11 Things to Do in La Crosse, Wisconsin This Fall with Kids
FALL FAMILY VACATION IDEA IN WISCONSIN: LA CROSSE
If you’re looking for Midwest fall getaways to try with kids, look no further than La Crosse, Wisconsin. This beautiful city along the Mississippi River is surrounded by bluffs and puts on an impressive display of some of the best fall colors in Wisconsin.
My husband and I both grew up in Wisconsin, but we just moved back here after living in Florida for 5 years, so we’re so excited to experience all the things to do in Wisconsin in the fall, including scenic drives and local road trips.
La Crosse, Wisconsin has so many things to do with kids that will get your family outdoors enjoying nature. I’m going to share the top 11 things to do in La Crosse and the surrounding areas on a fall road trip.
Disclosure: Our trip was hosted by Explore La Crosse, which means our hotel stays were covered by the tourism board. We paid for everything else, and as always, I aim to share all family-friendly activities and my own opinions and experiences with you.
This post contains affiliate links. That means if you click on a link and make a purchase I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
La Crosse is located on the Wisconsin side of the Mississippi River. The city itself sits on a relatively flat area but is surrounded by tall bluffs.
Not only is the area incredibly scenic, but it’s known as a destination for outdoor enthusiasts with bike trails, great hiking options, stand-up paddleboard, kayaking, canoeing, hunting, and fishing. It’s also growing in popularity as a foodie spot, as well as a hub for craft beers.
If you’re visiting in the fall, the weather is likely to be chilly in the morning and evening, with days in the 50s all the way up to the 70s. My best advice is to layer up!
TOP 11 THINGS TO DO IN LA CROSSE ON A FALL GETAWAY
ENJOY CHOCOLATE AND LUXURY AT THE CHARMANT HOTEL
Whether you stay at the only boutique hotel in La Crosse, or just stop in for a hot beverage, you’ll swoon over the exposed brick and chic decor at the Charmant Hotel.
The building used to be a candy factory and is now a luxurious yet kid-friendly hotel in the heart of downtown La Crosse.
They pay homage to their sweet past by greeting guests with a chocolate truffle at check-in, but you can purchase more candy to enjoy on your trip or take home in the lobby of the hotel.
The Parlour is the hotel’s cafe where guests can get their complimentary coffee or tea. If you’re visiting but not staying at the hotel, there are still plenty of baked good and warm beverages to choose from that will warm you up on a chilly fall day.
EXPLORE THE APPLE BLOSSOM DRIVE SCENIC TRAIL
Apple Blossom Drive is a scenic road that loops off of the Great River Road Scenic Byway. In the fall you’ll find roadside stands where you can purchase apple cider or bags of apples, or you can find one of many apple orchards to visit along the way. Check out Southwind Orchards for a wide variety of apples!
Keep your eyes peeled for scenic overlooks where you can pull over and take pictures or have a picnic.
Since we’re currently exploring with a baby in tow, we used the scenic drive time to give the baby a car nap so we didn’t have to waste a moment of our weekend getaway.
The drive does cross the bridge into Minnesota, but it doesn’t take very long to complete, and you won’t stray too far from La Crosse.
VISIT THE SHRINE OF OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE
While I have no doubt this site is lovely year-round, the magnificent shrine and impressive pathways are simply breathtaking in fall as the trees show off their vibrant colors.
Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe is tucked into the hilly Mississippi River Valley, and the church itself is located at the top of a hill, giving visitors quite the vista.
When we pulled into the parking lot, we honestly thought we would be quickly ducking into a church and leaving, checking “something cultural” off our list. The kids were eager for ice cream, and we had no idea what to expect.
However, this ended up being one of our longest stops because we all enjoyed it so much. You follow a half-mile trail up to a votive candle chapel, past monuments, and sculptures, all the way up to the chapel at the top.
The grounds are well-kept, and the architecture is stunning. Some make a spiritual pilgrimage out of this trip, and others simply admire the beauty.
A golf cart is available for transportation to and from the Shrine if you have a member of your family with a disability, or you kids simply need a break from walking. It’s free, but you can tip to help maintain the cart.
GRAB LUNCH AT FAYZE’S
Fayze’s is a popular restaurant in downtown La Crosse. We decided to grab our lunch to go and eat it at Riverside Park to enjoy the view.
When I posted about Fayze’s on Instagram, I got so many messages from people who lived in La Crosse or went to school there that it was their favorite place to eat during their time there!
We went with chicken strips and waffle fries, but there is a pretty extensive menu with options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
STROLL RIVERSIDE PARK
Riverside Park is a beautiful spot on the Mississippi River where you can stroll the paths or just sit and watch the boats on the river.
As I mentioned above, we also enjoyed picnicking in the park since the weather was nice while we were visiting.
The fall colors along the river make the area quite photogenic, so go enjoy this peaceful area and make your kids pose for a few photos while you’re at it!
FIND CULTURE AT THE RIVERSIDE INTERNATIONAL FRIENDSHIP GARDENS
Riverside International Friendship Gardens is actually located right next to Riverside Park, so you can walk on over whenever you like!
The Garden represents La Crosse’s sister cities in China, Norway, Ireland, Germany, and more!
Aside from enjoying the manicured plants and pathways, you can take your time and read all of the signs or listen to the free audio tour available on the website to learn more about the meaning behind the landscaping.
Our kids enjoyed guessing which country each garden represented and taking pictures around the gardens.
It’s family-friendly, free, and perfect for a stroll on a cool fall day.
