Photo: Sounds Like Summer Concert Series in Phoenix Park
Top-Visited Outdoor Destinations
1. Phoenix Park
This park is located in the hub of Eau Claire and is truly magical in every season. See the park full of people all summer long at the Eau Claire Farmers Market, Sounds Like Summer Concert Series, food trucks, and more events. See the leaves turn colors in the fall, and experience the beauty of snow in the winter. Take a walk or bike ride along the trails in Phoenix Park, and stay until dark to catch a light show on the bridges at Phoenix Park.
2. Carson Park
Experience Carson Park in Eau Claire, home of the Eau Claire Express baseball team, the Chippewa Valley Museum, the US Open Chainsaw Sculpture Championship, an incredible playground, art on the Eau Claire Sculpture Tour, walking trails, and more. Carson Park has something for everyone in the family and is a beautiful place to picnic, hammock, get a history lesson, go fishing, or run off some energy in Eau Claire!
3. River Prairie Park
Another park filled with live music in the summer, walking trails, sculptures, splash pads, and surrounded by good food... River Prairie Park is an amazing park to visit with family and friends. Experience Kickin' it Country and Rock'n on the River every week in the summer, stroll through the Veteran's Memorial, and grab some grub at restaurants like Cowboy Jack's, 44 North, Juanita's Mexican Restaurant, or Helix! Click here to see more ways to enjoy River Prairie.
4. Boyd Park
Skateboarders– this one's for you! Boyd Park is home to a stunning new skate park near downtown Eau Claire and is a common gathering space for skateboarding enthusiasts. In the summer months, the epic playground is often packed with families enjoying the sunshine, and in the winter months, the park turns into an ice skating and hockey destination at the rink. Click here to learn more about Boyd Park and the outdoor possibilities!
5. Braun's Bay at Half Moon Lake
Discover one of the most relaxing, magical locations in Eau Claire at Braun's Bay! The bay is part of Half Moon Lake and is located on the southwest end of Carson Park. An epic sloth sculpture greets you at the entrance of Braun's Bay, and the exploration follows right after! In the summer, there are kayak rentals available with easy access to the lake. There are also picnic shelters, fishing docs, and a boat landing within the bay. Explore this stunning slice of Eau Claire throughout every season, and treat yourself to stunning views of Half Moon Lake!
Photo: The Brewing Projekt
Top-Visited Breweries & Taprooms
1. The Brewing Projekt
No one brews beers like they do at The Brewing Projekt. The tap lineup constantly switches to funky new flavors that perfectly complement the seasons, and they never present a boring beer. The indoor seating space is perfect for playing board games, the outdoor patio is cozy with fire pits and lawn chairs, and the rooftop seating area grants stunning views of the Chippewa River. The Brewing Projekt is located right along the Chippewa River State Trail for the perfect bike-to-brews destination!
2. Lazy Monk Brewing Company
Lazy Monk is just down the street from The Brewing Projekt and is a European-style brewing company that feels like a German cottage when you walk in. The brewery hosts a variety of festive events throughout the year like Oktoberfest celebrations, Christkindlmarkts, and more. Order a flight of delicious beer flavors totally unique to Lazy Monk, and get a taste of one of Eau Claire's most anticipated breweries!
3. The Phoenix Taproom & Kitchen
New to the brew scene in Eau Claire, The Phoenix Taproom & Kitchen brought out a new style of drinking in downtown Eau Clarie! As the Midwest's largest self-serve taproom, Phoenix offers more than 70 craft and domestic beers, wines, seltzers, ciders, and kombuchas. The kitchen whips up delicious appetizers including flatbreads, sandwiches, cheese curds, tots, and more. Click here to learn more about The Phoenix Taproom & Kitchen in Eau Claire.
4. Leinie Lodge
Experiencing Leinie Lodge is a must-do excursion when taking a day trip to Chippewa Falls. Just a short 20-minute drive from Eau Claire, Leinie Lodge is the beer-drinking attraction of the North with seasonal Leinenkugel's beer flavors, music & food trucks on the patio, and a merchandise shop filled with clothing, home decor, accessories, and even pet supplies. Be sure to add Leinie Lodge to your Eau Claire trip itinerary!
5. Ombibulous Brewing Company
Ombibulous Brewing Company is located in Altoona, WI, and serves a seasonal beer, cider, and seltzer menu. Stay in touch with their Facebook page to see live music and other events taking place at Ombibulous!
Photo: The Goat Coffee House
Top-Visited Coffee Shops
1. The Goat Coffee House
The G.O.A.T. coffee shop in Eau Claire belongs to The Goat, itself! Located on Water Street, this charming coffee shop is a hot spot for students heading to class or stopping in for a study session. The Goat Coffee House serves everything from hot coffees to specialty ice drinks, teas, smoothies, energy drinks, breakfast sandwiches, soup specials, and fresh-baked goods. Stop into The Goat to treat yourself to a delicious java drink today!
2. The Nucleus Cafe
The locals say that The Nucleus Cafe serves the best brunch in Eau Claire, and apparently, they're a top coffee spot, too! The Nucleus is known for its unforgettable crepes, breakfast sandwiches, skillets, and omelettes. The Nucleus Cafe is connected to Racy D'Lene's Coffee Lounge which serves several coffee drinks, smoothies, and teas. This cafe duo has been a local and visitor favorite for decades and can be found on the historic Water Street.
