Episodes

  • 45 | Central Wisconsin State Fair fun and tons of new and cool stuff in Marshfield with Matt McLean

    45 | Central Wisconsin State Fair fun and tons of new and cool stuff in Marshfield with Matt McLean
    Aug 14 2024
    Host Eric Paulsen is joined by Matt McLean from Visit Marshfield to preview the Central Wisconsin State Fair, which kicks off August 20th through the 25th. National artists performing live, rodeo, demolition derby and all the other fun Fair activity (including the "Kiss A Critter" contest), food, kids' events, and more. We also preview some of the great events leading into fall and winter including Maple Fall Fest and the Rotary Holiday Lights with LITERALLY MILLIONS of lights at Wildwood Park. Regardless of season, shopping in downtown Marshfield is pretty sweet, with unique boutiques, a great independent record store (with Dave's Guitars right there), plus a new candle company, ice cream shop, and more. Activities at Wenzel Family Plaza and the new Van de Hey Waters, a bevy of good restaurants, and art and history installations make for tons of fun activities in Marshfield. Outside of town, you can enjoy Jurustic Park and a variety of creameries and cheese factories, outdoor recreation at Powers Bluff and numerous state natural areas, golf, nature parks, and even one of Eric's favorite signs in the state - that tells you what the road is NOT. Also covered? Some good places to stay and of course where to catch local brews. We cover it all in this episode of the State Trunk Tour Podcast!
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    24 mins
  • 44 | Olympics: Could Milwaukee host and make the most of it? Yes, according to Jay Sorgi

    44 | Olympics: Could Milwaukee host and make the most of it? Yes, according to Jay Sorgi
    Jul 26 2024
    With the 2024 Summer Olympic Games underway, we're here to talk about the Olympics – and Milwaukee and Wisconsin. As in, could Milwaukee host an Olympic Games? Even if it could. why? What’s in it for the city and the greater region? Answers exist in a fascinating book called Greater Than The Games, Volume 1: MKE2028, created by broadcaster Jay Sorgi. He began researching the topic out of curiosity. Unearthing more information led to the belief that Milwaukee could not only host the Olympic Games, but the additional investments to fully prepare for such an endeavor - given the right planning and execution – could drive positive, transformative change for Milwaukee and the entire region. Far-fetched, you say? It’s not. In Greater Than The Games, Volume 1: MKE2028, Jay lays out how Olympic bids work; how some cities used it to propel themselves to the next level while others were left with debt and white elephants; the remarkable wealth of venues, facilities, and resources within reasonable distance of Milwaukee already, and how additional investments for venues, housing, transportation and more can be properly repurposed after the Games to bring the city and region to the next level for the future. Listen to this conversation, read the book, and watch the Olympics; you might find inspiration not just for Milwaukee, but for yourself. You can find the book on Amazon here!
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    1 hr and 15 mins
  • 43 | Blasts, Brats, and Boats with Visit Sheboygan's Shelly Harms

    43 | Blasts, Brats, and Boats with Visit Sheboygan's Shelly Harms
    Jun 28 2024
    We preview the last weekend of June in this episode and then dive deeper into Sheboygan, where Eric Paulsen has a discussion about upcoming events with Shelly Harms from Visit Sheboygan. The 4th of July celebrations coming up kick off Wedmesday the 3rd with live music on City Green (part of the weekly Levitt AMP Concert Series happening all summer) and the Venetian Boat Parade, plus more events capped off with fireworks on the 4th. August kicks off with the much-heralded return of Brat Days (fitting, in the Bratwurst Capital) and the resurrected Coho Derby on Lake Michigan with celebrations along at Deland Park. The Sheboygan Midwest Challenge brings speedboats to Sheboygan the following weekend with plenty of action, plus a trolley can take you from South Pier and the Harbor District, through downtown and all the way up to Bookworm Gardens and 3 Sheeps Brewery for ease of getting around - all day long for just $1! Discover more about Sheboygan's vibrant downtown and South Pier areas, find out why the kids will also love a road trip there, find out some great places to stay, and be sure to hit Highways 23, 28, or 42 to get there. Oh, and remember: StateTrunkTour.com has not only events and fun resources, but updated listings and showtimes for drive-in movie venues across Wisconsin all season long!
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    23 mins
  • 39 | The World's Tallest Glass Tree is going up right now in Williams Bay. Here's how you can check it out!

