With our daughter attending school at UW-La Crosse, we have visited the city nearly a dozen times in the past couple of years. We traveled two hours from Madison one year over spring break so that she could get familiar with her city. Therefore, we got really familiar with La Crosse as well. Sometimes we enjoy a long weekend and sometimes it's just a day trip to visit her. But we always repeat some of our favorites and find new gems as well.
Here are at least thirty things that you can do in La Crosse throughout the year.
Activities:
Drive up to Grandad Bluff (also great hiking trails)
Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe (beautiful, solitude hiking trails, memorials and shrines)
La Crosse River Marsh (free sleds at nature center during the winter months)
Rotary Lights of Lacrosse (opens in November for walking or driving through)
Myrick Park (dream park and tennis)
Pettibone Beach (on MN side)
Riverwalk at Riverside Park (this is where the light festival is for the holidays)
La Crosse Queen Cruises (afternoon cruise, brunch or other meal cruises)
Riverside International Friendship Gardens (FREE)
Pearl Street Books (beautiful book store – we stop every time we visit!)
Rivoli Theatre for a movie
Historic Trolley Tour
Three story antique store downtown
Childrens Museum (kids Kwik Trip inside!)
The Driftless Axe and Arcade
Dahl Auto Museum (FREE)
Worlds Largest Six Pack photo opportunity
Galesville Bowling Alley (old school bowling alley that my family loved)
Perrot State Park
Family-friendly restaurants:
Big Al’s Pizza
Rudy’s Drive-In
The Breakfast Club (80s/90s nostalgia)
Buzzard Billys
Winghaven Pizza Farm (in Galesville; only open select dates)
Favorite snack shops:
The Pearl Ice Cream Parlor (also an old time candy shop next door)
Jules Coffee House (coffee flights and great ambiance)
Ground Patio (nice outdoor seating and live music)
Date night/Girls night options:
The Waterfront Restaurant
Freighthouse Restaurant
Lovechild
4 Sisters (Tapas)
Restaurant at The Charmant
Restore Public House (great shareables; outdoor snow globe seating in winter)
Sullivans Supper Club (if traveling to Perrot State Park – large salad bar)
