Kevin Revolinski's Blog, page 2
February 2, 2021
Pairing Brews & Short Stories
I had a special bottle of barrel-aged beer, and I’d promised a writing buddy that I’d save it until one of us finished our next book. My book Stealing Away came out this month. As promised, the bottle came out, and I shared it with Andy Ravenscroft and one of my editors, Karen Barrett-Wilt while socially distanced around an evening backyard bonfire.
From my Instagram account:
“Champagne to celebrate the book release? Nah, how about a 2016 bottle of Goose Island’s Bourbon County? Campfire tonight, sipping the reward with a couple Acknowledgment friends.”
Then it got me thinking. I am not the first to post beer & books; there are several neat folks online to follow on Instagram for that theme. But I love the idea and thought, why not pair a beer with each of the short stories in my new collection? I am a beer writer too, after all. Each post could also tease each story a bit. So there it is… over the next couple weeks or so, watch for beer recommendations and story illuminations. And if you haven’t purchased a paperback or e-book, whatya waiting for? Cheers!
January 20, 2021
Backroads & Byways of Wisconsin
Newly Updated Second Edition!
An off-the-beaten-path road-trip guide to Wisconsin
Wisconsin is so much more than Wisconsin Dells, Milwaukee, Green Bay and Madison. And as much as we love those places, we can’t ignore the goldmine of the lesser traveled roads and secret sweet spots the Badger State has to offer.
These fourteen chapters (up from 12 in first edition) outline fourteen road trips through some of the often overlooked backroads of Wisconsin. Each chapter goes into detail of the sights along the way, places to eat and stay, curious shops,
museums, parks, rustic roads and roadside attractions. All with a bit of history here and there. The routes were chosen with the scenery in mind. So whether you choose to just roll on through the route in a couple of hours or linger along the way to make a long weekend trip, this book will have plenty of what you’re looking for.
Interview with the Author
From the Chicago Tribune: “For those who plan to stay close to home this summer, this handy guide describes 12 excursions to Wisconsin’s lesser-known charms. Yes, cheese factories and breweries are here, but so are descriptions of mining towns with a rich local history, such as Mineral Point, with its restored small cottages originally built in the 19th Century by Cornish immigrant miners. And where else but Mineral Point can one sample both a Cornish pasty and a figgyhobbin? No, says author Kevin Revolinski, they are not characters from the “Lord of the Rings” film trilogy but rather, respectively, a meat filling with potatoes and onions wrapped in a crust pastry, and a sweet pastry rolled with cinnamon, brown sugar, raisins and nuts smothered with caramel and whipped cream or ice cream. Revolinski’s Wisconsin also includes nods to a circus museum, local wineries, Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin estate, kettle moraines, freshwater fishing in lumberjack country and fish boils in the heart of Door County.”
Pick up a copy and hit the road for some of the nicest offerings from the backroads of Wisconsin.
Want a personalized signed copy of this book? Email Kevin at revtravel @ yahoo. com
Or look for the book at your local bookstore or order it here!
60 Hikes Within 60 Miles Madison
A Guide to the Best Hikes in Madison and Southern Wisconsin
Purchase from your local bookstore
or shop online with Bookshop to support indie booksellers:
Also available on:
Click here to purchase or contact the author for signed copies to be shipped (or hand delivered in Madison!)
Now in its Third Edition, including some new hikes and much needed updates to the previous hikes! Madison is fortunate to be surrounded by a veritable cornucopia of lakes, rivers, wetlands, bluffs, prairies, woodlands, hills and gorges perfect for hiking. The Ice Age Trail, which roughly follows the farthest reaches of the last glaciers, runs through our midst. Sandstone from 400 million years ago juts out of bluffs at many nearby state parks, and rock outcrops dating back to 1.6 billion years ago are something we almost take for granted.
Famous lovers of nature such as John Muir and Aldo Leopold once took their inspiration from the Madison area. Wildlife and wildflowers are plentiful and so are the parks and hiking trails that grant you access to them. 60 Hikes Madison will take you to the best hikes in the Mad City and the surrounding counties. From easy strolls along the lakes to challenging 10+ mile segments of the Ice Age Trail, there is something here for everyone.
See my five favorite hikes around Madison on my blog
Each hike profile shows you what to expect in terms of difficulty, facilities, landscape and wildlife, access hours and rules, as well as a trail map, driving time and directions to find the place. This is the latest installment in the highly successful 60 Hikes series from Menasha Ridge Press.
