Winter Adventures in Verona, WI

The adventure starts in earnest with a winter classic: Ice hockey. Elver Park is like a BBQ combo platter of winter sports. They have a regular ice rink and a hockey rink, a massive sledding hill (that’s lit up at night), snowshoeing trails, and cross-country ski trails. Lace up with skate rentals for just $6. Hockey sticks and pucks are available if you don’t have your own.

Follow it up with a Madison Capitols USHL game at Bob Suter’s Capitol Ice Arena. Expect a sold out stadium on special events (like $1 Beer Night)! The lively arena held over 2,600 energetic fans ranging from work groups and rowdy college students to children's birthday parties and diehard hockey fans. Try a Sondel Dawg, their taco-seasoned chili dog, followed by a flavorful Moon Man from New Glarus Brewing.

Your nose will lead you to North and South Seafood & Smokehouse via the delicious smoky aroma in the parking lot. Service is quick if you’re looking for a light meal or stay a while to take in all the savory flavors. Try the Armadillo Eggs, burnt ends and catfish paired with a [Hop Haus Brewing Company](https://www.hophausbrewing.com/ hazy ale, the Hashtag Hazy.

Start your morning at Gus’s Diner, a dependable breakfast spot with good portions. They have all the classics but we'd recommend chicken and waffles (you won't regret it). As soon as you walk inside, you'll instantly notice a 1950's vibe. The 50's theme is complete with jukeboxes, booths, and diner classics like burgers and shakes.

University Ridge Golf Course. In the summer you’ll see collegiate golfers and local pros playing a round but in the winters, University Ridge turns into heaven for cross-country skiers with the championship Zimmer Cross Country course. Ski rentals and trail passes were surprisingly affordable in the premium clubhouse (just $10 per person and rentals are also just $10). Check the trail conditions here before you visit.

Start by gliding your way through the trees, following the handmade trail signs with names like Arthur’s Alley and Turkey Trot. These bring you to the dedicated cross-country trails (classic and skate) where you’ll find hills if you want them and long flat stretches where you can zone out. The routes are also well-marked with signs for 4km thru 10km loops.

A local lunch favorite is Draft House. Expect a wide range of craft, domestic and international beers as the name suggests. Warning: the homemade pizza rolls are dangerously delicious. You won’t feel guilty eating them all if you order the tasty cobb salad as your main course.

Tyrol Basin ski resort has something for everybody, without the lift lines and prices of the big resorts. You’ll find 22 runs, 5 terrain parks, bunny hills for new skiers and double black diamonds for the daredevils (map here). They offer tubing alongside ski and snowboard rentals. The Chalet has a full bar and menu up top (an adult hot cocoa with Bailey’s Irish Cream, yes please) and the lower floor has grab-and-go items.

Do yourself a favor by calling in a pickup order at Sugar River Pizza Co. – a local favorite in the Sugar River Valley. Try "The Tropics", a variation on a Hawaiian pizza, and the "Rio Grande BBQ Chicken" pizza.

Pro Tip: Their pickup window is incredibly busy on Saturdays, so call at least 2 hours in advance.

Take your pizza across the street to combine it with a brewery-fresh pint at Lake Louie Brewing Company (aka Wisconsin Brewing Company) – their oatmeal stout is perfection on a dark snowy night.

In the summertime it's a perfect place to soak in the sun on their patio with a view of the pond steps from your chair – but winter has its perks at this hometown favorite brewery. You can cozy up next to their outdoor fire pits and when there are blizzard-like conditions, opt to pass the time inside with their stack of board games or house-built shut the box game.

Come hungry when you swing byGrace Coffee Co.. Their picture-perfect pastries are outshined only by their decadent breakfast entrees like the stuffed french toast and blueberry cheesecake pancakes are heavenly.

It's a short walk away from cozy shops like The Sow's Ear, a cafe meets yarn shop, and Kismet Books, a local bookshop with chairs to relax in inside if its too chilly out to adventure.

Visit Badger Prairie County Park for 11 acres of snowshoeing and winter hiking.

This park has a nice trail network of its own and is situated at the confluence of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail – a hiker's paradise even in the winter – and the 45-mile Military Ridge State Trail, which you can hike and fat tire snow bike on too.

Badger Prairie County Park also features two dog parks if you bring four-legged friends or just want to pet somebody else's.

A hidden gem for mountain bikers... the free Quarry Ridge Mountain Bike Trails are well-maintained (by volunteers from Mad City Dirt) and offer fun riding for all skill levels. In the winter the single-track trails are groomed for fat tire bikes.

Pro Tip: Check out the trail map online or talk with the local riders about the conditions to get trail tips. The trail is situated right off the highway and the [Military Ridge State Trail](https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/parks/militaryridge.