Wisconsin’s 40th Annual American Birkebeiner

Races, food, music, and family-friendly events, the 2013 American Birkebeiner has something for everyone. February 21-23, transforms Hayward into a festival for adults, kids, athletes, fitness buffs, and those wanting great winter fun. Kids can play Simon Says while on skis and families can take a guided snowshoe hike with the Cable Natural History Museum. Marvel and laugh at the spectacle of six people sprinting on one set of skis during the Giant Ski Event then cheer at the finish line for your favorite Skate or Classic Technique skiers. 

BirkieStaying for the full event won’t break the bank at Second Wind Country Inn; the Ashland inn is offering a special all February: reserve two nights and get the third night free. On 35 picturesque acres, it was built specifically to be a bed and breakfast and you won’t find any doilies in this rustic retreat. Take in the festivities with friends by reserving the Northern Lights Loft or Lumberjack Loft; both have cooking facilities and can sleep up to eight guests. You might want to take a break from the outdoor fun to watch the Chequamegon Theatre Association presentation of “The Little Prince.”

marathonAfter a day of fun-filled Birkie events, stay at the Garmisch Resort, in Cable, to find everything you need for the rest of your vacation. The on-site restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner with views of Lake Namakagon. Step into the Bierstube Lounge for a craft beer or glass of wine. The lodge and cabins were once a private retreat for a wealthy Chicago family. Now, they hold a sense of camaraderie as friends, old and new, gather together. Spend a romantic evening in a one-bedroom cabin or stay with the whole family in a five-bedroom cabin. You might want to extend your getaway and arrive early to watch the Barstool Races in Drummond.

ice-fishingCrowds can be fun but sometimes you need peace and quiet. Country Comfort, a bed and breakfast in Menomonie, is an hour and a half from the event. The inn is offering a buy one get one free massage deal in February. Give your sore muscles the relaxation they deserve then retire to the Tranquility, Harmony, or Joy room and sit by the warmth of a fire. As an added bonus, the NAIFC Ice Fishing Weekend is happening on Lake Menomonie at the same time as the Birkie, double your fun with two events from the same inn.

carouselWant to explore three states while attending the Birkie? Stay in the south end of Wisconsin at Walnut Ridge in Platteville. See the world’s largest carousel at the House on the Rock in Spring Green, Wisconsin. Go skiing at the Chestnut Mountain Resort in Galena, Illinois. Satisfy your sweet tooth at Betty Jane Candies in Dubuque, Iowa. Take a day trip to the Birkie events then spend a romantic evening in a handcrafted log cabin. It may be winter, but you can still enjoy the sound of running water with a soak in the two-person whirlpool tub with a waterfall feature.

Visit https://iloveinns.com/ and browse through the 19,000 Bed and Breakfasts and country inns that specialize in other events and locations that may interest you. Many of the properties listed above are also in the best-selling bed and breakfast guidebook Bed & Breakfasts and Country Inns with a Buy-One-Night-Get-One-Night-Free Certificate. ILoveInns also offers Bed and Breakfast Gift Certificates, a perfect solution to help celebrate any occasion.

About American Historic Inns and iLoveInns.com

American Historic Inns, Inc. (www.iloveinns.com), founded in 1981, is the leading publisher of bed and breakfast guidebooks, with more than 2.5 million bed and breakfast guidebooks sold, and is the parent company to iLoveInns.com, a top bed and breakfast and country inns directory. iLoveInns offers a free iPhone application http://www.inntouch.com/ with 6,000 inns covered.