WANDER THROUGH HISTORIC DOWNTOWN LA CROSSE
Whether you’ve got some history and culture buffs in your family, or you simply want to find a spot where you can warm up for a few minutes, Historic Downtown La Crosse has a little something for everyone.
We were on the hunt for ice cream, but enjoyed peeking in some local boutiques, too! There was some really cool Wisconsin merchandise that was actually pretty chic (and not too “cheesy” if you’ll excuse the pun). If you’re proud to live in the Badger State or want a souvenir from your visit, be sure to stop in Drift Mercantile or TJ Cheddarheads Gift Gallery on Pearl Street.
There’s also a Children’s Museum (which we didn’t get around to doing), Viterbo University, a public library, and more cultural things to check out in the downtown area.
If you’re visiting on a chillier weekend in fall, you’ll definitely want to make sure the downtown area is on your list and duck inside to escape the cold!
EAT SWEETS AT THE PEARL ICE CREAM PARLOR
Since you’re visiting La Crosse with kids, you absolutely CANNOT bypass their most famous ice cream and sweet shop - The Pearl! This is also located in the downtown area, so time your visit to the city’s historic region to coincide with dessert time.
If there’s anything Wisconsin is good at, it's dairy, and the Pearl makes their ice cream in-house using Wisconsin dairy! I would consider our family to be ice cream connoisseurs since we always search for the best ice cream shop in town whenever we visit an area, and The Pearl earned a giant 2 thumbs up from everyone in our family.
I got the Cappuccino Oreo flavor and it did not disappoint.
Anyway, the ice cream shop itself is themed to look like a 1930s ice cream parlor, meaning it’s exceptionally adorable and Instagram-worthy!
Some might say ice cream is more of a summer activity than a fall activity, but if you live in the Midwest, you know that ice cream is fair game year-round, no matter how cold it gets outside.
TAKE IN THE VIEW AT GRANDAD BLUFF
Alright, parents. This is what you came for! The views of the fall colors from atop Grandad Bluff are breathtaking. We were probably about 1 week too early since we visited the first weekend in October. The photos I saw from the following weekend after our visit were even more colorful! If you want peak fall colors, make sure to follow along here, but you can also plan for about the 2nd weekend in October.
The best news? No hiking required. We have a baby, a toddler, and 2 young children, so we were very relieved that we could just drive right to the top of the bluff and walk over to the viewing area.
A heads up- the parking lot does get a little crazy, so make sure to keep a close eye on little ones (especially ones that don’t pay attention to their surroundings) when you get out of the car.
Anyway, the viewing area is very spacious so you can be sure to keep your distance from others, and there is also an extended overlook platform off to the left side you can use to get a different view.
There are binoculars you can pay for so the kids can get a closer look, as well as benches, restrooms, and a shade structure, so it’s a perfect stop for families.
GO FOR A SWIM AT STONEY CREEK HOTEL IN ONALASKA
The downtown area of La Crosse was so much fun, but if you’re craving a little bit more of a cabin getaway vibe to your vacation, be sure to check out Stoney Creek Hotel in nearby Onalaska.
We stayed in a family hotel room with a king-size bed and a log bunk bed with a double on the bottom and a twin on the top.
There was more than enough room for our family of 6, plus a quiet space separate from the rest of the room where we put the pack & play so the baby could sleep while the kids still played or watched a movie.
The highlight for us was the large indoor/outdoor pool! We spent a few hours swimming and playing on the floating basketball hoop in the pool. It was too cold for us to use the flap that led to the outdoor pool, though!
I personally enjoyed the humongous whirlpool that was heated to just the right temperature. After a day out in the chilly weather walking, climbing, and carrying little kids, my muscles thanked me for a 10-minute soak in the hot tub while my husband kept track of our 4-ring circus. (And then we switched).
Another bonus: free continental breakfast! Any other families out there LOVE a hotel with free breakfast? It makes your day so much easier when you don’t have to hunt for your first meal of the day.
POSE WITH SUNNY THE SUNFISH
Since you’re already in Onalaska, you must drive over to Lake Onalaska to see Sunny the Sunfish, a quirky 25-foot long fiberglass fish.
We made the short drive just to get a quick picture and then leave, but we didn’t realize how lovely the views were going to be. We stopped and sat in the gazebo where we used the free viewfinder to look for birds in the trees and spot fall color starting to peek out.
We were on our way out, but if we had more time to spare, I think we would have enjoyed hiking some of the nearby paths!
LA CROSSE, WI HOTELS
As I mentioned above, we split our time between The Charmant Hotel in downtown La Crosse, and Stoney Creek Hotel in Onalaska.
They had 2 completely different atmospheres - the Charmant was a chic and luxurious boutique hotel, while Stoney Creek was rustic and comfortable. Both were kid-friendly!
If your priority is to be within walking distance or a short drive of everything in the La Crosse area, I would stick with the Charmant. It is a unique experience, and one of the top-rated hotels in Wisconsin.
If your priority is space to spread out, having a swimming pool, and breakfast, I would stick with Stoney Creek!
Check the most recent prices for the Charmant here.
Check the most recent prices for Stoney Creek here.
WISCONSIN FALL VACATION IDEAS
If you’re looking for a fun getaway to enjoy a Wisconsin fall with beautiful views, outdoor activities, apple orchards, great food, craft beer, and incredible hotel experiences, definitely book your getaway to La Crosse ASAP!
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Emily Krause is a Florida-based travel blogger who writes about exploring the world with kids. On A Mom Explores you’ll find best family travel destinations, Disney World tips, and how to make travel with babies and toddlers a little easier.
Emily believes that exploring starts in our own backyards, and adventure can happen anywhere with the right mindset.
