Get Out and Enjoy La Crosse

The beautiful waterside city of La Crosse, WI, on the banks of the Mississippi River, has a variety of exciting and kid-friendly activities to enjoy. Here families can go on unique tours, breathtaking hiking, and biking trails and enjoy a day of fishing and boating at Onalaska Lake. more 1. Take a Cruise Take a magnificent Sightseeing Cruise on the Queen, a 19th-century replica of the grand riverboats that sailed down the Mississippi, and watch the paddlewheels working as the Queen glides over the water. Stand on the canopy-covered upper deck for scenic views of the river, landmarks on the banks, and learn more about the history of the Mississippi River. The company offers different cruises, but we think the Pizza Cruise and the Sightseeing Cruise are the most fun for kids. 2. Go Fishing and Boating Grab your fishing tackle and cast your line at Lake Onalaska, just 13 miles out of town. The 8391-mile lake offers anglers miles of shoreline to fish from and numerous boat landings. Panfish is plentiful, and largemouth bass and Northern pike are regularly hooked. Local Fishermen also reel in smallmouth bass, walleye, crappie, bluegill, and perch. You can fish around the lake throughout the year, and it's one of the most popular destinations in the region for ice fishing. 3. Enjoy a Day of Hiking and Cycling Get out in the fresh air and hike or cycle on the 22-mile multi-purpose River Trail. The trail surface consists of packed limestone screenings and offers a smooth ride. Between the city and West Salem, mileage markers are posted every half mile. Ride through prairies, farmlands, hardwood forest, past little streams, and over wooden bridges. In winter, the trail is open to snowmobiles. The trail forms part of the Bike 4 Trail, a bike trail system that connects to the 22-mile 400 State Trail and the 32-mile Elroy-Sparta State Trail. 4. Explore the City on a Segway Segway Tours offers guided tours of the city and along the Mississippi River. They guarantee that you will be able to balance and operate a Segway in less than 5 minutes and glide around, taking in the sights and sounds of the city. You will cover more ground than on foot and see famous landmarks, beautiful scenery, and tucked away places you can't reach by car. Segway Tours provides quick lessons, safety equipment, and an experienced guide on a tour that promises great fun and excitement for the whole family. 5. Visit the Dahl Auto Museum This automobile museum celebrates classic cars and is owned by the Dahl family, car dealers for five generations spanning over a century. The museum boasts a collection of beautifully restored classic cars from the turn of the century to the present day. One of the must-see features of the museum is the old Starlite Drive-in, which was the city's old drive-in theater between 1949 and 1978. Visitors to the museum can watch old classic films on the big screen. Bundle your kids in the car and experience all the fun and excitement the city has to offer. Visit Pischke Motors today for top-quality new and pre-owned vehicles, expert financial, maintenance, and services, and genuine OEM parts.

