LaCrosse Wisconsin and the surrounding area is a hidden treasure for those who don't know it. To summarize Geoff's words upon first visiting "Why didn't you tell me it was so beautiful?" Forest-covered bluffs rise on either side of the river in the "Driftless" region, making this one of the prettiest stretches of the Mississippi River. Therefore, we recommend making sure you schedule in some time to enjoy the unique and beautiful local scenery.

In addition to gorgeous river-front drives, we have multiple local riverfront parks including Riverside Park, Copeland Park, Pettibone Beach, and Black River Beach. Downtown LaCrosse boasts a thriving food and drink scene. For a special night out, Christian and Geoff would recommend the Waterfront or the Charmant, both of which have fantastic views of the river.

We have included a few ideas of interesting things to do below. For more information about things to do in LaCrosse, we also highly recommend LaCrosse's tourism website, exploreLaCrosse.com which has a huge variety of ideas on where to stay, where to eat, and what to do.

LaCrosse, WI is a great place for outdoor activities in May, boasting miles and miles of bike trails and plenty of hiking. Hixton Forest is one of the Barney's favorite places to hike locally, and there are several other local and state parks nearby, such as Granddad's Bluff, Riverside Park, and Perot Park. Bikes can easily be rented using Lacrosse's community bike share program, Drift Cycle or at one of the local bike shops.

For water enthusiasts, there are plenty of rivers and lakes for water activities including boating, kayaking, and paddle boarding. You can rent kayaks, paddleboards, and even aquatic bikes from Pettibone equipment rentals at the Pettibone Park Lagoon.

For those interested in other outdoor activities, there are also tennis and pickleball courts, disk golf courses, golf courses, beach volleyball, and more!

As much as there is to do outside, there's a huge variety of indoor activities to be enjoyed as well.

Boaters may wish to take a cruise on the LaCrosse Queen, our local paddlewheel riverboat. Options are available for brunch, lunch, dinner, or simply a sightseeing cruise and last between 1.5 - 2.5 hours.

For history enthusiasts, we'd recommend checking out one of the local museums or taking a trip to Norskedalen Heritage and Nature Center to experience what life was like for the original Scandinavian immigrants to this area.

For art lovers, we'd recommend seeing what exhibitions are currently on display at the Pump House. If you want to try your own hand at art, All Glazed Up! offers an array of art classes.

For those who want to be active and still stay indoors, we have Axe Throwing, a trampoline adventure park, numerous bowling options, and escape rooms.

Shoppers will enjoy exploring the small, independent shops in Historic Downtown LaCrosse or the more mainstream stores at Valley View Mall in Onalaska.

For those interested in the thriving craft beverage industry in the area, you can explore the Coulee Region Craft Beverage Trail.

For kids, there are also many options! In addition to the outdoor activities mentioned above, we have numerous multiple local playgrounds and splash pads. Trane Park is a free gated playground that is both accessible and awesome for kids of all abilities, complete with slides going down hills, an adult workout area, and a rock-climbing wall. We also have a great children's museum, mini golf, and Jump Start Adventure Park for the more adventurous crews.

There are also a great many awesome day trips that you can take from La Crosse. We would highly recommend:

Devil's Lake State Park -- the most popular state park in Wisconsin is only 2 hours drive away. Devil's lake is a crystal-clear body of water great for swimming or paddling (rentals are available there). The lake is surrounded by bluffs with incredible hikes for most skill levels (Try not to get injured, though. Geoff has regrets.)

Minneapolis, MN -- Gotta hit up the Mall of America when you are in the area! Seriously, though, there is plenty to do in Minneapolis. Geoff and Christian regularly visit Como zoo and conservatory, which has fantastic flower displays as well as animals. There are also an array of great hiking areas nearby, such as Minnehaha Falls (where we once went hiking in the winter and Christian won an epic snowball fight).

Wisconsin Dells, WI -- the Waterpark Capital of North America! So many water-based activities to choose from, from amphibious boat tours of the Dells to mini-golf with insanely blue waterfalls, to salt-water taffy!