![]() La Crosse's historic downtown features buildings dating the late 1800s, an expansive park along the Mississippi River, and plenty of shopping and dining. My favorite part was being at the same level as a trio of soaring hawks. On a clear day, you can look down the Mississippi River Valley and see three states: Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Iowa. On the way I took a brief detour to drive the switchback road to the top of Grandad Bluff, which towers 600 feet above the city. View from Grandad BluffĪfter eating a couple more cheese curds, I continued onward to downtown La Crosse. The beer cheese bisque was thick and delicious, with a very pronounced beer flavor. ![]() While a vegan vegetable and potato cake with doesn't exactly scream "comfort food", that's what these were: satisfying in the same way as a plate of meatloaf (personally, I think the caramelized onions give the croquettes an edge). ![]() I also tried the vegan garden fresh croquettes with a side salad and a very non-vegan cup of beer cheese bisque. The airy texture of the batter gave the curds a lightness that kept me reaching for another (and then another). Since I had just arrived in Wisconsin, I obviously had to order the cheese curds: massive cubes of white cheddar, coated in a light tempura batter and served with a paprika-lime aoili. Many cocktails have a unique twist, like an old fashioned made with lavender bitters. There are plenty of vegetarian and gluten-free options (my server particularly recommended the Asian lettuce wraps), and the drinks program highlights local craft beers. The menu features scratch classic cooking with a twist: think walleye sliders, gourmet macaroni and cheese, and a bacon-wrapped hot dog topped with caramelized onions and cheese curds. The dining room has an open, modern feel, with exposed brick and weathered wood-it's the kind of place that would be great for a Friday date night or a Sunday lunch with the family (there's also a patio with views of the nearby river). My time in the La Crosse area started in the nearby town of Onalaska with lunch at David Reay's Modern Tavern + Diner. I decided to start my Wisconsin road trip with an afternoon and evening exploring La Crosse's historic downtown. Located across the state line and just down the Mississippi River from Winona, La Crosse is a city of about 52,000 and is a regional commercial and arts hub as well as home to a University of Wisconsin campus. However, my list of riverside day trips and weekend getaways included a major oversight: La Crosse, Wisconsin. ![]() Stillwater is my go-to, and I've also had great trips to Red Wing, Mankato, and Winona. I love river towns-I've always found spending time near water soothing, and being based in the Twin Cities means that there are plenty of picturesque options within a few hours' drive. As always, all content and opinions are my own. Thank you to Explore La Crosse for hosting my stay. Vegan garden fresh croquettes, beer cheese bisque, and cheese curds, David Reay's ![]()
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