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Our fans sent in some amazing photos for our recent Drive the Great River Road Month Photo Contest—scroll down to see the impressive work of our finalists and our grand-prize winner taken at Chestnut Mountain Resort in Galena in northwestern Illinois the photo captures a storm passing over the Mississippi River.

Waterfowl hunters around the Upper Great Lakes are geared up and ready to go for season openers across the region this weekend, including the north zones of Michigan and Wisconsin, as well as the entire state of Minnesota. All three states combined amount to a geographic area larger than Texas, and habitat and water conditions in this region vary...

Wisconsin

Wisconsin will offer ample opportunities for waterfowlers during the opening days of the season. "Statewide there is good water going into the opener this season," explains Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Game Bird Ecologist Taylor Finger. "We had excellent production statewide, so I would expect a good opening day with plenty of local mallards and wood ducks around. We have been seeing some migrant puddle ducks, including pintails, gadwalls, and wigeon, appearing on the Mississippi River, and migrating Canada geese are coming in from northern Ontario."...

In addition to the summer productions, the Great River Road Theatre has been producing a dinner theatre show that runs in late January and February since 2001.

Love, Lies and the Lottery is the 2026 show...

If you have any questions or would like to join our group, please contact us at greatriverroadtheatre@gmail.com, or message us on our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/GreatRiverRoadTheatre/...

The closure created significant frustration for boat crews who found themselves stranded during the malfunction. At least one vessel waited near the bridge for the entire duration of the closure, unable to move forward while the bridge remained stuck...

Castlerock Sourdough is the smallest bakery shop in Wisconsin. It`s a must-visit spot near the Mississippi River.

Wonderful bread can be found in some very unexpected places. Among the soaring Mississippi River bluffs of western Wisconsin`s Driftless Area, you`ll find a bakery tucked away in a spot that elicits a lot of double takes—and probably more than a few hard brakes. The Castlerock Sourdough bakery is many things: It`s well stocked, filled with flavors, and its retail shop is open much longer hours than most other independent bakeries. It also just happens to be the smallest bakery shop in Wisconsin. It really is a tiny little place that you have to see to believe—here’s what you need to know about Castlerock Sourdough...

...The magic happens in a white farmhouse tucked into the rugged river bluffs. The bakery itself is only open on Wednesdays from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., when you can go to the door and order a fresh, hot loaf of their 36-hour-rise sourdough from right out of the oven...

The tourism boom of 2024 shows Mississippi joins the list of record-breaking states, while Wisconsin sets another milestone, North Carolina grows stronger, Kentucky rises higher, Tennessee achieves historic spending, and California holds its crown. Each state’s new stats reflect growth, resilience, and pride...

Wisconsin Leads with a Tourism Hat Trick

Wisconsin stood out in 2024. The state recorded $25.8 billion in total economic impact from tourism. That marked the third consecutive year of record-breaking results. Visitor numbers soared to 114.4 million, higher than pre-pandemic levels. The impact spread widely. Rural counties saw sharp rises in spending. Adams County alone grew by nearly seven percent in one year.

Tourism generated $1.7 billion in state and local tax revenue. That sum provided essential funds for schools, healthcare and infrastructure. It also reduced the tax burden on households. Employment figures were just as striking. About 182,000 full and part-time jobs were supported by visitor spending. Wages and household incomes climbed as hotels, restaurants and events thrived.

For 2025 the outlook is strong but uncertain. Wisconsin invested heavily in marketing, including culinary promotions and national advertising. The aim is to attract new visitors and lengthen stays. But the risk of weaker international demand remains. Domestic tourism will need to carry much of the weight again...

https://wisconsinsystem.com/newsletters/River/ (This Newsletter)