“This book hits the nail on the trailhead. It’s spectacularly comprehensive, well organized and fun to read. Each hike is described in stunning detail, and including nearby activities to entice recreational and hardcore hikers alike makes this more than a guide–it’s a backstage pass to outdoor adventure Madison-style!” –Brennan Nardi, Editor, Madison Magazine
Larry Meiller interviews Kevin on Wisconsin Public Radio. Listen here.
An interview with Kevin Revolinski in Isthmus is available here.
Read a review from the blog of 105.5 WMMM’s Kitty Dunn.
Look for the book at your local bookstore or order it here (click the cover image above). This makes a great gift idea for incoming UW-Madison students or residents who appreciate the outdoors! Signed copies directly from the author may be available in the greater Madison area. Home, office, or bar stool delivery. Email revtravel at yahoo dot com
Wondering what kind of flower that is on the trail? See a selection of some of Wisconsin’s wildflowers for those of us who like to know the names of things.
A big thank you to The Shoe Box, the best shoestore in Madison (though they are in Black Earth and Baraboo, actually!) They sponsored the boots that took me down 60 long trails last summer!
January 19, 2021
The Yogurt Man Cometh: Tales of an American Teacher in Turkey
Now also available as an e-book for Kindle and Kobo!
Click Book Image to Purchase!
Tales of an American Teacher in Turkey
by Kevin Revolinski
Experience a year living in Turkey!
Now in its 5th Printing!
Part travelogue, part memoir, The Yogurt Man Cometh is the story of Revolinski’s year-long adventure as an English teacher in Turkey, with all of its ups and downs and its constant surprises. From his home base working for a private school in Ankara, he relates in remarkably candid style his encounters in a foreign culture: his first experiences as a teacher, forays into classroom discipline, navigation of a new language, attempts at cross-cultural flirtation, explorations of timeless and surreal landscapes, acquisition of a taste for raki and success at making numerous lasting friendships–all told with an open mind and a sense of humor. An enjoyable read for anyone who has spent time in Turkey or who plans to do so; Revolinski’s observations will resonate with those of any outsider who has come to love Turkey and Turkish culture.
Check out audio and video interviews with Kevin Revolinski
Read a sample chapter of The Yogurt Man Cometh
“What do you do with six kilos of unwanted yogurt, and two strange men who want you to pay them an outrageous three million Turkish lira for it? Kevin Revolinski knows, and does it, and lives to tell us all about it and his many other adventures in Turkey. Humorous, insightful, informative and sensitive, this fluently-written memoir gets deep into what makes Turkey the wonderful–if somewhat surprising–place that it is.”
Tom Brosnahan, author of Turkey: Bright Sun, Strong Tea and the original Lonely Planet: Turkey
More from Tom Brosnahan:”When I first read Kevin Revolinski’s wonderful memoir, The Yogurt Man Cometh: Tales of an American Teacher in Turkey, I burst out laughing. It was so much like my own experiences in Turkey that I wondered if I had an alter ego.
“Kevin Revolinski went to Turkey as an English teacher for a year (1997-98), just as I had done thirty years earlier (1967-68). Despite the differences in time, his memoir vividly describes the same place that I grew to know and love, which must testify to the authenticity of Revolinski’s experience.”
“The Yogurt Man Cometh is as entertaining as it is informative – as well as being especially recommended reading for anyone considering embarking upon their own business or recreational trip to Turkey.” Midwest Book Review
“[Revolinski] does a fabulous job of describing his surroundings, working in Turkish phrases, and making me hungry for all of the food he describes. He’s also got a knack with telling details… Undisputedly, though, the best part of the story is Revolinski’s relationships with the children he teaches, many of whom demand to know if he is married, what his favorite futbol team is, and how he is liking Turkey.” Nonfiction Readers Anonymous
“Yogurt Man offers a hilarious firsthand account of life in a foreign country, and Revolinski introduces the reader to a cast of zany, interesting characters.” The Capital Times
“I really enjoy reading memoirs and travelogues by foreigners on the subject of Turkey. Such accounts of social history written from a different perspective enable me to see ourselves as others see us. One such account is the memoirs of Kevin Revolinski.” C. Cem Oguz from Turkish Daily News
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Kevin Revolinski’s articles and photography have appeared in a variety of publications including The New York Times, Chicago Tribune, Miami Herald, and Sydney Morning Herald. He is the author of The Wisconsin Beer Guide: A Travel Companion and several other guidebooks and works of short fiction. He lived in Ankara, Turkey in 1997 and 1998 and has traveled back there several times since. He currently lives in Madison, Wisconsin.
