Spread out comfortably in a valley near the Wisconsin River, the small town of Baraboo has some relatively big claims to fame. You won't find a lion tamer putting his big cats through a routine on every street corner of small-town Baraboo, but as the one-time residence of the Ringling brothers, chances are you'll be able to catch a show at the Circus World Museum.

Unfolding tidily at the southern semicircle of Lake Winnebago, the small town of Fond du Lac is a top fishing destination even when frigid temperatures send less single-minded travelers scurrying indoors.

La Crosse, a pleasant city set at waters' edge and surrounded by curlicue islands and wiggly inlets, weaving rivers and stately bluffs, is a fine introduction to life on the Great River Road. Both the La Crosse and Black Rivers merge into the Mississippi here, historically a crossroads for trade and travel.

Like many southern towns, Madison flourished on the cotton economy, and wealthy planters built large homes here. It boasts the largest designated historic district in Georgia. Brick sidewalks, well-maintained storefronts, and beautiful planters set the stage for charming specialty shops, local art shops, and casual dining. The town square is full of stately magnolias and anchors the downtown district. An extensive array of recreational opportunities can be found at the nearly 6,000-acre Hard Labor Creek State Park. While best known for its wonderful golf course, it also offers 22 miles of horseback riding trails, a lakeside beach, hiking, cottages and camping.

Anyone with a passing interest in architecture won't want to leave southwestern Wisconsin without visiting the favored haunt of Frank Lloyd Wright, a man whose innovative designs challenged notions about the form and function of buildings. Surrounded by rolling countryside and watered by the Wisconsin River, the small town of Spring Green serves well, when there's a room to be had, as a base for exploring some of the area attractions.