Sights

The heart and soul of Cedarburg is Cedar Creek Settlement, an antebellum foundation mill once the village’s center of activity but now a several-blocks-long hodgepodge of shops, restaurants, and galleries. The Cedar Creek Winery (10 a.m.–5 p.m. Mon.–Sat., 11 a.m.–5 p.m. Sun.) is also on the premises; tours take in the aging cellars.

West of the main drag (Washington Road), Portland Road features one of the original structures in Cedarburg, the enormous, five-story Cedarburg Mill, now home to yet another antique shop.

Along Riveredge Drive is the Brewery Works (262/377-8230, 1–4 p.m. Wed.–Sun.), a restored 1840s brewery housing the Ozaukee County Art Center.

North of Cedarburg three miles is the last extant covered bridge in the state, dating from 1876; to get there, head to the WI 143/60 junction on Washington Avenue. This is an excellent bike tour!

Southeast of Cedarburg via Hamilton Road is the original settlement of Hamilton, with another picturesque creekside mill.

Cedarburg has a great Performing Arts Center (262/376-6161), with a full slate of visiting artists and performances. Cedarburg Cultural Center (262/375-3676) has regular jazz and folk performances along with art exhibits.

The local visitors center (262/377-9620 or 800/237-2874, www.cedarburg.org) is here; very friendly and useful staffers will point you in the right direction. A small general store museum is also in the complex.

Landmark Tours (P.O. Box 771, Cedarburg, WI 53012, 262/375-1426) leads group tours through Cedarburg and Ozaukee County.

Accommodations and Food

Cedarburg has some gorgeous lodging options; nobody comes here to stay in a motel. The Stagecoach Inn and Weber Haus Annex (W61 N520 Washington Ave., 262/375-0208 or 888/375-0208, www.stagecoach-inn-wi.com, $85–145) is a historic inn and pub on the old Milwaukee–Green Bay stagecoach line. Nine lovely rooms are in the main inn; three are in a restored 1847 frame building across the street where you can stroll in a private garden. Six suites have whirlpools; two have gas fireplaces. Rumors say a benign, black-garbed apparition wafts through the inn.

For food, you can get classic Wisconsin German tavern fare or the casually upscale cuisine found at most gentrified enclaves such as this. It’s a chichi name and menu at Cream and Crepe Café (Cedar Creek Settlement, 262/377-0900, 10 a.m.–8 p.m. Tues.–Sat., till 5 p.m. Sun.–Mon., $4–10), but the crepes are delectable, as is the creekside dining area.

Galioto’s Vintage Grille (1221 Wauwatosa Rd., 262/377-8085, 11 a.m.–2 p.m. Mon.–Fri., 5–9 p.m. Mon.–Thurs., 5–10 p.m. Fri.–Sat., 4–8 p.m. Sun., $7–26) is a smashing new eatery housed in an erstwhile classic Wisconsin country tavern. The superb renovation features original beams and flickering flames in an original fireplace. The well-done dishes focus on creative comfort food—the pork chops are legendary.

© Thomas Huhti from Moon Wisconsin, 5th Edition