Eau Claire, WI Road Trips

Chippewa Valley Museum, 1204 E Half Moon Dr (located next to the Paul Bunyan Logging Camp in Carson Park), ☏ +1 715-834-7871, [email protected]. Award-winning exhibits, beautifully preserved historic structures on the grounds, fun activities, a working turn-of-the-century ice cream parlor, and more. (updated Apr 2025) Idea Gardens, 5530 Fairview Dr. (at Eau Claire County Expo Center, across from Action City). Presented by Eau Claire Master Gardeners and UW-Extension. Paul Bunyan Logging Camp (located next to the Chippewa Valley Museum in Carson Park). A museum. 1 Schlegelmilch-McDaniel House, 517 S Farwell St (downtown), ☏ +1 715-832-7028. Waldemer Ager house. Chippewa Moraine Interpretive Center, New Auburn (7 miles (11 km) east of New Auburn and 1.9 miles (3 km) east of State Highway 40 on County Highway M). Glacial history - exhibits, videos, live and stuffed animals. Crystal Cave, Spring Valley, Wisconsin (about 45 miles (72 km) west of Eau Claire). National Eagle Center, Wabasha, Minnesota (about 50 miles (80 km) southwest of Eau Claire), ☏ +1 651-565-4989. Daily 10AM-5PM. Leinenkugel Brewery, 1 Jefferson Avenue, Chippewa Falls (about 15 miles north of Eau Claire), ☏ +1 715-726-0346. Daily 9AM-5PM. Free.

For a fairly complete listing of current events, pick up a copy of Volume One, a free magazine available at more than 200 locations throughout the area. Another listing can be found in the Thursday edition of the local Eau Claire Leader-Telegram newspaper. 1 Chaos Water Park. Action City. Indoor/outdoor amusement center, including a climbing wall, arcade, laser tag, go karts, mini bowling, bumper cars, and mini golf. Cinema Cameo Budget, 315 Barstow (downtown). Micon Cinemas, 3109 Mall Dr. Micon Cinemas Oakwood, 4800 Golf Rd. L.E. Phillips Planetarium, Phillips Hall on UW-Eau Claire Campus. Ski Sprites. Water ski shows offered in the summer months. Wise Nature Center, Fall Creek, Wisconsin (Highway 12 east to Fall Creek (about 12 miles, 19 km), then north on County Road K (about 4 miles, 6 km)). Hands-on learning stations, interpretive displays of local fauna and flora, live animal exhibits, and a butterfly house. State Theater. Plays, musical performances, occasional headline acts. Chippewa Valley Theatre Guild, 102 W. Grand Ave. Chippewa Valley Symphony Orchestra, 316 Eau Claire St.. Performances at the State Theatre University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Theatre and Arts, Haas Fine Arts Building, 121 Water Street. Children's Museum (downtown). Chippewa Valley Railroad (located in Carson Park). Eau Claire Children's Theatre, 1814 Oxford Avenue (West Madison Avenue, north on First Ave).