    39 | The World's Tallest Glass Tree is going up right now in Williams Bay. Here's how you can check it out!
    Nov 28 2023
    The World's Tallest Glass Tree is going up right now at Yerkes Observatory along Highway 67 in Williams Bay, Wisconsin. Under the inspirational guidance of Rob Elliott and glass maker Jason Mack, this endeavor is in its second year. They take donated glass from all over, spin it onto a pole, and create a 31-foot tree that will get topped with a huge star on December 17th in an event that you MUST see - especially if you want to see a world record happen!
    In this episode, head State Trunk Tour Guide Eric Paulsen sits down in the studios of WLKG raido in Lake Geneva to discuss how this whole thing and the public events that include tree construction (which you can participate in) and a vendor market with over 20 artisans and others that can help you get your holiday shopping done while getting inspired. Learn how glass gets made, how it's recycled, and how it is spun into a 31-foot tall Christmas Tree, right there in the front yard of Yerkes Observatory!
    This tree is constructed with donated glass from around the area. People are welcome to come and bring their empty glass bottles, jars, and they'll melt that glass down right on site with a portable furnace and spin it into the tree's construction. You can even help - and learn.
    Tree construction is underway, and these next few Friday-Sunday weekends (December 1-3, 8-10, and 15-17, 2023) you can join in. The BIG event is the topping of the tree on Sunday, December 17th!
    If you've ever wanted to learn about glass blowing, get your own custom glass-blown ornament, or contribute to a world record being set - all while checking out the beautiful Yerkes Observatory abutting Geneva Lake - THIS is the time. They'll even have a specialty beer made by nearby Deusterbeck's Brewing that specifically commemorates the tree! They're also working with Enlightened Brewing out of Milwaukee and the classic Seipp's Beer out of Chicago, which offers their beer at Black Point Estate nearby for some special releases, too. We cover all of this, plus stories and even the challenges of trying to make it a Guinness World Record. Hit Highway 67 between U.S. 14 and Highway 50 in Walworth County, you'll find Yerkes Observatory in Williams Bay. The events you can attend run Dec. 1-3, 8-10, and 15-17 - and on Sunday, December 17th they have their MAIN event, when they present the finished tree and top it off with the beautiful star. Find out more on StateTrunkTour.com and directly at WorldsTallestGlassTree.com!
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    21 mins
  • 38 | Marshfield, Maple Fall Fest, Meat Sticks, more updates on this growing city

    38 | Marshfield, Maple Fall Fest, Meat Sticks, more updates on this growing city
    Sep 12 2023
    Marshfield, Wisconsin's "Hub City," continues to grow and offer more for visitors to experience. It starts with Central Avenue, the main artery offering some fantastic shopping, great restaurants and more to explore along with the Jurustic Park Downtown Walk. Within blocks, a wide variety of other attractions abound year 'round. This city of 20,000 is anchored by Marshfield Clinic, a world class medical center that has attracted a diverse population and gives the town bigger city vibes.
    In this episode, Eric Paulsen talks with Matt McLean from VISIT Marshfield about all of this, plus the upcoming Maple Fall Fest that, coupled with Blue Heron Brewpub's Oktoberfest, will prove to be a great place to visit the weekend of September 16 & 17, 2023.
    Maple Fall Fest will feature amazing food, drinks, kids activities, games, baby goats to pet, even pumpkin bowling and Nerf-style ax throwing. There will be performances from the Main Street Conservatory of Dance, grilling fun with Mad Dog & Merrill, even Wildwood Zoo Tours. And yes, lots of maple.
    The Zoo is a major feature of Wildwood Park, puncuated by two Kodiak bears in a large, 40,000 square foot natural area complete with a pond and an overhead bridge. A variety of other animals can be viewed and learned about at this free zoo, too.
    We also discuss the Chustnut Center for the arts, the Heritage Museum, Wenzel Family Plaza, Visual Arts Gallery, Upham Mansion, and nearby attractions including Powers Bluff, the Nasonville Dairy, and upcoming events like Marshfield's Winter Rotary Holiday Lights. Wenzel Family Plaza hosts an ice skating rinks in the winter months, too!
    It came up in conversation that Marshfield recently hosted the World's Longest Meat SnackStick, a creation of nearby Wenzel Farms. This, coupled with the fact that the city has the World's Largest Round Barn, led to some spontaneous ideas. We discuss it all in this episode of the State Trunk Tour Podcast. Find out more on StateTrunkTour.com and VisitMarshfield.com!
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    26 mins
  • 36 | Oconto County: Road Tripping to Trails, Tracks, Copper, and the Coast

