Back in the mid-1970s a group of men, mostly out of the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, decided to organize a weekend trip down the Kickapoo River. Starting out, the trip was pretty primitive.

The lush valleys of the Midwest are the perfect backdrop for getting out of town and reconnecting with nature. Add this small Wisconsin village to your list.

Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Wisconsin is drawing a record number of visitors for many reasons, its high-level natural beauty being chief among them. Up north, ...