La Crosse WI - Points of Interest, Dining, and other
 

I will be traveling to La Crosse, Wisconsin in two weeks to visit with a cousin I have not seen in 20 years! I am excited to be visiting the area. I know he will have things planned for us to do, but I would really like to get some ideas of points of interest and restaurants that I can suggest to him. We both love being outdoors, history, art, music and good food. I appreciate any pointers you care to share. Thank you in advance!

I remember liking having a picnic on Grandad Bluff, touring a brewery, taking a boat ride on the Mississippi, touring an old house (?Hixon).

Look at www.explorelacrosse.com

Ask about whether the cranberries are ripe near Tomah.
http://www.tomahwisconsin.com/index.cfm/p/9550/
Tomah was also home to cartoonist King who published Gasoline Alley.
Tomah and LaCrosse are stops on the Amtrak Empire Builder.

Great suggestions! Thank you so much for your assistance.

Third and Fourth streets starting north of Cass St. is the main downtown area with lots of restaurants and bars. I'm not sure what kind of food you like, but I'd suggest Bodega, The Root Note, and Pearl Ice Cream Parlor in particular. I used to go to the sushi place around the corner, now called Sushi Pirate, but I haven't been since they changed names, so I don't know if it's any good, but it used to be. Pearl Street Brewery is also in town, though deceptively not on Pearl Street: http://www.pearlstreetbrewery.com/

Onalaska is a separate city but, for all intents and purposes, part of La Crosse (in my mind). From La Crosse, take Highway 16 north for 4-5 miles and you'll reach a shopping mall and many larger restaurant chains like Red Lobster, Applebees, fast food, Buffalo Wild Wings...etc. But I'd of course recommend eating local over anything!

If you're feeling particularly adventurous, take Highway 90 west across the border and take the 14-61 exit to Winona, Minnesota. I may be biased since this is where I went to school, but you can make a trip up the bluffs at Garvin Heights (hike or drive!) to get a great view of the city, or spend time around 3rd street downtown. Winona is home to many a wonderful cafes, including Blooming Grounds and Acoustic Cafe. Betty Jo's, Bub's, and Jefferson's also have delicious pub fare, all within the downtown area. If you're looking for something to do outside, you can rent kayaks and paddleboats for free on the larger of the two lakes! The Winona County Historical Society (across the street from a BEAUTIFUL old courthouse) and the Minnesota Marine Art Museum are also great to visit... and there are a few historical sites along 14/61, but I don't remember what they are exactly. www.visitwinona.com has a lot of great information and I'm fairly certain all the restaurants have websites.

One last tip if you're traveling from out-of-state - try a Spotted Cow by New Glarus brewing. It's only available in Wisconsin, a very light and accessible beer, and a must-try if you've never had it. Sorry this got so long. Hope you guys have fun!!