OAK HILL MANOR
BED & BREAKFAST

There are Many Attractions
to Keep You Busy During
Your Stay at Oak Hill Manor

Any of the following buttons will take you to your area of interest, but if you have the time, take a leisurely look at all of the attractions that a stay at Oak Hill Manor offers.

	CANOEING		FISHING		BICYCLING
	HIKING		WINTER SPORTS		GOLFING
	HUNTING		BOWLING		SHOPPING
	DINING		MOVIES		WORSHIP
	TOURING

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

THE SUGAR RIVER

The Sugar River is a dominant characteristic of the Village of Albany, and as such provides great recreation opportunities for guests at Oak Hill Manor.

  CANOEING

A local provisioner, only a couple of minutes away, offers canoe rentals; and will provide you with a canoe, life jackets and paddles, and will drive you up river (1 1/2 Hours, 3 Hours, or 6 Hours). You can paddle back to their location at your leisure. All of this is provided at an extremely reasonable fee. And the Sugar River, where you will be paddling, is located along over 1000 acres of nature preserve; so you are assured of seeing abundant wildlife on your journey. No concerns about white water either; the Sugar River is gentle and easy to navigate. If you prefer getting into the water, tubing is also available for the more adventuresome.

FISHING

The Sugar River is one of the untapped wonders of the area; and Albany is perfectly placed, with a beautiful dam, to harvest the teeming aquatic life in this beautiful river. Just below the dam you will often see fishermen pulling out large and abundant bass and walleye. Every evening in summer, fishermen (and women and children) can be seen on the beautiful bridge on Albany's main street, fishing and enjoying the view of the lighted dam just up the river. Electric motors are the most suitable for this stretch of the river, and Albany has a free public boat landing if you would like to bring your own small craft.

THE SUGAR RIVER STATE TRAIL

The other dominant recreation characteristic of the area is the Sugar River State Trail. This trail, which runs twenty-three miles from the Town of Brodhead to the Village of New Glarus, is an old Milwaukee Road Railroad right-of-way, and as such has a gentle 1% grade maximum through its entire course. It has been extensively manicured with limestone screenings to provide a smooth surface for comfortable travel. 

 BICYCLING

The Village of Albany is located midway on the Sugar River State Trail, and Oak Hill Manor is only a 2 minute bicycle ride from the Albany trail station. Bring your bicycle with you while staying at Oak Hill Manor, and indoor storage is provided. If this is not convenient, New Glarus and Brodhead both have bicycle rental available, please inquire.

Either way, you are sure to enjoy a day or two out on the trail; riding over the river on old railroad trestles between Albany and New Glarus, or passing through the replica of the historic Clarence covered bridge on the way to Brodhead. Because the Sugar River State Trail is a rustic trail, you will notice abundant wildlife on your journey, including deer, wild turkeys, sandhill cranes, river otters; and occasionally a meandering cow or pig, lost for the day.

HIKING

There are abundant opportunities to walk in and around Albany. The Sugar River State Trail, in addition to being a great place to cycle, is also a great place for an easygoing gentle hike. While in Albany, you can walk to our local parks, and sit and picnic by the Sugar River dam (or at several other beautiful spots along the river). Just a short drive away is Abraham's woods, which provides a pristine 40 acre wooded meadow (where Abraham's sugar shack still stands) for spotting wildflowers. If your taste is for more vigorous hiking, Magnolia Bluff and Marault Bluff Prairie provide hilly hiking experiences which highlight some of the wonderful contrasts at the edge of Wisconsin's "driftless" zone, where the last glacier stopped.

WINTER SPORTS

The Sugar River State Trail is also used for cross country skiing and snowmobiling in the winter. A number of other trails are located nearby to provide variety and interest. Nothing can compare to the unmatched serenity and beauty of the rural landscape on a crisp winter's morning following a gentle snow. Overland and roadside trails are abundant, and winter sports enthusiasts are welcomed.

OTHER SPORTING ACTIVITIES

GOLFING

If golf is your pleasure, then there are plenty of opportunities to brush up on your game within a short pleasant drive from Oak Hill Manor. Sporty and competitive courses are available in Brodhead, Monroe, Evansville, New Glarus; and of course Madison courses are only 1/2 hour to an hour away. If you are used to long waits and expensive greens fees you will be pleasantly surprised by what awaits you here. Give us advance notice, and we will reserve a tee time; and clubs and a cart if you desire.

HUNTING

If hunting is your thing, Albany is your place. Surrounded by public hunting grounds and nature preserve, this is the perfect location to "bag" that deer, or just to observe the marvels of nature in the wild. During the season, game is abundant and accessible. In fact, deer are readily seen year-round in and around Albany.

BOWLING

Albany is not very large, but a six lane bowling alley is located right on main street. This is a great way to pass a bit of time in the evening. Leagues, with some of the best bowlers in the area are popular, so you can sit back and watch the game; or rent some shoes and pick up a ball and bowl a couple of lines yourself.

