I made Wisconsin my home almost 18 years ago, and I still get excited when I discover new places to visit and explore. The more I get to know Wisconsin, the more I love it here, winter and all! But… let’s not even go there because SUMMER is here! If you are looking for a fun place to take your family for an extended weekend this summer, I am here to tell you that you that La Crosse might be just the right place to go. It is a great family-friendly place, although I think it’s the perfect place for a romantic stay as well.
Our family recently spent a weekend in La Crosse filled with outdoor activities, great food, beautiful sceneries, and tons of fun! I’ll share the highlights of our trip as well as my wish list for next visit. I encourage you to read on and start making plans to go visit La Crosse.
We stayed at The Radisson in downtown La Crosse right along the Mississippi River. I loved that we were able to walk to the historic downtown and we could also stroll along the Riverwalk. We enjoyed the Plaza Club Level where we had complimentary breakfast with a stunning view of the river. Complimentary hors-d’oeuvres and cocktails for two hours in the evening, and my kids favorite, milk and cookies at bedtime. The staff was super friendly and offered many suggestions for local places to visit and see.
We were invited by Explore La Crosse to attend the Driftless Sports Convergence, and they gave us a long list of activities for outdoor and indoor entertainment and places to visit. Here are some of the activities we enjoyed.
(Disclosure: This is a sponsored post, all opinions are my own)
Fun Outdoor Activities:
Driftless Sports Convergence – The first annual Driftless Sports Convergence at the Onalaska Omni Center was filled with top retailers for all sorts of outdoor sports in Wisconsin. We enjoyed checking out all the camping, boating, fishing, and paddling vendors. We got educated on Log Rolling. The kids rolled around in the human size hamster ball by Shenanigans Fun.
Wrench & Roll Collective Bike Tour – Our family did a bike tour over to Lake Onalaska. Wrench & Roll provided the bikes and the tour, a 5 miles ride that was full of beautiful views of Onalaska Lake. Wrench & Roll owner and tour guide were super helpful and friendly, we had a great time!
Cameron Park Farmers Market – In the heart of downtown La Crosse you can find Cameron Park, and from May through October the Farmers Market runs Fridays 4pm to dawn, and Saturdays 8am to 1pm. If you are like me, always looking to connect with local food and people, then you must visit the market. A few blocks walk from our hotel took me there on a Saturday morning, and I enjoyed talking to some of the local vendors.
Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe – about 15-minute drive from historic downtown La Crosse, and we were immersed in the beauty and serenity of the grounds of this gorgeous place with traditional designs. Whether for religious reasons or just to admire the magnificence of the shrine, I would recommend a visit. Make it short or long, take few deep breaths and enjoy the meditative trails, the calmness of the surrounding nature, and the charming character of the chapel, the devotional areas, or simply the work of art.
Grandad Bluff – The largest bluff in La Crosse offers stunning scenic views overlooking the city and a picture-worthy look of the Mississippi River Valley that includes the states of Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Iowa. Even on a cloudy and rainy day like it was when we went up there, we were able to enjoy the view, quietness, and magnificent that La Crosse has to offer.
Riverside Park – Located off the Mississippi River in Downtown La Crosse with a Riverwalk across from our hotel, this was the perfect place to go down for a morning walk. I personally enjoy having coffee while connected with nature in some form. Enjoy a beautiful view of the La Crosse West Channel Bridge while sipping your favorite java.
Historic Downtown La Crosse – A stroll through the streets of downtown La Crosse is just one more fun thing to do while you visit and explore the area. A scenic walk filled with specialty shops, restaurants, bakeries, coffee shops, clothing stores and more.
Fun Indoors:
The Great Escape of La Crosse – Escape rooms have become very popular, and this unique experience is highly recommended for the whole family. Toby was a great host and shared excellent tips with the kids and adults before we began our escape experience, our game curator was an outstanding team player, and with her help, we were able to escape the Area 51 Room all in one piece! My kids decided that this was their favorite part of our weekend in La Crosse. Don’t miss it!
Jump Start Adventure Park – If you have highly energetic kids like mine, this place will help them jump all the energy out. All the action-packed activities in this adventure park tired them out just in time before we hit the road back to Madison. The perfect way to spend a rainy (or snowy) afternoon with the family.
Now for the most essential part of any trip, the food, here are the highlights of the delicious food we had in La Crosse. One weekend was definitely not enough to try everything we would’ve liked, which is a good enough reason to go back 🙂
Food:
Two Beagles Brewpub – A small local brewery with 6 craft beers on tap. Family friendly, live music, and seasonal menus. Great outdoor sitting overlooking Lake Onalaska. Catch the sunset while hanging out with friends and family over a cold craft beer.
OPUS Bakehouse – I found this little bakery gem during my visit to the farmers market. Trevor makes one-of-a-kind pastries made with locally sourced ingredients. A unique combination of flavors found in the form of pastries that we already love. Opus Bakehouse is currently a pop-up bakery and is only found at the Cameron Park Farmers Market on Saturdays. Follow their Facebook page for updates.
Apothik Food Truck – We enjoyed the delicious food from Apothik while attending the Driftless Sports Convergence. They are an icon spot in downtown La Crosse, focused on serving an array of tasty dishes made with locally grown and seasonal ingredients. Check their page for the schedule.
The Waterfront Restaurant and Tavern – A must visit spot in downtown La Crosse. We had a great family dinner. Located along the Mississippi River, the dining room offers a beautiful view of the river and the bridge. The patio is the perfect hangout place. The food was fresh, seasonal, and delicious. We enjoyed a couple of appetizers before our dinner, and I have to say that we had a memorable experience. My 9-year-old daughter keeps asking me when we go to a restaurant if they have avocado gelato, which was part of the Ahi Tuna Tartare we had at The Waterfront. The service was outstanding, and we will for sure be coming back here whenever we visit La Crosse again.
The Pearl Ice Cream Parlor & Confectionery – An absolute favorite spot for the family. We visited twice on our short stay. The first thing you will notice is the smell of freshly baked waffle cones, once you are in the store is like you stepped back in time. House-made ice cream, decadent hand-dipped chocolates, flavor fountain sodas made from scratch, candies from our childhood. It indeed was an incredible experience to visit this icon old-fashioned ice cream parlor.
Fayze’s Restaurant & Bakery – In the heart of downtown there is another iconic spot. Fayze’s offers a significant array of freshly made pastries and loaves of bread that are sure to please your sweet tooth. We grabbed an assortment of pastries before we left town. The kids favorite was a huge cinnamon roll, sweet, sticky, and delicious. My co-workers enjoyed every bite of sweet treats I brought back for them. Stop for pastries and stay for brunch!
The Mint – A local farm-to-table small restaurant that was highly recommended by locals. We made it there for a Sunday brunch that was delicious, including a hearty Bloody Mary! Their space is lovely, and the service was excellent. We would love to go back for their small plates dinner menu. Located in a neighborhood just a few minutes away from downtown La Crosse.
Here are some places that we did not visit, but have on our wish list for next visit:
Castle La Crosse – A gorgeous Bed & Breakfast built in 1891 that features 19th-century architecture
The Charmant Hotel – A luxury boutique hotel located downtown
La Crosse Queen Cruises – For a scenic delight on the main channel of the Mississippi River
Island Outdoors – Canoe rentals on the Black River
The Root Note – For coffee, crepes, and live entertainment. Recommended by locals.
Lovechild – Named as one of the 50th most romantic restaurants in the country by Food & Wine. Chef Jay Sparks was a James Beard Award semifinalist for Best Chef in the Midwest.