U.S. Highway 51 isn't Route 66. A song has never been written about it, or a TV show produced.

Yet, the U.S. highway is known as "the ribbon tying North to South," since it runs from northern Wisconsin to Louisiana.

The Wisconsin portion of Highway 51 offers a blend of scenic beauty and attractions with a practical way of heading north and south through the central part of the state. In this column, we'll concentrate primarily on the northern section of 51, from Hurley to Stevens Point.

Highway 51 has a Web site with the theme, "It's all about the journey..." and also boasts "One million stories ... One hundred cultures ... One road."

If you start your Highway 51 journey at its northern end, you can visit Hurley and Iron County. Here, Native American and early Wisconsin settlers' cultures are combined. Historic Silver Street in Hurley was the Wild West of its day and ignored prohibition, serving as entertainment for the likes of John Dillinger and the Capone Brothers.

Silver Street was known for nearly 100 years as the most infamous five blocks in America. The Hurley Area Chamber of Commerce office, located at 316 Silver St., offers lots of information about the street and general Hurley area.

You might want to take some time to hike the Flambeau Trail. The trailhead is just off the highway and runs through some beautiful Northwoods landscape. You can get a real feel for what compelled Native Americans and early explorers to inhabit the area.

If you head south from Hurley, you'll come to Manitowish Waters. The infamous 1934 shootout with Dillinger took place at the Little Bohemia resort near this town. Johnny Depp and movie crews returned to the area this year to film part of an upcoming movie on Dillinger.

Powell Marsh Wildlife Area is a true joy for bird watchers and nature lovers. If you fall into those categories, also check out the North Lakeland Discovery Center, which sits on 66 acres just 1.2 miles from Highway 51.

Continuing south, you'll go through the Minocqua-Arbor Vitae area. A hike on the Bearskin Trail can take you up to 18 miles through woods and along lakes. If that works up an appetite, try Paul Bunyan's Northwoods Cook Shanty right on the highway. You'd better be ready to eat as much as a Blue Ox because portions are generous.

Another must-see in the area is the Dr. Kate Newcomb Museum. The facility gives you the history of "The Angel on Snowshoes," who braved fierce winters and other conditions to offer health aid.

Tomahawk is the next community to the south. Bradley Park is the jewel park of Tomahawk, offering views of pristine virgin timber and Lake Mohawksin.

As you leave Tomahawk, stop at The Windmill Ice Cream Shoppe on County Hwy. L, a long-time local staple for tourists and residents. As you eat your ice cream, walk to the bridge on the Bearskin Trail and watch the boats go by on Lake Nokomis.

Be sure to enjoy the view on the drive south to Merrill. Rolling hills offer magnificent views. The acres of covered vegetation you see are ginseng growing fields (a cultivated root known for its medicinal and stress relieving qualities ... Wisconsin is the nation's leading producer of ginseng). In the fall, the varieties of trees display an exceptional show of color.

The Wausau-Stevens Point area to the south along Hwy. 51 offers shopping, restaurants and other attractions that rival those in many larger urban areas. A couple must-sees are Rib Mountain and The Rothschild Pavilion.

Rib Mountain State Park offers great outdoor recreation year around, from camping to hiking to skiing.

Rothschild Pavilion has one of the few dance floors in the world built on railroad springs. It has hosted many great musicians, including Buddy Holly. The facility is undergoing renovation.

Downtown Stevens Point has undergone major renovation and offers shops, restaurants and pubs. A tour of the UW campus in town is worthwhile, and Sentry World, with its surrounding wildlife area, is a beautiful facility.

This provides only a slight glimpse of a portion of one of the truly great roads in America. More of the Highway 51 journey through Wisconsin is documented in upcoming "Let's Take A Ride" columns.