SHOPPING

Whatever your pleasure, you are likely to find something to enchant you in the area. From homegrown produce in the summer, to rare antiques year round you can find it within a short distance of Albany. Albany itself is not a commercial center, but it hosts one of the best Thrift Shops you will find anywhere. Sponsored by the churches of Albany, this shop has clothing and knickknacks which will amaze you with their quality, selection and prices. Other items are available in the surrounding countryside and in the nearby towns of New Glarus, Monroe, Monticello, Evansville and Brodhead. And of course, the cosmopolitan shopping of the #1 Rated city in the U.S. - Madison - is only a 1/2 hour away.

GIFT SHOPS

It would be difficult to imagine a larger collection of gift shops in a smaller area than that located in New Glarus. New Glarus is a Swiss village which maintains it's native character. Shops which specialize in Swiss goods abound; and merchandise ranging from Christmas decorations to homemade sausages and candies can be found year round. And the micro brewery is world famous, and can provide the perfect gift to bring back to the folks at home.

ANTIQUES

Every town in the area has it's antique store. Brodhead has a three story antique mall with many items of local interest and color. Monticello, Monroe and New Glarus also have a wide selection of antique stores which cater to all tastes and collection specialties. At Oak Hill Manor we also keep track of estate sales and auctions in the area which often provide the best opportunity of all to pick up a local treasure at a reasonable price. So well known is the area that on many Spring, Summer and Fall weekends there will be a sale in the area which will be noticeable by the parked cars with license plates not only from Wisconsin, but from the surrounding states.

AMISH TREASURES

Albany sits in the heart of rural Amish communities which support a primarily agricultural lifestyle. Amish wagons, pulled by teams of Belgians, are visible on the rural roads all around the Village of Albany. But in the Amish tradition, there are also numerous homespun goods available to the observant tourist. We can direct you to places to acquire such Amish mainstays as fresh herbs and spices, homeopathic medicines, horse tack; and of course, furniture and quilts.

CHEESE

No visit to Green County, Wisconsin would be complete without cheese. Known as America's Little Switzerland, the county is world famous for the quantity and quality of Swiss type cheeses produced. Small dairies, specializing in cheese production, dot the rolling countryside of the county. Of course, other varieties of cheese are available, and we at Oak Hill Manor know where to send you for that special cheese variety that you are looking for. Whether it is the elusive Limburger cheese that interests you, or you just want to sample a prize winning Pesto or Salsa cheese selection, we can direct you to the dairy that specializes in your favorite. And don't forget cheese curds; we know where to get them on Monday's right after they have been produced

DINING OUT

Interested in a quick snack? Or a satisfying lunch? A casual dinner within walking distance of Oak Hill Manor? Or perhaps you would like to dress up and enjoy a night out on the town dining at any of a number of world class restaurants within a short drive from the Village of Albany. We are happy to advise you and make the necessary arrangements.

Albany has a variety of eating establishments which will satisfy any appetites, and which are just a couple of minutes walk from Oak Hill Manor. Broasted chicken and hot sandwiches are available at several bars in town and at the bowling alley. A couple of local cafe/restaurants provide a full menu for lunch and evening meals with daily specials which will not only fill you up, but will surprise you with the reasonable prices.

If you want to go out on the town, Monticello, New Glarus and Monroe all offer a wonderful selection within a short drive. Choose from classic steak house and supper club fare, to haute French cuisine, to gourmet dining prepared with fresh seasonal local grown favorites. Let us know what appeals most to your tastes and we will make recommendations. We will also make your reservations for you so that while you are staying at Oak Hill Manor you will not be disappointed by missing out on your dining choice.

No need to worry about breakfast, though. That's our specialty here at Oak Hill Manor. (See the "Breakfast" page located elsewhere at this site.)

THE MOVIES

Interested in a taking in a film while visiting Oak Hill Manor? Monroe's Goetz Theatre is a three screen cinema that has first run films at all times.  Click on the graphic below to check out what's showing, and what time the show starts.

CHURCHES

There are four churches in Albany, two of them in historic buildings. Whether your preference is Baptist, Methodist, Lutheran or Roman Catholic; no need to leave town to participate in the service of your choice. We can advise you as to times for services; and if you need a denomination which is not found in Albany, we will find the nearest location for you to visit.

TOURING THE AREA

The Village of Albany is conveniently located in South-central Wisconsin's Hidden Valley region. It is an excellent jumping off point for touring and visiting many of the attractions in this part of the state.

New Glarus, Madison and Monroe are only 30 minutes or less from Albany. And, Albany is less than an hour from the House on the Rock, Mount Horeb, Dodgeville, Cambridge and Mineral Point. The grandeur and historic wonder of the Wisconsin Dells area, the mighty Lake Wisconsin and the majestic Baraboo "mountain" range is only a short distance further.

We can plan a half day or a full day tour that will take you to many of these attractions, and which will take you to out of the way places such as a free car ferry across the Wisconsin River and a museum which specializes only in mustard. Have a picnic lunch along a towering hydro-electric dam where the oxygen-enervated walleye literally jump out of the water; or drive through the shadows of the oldest mountains on earth. We know the routes, we know the places to stop, and we can tell you where to have a snack or a meal. All plotted on a map just for you.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Every month has its special attractions here in Albany and at Oak Hill Manor. If you would like to know what awaits you, just click on the button below for a month by month listing of attractions in and around Oak Hill Manor.