From The Capital Times, Madison, Wisconsin, Friday, November 17, 2006
(as featured in “Literary Lunch” by Heather Lee Schroeder)
ENTRÉE: A new hit arriveth
Madison author Kevin Revolinski’s new memoir/travelogue “The Yogurt Man Cometh: Tales of an American Teacher in Turkey” has sold 1,000 copies out of a 2,000-copy press run since its August release. Many of those books were sold in Turkey, but the author says he’s delighted with the book’s reception so far.
Indeed, “Yogurt Man,” which recounts the year the author spent teaching in Turkey, was published there, so it’s not so surprising that he would find an audience in the country.
“Yogurt Man” offers a hilarious firsthand account of life in a foreign country, and Revolinski introduces the reader to a cast of zany, interesting characters.
In a way, the book owes at least a small part of its genesis to Madison. Revolinski made a move from working as a marketing coordinator to a teacher after attending a Michael Feldman show. Revolinski said in a recent telephone interview that he spent the entire show hoping Feldman wouldn’t ask him “What do you do?” because he didn’t want to answer the question.
Not long after that, Revolinski went back to school at Edgewood College and got his teaching certification, which allowed him to get a teaching job in Turkey. “Living somewhere is the best way to travel,” Revolinski said.
Revolinski, who grew up in Marshfield and wrote “The Wisconsin Beer Guide,” said “Yogurt Man” started as e-mails about his experiences to friends and family. People started forwarding the e-mails to their friends, and the author realized he had a small audience of readers who eagerly anticipated his next installment.
Eventually, a friend told Revolinski that he thought there might be a book in the e-mails. “That was the spark that made me think, ‘I have to take this seriously,'” he said.
Despite this support from friends and family and an initial burst of enthusiasm, he found himself dragging his feet on the project. He let the book sit untouched for a year. Then he went back to Turkey and saw his former boss, who pushed him to find a publisher. Revolinski ended up working with Citlembik, an Istanbul-based publishing house run by American expatriates.
In the intervening years since he lived in Turkey, Revolinski has traveled extensively. In 2003 and 2004, he lived in southern Italy in Reggio Calabria, which he describes as “the ugliest city in all of Italy.”
“They rebuilt the city in a not-so-pretty style,” Revolinski said of the city’s revival after a devastating earthquake in the year 1908.
Hiking Wisconsin
Find the best hikes in Wisconsin with the latest Hiking Wisconsin by Kevin Revolinski and Eric Hanson.
Hiking Wisconsin brings together 71 of the best hikes in the Badger State. Hike to hidden waterfalls in Lake Superior Country and along the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore or hit the trails of Black River Forest in Central Wisconsin. Venture along Lake Michigan in Door County or stroll amid the birder’s paradise at Horicon Marsh. Pick your distance, from two-day treks along the Ice Age and North Country National Scenic Trails to short stretches to Parfrey’s Glen or to a beautiful bog not far from Milwaukee.
The book includes:
Each hike profile provides at-a-glance information to help determine the best path for the day. The dynamic range of the hikes makes this book accessible to all hiking enthusiasts, from families out for a summer walk in the woods to serious outdoor fanatics. This new edition also includes color photography. Order your copy today!
See a few photos from several of the hikes included in the book:
The North Country Trail is one of two national scenic trails in Wisconsin.
Another national scenic trail in Wisconsin is the Ice Age Trail. It will eventually stretch over 1,000 miles entirely within Wisconsin. Several excellent segments, such as this Blue Hills segment, are contained in Hiking Wisconsin
Not all the hikes are super long. Some of them, such as Ferry Bluff trail, are short and sweet with the payoff of an excellent view.
This segment of the Ice Age Trail skirts the shore of Lake Michigan at Point Beach.
Hiking trails in Wisconsin frequently shows signs of Wisconsin’s glacial past. Here are potholes drilled by swirling rocks in glacial meltwater rushing past at the end of the Ice Age.
January 18, 2021
Wisconsin’s Best Beer Guide
Now in bookstores and on Amazon.com.
Better yet, order a signed copy from the author! Contact him at revtravel@ yahoo . com
NEWLY UPDATED FOR 2019!
With the craft beer industry really taking off as it has been, keeping this roadtrip guide to the breweries of Wisconsin is no simple task. Since the publishing of the first edition of Wisconsin’s Best Beer Guide a number of breweries have either gone out of business or changed names/owners. But more importantly a whole bunch of new Wisconsin breweries have opened throughout the state, filling in gaps in “beer coverage.” For this, I give you the new and improved and fully updated Wisconsin’s Best Beer Guide, 4th Edition. The first had just over 70 breweries, the second, 90-plus; the third, 135; this updated Wisconsin beer guide has hit 200 breweries!.
