Begin at the International Crane Foundation, one of Wisconsin’s most important international institutions. It is the only place in the world where all fifteen species of cranes can be seen, and it plays a leading role in global conservation efforts. For Japanese visitors, the resonance is immediate. The crane is a national symbol, associated with longevity, good fortune, and peace. Seeing these birds up close, in a natural habitat devoted to their protection, creates a powerful and unexpected connection between Wisconsin and Japan.
A short drive away is the Aldo Leopold Shack. Like Matsu Basho’s hut in Japan, this humble structure is revered for the transformative thought that emerged from it. Leopold came here to repair worn land and to think clearly about humanity’s responsibility to nature. From this inglorious shack grew A Sand County Almanac and the American land ethic it helped define. The lesson is simple and shared across cultures: “Conservation is a state of harmony between men and land.”
Nearby, Parfrey’s Glen offers a different scale of encounter. This narrow gorge, carved by water over millennia, draws visitors into shade, stone, and sound. John Muir, who emigrated from Scotland to Wisconsin as a boy, admired Parfrey’s Glen deeply, calling it one of the most beautiful places Wisconsin. Walking through it is not strenuous; it is absorbing. The path follows a stream through cool air and close walls, reminding visitors that some places are meant to be experienced slowly and at close range.
Finish the day at Devil’s Lake State Park, Wisconsin’s most visited state park and one of its most spectacular. Hike the lake loop, go for a swim, rent a canoe, or climb one of the bluffs to take in the view. The exposed stone cliffs and clear water make this a place of exhilaration as much as reflection. Sterling North marveled at Rascal’s instinctive ability to scramble down a cliff the first time he encountered one. Here, visitors may test their own ability to do the same. Or simply relax on the lakeshore and soak in the scenery.
Together, these stops form a complete chapter: a beloved shared species protected, a transformational idea born, and natural parks to be savored and enjoyed.
