Oddball Wisconsin: A Guide to Some Really Strange Places

I just returned from a road trip and I love this book. The set-up is extremely easy to follow. I've lived in Wisconsin all my life and have never really explored it. I came across this book and it helped create an interesting experience on the road. There are towns and sights that I would have (and in some cases have) passed by without noticing. The only thing that could be better is an updated version of this book. There are a few things that are out of date, but otherwise, if you plan on road tripping in Wisconsin, get this book.

This is one of the most enjoyable books I've ever read about my home state--in the midst of so much (generally) endearing weirdness, Jerome Pohlen manages to capture the spirit of this place better than any "Discover Wisconsin" ad campaign I've ever seen. Pohlen casts a broad swath over the entire state, even above Highway 8 "up nort" (a lot of people tend to forget that we even exist, so it's always refreshing to find someone who hasn't), in search of the strange, the homespun, the downright wacky, even the morbid. And he finds it in spades. Whether you're a local Sconny looking for some ideas for day trips, or an out-of-stater passing through on the way to the Dells, there's something in this book that you'll feel compelled to stop & see. Well, if you're into fiberglass oddities and going somewhere other than Door County, that is.

This is a fun and interesting book about Wisconsin. Each chapter, according to areas of the state, gets better and better. I couldn't put it down!

If you have an appetite for the curious or offbeat, this book will fill the bill. I don't have plans to visit all the places and things mentioned in this book, but just sitting and reading it was a hoot. Not just a guide to the oddball, but histories and trivia are included. This is Wisconsin at its best.

Where does this guy get all this information? I thought the book would only be full of goofy things like monolithic cheese monuments and the world's largest six pack. Although it has that in spades, there are also plenty of historical places to see, like the shrine to the birthplace of the Republican party and the grave of Edward Gein, inspiration for Silence of the Lambs. Growing up on the west coast, we used to watch movies about the midwest and say things like, "Wouldn't you go absolutely insane in some small town out there?" Oddball Wisconsin has answered my question.This is a great book if you're in the area or just want to get out of Chicago for a while.