3. Eau Clarie Downtown Coffee (ECDC)
Eau Claire Downtown Coffee (ECDC) is located in the heart of downtown Eau Claire at The Lismore Hotel. It's a convenient location to grab a seasonal, specialty coffee drink, fresh fruit smoothies, or light brunch sandwich. Oftentimes, you'll see students studying in the coffee shop, business professionals working productively, or friends catching up near the fireplace. Grab a coffee and bakery item, and experience the rest of downtown Eau Claire!
4. Phoenix Coffee
This summer, Eau Claire welcomed Phoenix Coffee to the downtown coffee scene! This shop is located on Barstow Street, right across the street from the Children's Museum of Eau Claire and the Phoenix Park entrance. It's located alongside the trail systems and offers stunning views of the Eau Claire River and the rest of downtown Eau Claire. Not only is their coffee delicious, but they're known for their incredible (and adorable) latte art machine! Phoenix also shares a space with the Bloomer Brewing Company - Andante Taproom for a downtown duo-drinking destination. It's the perfect, central place to start your day with caffeine in downtown Eau Claire!
5. Shift Cyclery & Coffee Bar
Fuel your bike ride with a coffee at Shift Cyclery & Coffee Bar! This bright, inviting coffee shop doubles as a bike shop that does repairs and offers accessible bike rentals. The coffee and matcha creations at Shift are unmatched, and the baked goods boost the entire experience. The shop is cozy yet industrial and will grant you plenty of natural sunlight this winter season!
Photo: The Local Store
Top-Visited Attractions
1. Phoenix Park
Being home to the iconic Eau Claire Farmers Market, Volume One's Food Truck Friday, Sounds Like Summer Concert Series, light-up bridges, and many more events throughout the year, it's no wonder why Phoenix Park makes the list. This stunning park overlooking the Chippewa River is the hub of downtown Eau Claire and has something for everyone. Whether you're looking for music, fishing, tubing, or trails, all of your adventures can start in Phoenix Park.
2. The Brewing Projekt
The Brewing Projekt is an all-around highly-visited spot in Eau Claire! Once you experience the river views, bonfire patio scene, event space, and spectacular beer flavors, you'll understand the hype. Start your Brew Pass journey off with a bang, and raise a toast at The Brewing Projekt!
3. The Local Store
Stock up on your locally-made goodies at The Local Store in Eau Claire! This shop captures Eau Claire's entire wacky personality with quirky artwork, home decor, kitchen & cooking items, apparel, games, and food. Pick up pieces that remind you of Eau Claire for holiday gifts or souvenirs, or take an adventure with The Local Store! The shop offers e-bike and e-scooter rentals in the warmer months, and their Chippewa River Trolley hosts incredible themed tours of Eau Claire like the Supper Club tour, Dark-History tour, and more! Visit the link to learn more about these excursions at The Local Store.
4. Eau Clarie Outdoors
This vibrant shop in downtown Eau Claire is a dreamland for outdoor enthusiasts. Eau Claire Outdoors is a retail shop selling outdoor apparel, accessories, gear, and more. Find everything you need for snow adventures, camping weekends, water sports, and hiking trips at Eau Claire Outdoors, or tune in for guided events with the experts at the shop! Eau Claire Outdoors hosts select river floats, trail walks, and other outdoor social events throughout the year as the perfect way to experience the great outdoors in Eau Claire. This shop is also your pick-up location for sticker and water bottle prizes with the Geau Outside pass– start earning your prizes here!
5. Lazy Monk Brewing Company
What can we say, Eau Claire and its visitors love their beer! Start your brewery-hopping adventure with a classic beer house in downtown Eau Claire, the Lazy Monky Brewing Company. This brewery is also located along the Chippewa River State Trail, so feel free to safely ride your bikes to the hottest location in town! While you're here, be sure to check in on the free Eau Claire Brew Pass to earn points and win prizes. Check out more breweries that Eau Claire loves here.
Photo: Pondview Lavender Farm
2024 Honorable Additions to Eau Claire
Mr. Kitty's Cat Cafe & Boutique | April
The cutest, cuddliest addition to downtown Eau Claire arrived this spring with the opening of Mr. Kitty's Cat Cafe & Boutique! The cat lounge partners with the Eau Claire County Humane Association and offers a safe, playful space for cats to interact with visitors. The cafe features a coffee shop area, boutique goods for sale, and, of course, a relaxing petting area available by reservation. Since its opening, over 100 cats have found their fur-ever homes through Mr. Kitty's Cat Cafe! Plan your play date with adorable felines at Mr. Kitty's Cat Cafe in downtown Eau Claire here.
Pondview Lavender Farm | June
The area's exclusive lavender farm opened this summer in the Town of Wheaton, and it was blooming with excitement! The U-pick farm is located just outside of Eau Claire along Highway 29 and has quickly become one of the most beautiful additions to the region. Visitors can wander the fields or stop by the shop to purchase a variety of lavender products. Whether you’re looking to relax or capture stunning photos with the vibrant purple plants, Pondview is the perfect spot. Don’t miss the striking mural on the farm's silo! Click here to learn more about events, products, and the fields at Pondview Lavender Farm.
The Sonnentag Center | September
In September, The Sonnentag Center officially held its grand opening to the new state-of-the-art event and sports center in Eau Clarie. The Sonnentag Center is a 226,000-square-foot facility, the largest indoor event space in northwestern Wisconsin, and it is the new home to select sports at the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire. The event space will also host concerts, shows, and a variety of events throughout the year. The Sonnentag Center is home to the John & Carolyn Sonnentag Fieldhouse, the Center for Health and Wellbeing, and the new Mayo Clinic Health System Diagnostic Imaging & Sports Medicine Center. Discover the venues and upcoming events, and get in touch with our Sports Relationships Manager to bring your next events to The Sonnentag Center here!
