In Green County, cheese-making history and Swiss traditions come together in museums and festivals. Craftsmanship, collections and landscapes reveal different sides of the region, which you can explore when planning a trip around your own interests.

Cheese-Making Craft and Festival Traditions

The Imobersteg Farmstead Cheese Factory showcases early 20th-century cheese-making through Brick, Swiss and Limburger cheeses. Its original equipment has remained unchanged since 1917. This brings together a look at different types of cheese and the tools that help illustrate historical production methods.

Green County Cheese Days is a three-day festival held on the Historic Courthouse Square in Monroe. It celebrates cheese-making, dairy farming and Swiss traditions. The festival program traditionally includes cheese-making in a copper kettle, where visitors can take part in stirring. The Cheese Days parade in Monroe features a herd of Brown Swiss cows leading the procession. Exact festival dates vary by edition; check the current schedule before your trip if you plan to attend the cheese-kettle activity or parade.

The National Historic Cheesemaking Center presents the history of cheese-making in Wisconsin through replicas of cheese factories. One exhibit focuses on Limburger, which has been made in Green County since the mid-19th century. Monroe is also home to the only Limburger cheese factory in the United States.

Swiss Culture and Aviation

New Glarus is a destination for Swiss cuisine and traditions, as well as colorful festivals featuring yodeling and alphorns. The Swiss Center of North America preserves Swiss-related collections, including dolls dressed in authentic costumes from Swiss villages and cantons. Archival materials can be accessed on site with at least one week’s advance notice by phone or in writing. Not all materials are available at all times, and staff may supervise their use.

The Kelch Aviation Museum offers a different perspective on history. Through 19 original historic aircraft, it tells the story of aviation’s Golden Age. The museum is open Wednesday through Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; call ahead on holidays or during special events.

Bike Trails, Forests and Landscapes

Green County offers two bike trails, along with numerous paved country roads for cycling. The Sugar River State Trail follows a disused railroad corridor for 24 miles from New Glarus to Brodhead and is designated a National Recreational Trail. Along the route are 14 covered bridges; the trail also passes farmland, forests, rolling hills, scenic meadows, prairie remnants and glacially shaped landscapes.

New Glarus Woods State Park covers 435 acres and offers camping, hiking, picnicking and snowshoeing. The park provides direct access to the Sugar River State Trail. Its eight miles of hiking trails pass through mature forests and restored prairies, offering opportunities for wildlife watching.

Cadiz Springs State Recreation Area is a day-use area in the Driftless Area, with rolling hills, valleys and spring-fed streams. Its eight miles of hiking trails wind through forests, along streams and around lakes; wildlife watching is also possible here. For outdoor visits, the area offers a variety of landscapes, from restored prairies and mature forests to streams and lakes.

Discover more destinations: New Glarus, Brodhead, Browntown, Racine County, Sheboygan County, Milwaukee, Bayfield County, Kenosha County.

For the broader travel overview: Wisconsin.