Beloit, WI

With the arrival of the New England Immigrating Company in 1836, this gorgeous community transformed from a fledgling settlement into a secure town. European settlers soon flocked to this agricultural hamlet, and Beloit's position as a way-station on the Underground Raileloit's seeded a ethnically diverse population boom. Industrial farms and modernized city planning soon followed.

Beloit's agricultural and multi-cultural history remains rooted in local museums and the nearby Native American Indian mounds. The Logan Museum of Anthropology has promoted a hands-on approach to anthropology since 1893. Discover various periods of human history through the "History of Man" murals, or check out the collections of artifacts from North Africa to Chile.

The Beloit International Film Festival stands as a 10-day tribute to the art of cinema. Held in mid-February, this accredited film festival connects guests with actors and directors through Q&A sessions and all-night discussions on film and art.

Despite the widespread availability of fast food and chain restaurants in Beloit, locally-owned restaurants and traditional Americana supper clubs truly characterize the culinary scene. Whether your tastes lean towards fine dining or casual, afternoon eateries, you can expect home-style cooking and a small-town atmosphere. Only at The 615 Club can you grab a nicely mottled Brandy Old Fashioned with the owner while you wait for your table. This warm, fine-dining Wisconsin supper club remains a fixture on the local restaurant scene, where a cordial staff serve entrees in a classic supper club style, complete with relish trays and a bread basket. Open solely for dinner six nights a week, this restaurant draws big crowds for its Alaskan king crab and broiled lamb chops. When looking to satisfy your southern soul food craving, Clancy's Sports Lounge and Grill on Short Street brings the authentic southern kitchen right to your table. Once dubbed as Rose's Soul Food Restaurant, Clancy's remains the only place within 500 miles where you can find typical Mississippi cuisine, including fresh home-cooked chitterlings. Enjoy outdoor smoked ribs with sweet corn bread on the side, or try your hand at the big mouth burgers or the manhandler roast and potato basket. For a quick bite, head to The Captain's Galley to discover a one-of-a-kind sub sandwich shop that has served the greater Beloit area since 1978. This charming sandwich joint offers fresh meats thinly cut to perfection and piled high amid fresh vegetables and The Captain's Special Sauce. Stop by on a cold day for a cup of chili, or stick to your diet by turning any of the sub sandwiches into a salad or wrap. A wide selection of trendy bars and live music venues in the downtown area ensure exciting nights out. As one of the more popular pubs in the area serving up live music and what the Irish call "The Water of Life," Suds O'Hanahan's Irish Pub brings an authentic Irish atmosphere to downtown Beloit. Sample several different international whiskeys if you don't have to drive, or sit back and enjoy a dark Guinness with friends. For a younger and more active vibe, head out to Hog Cabin Saloon for beach volleyball and the largest beer selection in the Beloit area. Join in on a pool tournament every Sunday at noon with your buddies, and enjoy live music every Friday for the renowned Hogaritaville.

Access to a car remains a necessity to get around the area, and most residents must use one for daily errands as well as longer trips. Scenic State Highway 51 cuts through the center of Beloit along the Rock River, connecting residents to Rockford to the south and Janesville to the north. Take Milwaukee Road to the east for access to I-90 towards Madison and Chicago or I-34 towards Milwaukee. Free public parking is available throughout the city.

Roomy bike lanes in the downtown area and near Beloit College have given this city its bike-friendly status, residents can expect few traffic concerns when biking along most streets. Well-lit streets and cultivated, quiet walking paths ensure pleasant strolls when the weather permits.

Call-Me-A-Cab, Inc. and Yellow Cab of Beloit provide service throughout the city and to neighboring areas. Make sure to call ahead for your ride, as these taxis rarely pick up patrons off the curb. Ride sharing services such as Uber are not available in the city.

The BTS transit operates between Monday and Saturday in Beloit, with five routes throughout the city. The Beloit-Janesville Express makes about 12 trips a week between Monday and Friday, while the Van Galder Bus Company connects residents to Chicago with nine buses passing through daily. You can catch a bus at the Transfer Facility near the Wisconsin-Illinois border on Sherland Avenue.

Beloit residents like to live large, and by large they mean getting out to enjoy miles of open, scenic countryside and Wisconsin's natural splendor. The Rock River runs through the heart of Beloit, and most outdoors activity revolves around this river year-round. Whether you crave ice-fishing during the winter or Saturday afternoon kayak trips in the summer, the Rock River is central to Beloit's recreational spirit.

Community parks of all sizes abound in the city for visitors of all ages. For swimming and summer fun, Pearl Lake remains Beloit's best-kept secret for beach-goers. Gentle slopes and soft sands on the shoreline immediately merge into the lake's renowned blue waters that drop to over 85 feet deep. Between April and October, this 30-acre lake hosts amateur and experienced divers alike, and after a long day of diving for the lake's 33-foot yellow submarine or relaxing on the sand, a lively beach bar keeps the summer fun going with live music on the weekends.

On top of the Rock River bluffs, you can discover 190-acres of pristine nature at Big Hill Park, where wooded nature trails and play equipment serves both aesthetics and local children. Bring your cross-country skis in the winter to experience snowy adventures and spectacular vistas.

At the 2.5-acre Beloit Dog Park near Springbrook Court, you can unhook the leash and let your pet run wild. This dog park does cost a daily fee, but annual passes are available.

Life in Beloit carries a fairly low cost of living compared to the rest of Wisconsin. A typical one-bedroom apartment near the city center averages about $650 a month in rent. For more luxurious housing, spacious houses and condos along Riverside Drive generally cost around $1,000 a month.

One-way regular fare on the BTS transit in Beloit costs $1.50. Trips from Beloit to Janesville on the BJE Express cost $3.50. Gas prices rest about 4 percent lower than national averages. You can expect to pay about $4 for a pint of beer at local pubs.

From the city center to the greater Beloit area, the Beloit shopping culture promotes high-value local boutiques and a wealth of regional antiques nooks.

The Nest Egg on Grand Avenue always has something special waiting for you, even if you don't know it quite yet. This original home decor shop seems more like a museum of simple oddities and stylish accessories for your home, and you can browse from affordable flower arrangements to the finest one-of-a-kind stained glass pieces, among much more. Fill your living space with Tiffany-style lamps, or stock up on gifts for your loved ones with decorative clocks or wine accessories.

When looking to decorate your home or find an outfit in seasonal styles, Pizzazz Gift Boutique stocks their State Street store with quintessential seasonal gear from the front window to behind the counter. Leading up to Christmas, for example, this shop features a stunning display of Christmas trees, lights and holiday gifts, while the spring display offers trendy gift baskets and colorful dresses to get you ready for the season.

Beloit residents have several grocery stores to choose among that carry typical groceries as well as locally produced cheeses and organic vegetables. Woodman's Markets and the Walmart Supercenter remain the most popular local supermarkets for reasonably-priced staples. Bushel & Peck's Local Market has grown to become the downtown favorite for its locally produced foods and inviting atmosphere, and for every item in the store, you receive detailed information about the farmer who produced it. If you need strawberry rhubarb jam, habanero hot sauce or some craft beers, you get it right from the farm at this shop.

For more organic vegetables and fruits, try the open-air farmers market in the historic city center. Every Saturday morning from May to October, this market hosts over 90 vendors, selling everything from fish and meats to homemade lotions.