La Crosse
Around La Crosse
Photo: Wikideas1 · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons
Metro area · Wisconsin · 170k people
La Crosse
Locals say Coulee Region · “Lax”, “River City”
La Crosse · Onalaska
Where the bluffs meet the river.
MaroonRiver BlueBluff Green
Welcome to the Coulee Region, where the bluffs meet the Mississippi. Grab a brandy old fashioned and settle in—you'll find a friendly mix of river life, driftless trails, and Friday fish fries. We're glad you're here!
Clubs for La Crosse
No clubs for La Crosse yet.
The room
One room for everyone around La Crosse. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around La Crosse. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Grandad Bluff Iconic overlook with views of the city and three states
- Riverside Park Riverfront park with bandshell and boat landing
- Pettibone Park Island park on the Mississippi with beaches and trails
- Myrick Park Nature center, zoo, and marsh trails
- La Crosse River Marsh Wetland boardwalk and wildlife viewing
- La Crosse Center Arena and convention center downtown
- Outdoors Hike Grandad Bluff
- Outdoors Bike the La Crosse River State Trail
- With kids Children's Museum of La Crosse
- With kids Myrick Park Nature Center
- Evenings Pearl Street bars
- Evenings 608 Brewing Company
- Locals love Supper clubs
- Locals love Bluff-top overlooks
Through the year
- Oktoberfest September Huge German-style festival with parades, food, and music
- Riverfest July Fourth of July celebration with fireworks over the Mississippi
- La Crosse Interstate Fair August County fair with rides, livestock, and food
- Rotary Lights December Winter light display in Riverside Park
- La Crosse Marathon May Spring marathon through the city and along the river
Humid continental climate with cold snowy winters and warm summers. Best time to be out is fall for color and mild temps. Best: Fall for crisp air and bluff colors; summer for river activities
Talk like a local
- “Coulee”
- A steep-sided valley, characteristic of the region
- “Driftless”
- The unglaciated landscape of the area
- “Bluff”
- The steep hills that define the skyline
- “Fish fry”
- Friday fish fry tradition
Getaways
- Sparta Bike trails and historic downtown
- Winona Bluffs, art museums, and river views
- Rochester Mayo Clinic and shopping
- Eau Claire Music scene and riverfront
Local flavour
Teams
- La Crosse Loggers Northwoods League
- UW-La Crosse Eagles NCAA Division III
Also rooting for Green Bay Packers (NFL), Milwaukee Brewers (MLB), Milwaukee Bucks (NBA), Minnesota Vikings (NFL), Minnesota Twins (MLB)
Eat and drink
- Fried cheese curds Wisconsin staple, often served with ranch
- Bratwurst Grilled, often with beer and onions
- Friday fish fry Traditional Wisconsin supper club meal
- Frozen custard Creamy local treat
Where people go
- Bluff-top overlooks Grandad Bluff and others offer sweeping views
- Supper clubs Classic Wisconsin dining experience
- Riverfront parks Along the Mississippi, with walking paths and boat launches
- Coulee valley trails Hiking and biking through the Driftless landscape
- Dairy farms The agricultural backbone of the region
Heritage and traditions
The Coulee Region takes pride in its dramatic bluffland scenery, the unglaciated Driftless Area, and a close-knit community with deep German, Norwegian, and Hmong roots, celebrated through festivals like Oktoberfest and Syttende Mai.
This time of year in La Crosse
- Apple harvest Fall September–October brings apple picking, cider pressing, and orchard festivals in La Crescent.
Say it like a local: “Pop” — Carbonated soft drink; used in Wisconsin and Minnesota.
Festivals
- Syttende Mai May Norwegian Constitution Day celebrated with a parade, folk dancing, and lefse in Westby.
- Apple Blossom Festival May Celebrates the blooming orchards in La Crescent with a parade, carnival, and apple treats.
- Vernon County Fair August Traditional county fair in Viroqua with livestock, rides, and local produce.
- Houston County Fair July County fair in Caledonia featuring 4-H exhibits, tractor pulls, and grandstand shows.
- La Crosse Jazz Festival April Annual jazz event at UW-La Crosse featuring student and professional ensembles.
- Hmong New Year November Celebration of Hmong culture with traditional clothing, food, and music in La Crosse.
Landmarks with a story
- Hixon House A Victorian-era mansion in La Crosse, now a museum showcasing local history.
