#wisconsin Archives - The Iowa Roadie

#dive bar June 4, 2022

Oh my Cod! (A Fish Story)…Destination: Island View Lodge (Mercer, WI)

Let’s begin this Iowa Roadie adventure with a quick game of Family Feud.Top 5 answers are on the board. Here is the question…Things you pack when going on a fishing trip.Top 5 answers…You likely answered a fishing pole or bait. Perhaps even a tackle box.All respectable answers. But not the #1 answer.THAT slot goes to…Alcohol.(You’re kicking yourself for missing that one, aren’t you?)There are two reasons that alcohol is required for a fishing trip.1. You just want to kick back and enjoy the beauty of nature and the camaraderie of your buddies while drinking a cold one. 2. OR…(and this is the more acceptable rationale)…Alcohol numbs the frustration caused by fishing.I know this second statement to be a fact. Because the Iowa Roadie & husband just returned from a week-long fishing trip to Mercer, Wisconsin. Let’s just say the fishing gods were not on our side. ALSO… while I was…

#dive bar February 26, 2021

Pudding Shots & Pinkie Fingers…Destination: Prairie du Chien, WI

Who likes road trips?If we were all sitting in a classroom together–or even connected via a ridiculous CoVid-era zoom meeting–I believe we would see everyone’s hand shoot to the sky and frantically wave, “Pick Me! Pick Me!” Perhaps we can even add some gorilla “ooh ooh” sound effects to increase the intensity of the answer. (“Ooh Ooh! Pick Me! Ooh Ooh! Pick Me!”)So I repeat my question…Who likes road trips?Ooh Ooh! Pick Me! I know the answer to this one. Ooh Ooh!The answer is WE ALL DO….or at least dive bar-seeking Iowa Roadie readers do. (All two or three of you.)So when loyal Iowa Roadie reader Joel recommended I take a trip across the border to Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin…AND provided me three pages of dive bar notes…I felt it my DUTY to follow his suggestion. It’s all about making connections with readers. And if we had some Spotted Cow…

Bar & Grills July 10, 2019

Burger Time & Bar Dice…Destination: The Brothel (Buffalo County, WI)

(Note: This is the first in a two-part series about an Iowa Roadie adventure in Buffalo County, Wisconsin.) I recently celebrated my birthday. I must admit that once you hit a certain age, one really does not “celebrate” a birthday as much as “commiserate” it. After all, I already have my driver’s license, voter registration card and a legal ID. The allure of pinatas and ‘pin the tail on the donkey’ have diminished in direct proportion to my memory. And I’m afraid if I tried to muster the energy to blow out my candles, I’d pass out for lack of oxygen. (My husband would disagree and tell you I have enough hot air to assist a centenarian.) The only bright spot is the cake and ice cream…which is also a no-no, according to my doctor who recently classifed me as “mildly obese” following my annual physical. So all things considered,…