You see them on the racks at grocery stores, restaurants and hotels.

Sarah Stokes takes us to the home of "Hidden Treasures," the free magazine devoted to helping you find things to do in the Chippewa Valley.

Every week we wander Wisconsin and introduce you to interesting people and places.

This week, we meet a woman, who has a similar mission, putting it on paper, revealing hidden treasures.

Tucked back in a bit of her basement is the world headquarters for "Hidden Treasures." And making the magazine has turned into Lori Schmidt's world.

She designs, publishes, shoots pictures, sells the ads and delivers the magazine. It's become a full time job and then some.

"I just saw a void in the Chippewa Valley so I worked at nighttime. While I worked a full time job and developed "Hidden Treasures." I started in 2002," she said.

Since she started, the magazine has doubled in size and is filled with fun facts about 19 towns.

We're all the way down Highway 29 in Chippewa Falls to the great river road in Alma/Nelson a big circle around Eau Claire.

The purpose of her publication?

"It's a visitors guide but it's just as good for the local people too. I've had so many comments saying I've lived here all my life and I never knew this stuff was here and that's just like wow!"

The spring issue is all about history, "you're going to find something in there you didn't know happened."

And what happened when Lori started visiting these towns? She made friends.

"That's where a lot of the hidden secrets come from is getting to know the people in each town," Lori Schmidt adds.

About 100 businesses advertise in her magazine and while they keep it going, it's helping them too.

"I'm kinda a little mini chamber for a lot of those little towns," she adds.

With four issues to crank out every year, she's got some treasured help.

"A lot of my ideas come from Charlie Schaaf, he owns the model train shop downtown. He's an awesome writer," she said.

And her family helps deliver the giant stacks of the finished product.

"When I don't get to that town I kinda miss it because it's fun handing them out."

People can pick one up for free, but Schmidt says the adventures you may get out of it are priceless. "In today's world it's expensive to travel but you can go 20 minutes and find something really neat."

The spring issue is out and there's a calendar with a solid three months of things to do and see. You can find your free copies at dozens of area businesses.