the range and work the brewing process. Or head over to the Minhas Craft Brewery and take their Lazy Mutt Ale. They also run tours and tastings, so you can see for yourself why the beer moves.

Distillery Tasting

If you follow spirits instead, visit the Minhas Distillery. They make a range, vodka, gin and whiskey among it. Take a tasting tour and work the range. You might come out with a cocktail recipe you did not have.

Whatever you drink, there is a locally brewed beer or a craft distillery in Monroe that will land. So get some friends together and take a day of beer and spirit tasting. Just drink responsibly and bring a designated driver. Cheers.

Outdoor Activities

Looking for air and exercise? Monroe runs plenty outdoors, hiking trails, biking trails and more.

Hiking Trails

Take a hike and work the country on one of Monroe’s hiking trails. The Badger State Trail is what people take, with over 40 miles of it to work. If you want something harder, head to the Monroe Prairie Trail for a rough walk straight through the prairie.

Biking Trails

Get moving and work the country on two wheels. Monroe runs plenty of biking trails, the Cheese Country Trail and the Sugar River State Trail among them. If you want the hard version, take the hills of the New Glarus Woods State Park Trail.

Turner Hall Bowling Lanes

Looking for something indoors? Head to Turner Hall Bowling Lanes for a game with friends and family. With 8 lanes and automatic scoring, it is where the rainy days go.

YMCA of Green County

Take a swim, shoot on the indoor basketball court, or work the gym at the YMCA of Green County. With a range of activities and programs, everybody is covered. And with day passes that will not empty you, you can take the lot without signing up for a membership.

So outdoors or indoors, Monroe runs plenty of options to work through.

Art and Culture

Monroe runs art and culture, with plenty on to keep you busy. Here are the strongest places to visit and things to do:

Monroe Arts Center

The Monroe Arts Center earns the stop for anybody who follows art. Set in an old church building designed by the architect E.Townsend Nix, it runs performance art, visual arts displays and competitions, and classes across a range of mediums. You can take a play, a concert or an exhibit here. And you may end up talking to the artists and performers.

Art Galleries and Exhibitions

If you want more art, check out the local galleries and exhibitions. The National Historic Cheesemaking Center runs a deep collection of cheese-related artifacts and exhibits, while the Green County Courthouse Rotunda runs local artists and their work. The Monroe Arts Center also hosts regular exhibitions, so check their schedule.

A Mural Project by Mike Lroy

One of the art projects in Monroe you will not see elsewhere is the mural project by Mike Lroy. This artist has put several murals across the city, one of them a depiction of the city’s history on the side of a building. Take a walk around town and see how many you can find.

Art follower or simply somebody after something to do, Monroe runs it. From the Monroe Arts Center to the local galleries and exhibitions, there is always something new. And keep your eyes up for Mike Lroy’s murals, because they hold their own.

Historic Sites

Monroe carries its history openly, and there are plenty of historic sites to work. Here are a couple of the ones that matter:

Green County Courthouse

The Green County Courthouse is a building that has stood for over a century. It was built in 1891 and is still in use today. The courthouse is where to go if you want to work the history of the area. You can take a guided tour of the building, which opens up the legal system of the past.

First Methodist Episcopal Church

The First Methodist Episcopal Church is the other historic site worth the stop. The church was built in 1858 and is one of the oldest buildings in the area. It is a strong example of Gothic Revival architecture and is still in use today. And if you time it, you might sit in on a service.

Both the Green County Courthouse and the First Methodist Episcopal Church hold you. They open the past up and are how to work the history of Monroe and Green County. So put your history hat on and head over.

Spring is the bike ride out here, and the Spring Roll runs you through the rolling hills. Summer out here is the festivals, one straight after another. Green County Cheese Days comes round every two calendar years out here in town. The Monroe Balloon Rally is a three-day event running through the summer season. And the bowling lanes are what the rainy days out here are actually for.

Entertainment and Nightlife

If you want things to do in Monroe, Wisconsin after the light goes, you have timed it. The town runs plenty on entertainment and nightlife. Here is where to start:

Comedy Shows

Who does not want to laugh? Monroe runs a few options on comedy. Check out the Monroe Arts Center for their comedy nights or head over to the local bar and grill for stand-up. You never know who is going up or what they will say, but the night will hold.

Movie Theaters

If you want something lower key, take a film. Monroe runs a few options on cinemas. The local cinema shows the current releases and has comfortable seating. Or take a classic at the Monroe Arts Center’s movie nights. Either way the night works.

Live Entertainment at Bar and Grill

If you want a night with noise in it, head over to one of Monroe’s bars and grills. Many of them run live entertainment on the weekends, from local bands to karaoke. Grab a drink, sing badly, and stay out. It is how to let the week go.

Comedy, films, or live music, Monroe runs all three on entertainment and nightlife. So go on, let your hair down.

Family Fun

Looking for things to do with the family in Monroe, Wisconsin? Here are two strong options that will fill the hours for children and adults both.

Leisure Lanes Inc

Leisure Lanes Inc works for a family bowling night. With automatic scoring and bumpers for the small ones, everybody can play. And if you want to sharpen up, they run a pro shop with balls and shoes. Hungry? Their bar and grill will feed you. And if you want to watch the game while you bowl, they run high-definition televisions across the venue. Leisure Lanes Inc also takes private events, so keep them in mind for the next birthday party or family gathering.