- First Lutheran Church Historic Norwegian Lutheran church in La Crosse, reflecting the city's Scandinavian heritage.
- La Crosse County Courthouse A grand 1903 courthouse with a distinctive dome, listed on the National Register.
- Westby Coon Prairie Lutheran Church A Norwegian Lutheran church in Westby, central to the community's Syttende Mai celebrations.
- Caledonia Historic Downtown A well-preserved Main Street with 19th-century buildings, home to local shops and eateries.
Food traditions
- Lefse and lutefisk Norwegian Christmas traditions, with lefse (potato flatbread) and lutefisk (dried fish) served in many homes and church dinners.
- Apple cider and pie La Crescent's apple orchards produce cider and pies that are a fall staple, often eaten after a hike or at harvest festivals.
- Trout dinners Coulee streams are stocked with trout, and locals enjoy pan-fried trout with potatoes and onions, a nod to the area's fishing heritage.
- Bloody Mary with a beer chaser A classic Wisconsin brunch drink, often garnished with cheese curds and a beer back.
- Friday fish fry A weekly tradition at supper clubs and taverns, featuring beer-battered cod or perch with coleslaw and rye bread.
Music and arts
- Norwegian folk music Traditional fiddle and dance music kept alive in Westby and Spring Grove, especially around Syttende Mai.
- Bluegrass and folk The Driftless Area has a vibrant acoustic music scene, with local jams and festivals.
- Bluffland painting Local artists often capture the coulee landscape and Mississippi River in oils and watercolors.
- Hmong embroidery Traditional Hmong textile art, including story cloths and paj ntaub, is practiced and exhibited in La Crosse.
A little history
- 1841 La Crosse founded as a fur trading post by Nathan Myrick.
- 1850s–1880s Large influx of German and Norwegian immigrants, shaping the region's culture.
- Pleistocene The Driftless Area was never glaciated, preserving its rugged coulee landscape.
- Late 1800s Logging and lumber milling along the Mississippi River drove early economic growth.
- 1970s Hmong refugees resettled in La Crosse after the Vietnam War, adding a new cultural layer.
Rivalries
- UW-La Crosse vs. UW-Whitewater football Big WIAC rivalry
- La Crosse Loggers vs. other Northwoods League teams Summer baseball rivalries
- Packers vs. Vikings fans NFL loyalties split across the river
- Brewers vs. Twins fans MLB allegiances in the Coulee Region
- Game day High school football on Friday nights
- Game day La Crosse Loggers baseball
- Outdoors Ice fishing on the Mississippi
- Outdoors Trout fishing in coulee streams
- With kids Apple picking
- With kids Bluff hiking
People here speak with a distinct Upper Midwestern accent, featuring a slight nasal quality and a tendency to elongate vowels. Common expressions include 'ope' for an accidental bump, 'pop' for soda, and 'you betcha' for agreement. Norwegian and German heritage influences some local terms and food vocabulary.
Only here
- The Driftless Area—the only part of the Upper Midwest never glaciated, giving rise to steep, forested coulees and spring-fed streams.
- La Crescent is known as the 'Apple Capital of Minnesota' with over 20 orchards in the immediate area.
- Westby hosts the largest Syttende Mai celebration in the United States, complete with a 17-mile parade.
- The La Crosse Queen paddlewheeler offers river cruises, a nod to the steamboat era.
New here? A few tips
- Embrace the weather: winters are cold and snowy, so invest in a good coat and try ice fishing on the Mississippi backwaters.
- Learn to say 'pop' for soda and 'ope' when you bump into someone—it's the local way.
- Don't miss a Friday fish fry at a supper club; it's a weekly ritual.
- Hike Grandad Bluff early in the morning for the best views and to avoid crowds.
- If you're here in May, check out Syttende Mai in Westby for a taste of Norwegian heritage.
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Part of La Crosse area
Nearby
Every areaSpartaWisconsinCranberry country, trail town, and the heart of the Coulee Region.WinonaMinnesotaWhere the bluffs meet the riverArcadiaWisconsinWhere the Mississippi winds through bluffs and farms.Black River FallsWisconsinWhere the river runs through pine and bog.DecorahIowaWhere the bluffs meet the river and the prairie sings.Prairie du ChienWisconsinRugged beauty, small‑town warmth.RochesterMinnesotaWhere healing and heartland meetEau ClaireWisconsinWhere the rivers hum and the hops flow.
La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.