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MARSHFIELD – When plotted on a map, there's no denying it: Central Wisconsin is home to the highest concentration of cheese curd makers in this, the great Dairy State. More specifically, you will find a lucky seven locations for fresh curds within an hour's drive of Marshfield, the city that is literally smack dab in the middle of the state.

The staff at Hotel Marshfield (www.HotelMarshfield.com) was particularly pleased when it made this little discovery, with initial banter among team members quickly turning to lively debate of which cheese curd is best.

Hotel GM Cory Latourell weighed in first and without hesitation declared hometown favorite Nasonville curds No. 1 in her book. "They have the best squeak," said Latourell. "They deliver fresh curds a couple times a week and always leave some free samples at the front desk."

Executive Chef Chris "Wally" Walberg of the hotel's Libby McNeill's restaurant concurred with Latourell's pick. "We use Nasonville curds for our deep fried appetizer, and it's one of the most popular items on the menu," said Walberg.

Jessica Barrett, director of sales, boldly strayed from her coworkers in naming Wisconsin State Dairy Cheese Co. in Rudolph the best. "Anything you can imagine in cheese, they have," offered Barrett.

Whether you're a newbie to the squeaky treat or a connoisseur of the curd, why not make it an adventure and visit all seven. Tip: Bring a cooler on your "curd crawl" and eat the curds within hours of manufacture for the best "squeak" when you bite into them.

Nasonville Dairy: 10898 Highway 10 W., Marshfield, WI 54449, 715-676-2177, www.nasonvilledairy.com. Hours: Monday through Friday: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday: 8 a.m. to noon.

Mullins Cheese: 598 Seagull Drive, Mosinee, WI 54455, 715-693-3205, www.mullinscheese.net. Hours: Monday through Saturday: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

LaGrander's Hillside Dairy: W11299 Broek Road, Stanley, WI 54768, 715-644-2275, www.lagranderscheese.com. Hours: Monday through Friday: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday: 8 a.m. to noon.

GAD Cheese Retail Store: 2401 Highway C, Medford, WI 54451, 715-748-4273. Hours: Monday through Friday:8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Saturday: 9 a.m. to noon.

Bletsoe Cheese Inc.: 8281 Third Lane, Marathon, WI 54448, 715-443-2526. Hours: Monday through Friday: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday: 9 a.m. to noon.

Wisconsin Dairy State Cheese Co.: Highway 34, Rudolph, WI 54475, 715-435-3144. Hours: Monday through Saturday: 8 a.m. to 5:15 p.m.; Sunday: 9 a.m. to noon.

Nasonville Dairy: N14505 Sandhill Ave., Curtiss, WI 54422, 715-223-3338. Hours: Monday through Friday: 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; Saturday: 8 a.m. to noon; Sunday: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Contributed by Carla Minsky of Hotel Marshfield.

IF YOU GO

• Overnight at Hotel Marshfield, 2700 S. Central Ave., where you can gobble up more gooey goodness at the restaurant there, Libby McNeill's. Its fried cheese curds appetizer features curds from hometown favorite, Nasonville Dairy. Consider expanding the cheesiness with a cheeseburger, grilled cheese sandwich or their popular pizza, all featuring Wisconsin cheeses.

• What goes best with Wisconsin cheese? Why a Wisconsin microbrew of course. Keep it real at Libby McNeill's and quaff a Central Waters Brewery Mud Puppy Porter or a New Glarus Totally Naked, both new to the menu.

• Take a side trip to O'so Brewing Co. in Plover, an easy 45-minute drive from Marshfield. It offers brewery tours every Saturday at 2 p.m., 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. with proceeds going to local charities.

• For a different spin, go for a cheese curd and wine pairing. Munson Bridge Winery in nearby Withee has a Blackberry Cabernet, an Elderberry Port-style wine and a Frontenac Rosé, among many others.

• Allow the taste buds to branch out with the tangy zing of cranberries. Glacial Lake Cranberries in Wisconsin Rapids has been in continuous operation since 1873, and it offers fall tours by reservation. A stop in Warrens is de rigueur whether for the end-of-September Cranberry Fest, Harvest Day at Wetherby Cranberry Marsh, or a visit to the Wisconsin Cranberry Discovery Center. In Pittsville, the Splash of Red Cranberry Tours run by the student and alumni FFA chapter are a treat — they're Wednesdays and Fridays in October. Get a map of the entire Cranberry Highway.

• From tangy to sweet, as in Amish bakery and other goodies at Burich Bunch Bakery and Katie's Kandy Kitchen, both in Granton, and J & K Bakery & Candy Shop in Willard.

• Do make time for a stop at Wenzel's Farm Sausage in Marshfield. The Wenzel family brought the craft of sausage making from Germany to Wisconsin more than 100 years ago.

• The specialty food selection at Figi's Outlet Store in Marshfield is mouthwatering — think Wisconsin artisan cheese, smokehouse sausage, signature chocolates and old-fashioned candy.

• For more on where to buy cheese in Wisconsin, visit http://eatwisconsincheese.com/wisconsin/travelers_guide.aspx.