Now time came to pay my tribute to Wisconsin, my third home country in life. I live in Wisconsin for almost a decade already and can’t stop admiring its stunning natural beauty. Waterfalls, nature resorts, abundant lakes, forests and rolling hills transform through four distinct seasons each year. Wisconsin is also rich in arts, historic and cultural attractions.

Capital - Madison

Largest city - Milwaukee

Largest metro area - Milwaukee metropolitan area

Admission to Union - May 29, 1848

Highest point - Timms Hill (1,951ft/595 m)

Lowest point - Lake Michigan (579ft/176m)

Time zone - Central: UTC-6/-5

Website - http://www.wisconsin.gov/state/home/app?COMMAND=gov.wi.state.cpp.command.LoadPortalHome

Just come here, drive on a highway, go on a back road and you will end up in a heavenly beautiful nature place.

Ancient lava flows, deep gorges, and spectacular waterfalls make Copper Falls one of Wisconsin's most scenic parks. Log buildings built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s add to the park's charm. There are many things to do—hiking, picnicking, fishing, and swimming. The park is one of the highlights of the North Country National Scenic Trail in Wisconsin.

Copper Falls is about 2 miles northeast of Mellen in Ashland County. Take State Highway 13 to the north side of Mellen and turn (northeast) on State Highway 169. Go about 1.8 miles. The park entrance will be on your left.

36764 Copper Falls Road
Mellen, WI 54546.
(715) 274-5123

N8236 State Hwy 13, Phillips, WI

North-central Wisconsin, south of Phillips, Hwy. 13.

715-339-6475

From just about anywhere it's a long way to Fred Smith's place in Phillips, but it's worth the trip.

"Nobody knows why I made them, not even me. This work just came to me naturally," Smith said, quoted in "The Art of Fred Smith" by Lisa Stone and Jim Zanzi.

A son of German immigrants, Fred Smith was born in 1886, and spent his working life as a north woodsman. With two other men, he built the Rock Garden Tavern in 1936, which he ultimately managed after his retirement from lumberjacking in 1949. In 1950 this self-taught sculptor began crafting his unique entourage of cowboys, miners, Indians, and soldiers.

He used beer bottles from his tavern to decorate the life-size concrete horde, which mostly crowds the front of the park along Hwy. 13. He built the broad-shouldered, blocky characters starting with wooden frames wrapped with mink wire, then layered with concrete and various junk-art materials. Some figures ride concrete horses or drive teams of concrete oxen; others stand in long rows, the sun glinting off of their glassy armor. Ben Hur and a distorted angel loom among their followers. Two wedding parties wonder who invited the coolies...

A stroke suffered by Smith in 1964 brought the impressive project to a halt. He talked of additions up until his death in 1976. Soon after, a storm knocked down 70% of the figures. The park was restored by the Kohler Foundation and turned over to the county, so it's free! It's now maintained by the "Friends of Fred Smith" non-profit organization.

The current book, TRUE ADVENTURE STORIES OF A WHITETAIL DEER HUNTER, "40 Years of Successful Hunting" is a collection of true stories and photos of Jeffrey Foytek, Sr., and his 40 years of whitetail deer hunting. This book covers all of Jeffrey's success strategies, including the use of aids, tracking techniques, tree stand design, and much, much more. With photos documenting the success of his methods, and stories that will have you laughing and crying, hunters of every age and interest will learn skills and techniques that will improve their chances of success - success in filling out their tag, success in getting that once-in-a-lifetime trophy, and success at filling their freezer with tasty, healthy venison.