Speckled Hen Inn

Author: Heather Shannon

The Great Cheese Hunt Route
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Fall, Info for Foodies, Shopping, Special Occasions, Spring, Summer, The Great Cheese Hunt, Things to do in Madison, Tours, Uncategorized

The Great Wisconsin Cheese Hunt

The Great Cheese Hunt Route

  When visiting Wisconsin, one of the main attractions, besides the beer, is definitely the cheese.  And when you’re visiting Madison, here’s a day-trip route for The Great Wisconsin Cheese Hunt that will not only give you great insight into how cheese is uniquely made, but the scenic drive alone is relaxing and worth it. Fromagination – Located at 12 S Carroll St. Madison on Capital Square The MouseHouse Cheesehaus – Located at 4494 Lake Circle, Windsor (Madison) Edelweiss Cheese – Located at 529 1st St., New Glarus Maple Leaf Cheese Store – Located at W2616 State Rd 11 & 81, Ste C, Juda Decatur Dairy – Located at W16768 County Hwy F, Brodhead National Historic Cheesemaking Center – Located at
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The Boathouse Restaurant
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Fall, Info for Foodies, Spring, Summer, Things to do in Madison

Waterfront Dining in Madison

The Boathouse Restaurant

    Who doesn’t love dining on the water???     Pier Side Service: Recent renovations at The Edgewater hotel brought a bigger pier with 40 slips and pier attendants so Lake Mendota boaters can tie up worry-free while enjoying its eateries. The Boathouse is located at lake level, and features fish fry, burgers, brats and a selection of craft brews. Or, get grab-and-go pizza and snacks at The Icehouse, located at the base of The Plaza. Meanwhile, on Lake Monona: Paisan’s Restaurant has been a favorite for Italian since the ‘50s, but it’s only in more recent years that this family-friendly spot added a lake view to its menu. Classic, red-and-white-checked cloths cover the tables dotting the patio, and
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The Old Fashioned Restaurant
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Fall, Info for Foodies, Romance, Special Occasions, Spring, Summer, Things to do in Madison, Winter

Great Restaurants in Madison

The Old Fashioned Restaurant

Madison Restaurants Fun and Casual  The Old Fashioned – we love this place.  It looks to be a former drug store/soda fountain establishment and has a great menu with lots of Wisconsin foods, including the best cheese curds I have personally ever had.   Also, great cheese trays and the prices are amazingly low for the quality and quantity provided. Graze – This is a sister restaurant to the popular L’Etoile, with a similar menu, but at half the price and they don’t take reservations so be prepared for a wait no matter what time you go.  Eclectic menu, great dishes for sharing, and the chefs really love matching color, texture, and taste to their dishes. Sardine – the next on
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Flowering Crab Apple Trees at The Inn
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Info for Foodies, Outdoor Activities, Spring, Things to do in Madison, Tours

What to do this Spring in Madison, WI

Flowering Crab Apple Trees at The Inn

Welcome to Spring 2022!  If you’re anything like me, you can’t wait for the cold to go away and spring to arrive!  With the respite from the pandemic and the cold winter, I am soooo ready for warmer weather and getting outdoors.  So, if you’re thinking about something to do this spring in Madison, here’s some suggestions: One of the things you can count on in Wisconsin in springtime is that you can’t count on the weather.  One day it can be 70 degrees and sunny and the next Old Man Winter is blasting us with one last snowfall that no one can really predict.  But whether it turns out to be ideal during your getaway or not, some things
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Travel Wisconsin Logo
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About us, Info for Foodies, Outdoor Activities, Romance, Special Occasions, Spring, Summer, Things to do in Madison

