City of Horicon

The city of Horicon in central Wisconsin is synonymous with the famous Horicon Marsh, the nation's largest freshwater cattail marsh and a birding hotspot. If it wasn't for the marsh, coupled with the city's strategic location on the Rock River, Horicon would simply be another unknown small town with little to offer visitors. But the marsh is there, and Horicon (population: 4,000) capitilizies on that.A local business, Blue Heron Landing, has been offering guided boat tours of the marsh for nearly 50 years. Canoe and kayak rentals are available, as is shuttle service. A 2-mile hiking trail on the city's northeastern end takes you through a scenic slice of woods and out onto the marsh for a close look at some of the wildlife. Visitors who have come from afar can stay at one of two small hotels or The Honeybee Inn Bed & Breakfast, one of the poshest B&Bs in the state. Unfortunately, there aren't any notable restaurants or specialty shops in town, although the neighboring city of Mayville has a few. The marsh is run by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and those two entities offer a wealth of programming and tours year-round. Horicon's businesses have plenty of maps and brochures about these programs, and happily help visitors find what they're looking for. The city's main annual event is the May Horicon Marsh Bird Festival, sponsored by the Horicon Marsh Bird Club. It also hosts various other events, such as a summer Rock n River Jam, fall arts and crafts show, and a farmers market.