Durand, WI is in the un-glaciated portion of Wisconsin and the part described as "coulee" country. It has a land form made of ancient hills and very old errosion gullies called coulees. These hills are smoothed by age. The combination of the two gives a unique and picturesqe countyside. I'm glad that you we able to sample a cheese for an old time cheese factory. The small family owned cheese making operations in Wisconsin are becoming less in number. However, the ones that remain yet capture awards in international competition.

Our favorite Wisconsin cheeses are Gouda and Cheddars.

That's a very scenic area. Occasionally we'll take a drive down Hwy 61 on the Minnesota side and return on the Wisconsin side of the river, a great time to take the trip is when the leaves are changing in the fall. Often stop at a cheese factory and pick up a few things. My sister used to make a lot of trips to Wisconsin cheese shop and they let you sample a lot of different kinds. She really liked Nelson Cheese Factory in Nelson, WI. That's only about 15 miles from where you were. There's a few in that area, or at least used to be several. Haven't been over there for quite a few years now.

I agree with cynic. That's a beautiful part of this area! I love the drive down 61 along the Mississippi--Hastings, Lake City, Winona, LaCrosse--and also love the Wisconsin side for its scenic vistas and historic, quaint towns such as Stockholm. Love the Nelson Cheese Factory! Pepin, on Lake Pepin, is Laura Ingalls Wilder country and still lovely and quaint. I almost bought a house there once.

There used to be a really awesome restaurant in Arkansaw. Don't know what happened to it, but the food was gourmet. That's my one time I've been in Arkansaw, but know the area well. In fact, once in a while I'll do some coverage for the guy in Durand. Right now our climate feels more like the deep south, though. 94 and humid as heck.

If you know Durrand you may know the Ryan House, big yellow house. It was built by great-great grandfather. The couple that owns it now did do a B & B but haven't for a while and do want to sell, it's too much for them. I do hope it ends up with nice people. I've had the privilege to stay overnight a few times.

Come to think of it, there's also a lefse factory not far from there. :)

Wow; I've lived in Wisconsin most of my life and have never heard of Arkansaw!! DH and I want to take a road trip and travel the state using only county highways....that way you get to see the "stuff" off the beaten path! :)

That's interesting, izzie. I love the history of the area. Other favorite eating spots are the Trempeleau Hotel (I may have spelled that wrong), the Norske Nook in Osseo (great pies!), and the fabulous Harbor View Cafe in Pepin.

Oh, you are all talking about my back yard! We live in the beautiful coulee region and chose it because of it's gorgeous hills and valleys. I'm heading up to the Norske Nook in a couple of days to meet some friends for dinner (and pie!), it's just a short drive from here.

My dtr went to school in Eau Claire - beautiful country, beautiful campus. She loved it there. I don't know how many hundreds of times we made the drive from SE WI to visit, but we never made it to the Norske Nook! I hear we are/were idiots to miss it.

A prtty drive is on the Minnesota side of the Mississippi from LaCross to Redwing. We have taken that drive a number of times when my FIL was still alive. His last pastorship was at a church in Prescott, WI.

My SIL worked at the Norske Nook about 20 years ago and learned how to make all their pies. She makes the pies for all the family get togethers. She also learned about cake decorating and does all the family cakes including all wedding cakes. She's thinking about starting a catering business where she's living now.

For a number of years I had a long distance boyfriend and so regularly made the drive from St. Paul to Madison. I always picked up a pie at the Norske Nook on the way back, ate it in about 2 days, and returned the tin for my refund on the next trip. I don't miss the ex-boyfriend; I do miss the pie!