Top Visited Attractions
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. Reboot Social
A place to get good food, cold drinks, and play a wide range of games... it's a given! Reboot Social has been loved by all ages with all its forms of entertainment like bowling, pool, pinball, Nintendo, board games, and so many more vintage gaming machines. But don't worry, you can eat and play all at Reboot Social with menu items like Smash Burgers, wraps & sandwiches, and craft cocktails. See more reasons why you'll love Reboot Social here.
4. Haymarket Plaza
Haymarket Plaza is the scene every season of the year. From the Christmas tree lighting in the winter to runners hitting the trails in the spring to kids and dogs running through the splash pad in the summer, Haymarket Plaza is buzzing all throughout the year. Plus, it's right outside the Pablo Center at the Confluence and is a great place to take photos before catching your show!
5. Olson's Ice Cream
Apparently, a lot of visitors have a sweet tooth when visiting Eau Claire! Olson's Ice Cream is located in downtown Eau Claire close to many main attractions like the Pablo Center, the Children's Museum of Eau Claire, The Lismore Hotel, as well as restaurants and shops. Click here to see more places to get an ice cream cone in Eau Claire!
Top Cheese Curd Locations
1. Reboot Social
Like we said, Reboot Social has some dang good food, including cheese curds! The stats don't lie when they say that people love to work up a cheesy appetite while playing Guitar Hero and Super Mario Bros. Check out the full food, bar, and mocktail menu at Reboot Social!
2. The District
If you prefer your cheese curds big, stretchy, and cube-shaped, The District is your spot. Located in the heart of downtown Eau Claire, The District is a wildly popular place to get all sorts of American cuisine like burgers, wings, wraps, and beer! If you're feeling brave enough, step it up on the heat level and try the jalapeno-flavored cheese curds. They've got some kick, but ohhh they're tasty!
3. Court'n House
As one of the locals' favorite places to eat, you know that Court'n House offers some mean cheese curds. As a matter of fact, everything on their menu is bomb. Grab an order of cheese curds for an appetizer and pair it with a Bloody Mary, a burger, fish, or pizza, and you'll have a fabulous dinner. Is your mouth watering yet?
4. Mogie's Pub
At Mogie's Pub, you can order cold drinks, good lunch & dinner options, and the perfect cheese curds. This Water Street pub has been a long-time favorite for appetizers, Bloody Marys, and a place to start a night out on the town!
5. Cowboy Jack's
The cheese doesn't stop when you head to River Prairie. Visit Cowboy Jack's for an unbeatable daily happy hour, seasonal cocktails, and a huge menu with classic options like burgers, sandwiches, pizza, pasta, steak, seafood, and so much more. Click here to view more things to do in River Prairie.
Top Visited Breweries
1. Lazy Monk Brewing Company
As the top visited attraction and brewery in Eau Claire, it goes without saying– their beer is like no other! Lazy Monk is a European-style brewing company that feels like a German cottage when you walk in. Order a flight of delicious beer flavors totally unique to Lazy Monk, and get a taste of Eau Claire's most anticipated brewery!
2. The Brewing Projekt
Just down the street from Lazy Monk, you can wander into The Brewing Projekt for more funky, unique beer flavor combinations. The Brewing Projekt is located along the Chippewa River and offers a modern rooftop bar with lounge chairs, firepits, and games. Plus, The Brewing Projekt is dog-friendly!
3. 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!
4. K Point Brewing
Stop in for breakfast, dinner, beer, or shop around for alcohol at K Point Brewing. This microbrewery is known for its made-in-house beer, Friday fish fry, and the coffee and breakfast selection at Coffee Grounds. Shop around for other local beers and wine in the shop during your visit to K Point!
5. 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, brewery tours, 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!
Note: All of these breweries are a part of the FREE Eau Claire Brew Pass. Click here to learn more and to start winning prizes for drinking beer today!
Top Visited Parks
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. Owen Park
Catch Tuesday Night Blues in the summer and a great lawn for a game of winter Kubb at Owen Park. Located right along the Chippewa River, the Chippewa River State Trail runs through Owen Park and is always filled with walkers, runners, and bikers. Also, Owen Park is filled with huge trees that are perfect to hang your hammocks in!
4. 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, Helix, or The Island Parkside! Click here to see more ways to enjoy River Prairie.
5. Lowes Creek County Park
Lowes Creek County Park encompasses all types of outdoor recreation including mountain biking, walking & hiking trails, snowshoe & cross-country skiing trails, and more. This county park is 250 acres and has stunning routes throughout the property. Explore Lowes Creek County Park in every season during your visit to Eau Claire!
Top Seasonal Activities
Winter: Snowshoeing
Take on winter like a champion in Eau Claire, and explore the snowshoe trails in the area! Venture through popular snowshoe locations including Beaver Creek Reserve, Lowes Creek County Park, Wheaton Park, Centennial Park, Northwest Community Park, Pinehurst Park, Tower Ridge County Park, and so many more. If you don't own snowshoes, have no fear! Check out Gear Share in Eau Claire, find out where to rent winter equipment at no cost in Eau Claire, and experience a true Wisconsin winter!
Spring: Farmers Market
Nothing says spring in Eau Claire the Farmers Market returning for the year! Head to Phoenix Park starting in early May every year, and browse through dozens of local vendors offering fresh fruits & vegetables, flowers, meats, eggs, baked goods, salsas, and more. The Eau Claire Farmers Market takes place every Saturday from the first weekend of May through late October, as well as Wednesdays & Thursdays from June through October. Click here to see more farmers' markets in Osseo and Wheaton.
Summer: Tubing
Summertime is for floating on the river! Check out our full tubing page and find the best routes to tube down the Chippewa River. For a shorter float, start your journey at Phoenix Park to stay in the downtown area. Make an afternoon out of it, and head to Loopy's Grill & Saloon where their shuttle will drive you and your tubes upstream and drop you off at the Chippewa Falls boat landing so you can float back to Loopy's! Click here for more tubing information and to see maps of the best floats.
Fall: Haunted Houses & Trails
Locals and visitors can't get enough of spooky season in Eau Claire! This fall, check out the best haunted houses, spooky trails, and nighttime corn mazes that are sure to bring you shrills and thrills. If that isn't scary enough, check out our blog highlighting the top paranormal properties in Eau Claire, and visit locations that are actually rumored to be haunted!
