Welcome to Down To Earth Tours

Thanks for visiting our website!
 
Our tours offer our guests a diverse and educational day
exploring 'off the beaten path' locales with extra-special stories
and numerous 'gee whiz' experiences.
You will learn things you never knew, you never knew
and have a great day in a fascinating neck of the northwoods!
 
Our day blends cultural heritage and natural history with ecology and nature
that will amaze residents and visitors alike.
Learn the secrets of the northwoods and its past.
Beauty, wildlife, and a great lunch are standard fare
and a bonus to your special day. Native American cultures are a part of
our regular tour and are the prime focus on our First Americans Cultural Tour.
 
New Half-Day Tours for 2012!
 
We will be offering half-day tours from the Sawmill Saloon in Seeley
with a morning tour from 9:00 to 12:30  and an afternoon tour from 1:00 to 4:30.
Tours will begin in mid-May and will be on Thursdays.
 
Be sure to consider breakfast, lunch, or supper from the
Sawmill Saloon's spectacular menu before or after your tour!
 
Tour is 3.5 hours and covers  our Heradwaters Tour with the morning tour being
the Lake Namekagon - Grandview Loop, and the afternoon tour will take our western
loop to learn about the fascinating stories at beautiful Eau Claire Lakes.
 
If you do the morning tour and wish to join us for the afternoon tour too,
you can join us. Room is generally available. 

Be sure tocome early or stay late and enjoy this unique
eating establishment right along the Namekagon River!
 
 
 
Join us today!


   
 
2012 marks our 7th year of offering learning adventures in the Northwoods!
 
You have found the right place for that 'extra-special thing to do' on your trip to Wisconsin's northwoods.
Discover our 'Eco/Geo/History Tour' or our brand new 'First Americans Cultural Tour'
Both are great adventures you will not want to miss!
 
Several guests have indicated that our tours are similar to an "Elderhostel'
learning adventure or a national park-like educational tour.
(Without the 3-day drive to Montana!)
 
Our tours are designed for visitors and residents alike. It is an educational,
down-to-earth adventure designed to discover many fascinating things about
our diverse northwoods.  One can learn about the place you visit, or the place you call home. 
Join us - you will learn lots and create some great memories!
We see and learn many things about our neck of the woods and have fun doing it.
 
            
 
Our original Eco-Geo-History Tour  takes our guests on a day-tour
going off-the-beaten-path to discover fascinating places and stories
of the northwoods. The route is designed to maximize a diversity of
learning experiences and topics that will enhance your knowledge
of the landscapes and the history that permeates the northwoods.
As suggested in the Walt Disney movie 'Pocohontas,' theme song,
"You'll learn things you never knew, you never knew."                

 
The First Americans Cultural Tour features Native American history,
foods, language,places, calendars, moons, customs, villages, practices,
stories, mining, and much more,dating back to people who have called
northwest Wisconsin home since the Ice Age.The Ojibwa culture is our
focus, but mound-builders and paleo-Indian cultureswill be explored as well.
(more info & link to story below)
 
 
 
Spring is here - great time for a Down To Earth Tour!
 
The beauty of fall is a bonus, our tour is special even after the leaves fall.
Tours through October - JOIN US!

 
 
 
NEW! JUST OUT!

 
New (Oct. 2011) travel book includes Down To Earth Tours!
 
The University of Wisconsin Press has just released a new travel book entitled
Green Travel Guide to Northern Wisconsin. Authors Pat Dillon and Lynne Biebel have researched and recommended a myriad of Green must do and see activities, lodging places, eating establishments, and other places of interest to the Green traveling public. Travelers should have a copy to plan their vacations and one to bring along with them in their vehicle to be sure they take advantage of the authors' hard work in assembling the diverse list. Get copies at UW Press at http://uwpress.wisc.edu/books/4988.htm
 
Thanks for including Down To Earth Tours in your new guide book!
 
