Photo: Chippewa Valley Museum
Things to Do
Go apple picking at Eau Claire's orchards
Every fall, the Eau Claire area's apple orchards are poppin' with families and friends spending the day apple-picking! There's a variety of activities at the orchards, with a little something for all ages. At Ferguson's Orchards, you can pick your own apples, journey through the corn maze, take on the ropes course, visit the farm animals, and so much more. Other prime places for apple picking include Leffel Roots, Bushel & A Peck, Connell's Family Orchard, Mcilquham's Orchard, and more. The Glass Orchard not only has apples to pick, but it's a hot glass studio where you can watch or create your own glass pieces. Click here to learn more about the area's orchards.
Walk along the Eau Claire Sculpture Tour
The Eau Claire Sculpture Tour is the nation's largest sculpture tour with over 120 sculptures, and they're located at convenient locations for exploring! Take a walk through downtown Eau Claire, Phoenix Park, Water Street, Carson Park, River Prairie, and other locations in the area to view this year's unique and impressive sculptures. Capture memories with photos with the dinosaurs, monkey, rooster, and more. Take a road trip to Osseo or the Town of Wheaton to see more sculptures on this year's tour! Once you've seen them all, cast your vote for your favorite sculpture where the People's Choice piece will be added to the city's permanent collection.
Play at the Children's Museum of Eau Claire
There's no better place to let the grandkids play freely and use their imaginations than the Children's Museum of Eau Claire! Here, kids can transform into firefighters, bankers, farmers, veterinarians, paleontologists, and more and experience hands-on play at a state-of-the-art facility. Join in on the fun and cheer on your grandkids while they climb the rock wall, play in the waterworks station, or make their way through the incredible exhibits at the museum! Click here to learn more about the Children's Museum and to plan your play date!
Swim at Chaos Water Park
Make a splash with the family by spending a day at Chaos Water Park! Located at Metropolis Resort, Chaos is home to water slides, a lazy river, an aquatic playground, an activity pool, and a hot tub. The water park offers a variety of swim passes that suit toddlers, late-night swimmers, discounted swims, and dry pass holders who would still like to enjoy the warmth of the water park and have access to food and drink. Make it easy, and head to your guest room at Metropolis Resort for a good night's sleep after a day in Eau Claire!
Explore Carson Park
With museums, trails, playgrounds, and ball fields, Carson Park is a hub for entertainment when visiting Eau Claire. Take the grandkids out to the ball game at Carson Park to see Eau Claire Express baseball. For a history lesson, browse through the Chippewa Valley Museum to learn about the logging industry and the upbringing of Eau Claire. See how the lumberjacks inhabited the area at the Wisconsin Logging Museum, and snap a photo with the iconic Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox. Grab a scoop of ice cream at the museum, and then head to the epic playground in Carson Park! For additional adventure, take a ride on the Chippewa Valley Railroad through the park, rent kayaks in Braun's Bay, and visit the sculptures throughout the park. Visit our Carson Park page to see all the attractions worth the visit!
Photo: Butterfly House at Beaver Creek Reserve
Play each other at Reboot Social
Get your game on at Reboot Social, an arcade bar and restaurant in downtown Eau Claire! This groovy hangout has no shortage of vintage arcade games, bowling lanes, pool tables, pinball machines, and board games. The restaurant serves up delicious burgers, sandwiches, fish, salads, and plenty of options perfect for kids. The bar offers cocktails, mocktails, beer, and other beverages to fuel your play through the arcade!
Dance at summer concerts
Nearly every night of the week throughout the summer, parks around Eau Claire host live concert series that are free to attend! Dance the night away at Rock'n on the River or Kickin' It Country in River Prairie, Tuesday Night Blues in Owen Park, or Sounds Like Summer in Phoenix Park. Make a day trip to Osseo on Monday nights for more music in the park opportunities throughout the summer. Check out our blog, "Tune Into Summer: Your Daily Guide to Live Music in Eau Claire," to see the complete guide!
