Spring Green, Wisconsin: House on the Rock

House on the Rock is a place you must see at least once in your lifetime. Very difficult to describe. Took all three tours. The Infinity Room section extends about 250 feet out. Also, it is an optical illusion that makes it look like it goes out much farther.

One of the most amazing places I have ever been to. So many collections of so many different things. There are dozens, if not hundreds of mechanical musical devices, from simple player pianos to full orchestras (trombones, violins, etc). I ended up spending three hours there and could have spent more. Very interesting large pots of flowers on the drive up, and several very nice garden spots throughout. The place is so big it has water coolers dispersed throughout it and two restaurants (or three?).

Make sure you go into each bathroom; they each have a different theme, from Christmas, to a wall of pretty glass bottles, to a balcony full of "ladies" in very fancy dresses with a ball of flowers for their heads.

House on the Rock offers 3 pricey tours. The first tour is the lion share of the cost and is interesting and worthwhile.

For a small amount more you can take the other 2 tours, but don't. The 2nd and 3rd tour are endless treks past every strange thing you can imagine. The problem is, there are no descriptions. You almost never know if what you're looking at is real or fake. Some things are obviously fake (like the crowns of every monarch England has known), while most others make you wonder. This is a tourist trap with strategically placed food options.

Wow! Make sure you allow several days for this house alone. Fortunately, the unused portions of a ticket can be used for up to a year. We plan to come back and explore more thoroughly at a later date, but even a visit to the bathrooms is an adventure!

Started our Roadside year with The House on the Rock. Never been before. Amazing. This is a must-see mecca for Roadside fans. The visitor center is very nice. The restaurants are fine, too (brats, burgers and cheese curds). Not the best value, but we forgot the high price before we were done with the tour.

When you're done make your way to Dickeyville to see the Grotto.