Sheep, Llamas, and Alpacas

Looking for a family outing you will not get elsewhere? Check out the sheep, llamas and alpacas at one of the local farms in Monroe. The children will take to seeing these animals close up, and they will also work the care and feeding of these woolly creatures. Some farms let you pet or feed the animals. And if you time it, you might catch a dance event with these animals in it. So get the family together and head out to one of the local farms.

So competition at Leisure Lanes Inc or an animal encounter you will not get elsewhere, Monroe runs plenty for families.

Exploring Nearby Cities

Looking to work further out than Monroe? There are plenty of nearby cities worth the drive. Here are a few to weigh up:

Day Trip to New Glarus

A short drive from Monroe, the town of New Glarus earns the stop. Known as “America’s Little Switzerland,” this village runs small shops, strong restaurants and architecture worth looking at. And check out the New Glarus Brewing Company for local beer and the Swiss Historical Village for the town’s heritage.

Visit to Freeport

If you are up for a slightly longer drive, take a trip to Freeport, Illinois. This historic city runs a range of attractions, the Stephenson County Historical Museum, the Freeport Art Museum and the Silver Creek Museum among them. And for anybody who wants to be outside, the nearby Krape Park runs hiking, fishing and picnic ground.

Beloit’s Attractions

Another strong option for a day trip is Beloit, Wisconsin. This city runs a range of museums, the Beloit Fine Arts Incubator, the Logan Museum of Anthropology and the Wright Museum of Art among them. And if you want to be outside, head to Riverside Park for a picnic or a game of frisbee golf.

Whichever nearby city you take, the day will hold. So pack the car, grab some snacks, and get on the road.

Seasonal Activities

Spring Roll

Spring is a strong time to be in Monroe, Wisconsin. The air warms and the flowers come up. One of the strongest things to do through the spring is the Spring Roll. No, not the Vietnamese dish. A bike ride through the countryside of Monroe.

You can rent a bike and cycle the rolling hills with the air on you and the country going past. The Spring Roll gets you moving, gets you across the area, and holds the day together. You can also pack a picnic and stop along the way.

Summer Festivals

Summer in Monroe is festivals. There is so much on that the hard part is choosing. From music festivals to food festivals, everybody is covered.

One of the festivals people take most is the Green County Cheese Days, which comes round every two calendar years. It marks everything cheese, and it is where to work some of the strongest cheese anywhere. There are also parades, craft fairs and live music.

The other festival worth the trip is the Monroe Balloon Rally. It is a three-day event with hot air balloon rides, live music and food vendors. It is how to spend a summer weekend with family and friends.

Spring and summer are the seasons to work Monroe, Wisconsin. Biking, festivals, or simply time outside, all three are covered. So pack your bags, grab your sunscreen, and get ready for a week that stays with you.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the deal with cheese in Monroe, WI?

You must be living under a rock if you have not heard about Monroe and cheese. Monroe holds the National Historic Cheesemaking Center, where you can work everything there is to know about it. From cheese curds to Swiss cheese, Monroe runs the lot. You can also tour the local cheese factories and see how the cheese is actually made. So if you follow cheese, Monroe is the place.

What’s the most unique hotel in Monroe, WI?

If you want somewhere to stay you will not get elsewhere, the Monroe Arts Center is the answer. This historic building has been turned into a bed and breakfast, with art galleries and performance spaces in it. Every room carries work from local artists, which makes for a one-of-a-kind stay. And the location puts you in reach of everything Monroe runs.

Is it true that Monroe, WI is the Swiss Cheese Capital of the USA?

Yes. Monroe is known as the Swiss Cheese Capital of the USA, and with reason. The town carries a history of cheesemaking that runs deep, and many of the local cheese factories have been working for over a century. Monroe also hosts an annual Cheese Days festival, where you can go as deep into cheese as you want, from cheese curds to fondue.

What’s the best way to work off all the cheese in Monroe, WI?

After all that cheese, you may be wondering how to work it off. Monroe runs plenty outdoors to do it. Take a hike on the Badger State Trail, fish at Lake Petenwell, or take the slopes at the Cascade Mountain Ski Resort. Whatever you follow, Monroe runs something that will work the cheese off you.

Frequently asked questions about Monroe, Wisconsin

What exactly is in the cheesemaking museum over at Monroe, then, really now, these days?

A video on the whole cheesemaking process and the Imobersteg Farmstead Cheese Factory in there. Sometimes the Master Cheesemakers are in there making a massive whole wheel of the Swiss cheese. They do it out there the way the whole thing was done over 100 years ago. Swiss.

Which brewery near Monroe is the one that people actually go to, then, really now?

New Glarus Brewing Company, which is where the Spotted Cow beer actually comes out of. You get the tour and all the samples and the whole of the brewing process in there. Minhas Craft Brewery is the other one of them, with the Lazy Mutt Ale on it. Distillery too.

How long is the Badger State Trail out at Monroe, then, really now, these days?

Over 40 miles of it, and you can take as much or as little of it as you want. The Monroe Prairie Trail is the rougher one of them, running straight through the open prairie. Cheese Country Trail and Sugar River State Trail are the two for the bikes out here. Hills.

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