 
 
 

 
Note: 
Please contact us if other tour dates might work better for you.
Special Thanks to AAA Living magazine for their coverage of our FACT adventure. 

Both tours offer a very unique activity for special occasions for your family, for a group get-together, to entertain friends and guests,  or for a special business occasion such as a "pat-on-the-back" for your employees,or maybe a "Thank You Adventure" for your best clients.
 
One family took one of our tours for their family reunion and the report was:
"How are we going to top that?"
 
Our price for each tour is $69 and that includes a scrumptious lunch. 
See last page for more on our prices
 
Note: There are predictions that fuel prices may rise substantially this year.
If that happens we may be adding a fuel surcharge to our price. I hope you understand!
 
 
Spring is on its way!
Join us!
 
 
 
 
 
Check out our tour dates and places, and, if you would like,
email us with your reservation or to request more information.
We will respond, and confirm, usually within the day!

Tours season…  Earth Day (April 22) into November
Please reserve your tour at least one day in advance.
You may take a chance & show up at the tour to see if we have space, we often do!
 
Questions? Information? Reservations?
Email or Call Today!



 
Tuesdays:
Lake Owen Pontoon Tour - by Cable Natural History Museum
This 2.5 hour tour allows guests (limited to 10-12) to explore beautiful Lake Owen &
its birdlife , history, geologic and glacial history, and  limnology (lake science).
Contact the Museum for reservations. The schedule will be available on their website
beginning in mid-May.   Telephone for more information at 715-798-3890
(www.CableMuseum.org)
 
Wednesdays: Hayward
Eco-Geo-History Tours Two tours being planned Headwaters Tour North
& South Loop Tour- alternating Wednesdays
 
Thursdays: Sawmill Saloon at Beautiful
Downtown Seeley WI on Hwy 63
 
HALF-DAY Tours
9:00 to 12:30 - Lake Namekagon Grandview Loop
 
1:00 to 4:30 Seeley Eau Claire Lakes Loop
 
Enjoy the Sawmill's fantastic foods before, between, or after your tour.
Great atmosphere, great food! Right on the Namekagon River
 
 
Fridays: Cable
Cable Natural History Museum - Eco-Geo-History Tour
Partners in Educational Opportunities (May thru Oct)    
 
Saturdays: Hayward
First Americans Cultural Tour from Hayward.
 
 
NOTE: Other dates and tours are available for groups. Call to arrange a tour for you.
We typically require a minimum of six guests to do a group tour.
Please call! 715-376-4260
 
 
 

The Delta Diner is our primary lunch stop and everyone loves the food 
and the atmosphere of this little hidden-away eating establishment!
Learn more at:   www.deltadiner.com
(on occasion other great restaurants may be our choice for lunch)
 
 
JOIN US! Email or Call Today!
715-376-4260
 
 
View Our Video
from WDSE TV's award
winning show Venture North 
 
 
Whether you live here or are visiting Wisconsin's beautiful northwoods, you will be impressed with what we do,
where we go, and what we have to share with our guests, young or not so young.
 
If interested in regional history, nature, ecology, geology, wildlife,forests, nature's beauty, glacial history,
lakes, rivers or watersheds - or the legends and lore of the northwoods,
a Down To Earth Eco-Geo-History Tour should be near the top of your 'To Do List'
 

 
 
Spring and early summer offers a kaleidoscope of color
and beauty. This blue flag iris can be seen in mid June and has a beauty
that can take your breath away!
  
 



CULTURAL TOUR
(FACT)
 
Our Inaugural Tour
 
Our first tour last May, was a resounding success. We had a super group, a beautiful day, saw some very
special things,visited some very special places, learned lots,and developed a better appreciation
and awareness about the people who have lived here over milennia.
 
