Through the Driftless

Kelly Aiglon, Chicago Magazine

A dive into the culture-rich region that the last Ice Age whiffed on

Day 4

Spring Green

Sitting along the Wisconsin River, this town has become synonymous with Frank Lloyd Wright, who built Taliesin here in 1911 as his home and architectural laboratory. Time permitting, book the four-hour estate tour; it’s the only way to see all the major buildings onsite, including the main house, studio, school, and theater.

Then pivot to the House on the Rock, the creation of eccentric collector Alex Jordan Jr. Beginning in the 1940s, Jordan built a sprawling, surreal complex that defies easy description. The Infinity Room cantilevers 140 feet over a valley, with no visible supports. Inside, you’ll find a 269-creature (no two alike) carousel, enormous maritime models, dollhouses, armor, and self-playing automated orchestras that roar to life when coins drop.

In summer, American Players Theatre stages Shakespeare and other classics in a 1,100-seat outdoor amphitheater carved into the woods just outside town. Bring a picnic, layer up after sunset, and enjoy national-caliber actors in a setting that feels improbably serene.

Stay at Steampunk Manor Bed & Breakfast, a Victorian house reimagined with exposed gears, metal fixtures, and the ambience of a Beetlejuice set. It’s walkable to downtown and has the right level of idiosyncrasy for a town where Taliesin and the House on the Rock coexist.

Find Full Itinerary Here