Destination: Mount Horeb

Vacations on a tankful -- or less -- are looking pretty darn appealing these days. The next stop in our travel on a budget series is historic Mount Horeb.

Mount Horeb, a mere 15 minute drive from Madison’s west side, has long been famous for its trolls and Mustard Museum but there’s so much more to this town than that. In August 2008, Mount Horeb was named the #1 Suburb in Dane County by Madison Magazine due in part to its safe streets, historic and cultural offerings, and independent, creative businesses.

Art abounds in Mount Horeb. See artists at work in their own galleries, like the new Peg Ginsberg Watercolor Studio, Zalucha Studio or Mikel Kelley Studio Gallery. Art meets retail at the Kaleidoscope Marketplace in the historic Hoff Mall, with artist-designed and created gift items upstairs and a full gallery downstairs.

Go antiquing, or shop for traditional Scandinavian gifts at Open House Imports, quaint finds at Moonhill Mercantile, upscale women’s clothing at Her Closet, hard-to-find soaps, lotions, and other sundries at Isaac’s Soaps and Scents. Be sure to visit the Prairie Bookshop inside the historic Opera House, a rare independent bookstore with a nearly-20 year tradition of selling new titles to Mount Horeb area bookworms.

Stop for coffee and quiche at Sjolind’s Chocolate House, or dine on bleu cheese chicken salad at the Sommer House, grilled panini at the new Bistro 101, or portabella mushroom sandwich and award-winning beer at the Grumpy Troll Brewery. Sole Sapori’s authentic Sicilian recipes and cozy wine bar cap off the perfect day of sightseeing.

Tyrol Ski Basin offers sixteen tree-lined slopes that extend over 40 acres on the 300 foot vertical hill (www.tyrolbasin.com). If you plan to stay the night the Village Inn Motel (www.littlebedder.com) is clean, family-owned, and right downtown.

Mount Horeb is a welcoming community with a rich appreciation for preservation and creativity. Visit www.trollway.com for updates on what's going on from week to week in beautiful, historic Mount Horeb.

Happy Trails!