 
FACT Tour Comments
 
 "Your first tour was fantastic."
 Mary - Madison

"We had a great time yesterday! You should be overrun with business
 Your story telling...is very effective. That's what makes your tour so appealing.
Everyone loves a good story. "
Marge - Cumberland

"Thanks for a great tour! It gave me lots of ideas
and inspiration to learn more!"
Don - Birchwood


 

As winter winds down over the next month our big muskies, northerns, and walleyes are
repeating the annual cycle of migrating upstream to spawn.
Here a musky basks in the spring sunshine waiting for the right conditions to spawn
and giving our guests a highlight of the day!.
 

 
Wabigon-gissis, the Ojibwa Moon of the Flowers occurs in May
as the fields and forests are dotted with the blooms of spring.
Here a trailing arbutus emerges from under the leaves on May Day.
When you smell  'arbeauties' as my Grandpa Louie would call them,
thjnk lilac frangrance  x10.  Amazing tiny bloom that emerges as the snow disappears,
 
 
FACT  Tour Agenda & Topics:
 
• history and culture;  • Ojibwa language; • Seasonal cycles; • monthly 'moons'; 
• special foods and where they are found;  • how they lived their lives here in the northwoods;
• ancient trails and portage routes;  • important village sites; • tools and resources used; • beliefs and customs; and we share their stories and legends, that have been a part of their lives forever.

Our emphasis will cover the 'moon of the month'  such as the ‘blueberry moon’ of August,
or the ‘wild rice moon’ of September, and we will explore the topic more in depth.

First Americans Cultural Tours scheduled for Saturdays from Hayward
Paleo-Indian, archaic, woodland cultures, copper culture, mound builders, and
up to the most recent, the Ojibwa are all part of our full day.

We are excited about this new adventure and hope to see you on one of our First Americans Cultural Tours. You will come away with an enhanced appreciation and awareness of our First Americans.

Join us!
 715-376-4260
 
 
 
 
How about a Family Reunion?
 
A first for Down To Earth Tours.
 
"The tour was a great hit with my family, both young and old commented on a fantastic day spent
learning and viewing the history and ecology of the area.  Also for all 20 of us to be together enjoying
the same event for the entire day was fantastic. This for sure will go down as the best family reunion event ever by all the families that attended our reunion this year."
Jeff - Grandview
 
Maybe your family is planning a reunion?
We can make your reunion a special day
of learning and of creating memories. 
 


  
Why Should I Take a Down To Earth Tour?
 
A song from the Disney movie Pocohantas 
'Colors of the Wind' really describes our mission -
"You'll learn things you never knew, you never knew!"   
  
Your Vacation Time is Precious. Make it Count!

Ask Yourself:
 
"What do I want my northwoods vacation experience to be?"
 
  
You will have a special & super day!
That is what we do -
We make it count! 

   

 Explore the Natural History, Cultural History,
& Geologic/Glacial History of
Wisconsin's northwoods.
 
Our smaller group size is more personal
and allows for better interaction,
and our 14-passenger bus gets us there in comfort.
 
A one-of-a-kind day, a feast-in-the-forest lunch, and
a special day of discovery & learning  -
all cheaper than the price of a round of golf!


Our price is $69,  $35 for youngsters under 12,
and that includes the lunch!



"There is a story on every acre and
it is our mission to bring them to you!"

 


A Down To Earth Eco-Geo-History Tour is Unique and Genuine.
 
Nowhere in Wisconsin is there a similar type of recreational activity - nowhere.
 
To many, one major goal of their vacation is
to truly learn about the place they visit - this is exactly what we offer.

  Some of our guests have compared our tour to a
national park-like guided tour,or an 'Elderhostel' program. 
 
Join us, and, like our many enthusiastic guests over the past five years,
you will create a new page in your 'fantastic vacations' memory book.
 
  
TV - Appearances
 
Down To Earth Tours was featured on
Venture North on WDSE TV Channel 8  in 2008 and 2009 and
on Discover Wisconsin in 2007.  
  


Down To Earth Tours
Eco/Geo/History 
46830 Cranberry Lake Rd Gordon, WI 54838
715-376-4260      Information & Reservations
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Updated: 4/13/2012