Let's take a ride along Highway 11.

This highway actually runs east to west across the state and connects the Racine/Kenosha area with Dubuque, Iowa, but in this column we'll cover the span from Monroe to Dubuque.

Monroe, the county seat of Green County, is a city of about 10,000 that bills itself as the Swiss Cheese Capital of the country. You can indeed find some excellent cheese -- Swiss and others -- at several shops in the town. And, the Cheese Days festival in September is always fun.

Minhas Craft Brewery in Monroe brews Huber, Berghoff and other great-tasting beers. Nothing washes down Swiss cheese better.

Monroe also has interesting gift and antique stores. The city is the birthplace of Tommy James of Tommy James and the Shondells, Ken Behring, former owner of the Seattle Seahawks and other notables.

Right outside of Monroe, Highway 11 is actually a freeway bypass, but it soon becomes more of a country road as you head west. You'll drive through some beautiful, hilly scenery as you head west, through Browntown and South Wayne in Green County.

The Town of South Wayne is known as the "Lost Township," because the original survey of the municipality was lost by the federal government.

Near South Wayne, the Spafford Creek Massacre, one of the battles during the Black Hawk War, was fought.

As you enter LaFayette County, you'll drive into Gratiot, a community of 250 people. Abner Frank Dalrymple, who played 12 years in the major leagues before 1900, is from this small community. Dalrymple counted the Milwaukee Grays and old Milwaukee Brewers among the teams he played for.

Continue west on 11 and you come to Shullsburg, a city of around 1,200. Again, you can find some great cheese at the Shullsburg Cheese Store on Water Street and elsewhere.

You also should take a side trip to the south on Highway U. There, you will come across Gravity Hill. It's named that because if you put your car in neutral at one point on the hill, you will roll up the hill, not down.

The cause of this phenomenon is not known. It's also highly suggested that you look closely behind you before you try it.

Shullsburg also is the birthplace of Lou "The Fixer" Blonger. Also known as the "Bunco King," Blonger became an infamous gangster in Denver after he left Shullsburg.  Page 1 of 2 (view all on one page)

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