Eau Claire has its share of the usual chains. For more unique dining try: Ray's Place, 838 Water Street St. Hot beefs and hot ham sandwiches, and Ray's hot horseradish mustard. Acoustic Cafe, Barstow St. Coffee house and sandwich shop. Dessert First, 210 S Barstow St, ☏ +1 715 833-8440. M-F 7:30AM-5PM, Sa 8:30AM-3PM. Bakery and cafe. Grand Avenue Cafe, W Grand Ave (Near the courthouse). Coffee house and cafe. Sidewalk seating available. Houligans, S Barstow St. Steak and seafood. Upscale casual. $10-30. Northwoods Brewpub, 3560 Oakwood Mall Dr, ☏ +1 715 552-0510. Eau Claire's only brewpub. 10 beers and seasonal brews crafted on the premises. Norske Nook food and pies. Hmong Noodle Wrap, 3509 Gateway Dr, ☏ +1 715 552-0525. Randy's Family Diner. Shanghai Bistro. Chinese and Japanese (sushi and sashimi.) Sweetwaters. Upscale casual. El Patio, Water Street. Mexican food. Mona Lisa's, 428 Water Street, ☏ +1 715 839-8969. Tu-Sa 4PM. Upscale casual contemporary Italian and Mediterranean $12-40. The Nucleus. Th-Su 8AM-2PM. Casual. Serving breakfast (until closing on weekends) and lunch. Unique variety of sweet and savory breakfasts, including daily varieties of quiche. Draganetti's Ristorante, Clairemont Ave at Hwy 53, ☏ +1 715 834-9234. M-Sa from 4PM. Italian cuisine. Patio seating available. Mike's Smokehouse, 2235 North Clairemont Ave (Near Westridge Center), ☏ +1 715 834-8153. M-Th 11AM-9PM; F Sa 11AM-9:30PM. Barbeque. Monkey in the Middle Pizza Co., 2402 Lorch Ave (inside Action City amusement center).

The Mousetrap, S Barstow St. Live music. Clancy's Irish Pub, 414 S Barstow St. The primary bar scene in Eau Claire is on Water Street, near the University lower campus. There are 10-15 bars within a few blocks. Highlights include: Stella's Red Room near downtown Dooley's Irish Pub (Corner of 5th & Water, on the ground of the former Camaradarie). Food available. Private room available. The Joynt. Mogie's Pub. Burgers and Chicken Wings, and other food available. Brother's Pub. The Pioneer. The Brat Kabin.

The Oxbow Hotel, 516 Gallowlongt, ☏ +1 715-839-0601. Days Inn, 6319 Truax Ln. Hampton Inn, 2622 Craig Rd, ☏ +1 715-833-0003. Holiday Inn Express, 2703 Craig Road, ☏ +1 715-839-7852. AmeriVu Inn and Suites - Eau Claire, 2245 S Hastings Way, ☏ +1 715-834-5313. Best Western Plus Eau Claire Conference Center, 3340 Mondovi Road (South of the upper campus area.), ☏ +1 715 838-9989. Easy access to the Chippewa River State Trail. Econo Lodge. Otter Creek.

1 Greyhound, 6251 Truax Lane (off Hwy 12/312 near I-94 exit 59), ☏ +1 715 874-6966. Eau Claire is served by Greyhound services from Minneapolis, Milwaukee, and Chicago. The bus "terminal" is inside a McDonald's restaurant at the far northwestern outskirts of town, so you will need to hire a taxi from there to your accommodations unless you feel like walking 7 miles to downtown. Eau Claire is on Interstate 94 and U.S. Highway 53 and is 90 miles (145 km) east of the Twin Cities. 2 Chippewa Valley Regional Airport (EAU IATA), 380 Starr Ave., ☏ +1 715 839 4900. Public airport on the north side of town. Most U.S. destinations are available within 2-3 hours of transfer. Daily service is available to Chicago O'Hare on United Express. Beginning on December 1, 2022, United's service will be replaced by Sun Country flights to Minneapolis, and seasonal flights to Fort Myers and Orlando. (updated Nov 2022) Alternatively, you can fly into Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP IATA) and take the shuttle service to Eau Claire: Chippewa Valley Airport Service, 6204 Chuck Lane. The terminal in Eau Claire is in the northwestern part of town, across the street from the Greyhound terminal. (updated Aug 2017)

Like most U.S. cities of its size, all Eau Claire offers by the way of mass transit is a relatively anemic municipal bus system. The buses have bike racks. The downtown and Water Street areas, and most of the University academic buildings, are located within a river valley. Other parts of the town are located on higher ground. Walking and biking is an option in and between downtown, Water Street, and the University lower campus. However, for most folks (particularly in the winter) travel to other parts of the city will be by auto, taxi, or bus.