Wisconsin Travel Guide – La Crosse

As we set family goals for 2018, more family travel was at the top of our list. We started with a couple of trips out to western South Dakota earlier this spring but when we decided to commit an entire week to a trip to Wisconsin, we were so excited to explore another Midwestern state.  This post is the first of two Wisconsin travel guides and we’re starting with La Crosse; where our adventure began!

One thing I’ve learned in traveling with our little fam is that you can’t overwhelm yourself with too much in one day. You end up with crabby little ones which can quickly lead to crabby parents. 😉 No fun. So we were purposeful in pacing ourselves.

With Wisconsin Dells as our final destination, we wanted to break up the five and a half hour drive from our home in Sioux Falls to the Dells. After doing some preliminary research, we decided on a two-night stay in La Crosse, Wisconsin and it definitely didn’t disappoint.

| LA CROSSE, WI |

We stayed at the GrandStay Hotel & Suites which is only a block or so off of the Mississippi River. It is also only a short walk to the downtown area where we spent the majority of our time. As soon as we arrived at the GrandStay, the kids took full advantage of the hotel’s playground area which was amazing after a four and a half hour drive.

The couple of nights we spent in La Crosse were full of walks, food and laughter on the Mississippi. I’ve simplified our stay with the highlights and our recommendations below!

| LA CROSSE, WI RECOMMENDATIONS |

WHERE TO EAT:

 1.) Kate’s Pizza Amore: unique, hand-made pizza with so many signature flavors. We loved the Smokey Chicken, Bacon & Apple pizza!
2.)  The Crow: bar & restaurant with ample seating for the whole family and great service. You should absolutely order the cheese curds. SO. GOOD.
3.) The Pearl Ice Cream Parlor: another must-try downtown treat. The homemade ice cream was delicious and the proximity to the river walk gives you a perfect excuse to head out for a stroll. 😉

WHERE TO STAY:

GrandStay Hotel & Suites: kid-friendly with playground, basketball court and a pool. It also offers great common spaces near the lobby for after the kids went to bed (so many game-night laughs!). Everything is incredibly clean and so close to the Mississippi River Walk as well as downtown.

WHAT TO DO:

1.) Grandad Park: this bluff offers a gorgeous overlook of La Crosse and the Mississippi River. The stone shelter on top of the bluff features two fireplaces; the perfect place for a small friends and family event.
2.) La Crosse Queen boat tour: this riverboat takes you up the river and features so many gorgeous sites along the way.
3.) Mississippi River Walk & Riverside Park: this was a gorgeous space to walk after our boat tour and again at sunset. It’s a beautifully paved path that is right off of downtown. The kids loved the ducks!

Overall, La Crosse was the perfect place to kick off our family trip in Wisconsin. Coming next: the Wisconsin Dells travel guide including a video of our top three highlights from the trip!

xo

-M

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