To Those Who Wisconsin

Travel Wisconsin Logo

Travel Wisconsin announced their upcoming 2022 summer campaign, “Here’s to Those Who Wisconsin”.   This new campaign highlights Wisconsin’s spirited and celebratory nature, encouraging travelers to experience shared moments of joy in a way that is unique to Wisconsin. The 2022 summer advertising campaign runs April 4 – July 23 and includes digital advertising, online video, TV, connected TV, radio, online radio, social media, paid search and billboards. The advertising campaign is complemented with ongoing public relations efforts and influencer campaigns too. Check out the 30-second commercial and view a full overview of the summer campaign here. The WBBA (Wisconsin Bed & Breakfast Association) will weave the message of “Here’s to Those Who Wisconsin” in some of their marketing and The Speckled
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Healthy Breakfast
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About us, Info for Foodies, News From Speckled Hen Inn

Breakfast is Back – Reinvented

Healthy Breakfast

Breakfast Reinvented – As of May 5, 2022, we are providing a breakfast, but it’s different than it used to be.  We learned a lot along the way and have responded to our guest requests by revising the concept of breakfast into a menu of choices the guest chooses when they arrive.  Happily, we will continue to offer the wonderful organic produce grown on the property, but the new menu will accommodate special diets in the choices themselves along with flexibility in when guests want to enjoy it. In addition, guests still enjoy the same great getaway experience with a beautiful inn and amenities, a menagerie of animals to enjoy, and plenty of property to explore.  And in times like
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TripAdvisor Travelers' Choice Award 2021
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About us, News From Speckled Hen Inn

2022 News From The Speckled Hen Inn

TripAdvisor Travelers' Choice Award 2021

Welcome to 2022!  It’s been a rough road the past two years, but we wanted to share our updates after re-emerging from the pandemic.  Restrictions just lifted in Dane County in March, so we are now able to provide breakfast again and look to begin on May 1st.   Since we were not able to provide breakfast during the pandemic unless we could accommodate social distancing, we instead reduced our rates and referred everyone to our favorite local breakfast venue, The Jet Room.  Nick, the owner, always provides great food and hospitality to all our guests, for which we are very grateful. While we’ve reduced the number of guest rooms available to those on the ground floor of the Inn, it
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Dane Co Farmer's Market
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Info for Foodies, Outdoor Activities, Shopping, Spring, Summer, Things to do in Madison

Dane County Farmer’s Market Insider Tips

Dane Co Farmer's Market

The Dane County Farmer’s Market moves outdoors to Capitol Square on April 16th!   At last – spring has sprung and the air is cool, crisp, new life is in bloom, and we are all so happy to be outside again! If you’re a new visitor to Madison, or just new to the Dane County Farmer’s Market, here are some insider tips for you to make your adventure successful (and fun)! 1. Get there early!  It starts at 6:15am and the early bird gets the worm (and sometimes the last of the baked goods!). 2. Get a good parking space in one of the nearby parking structures and enjoy the walk to the Square. 3. The line (or swarm, depending on when
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Snowy Owl
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About us, News From Speckled Hen Inn, Outdoor Activities, Winter

Our Snowy Owl is Back!

Snowy Owl

Guess who’s back???? Our beautiful snowy owl is back again this winter and has made its home in the tall pine trees of the back woods.  Although there used to be two of them, only one has returned for the past couple of years.  And since they mate for life, it is sad to think of what may have happened to the other one, but we sure are glad to see this one considers us as their home for the winter. If you’ve never seen a snowy owl, they really are spectacular.  With a wingspan of 6′, our snowy owl likes to roost in the back woods and utilize the big pasture that we refer to as “the football field”
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Mom ewe with lambs
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Lambs Lambs Lambs!

Mom ewe with lambs

Spring is the best time of the year because it brings new life to the Inn and farm.  This spring we have been blessed with several ewes that have given birth and triplets are all the rage!  Since the ram was all black, we have a beautiful range of colors and patterns and seeing them jumping and playing together in the pasture is a true delight.   Lilly, our sweet llama (AKA nanny/shepherd) is enjoying her new batch of babies and is so proud she has a job to do again.   Maybe it’s time for another visit – or maybe time to visit for the first time!  Beautiful weather, beautiful surroundings, and a true getaway experience – yet close to everything.
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