Seniors Stop At Wisconsin’s Gateway

Welcome, senior travelers, to City of Beloit, the Gateway to Wisconsin. Located near the junction of Interstates 90/39 and I-43 close to the border of Illinois and Wisconsin, Beloit, pop. 37,000, is another of America’s Greatest Main Street cities.

Beloit is proud of its world class riverfront, providing year round recreation and special event facilities, biking and hiking paths.  “As you stroll the thriving riverfront district of Beloit, it’s hard to imagine that it was once a faded downtown, depressed by the loss of factory jobs and the lure of suburban malls.”

Twenty years ago, a forward-thinking group of boosters stepped in to restore many buildings as mixed-use spaces – galleries, bookshops, music venues – and to launch a weekly farmers’ market. Now everyone’s a booster and the locals brag about their 3.5 miles of bike paths, more than 20 works of public art, and the college town’s new reputation as a performing arts magnet.

Senior Travelers Discover the Gem of the Rock River Valley

The name, Beloit, originated with a committee appointed by a convention of citizens who were not satisfied with the name New Albany, the name which for a few months the town wore.

The City Center includes a unique downtown with tree lined streets serving pre-20th century commercial buildings, the internationally renowned Beloit College and beautiful, historic residential neighborhoods. Beloit is called a Gem of the Rock River Valley.

Big Hill Park located on the bluffs of the Rock River is one of Beloit’s most scenic sites with spectacular vistas. Downtown Beloit is the historical economic, cultural and social center of the community. It is anchored by a core of historic buildings and what is called the Ironworks.

Art, Baseball and Angels Attract Senior Visitors

Beloit has helpful guides that can be downloaded to help senior visitors become well oriented to the city. Downtown may be where you want to start your stroll around Beloit. It hosts over 40 days of events a year, from a summer lunchtime concert series to an ArtWalk featuring more than 100 artists.

Check out the Buzz in Beloit, a video that provides an overview of the many activities  in town. Beckman Mill is a major drawing card in Beloit in a 50-acre county park where senior visitors can view an authentically restored 1868 grist mill, a saw mill display, 1840s cooperage, a visitor center, gift shop, creamery, blacksmith shop, picnic shelter, vintage garden and nature trail.

The Beloit Snappers, an Oakland A’s minor league baseball team, represents what’s good about minor league baseball. The Logan Museum of Anthropology, dating back to 1893, has been a teaching museum of Beloit College focusing on the world’s cultures. Drop by the world’s largest angel collection at Angel Museum with over 11,000 angels and angel artifacts on exhibit.

 Senior travelers,  stop in Beloit and enjoy another great main street city.  jeb