Sparta

The world’s largest bike – an old-fashioned high wheeler formed out of fiberglass – welcomes visitors to Sparta, which dubs itself the “Bicycling Capital of America.” Located off I-90, the town offers ready access to several nationally known bike trails including the Elroy-Sparta State Trail, the first rails-to-trails bicycle route in the country. Sparta’s downtown is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Its hospitality and location make it a good “home base” for day trips to nearby attractions. Eleven miles north of Sparta the Wegner Grotto is a fantastic garden of concrete sculptures decorated with thousands of glittering glass shards. Fort McCoy, eight miles northeast of Sparta, offers an excellent public recreation area as well as interesting military displays.