Holy Hill - Basilica and National Shrine of Mary Help of Christians

Beautiful church! I explored here on my own a few weeks ago, then brought my mom again this weekend. The grounds are beautiful. The church is magnificent, especially the sanctuary. But my favorite part is the view for miles of God's creation, followed by the chapel for silence & prayer.

What a lovely place to visit. Church services are offered at two different levels. There is a preliminary deck for some beautiful views for miles around. There's also a tower consisting of approximately 170 steps that can be climbed to get expanded views for many many miles around. If you opt for the tower, please be mindful of those coming up and down the stairs because it is extremely narrow and cannot accommodate multiple people walking up and down at the same time in portions of the staircase. Bring your patience and enjoy the gorgeous view from the top. Fall colors are breathtaking, so it's a great time to visit. Be prepared for steep climbs; however, for those who are physically limited, there are also elevators available to get up to the viewing deck as well as either first or second level for mass services. I would recommend visiting both levels. There is also a large gift shop with a variety of wonderful options to select for everyday, and holiday gift-giving as well as special occasions such as christenings, weddings, Etc. You will also find a small Cafe, But be sure to check for hours because it's not always available. There are also food vendors on the property as well as ample parking, though be prepared to park at the large lot which then requires a walk up a relatively steep driveway to reach the basilica. For visitors with physical limitations, it's best to pull up to the upper landing right in front of the entrance to the gift shop. The entry where the gift shop is located has restrooms to the left and slightly down the hall to the right you will find elevators. If you plan a visit for Sunday services, please just remember it will be quite busy. This beautiful Basilica/property is so worth the trip!

Excellent Catholic shrine to visit. This time of year, late Oct the trees are all turning colors and it's especially beautiful.

If you're going for mass plan to arrive a bit early as the parking can be a challenge.

Also the gift shop closes before mass at 4:30 pm on Saturdays.

God bless.

Backpacking the Ice Age trail across Wisconsin. Looked up and saw this castle of a church on a hill next to the trail. Didn't expect to see that.