See Kevin sampling Wisconsin beers on The Today Show with Al Roker
And like its predecessors, Wisconsin’s Best Beer Guide still has the special offers corresponding to passport-style signatures you can get in your book when you visit each brewery. And as before, most of these offers are for FREE BEER!
Listen to Kevin speak with Kitty Dunn of 105.5 Triple M about Beercations and the latest edition of Wisconsin’s Best Beer Guide.
Many more craft beer bars, restaurants and beer-related attractions have been added as well.
Inside Wisconsin’s Best Beer Guide you will find:
Listings for all breweries and brewpubs from the big-time MillerCoors in Milwaukee all the way down to a nanobrewery making 12 precious barrels per year.Brewery listings include directions, brewery info, the story of the place, food options, and moreSpecial Offers, often for free beer or other discounts at most breweries – just get your book signed in back!Stumbling Distance: 2 or 3 great beer bars, fish fries, cheese shops, attractions, etc. nearby that you shouldn’t miss if you’ve made the tripListings for major beer festivalsSeveral museums and historic toursBreweries reachable by bike trail, bus tour, or brew cruiseA history of beer in WisconsinLots of little facts and explanations about beer, how it’s made, and even how to drink it (as if you didn’t know already)Suitable for the beer curious or beer snobs alike, Wisconsin’s Best Beer Guide leads you on a pils-grimage to find all the Wisconsin-made beer in its natural habitat. Watch this website for book availability dates, signing information, or offers to order signed copies. Follow us on Facebook to see frequent Wisconsin beer shares at www.facebook.com/WisconsinBeerGuide or follow the Wisconsin Beer Guide on Twitter (@WisBeerGuide)
Listen to Author Kevin Revolinski talk about Wisconsin beer on on Wisconsin Public Radio’s Ideas Network.
Reviews of the previous editions:
Madison Beer Review
Citizen Reader
105.5 WMMM’s Kitty Dunn
Watching the Sun Bake (blog)
Click here for Eat Wisconsin’sinterview with Kevin Revolinski about his Wisconsin Beer Guide!
ALSO AVAILABLE:
Minnesota’s Best Beer Guide!
Previous editions:
(2015)
(2013)
(2010)
(2006)
Click here to shop for Budget Hotels in Wisconsin
January 17, 2021
Best Tent Camping Wisconsin
Click here to read more and purchase!
There is nothing quite like tent camping in Wisconsin. The variety of state parks, national forest campgrounds, county park camps, and even some city campgrounds offers something for every level of camper. However, some are better than others if you are looking to get away from it all. Outdoors writer Kevin Revolinski, a Wisconsin native, teams up with outdoor guidebook writing legend Johnny Molloy to put together this 4th-edition collection of Wisconsin’s best tent camping sites in a series published by Menasha Ridge Press. There are 50 campgrounds listed in the book, divided evenly into four regions of the state: Northwest, Northeast, Central, and Southern Wisconsin.
Now these aren’t necessarily Wisconsin’s most popular campgrounds; in fact, the subtitle of the book is A Guide for Car Campers Who Hate RVs, Concrete Slabs, and Loud Portable Stereos. So among the big state parks that fit that bill are also a number of obscure county parks or even campgrounds tucked into national forests — campsites the national forest doesn’t even list clearly on their website in some cases.
Each campground receives its own three pages complete with a quick overview chart of the key information: contacts, address, facilities, camp fees, rules, and restrictions. Concise directions get you to the front gate and the GPS coordinates are also present.
Each description gets into detail including some interesting points about the park and the area attractions, but also a site by site summary of where the best places are within the park itself. If a campsite lacks shade or privacy, it is noted. If you are looking for the one among them that offers a lake view, this is noted. Plus the maps of the campsite layouts offer additional insights.
All campgrounds are rated in six categories: beauty, privacy, spaciousness, quiet, security, and cleanliness, giving you a quick method for comparing your options for the weekend camping trip. At the front of the book, along with information about safety, preparedness, packing, and camp etiquette, is a collection of Top Five Campgrounds lists, which summarizes the best sites in the six rating categories.
The book is an obvious buy for campers from out of state, but even the most seasoned Wisconsin campers are going to find some new favorites among these best campgrounds in Wisconsin. If you are a paddler, you can find even more places to camp along several rivers in Wisconsin in my book where to go Paddling in Wisconsin.
