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History abounds in Prairie du Chien, especially during special events such as the Prairie Villa Rendezvous.

Attractions

You'll know you're almost to Gays Mills when you see hundreds of apple trees, twisted and bent, marching up and down the hillsides.

The Gays Mills historical marker, which overlooks town and the crooked Kickapoo River that runs through town, says farmers learned very quickly that the area was good for growing apples.

John Hays, in fact, took some Gays Mills apples to the state fair in 1905. The apples took first place. He took them to a national contest in New York. They won first place again.

So, the Wisconsin State Horticultural Society decided to plant some trial orchards. You can see the result. The Gays Mills area is the center of the largest and most concentrated apple orchard area in the Midwest. There are now more than 1,000 acres of apples growing around here.

Drive down the hill-watch for the hairpin turn you're supposed to take at 15 miles per hour-and you're entering Gays Mills, population 578. Find a shady spot and enjoy one of those juicy apples you bought along the road.

Historic Log Cabin Park is also located in Gays Mills. These are reconstructed log buildings sponsored by the Crawford County Historical Society. Relocated buildings illustrate the techniques of our pioneer ancestors.

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Area Events

Prairie du Chien, WI

Nov. 26: Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot, 3 mile run/walk, Hoffman Hall, 1600 S Wacouta. For more information, call 608-326-7207

Dec. 4: Holiday Parade, 5:30 p.m., Blackhawk Ave. For more information, call 608-326-7207.

Dec. 4: Holiday Parade, 5:30 p.m., Blackhawk Ave., Prairie du Chien, Wis.

Dec. 5, 6, 12, 13: 1890s Christmas Holiday on a Victorian Country Estate, Villa Louis Historic Site, St. Feriole Island, 521 N Villa Louis Road. Visit the Dousman family as they prepare for the holidays in the 1890s, including decorating the house and preparing for a Christmas Eve visit from St. Nick. Christmas Day finds the family opening gifts in the parlor, attending church and gathered at the dinner table for a Christmas feast. They greet the New Year with a reception and social dance hosted by the family for daughter Virginia Dousman's 18th birthday. Lamplight programs will be presented on Saturday, Dec. 5 and 12. For more information, call 608-326-2721.

Dec. 31: "Droppin of the Carp," entrance of St. Feriole Island, Blackhawk Ave. 9 p.m. bonfire and entertainment, countdown at 11:40 p.m. and ends with fireworks. For more information, call 608-326-8602.

Parks

* Robb Park on the Kickapoo River has a shelter house, trailer parking, dumping station, sanitary facilities, handicapped accessible rest rooms, electrical hookups, horseshoe pits, and fishing below the dam with a variety of fish, including bass, walleye, pike, trout and catfish.

* Log Cabin Heritage Park has two picnic shelters, playground equipment, swimming pool, softball field and sand-volleyball court. Also includes authentic pioneer log cabins.

* Brown Park, near the Methodist church, has three double tennis courts and a basketball court.

Area Camping

Prairie du Chien, WI

* Frenchman's Landing campground, seven miles north of Prairie du Chien on Wisconsin 35. Area's only campground with riverfront campsites on the main channel of the Mississippi River. Sand beach, free boat ramp, water electricity and sanitation facilities. Call 608/874-4563.

* Big River Campground, 106 W. Pauquette Road, Route 1. Has 108 campsites, water, electrical and sewer hookups, modern rest rooms, showers, boat rental, playground, fishing and swimming. Call 608/326-2712.

Wauzeka, WI

* Husher Park, a roadside park overlooking the Wisconsin 131, five miles northeast of Wauzeka, offers camping picnic tables and outlook towers.

Wyalusing, WI

* Wyalusing State Park, 10 miles from Prairie du Chien. The Wisconsin River was the pathway for early explorers and fur traders. Park has campgrounds, picnic facilities, hiking and nature trails.

* Bagley - River of Lakes Resort and Campground, one-and-a-half miles south of Bagley, has 150 50-foot campsites, three modern rest rooms, 10 showers, electricity, water and sewer hookups, dumping station, boats, motors, canoes, paddle boats, bicycles, recreation hall, RV rentals, cabins and seasonal sites.

* Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park Campground, 15 miles south of Prairie du Chien on County X, has 200 campsites, cabin rental, heated pool, 18-hole miniature golf, snack shop, rest rooms, general store, laundry facilities, playground, cartoons in Yogi's Theater, wagon rides with Yogi, hiking and trails. 608/996-2201.