One of the best things about living in La Crosse, Wisconsin, is that even when it gets chilly outside, you can still find plenty of fun. Whether you want to explore the snow-covered landscape or stay toasty and warm indoors, you'll find an activity that's right for you. Here are some great ways to have winter fun in La Crosse. more Cross-Country Skiing The La Crosse area features many popular cross-country skiing trails, including the La Crosse River State Trail. This scenic trail stretches 21.5 miles and connects the Great River State Trail to the Elroy-Sparta State Trail. The trail takes you through prairie remnants, farmlands, and hardwood forests. As you make your way along the trail, keep an eye out for the snowy owls that call the area home. Another excellent spot for cross-country skiing is the Hixon Forest. The forest's 10 miles of trails crisscross beautiful wooded bluffs and offer views of the city and the river valley, which look just as stunning in the winter as they do in the summer. Snowmobiling With more than 650 miles of interconnected and well-maintained trails, it's easy to enjoy a day of snowmobiling in the La Crosse area. If you're new to snowmobiling, consider joining one of the area's many clubs. Club members help maintain the snowmobile trails and organize group trips. They'll also share tips about which trails are suitable for beginners and what equipment you should buy. Winter Farmers Market While a trip to the farmers market is usually a summer activity, the La Crosse Farmers Market Association gives you the chance to shop locally in the winter by holding an indoor winter market. You'll find seasonal favorites such as locally produced maple syrup, homemade cookies, and meal kits. Items such as artisan candles, pottery, and bath and beauty boxes will make the perfect gift for winter birthdays and the holidays. Shopping at the Winter Farmers Market is a fun chance to come in from the cold while supporting small businesses. Sledding While Wisconsin doesn't have massive mountain ranges, plenty of hills in the La Crosse area are perfect for sledding. The hills in Deer Wood Park are a popular sledding destination. If you can't hit the slopes before the sun goes down, head to Van Riper Park. The sledding hills in this park feature lighting, which is perfect for when you're in the mood for night sledding. Local Breweries If you're not really the outdoors type, hit up one of La Crosse's excellent breweries. The Pearl Street Brewery's tasting room is the perfect place to enjoy a pale ale, coffee stout, or hard cider. You'll feel warm and cozy, thanks to the tasting room's interior, featuring 100-year-old wooden floors and counters.  Another great spot to grab a beer is the 608 Brewing Company. In the brewery's brick-walled taproom, you can enjoy unique brews such as the Caramel Apple Pops, Hazelnut Coconut Macaron Stout, and the Imperial Blueberry Coconut Crisp. As you can see, the La Crosse area offers plenty of ways to have some winter fun. No matter which activity you choose, you're sure to have a great time. Image by Grand Adventures from Pixabay | CC BY 0

Finding a place to watch the big game is easy in the La Crosse, Wisconsin, area. There are plenty of sports bars and restaurants to choose from, making it easy to find your perfect go-to spot. more Here are a few of the best sports bars around town to watch the big game: 1. The Sports Nut TV Bar & Grill If you're looking for a restaurant that dedicates itself to your sports fanaticism, head to the Sports Nut TV Bar & Grill. The restaurant has plenty of flat-screen televisions showing the most important games, as well as the ones only you care about if you ask one of the employees to change the channel. Whether you're into hockey, football, baseball, or basketball, this restaurant is more of a community than a dining institution. The Sports Nut's menu is full of daily specials and staple diner options to choose from. We like to go for their top-notch burgers, such as the Cowboy Burger with pepper jack cheese, onion rings, bacon, and barbecue sauce. But you'll also find a decent selection of sandwiches, steaks, Mexican food, and bar-style appetizers to try. 2. Howie's on La Crosse Howie's on La Crosse is one of the oldest restaurants in town, so you know they've discovered the key to what makes a good food-and-sports experience. Saddle up to the bar or find a table for your friends and family to watch your big game on one of the many screens around the restaurant. One of the reasons we love Howie's so much is the fantastic food items that lend themselves perfectly to Sunday Funday. Their extensive selection of signature burgers, sandwiches, wraps, tacos, salads, appetizers, and more will make you want to come back for every game in the season. 3. The Barrel Inn Bar & Grill For an old-school sports bar experience, head to the Barrel Inn Bar & Grill. Since they opened their doors in 1994, the Barrel has firmly established itself as a go-to sports destination for locals. No matter the sport, their televisions are playing the most popular games available. If you're looking for a place to watch the game with friends, the Barrell is a great choice. In addition to a full bar, they also offer plenty of bar snacks, such as cheese curds, tacos, wings, burgers, Phillies, and sandwiches. 4. Eagle's Nest Sports Bar & Grill The Eagle's Nest Sports Bar & Grill always offers a great time for those who want to split a pitcher with their friends as they watch the big game. In addition to plenty of bar games, such as darts, pool, and ping pong, they offer a full menu of top-notch sports bar staples. Find a table next to a television showing your game and order enough wings and appetizers to last your crew the whole game. For your team's next game, head out to any of these restaurants to take your game day to the next level. One of our favorite parts of watching sports in places like these is the sense of community that comes with them, as well as the nachos. Photo by Alex Knight from Pexels