See more books by Kevin Revolinski
January 16, 2021
Paddling Wisconsin
There are 84,000 river miles and about 15,000 lakes in Wisconsin. So for paddle sport enthusiasts, Wisconsin is a dream. In researching, paddling, and writing Paddling Wisconsin, a FalconGuide I selected some of the best Wisconsin paddle destinations, providing maps and narrative and the tips you should know before you go so as to get the most from your outing.
What is in it?
The Paddling series from FalconGuides aims to cover all the states and offers a solid overview of great places to paddle. In writing this book, I already recognize that there are other books on the market, some of which I am very impressed with. So to differentiate Paddling Wisconsin, I selected destinations with these thoughts in mind:
Nothing higher than about Class I-II rapids. While this is not a “family” guide per se, most of the chosen paddling routes will be mostly novice-friendly and OK for the kids. You will not need to wear a helmet for any of these runs.No portages or dams along the route.Some spectacular lake paddles. Six of the 45 trips are along a few key Wisconsin still-water points. Yes, rivers tend to be more popular, but what if you are paddling alone and have no shuttle available? And how can one mention paddling in Wisconsin while ignoring the two Great Lakes, for example?With the exception of a couple rivers — the Wisconsin, notably — I avoided doubling up on trips. For example, I included Rockton to La Farge on the Kickapoo, but I didn’t also include Ontario to Rockton. I mention connected segments or extensions, of course, but with “only” 45 trips — there are really loads of options for canoeing and kayaking in Wisconsin — I didn’t intend to squish them together. The Wisconsin stretches throughout the state so a northern, central and two southern segments are in there since they are far from each other and quite different in character.Check out the Paddling Wisconsin photo gallery below. Go get your copy today and take on some great Wisconsin kayaking and canoeing!
January 15, 2021
Best Hikes Milwaukee
Milwaukee as a hiking mecca? You better believe it. Thanks in part to great preservation and protection efforts over the years and thanks to some dramatic work in the Nature department (especially that done during the Wisconsin Glacial Episode of the last Ice Age), hiking in the Milwaukee area is rather extraordinary. From the dunes and cliffs along Lake Michigan to the kettle lakes, towering kames, and Ice Age National Scenic Trail segments through the Kettle Moraine State Forest (North and South Units), Milwaukee trekkers have abundant options for natural beauty. Horicon Marsh, the nation’s largest freshwater cattail marsh, is a short drive away as is Volo Bog just over the border in Illinois, offering great birding, unusual ecology, and educational centers to enrich your hike.
Best Hikes Near Milwaukee brings together the best of the best hikes in this corner of southeastern Wisconsin and provides:
Accurate trail mapsComprehensive hike descriptionsGPS info for trailheadsSimplified mile-by-mile reference points and directional cuesAt-a-glance info about time, distance, difficulty, dog permission, fees, best season, and moreA chart to help you sort hikes for different purposes (geology buffs, dog owners, hiking with kids, etc.)Abundant text boxes relating fascinating information about history, geology and moreThe 224-page book contains 47 hikes and color photography.
Author Kevin Revolinski is no stranger to Wisconsin outdoors. He grew up in Central and Northern Wisconsin, schooled in Green Bay area, and now lives in Madison. He is a a frequent guest on Wisconsin Public Radio. His other books include Best Tent Camping Wisconsin, 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles Madison, Paddling Wisconsin, Best Rail Trails Wisconsin, and Best Easy Day Hikes Milwaukee. (He is also the author of several brewery travel guidebooks, including Wisconsin’s Best Beer Guide.)
Photos from Milwaukee’s Best Hikes:
Best Rail Trails Wisconsin
Click here for more information and to purchase!
I inherited this book from Phil Van Valkenberg years ago, taking it over and continuing to update and expand it for the last two editions. The number of Rail Trails in Wisconsin continues to grow, and as they do, a network like a highway map is beginning to connect many parts of the state, from the intersection of five state and city trails in Madison at a roundabout with an overpass and on ramps to the planned 600+ mile Route of the Badger that centers on Milwaukee and connects Illinois to Sheboygan, and Milwaukee to Madison.
Over 70 trails are in this most recent edition, and 25 of the best suited for a day trip are described in greater detail with clear maps and narrative. Information about length, junctures, trail surface, facilities, fees, and more are included for all 70.
Kevin Revolinski has written for the New York Times and the Chicago Tribune, and he is the author of several guidebooks, including Best Easy Day Hikes Milwaukee (FalconGuides). He resides in Madison, Wisconsin.
See more books by Kevin Revolinski