    36 | Oconto County: Road Tripping to Trails, Tracks, Copper, and the Coast
    Jul 10 2023
    Oconto County, tucked into northeastern Wisconsin, offers a lot on your road trip. In the episode, host Eric Paulsen talks with Oconto County Tourism Director Sammy Boucher to discuss it all. We begin with the county's extensive trails for motorized recreaton, especially with Gillett laying claim to the "ATV Capital of the World" (with a stop there at OJ's for pie being a must!) Amidst the beauty of the Nicolet National Forest, you can enjoy Mountain, Lakewood, and Townsend along Highway 32 - including two wineries: the Woodland Trails & Winery in Lakewood and the new Lakehouse Winery in Townsend, where they make Wine Bloody Marys. Closer to Oconto itself, Copper Culture State Park offers plenty to see and new trail connections to the rest of the system. In Oconto itself, Sammy talks about the new and emerging shops in downtown, touring the first Christian Science Church in the world, and checking out the historic Beyer House & Carriage Museum which includes electric vehicles - from over 110 years ago!
    Oconto is growing, too. With companies like Cruisers Yachts and various other industries across Oconto County, some good and new employment opportunities exist!
    Speaking of new things across Oconto County, Lena now features the Dirt City Motorplex, a very cool dirt track with modern facilities located right off U.S. 141 - with a major event coming up at the end of July. Back to the waters of Lake Michigan, Oconto's Breakwater Park & Harbor is home to some major fishing tournaments. The Marina is a great place to launch, or pull in for a visit. Shout out to The Dockside for a meal when you visit! Another must-stop is where U.S. 41 & 141 split (or merge, depending on your direction) in Abrams: enjoy a treat at the Timberlea Drive-In, one of Sam's favorites! We cap off our conversation with major events coming up, including races at Dirt City Motorplex, the massive Art Fair in Lakewood & Townsend in mid-August, and more. Hit U.S. 41, U.S. 141, Highways 22, 32, or 64, and extensive county and forest roads for a great road trip and fun experiences in Oconto County. You can find out more at OcontoCounty.org, too!
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    32 mins
  • 35 | All about Summerfest 2023 with Summerfest President Sarah Pancheri

    35 | All about Summerfest 2023 with Summerfest President Sarah Pancheri
    Jun 14 2023
    Milwaukee's legendary Summerfest turns 55 this year, and 2023 brings new experiences, changes and upgrades, and another amazing lineup of artists across multiple genres - over 600 performances to choose from. Running June 22-24, June 29-July 1, and July 6-8, 2023, Eric Paulsen and Sarah Pancheri cover all aspects of the festival, including select performances, the return of the "hole in one" golf challange over the water and Freeway Flyers to easily arrive to depart from the grounds, the Summerfest app, and ways you can get in at discounted rates or even free. We have more on StateTrunkTour.com; meanwhile, enjoy our conversation with Sarah about Summerfest - right under I-794, and US 18 and Highway 32 both bring you within sight of the festival! Perfect for a music- and fun-oriented road trip in Wisconsin.
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    26 mins
  • 34 | Pull into Port Washington for 2023's New Murals, Expansions, the Return of Fish Days and much more

    34 | Pull into Port Washington for 2023's New Murals, Expansions, the Return of Fish Days and much more
    May 28 2023
    Port Washington is awash in history and both natural and architectural beauty. But the variety of things to do and see - and the events you can experience - are growing rapidly. Eric sits down with Wayne Chrusciel, Executive Director of Port Washington Tourism, for an update on what's happening in this charming, often serene but increasingly busting little city with the big harbor on Lake Michigan. The 1860 Lighthouse & Museum with St. Mary's Church are part of the reason downtown Port Washington has the largest collection of pre-Civil War buildings in Wisconsin. Art is growing in Port Washington, which beat out locations across 11 states to become the Midwest representative for the Mosaic Murals, kicking off some mural momentum in town. Lake Michigan's opportunity to enjoy swimming, boating, surfing, and beaches is unsurpassed anywhere in the state, and the city is flanked by spectacular parks, including Harrington Beach State Park to the north and Lions Den Gorge County Park to the south. Kids can enjoy all of these amenities as well as places like the Possibility Playground, which is accessible to everyone while offering beautiful views from the bluff. Inventors Brewpub offers terrific craft beer and is in the process of expanding to a new downtown venue. Vines to Cellar Winery not only makes and offers great wines, but also gives you extra opportunities to learn about wine and even make your own. Coal Dock Park is starting to blossom as a place to walk, enjoy the views, and some emerging events. Events in Port Washington include the Port Festival of the Arts, Fall Fest, Christmas on the Corner, and the legendary Fish Days are BACK in mid-July - and running multiple days again! Meanwhile this summer, every Saturday from June through October Port Washington offers their comprehensive farmers market in the morning hours downtown and a beer garden in the afternoon in Upper Lake Park, right across from Possibility Playground. And their downtown hotel just got a major update and reopened, so you have a walkable lodging option. Check out more on StateTrunkTour.com and VisitPortWashington.com!
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    39 mins