On the eastern shores of the Mississippi River, just across the water from Minnesota, lies La Crosse, Wisconsin. This city of roughly 50,000 is not huge, even by Wisconsin standards. Though it may be somewhat smaller, it is full of character, quality-of-life and business opportunities. So, if business travel brings you there, here are a few things to do in La Crosse, Wisconsin.
Catch a Stage Performance
La Crosse has a bustling arts scene for a city of its size. On the waterfront downtown, just beside the bridge to Minnesota, are the La Crosse Community Theatre and the Weber Center for the Performing Arts. Performances in 2017 range from a musical set aboard the ill-fated Titanic to Kids from Wisconsin, which gives teens in the state the chance to show off their talents on stage. Past shows that have caught our eye include a musical take on the early ‘90s comedy Sister Act.
Grab a Bite Downtown
Downtown La Crosse has good examples of all sorts of cuisine. You can have some of them delivered to where you’re staying — but what’s the fun in that? Get out and explore. Here are just a few La Crosse restaurants:
Sushi: Sushi Pirate, 200 Main St.
With 31 styles of rolls and dozens of appetizers, there’s something for every sushi fan at Sushi Pirate — and plenty of non-sushi options, too, if sushi isn’t your thing.
Barbeque: Big Boar BBQ, 118 Third St. S.
Big Boar’s barbeque is so good that the restaurant also has a big catering business.
Deli: Lindy’s Subs & Salads, 221 Main St.
For more than 25 years now, Lindy’s has been the perfect lunch stop, with options and combos to satisfy anyone’s hunger.
Burgers: The Old Crow, 100 Third St. S.
The Old Crow is a classic American pub with a focus on three things: burgers, beer and whiskey.
Ice Cream: Pearl Ice Cream Parlor, 207 Pearl St.
This beloved establishment serves delicious homemade ice cream in a place modeled after a 1930s soda and ice cream parlor.
Sit-Down Pizza: Kate’s Pizza Amore, 212 Main St.
Kate’s is the place for a nice sit-down Italian dinner, featuring great pizza and the usual suspects of Italian cuisine.
To-Go Pizza: Polito’s Pizza, 116 Third St. S.
Polito’s is the “home of the big slice,” offering both slices and full pies.
Get Outdoors
La Crosse is home to a number of parks, but we recommend Pettibone Park, which is located on Barron Island, just across a bridge from downtown. Pettibone Park features a disc golf course and numerous walking trails. It’s also a great location to fish in the great Mississippi River. If you want to spend a lot of time outdoors, there’s also a campground on the island.
Pettibone Park is a particularly pretty place in spring and autumn, especially if you’re visiting from a location where the change of seasons is minimal.
Enjoy Delicious Wisconsin Cheese
It’s a bit clichéd, but if you’re going to be a tourist in Wisconsin, you need to try some cheese. If you have a car, you can get out of town to the numerous cheese factories on the fringes of La Crosse.
La Coulee is in West Salem, a short ride east on I-90. There you will find some delicious cheese curds and other excellent dairy products — particularly ice cream. There’s also Pasture Pride, which makes all its products with milk from a cooperative of area Amish farmers, and Westby, which has been making cheese for more than a century.
One note for visiting cheese lovers: Great Lakes Cheese is located within La Crosse city limits, but don’t let a quick internet search fool you: it’s just a factory, with no shop attached.
From bustling small cities like La Crosse to the nation’s largest metropolises, PC Housing is ready to find a temporary home for any business traveler. That’s what we do: provide homes to stay in for those on both short- and long-term business trips. Don’t stay in a hotel — get in touch with us as you plan your next trip tand let us find a home for you.