Rural Road Trips: Exceptional Small Towns in the Midwest

You know the adage. Good things come in small packages. Here’s proof: dozens of delicious little destinations that delight travelers who crave fun, safe, surprising, and under-the-radar escapes from big-city bustle and congestion. Time to downshift and discover the natural beauty, unique spirit, and enduring character of unusual burgs of Wisconsin. An eclectic mix of communities makes the cut for this selective guide to rural treasures, many of which are lesser known because of limited or no advertising. Visit for an hour, day, overnight or longer. All these special places have a population of no more than 5,000 people, and many have less than 1,000.

Midwest travel, regional foods, German heritage and environmental sustainability are Mary Bergin’s writing specialties. Author of the Wisconsin Supper Club Cookbook, this lifelong professional journalist boasts decades of newspaper work as an editor and reporter. Her weekly, syndicated and award winning Roads Traveled columns began in 2002. The Chicago Tribune frequently publishes Mary’s work in its travel section. Wisconsin Public Radio counts her among its travel experts. Her freelance work is a featured case study in the college textbook Travel Journalism: On the Road with Serious Intent by Professor John Greenman at the University of Georgia. The Wisconsin native lives in Madison. She is a member of the Society of American Travel Writers and Midwest Travel Writers Association. Learn more about her at marybergin.com and roadstraveled.com.