We don't travel much during the summer season, so we got lucky when we dropped in on the Railroad Memories Museum and found them open for a special tour group. They gave us a tour while they waited for the group to arrive.
Then we walked a few yards down the tracks and took a ride on the Wisconsin Great Northern Railroad. During the summer, they have meal trains and special events.
Run by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, the Gov. Tommy G. Thompson Hatchery is teeming with fish just waiting to get big enough to be planted in northwest Wisconsin streams and lakes. Although it was covered with snow when we were there last winter, it looks like a great summer stop. There's a picnic area. They have tours and a visitor's center. Ask if their fish end up in the Chetek Chain of Lakes!
From Rainbow's End Resort, take highway 53 north about 32 miles to Sarona. Look for highway 251. Follow 251 to U.S. 63, turn right and you're in Spooner. This enters Spooner on the south. Over the river, and the fish hatchery is on the left. A little farther to downtown, and the railroad attractions are a block off the highway on the right.
If you miss the 251 exit, stay on 53 and take the Spooner exit. This is the north end of town.
There are a couple of family restaurants downtown that go by someone's first name. "Dana's" I believe was one. Both have good food at reasonable prices. There's even a deli in the market on the south side of town. With only two trips so far, we haven't had a chance to check out all the local cuisine. Let us know your findings, and we'll add them to Base Camp Chetek.
Take a walk through the rest of downtown before you come back to watch the sunset at Rainbow's End Resort.
Please check hatchery tour times and train ride times on their web sites so you can schedule in all you'd like to do in Spooner.
On the way home, stop at Miller's Cheese House in Rice Lake for some finishing touches or snack items for the evening back at your cabin on the south shore of Lake Chetek. Or try the Dairy Queen in Chetek! They've got a new food line as well as all the traditional favorites.
Have fun on your outing from Base Camp Chetek at Rainbow's End Resort!
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