Find fun at Action City Fun Center & Trampoline Park
This place is truly every kid's dream! Spend a day at Action City where there is no shortage of activities, games, and attractions that the whole family can enjoy. Take on the racetrack on indoor and outdoor go-karts, fly through the air on the outdoor zipline, play a game of mini-golf, challenge your family to a round of laser tag, take air at the trampoline park, and so much more. Visit the link to learn more about Action City and to purchase your passes.
Pick berries in the summer
Nothing says sweet summertime like a trip to the berry patch! Start a summer tradition of picking berries at farms and orchards in the Eau Claire area. Pick strawberries at Little Berry Farm, Mcilquham Orchard, or Foster's Farm. Fill up your blueberry buckets at Blueberry Ridge or Hidden Acres, or pick raspberries at Bushel & A Peck and Connell's Family Orchard. Visit the link to see the complete guide to berry picking in Eau Claire.
Adventure at Beaver Creek Reserve
Make your playdate an adventurous one by exploring the wildlife at Beaver Creek Reserve. This facility is home to hiking trails, gear rentals, a butterfly house, animal education workshops, and other outdoor exploration opportunities. Learn about the animals that inhabit Northwestern Wisconsin, go for a hike on the trails, and even try out stargazing at the facility at select times of the year. Click here to learn all about Beaver Creek Reserve.
Photo: Ramone's Ice Cream Parlor
Places to Eat
Chick-A-Dee's
Show your grandkids what a true breakfast diner looks like at Chick-A-Dee's in Eau Claire! Known for serving the best hashbrowns in town, Chick-A-Dee's offers delicious and nostalgic breakfast and brunch options at their cute little restaurant. Fill up on pancakes, traditional breakfast plates, soups, and more kid-friendly options.
Altoona Family Restaurant
Make your meal choices easy at Altoona Family Restaurant with breakfast, lunch, and dinner options for all. Even the pickiest eaters will love the pancakes, waffles, burgers, sandwiches, fish, and more. You can count on Altoona Family Restaurant to serve you unbeatable, filling meals from 7 AM to 9 PM daily.
Norske Nook
Keep the memories rolling on a day trip to Osseo! While in town, get a bite of delicious, home-cooked food that "tastes like Grandma's" at Norske Nook. This Norwegian-style bakery and restaurant is known for their award-winning, seasonal pie recipes, comfort foods, and welcoming staff. You'll feel right at home when you take a seat inside Norske Nook!
Grand Avenue Cafe
There are cozy cafes located in every corner of Eau Claire, and Grand Avenue Cafe is no exception. Enjoy fresh-brewed coffee, comforting breakfast platters, lunch options, and desserts. Grand Avenue Cafe regularly serves fresh quiche, bread pudding, cakes, and a selection of daily soups. Click here to learn more about the cafe on Grand Avenue!
Randy's Family Restaurant
For more all-day, family-friendly dining options in Eau Claire, Randy's Family Restaurant is your go-to! Randy's serves all-day breakfast, lunch, and dinner at the restaurant and is another spot known for their friendly, inviting staff. Treat the grandkids to home-style cooking, and ensure everyone will enjoy their meal at Randy's.
Ice cream shops
It wouldn't be a day spent in Eau Claire without locating one of the many ice cream shops in town! If you're strolling through downtown Eau Claire in Phoenix Park or the Eau Claire Sculpture Tour, grab a cone at Ramone's, Olson's, or Acoustic Cafe. Plan a picnic in River Prairie Park and get your dessert at 44 Below. In the summer, the Chippewa Valley Museum also hosts an ice cream shop for its visitors! Check out our complete guide to getting ice cream in Eau Claire here.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW A COMPLETE LIST OF RESTAURANTS IN EAU CLAIRE
Photo: Stoney Creek RV Resort
Places to Stay
Metropolis Resort & Conference Center
Book your stay at the Metropolis Resort & Conference Center. It is THE place for kids to play in Eau Claire. Metropolis is home to both Chaos Water Park and Action City. The kids can enjoy laser tag, a trampoline park, an arcade, and much more at Action City for a day of non-stop fun. When they aren't playing on dry land, they can be making a splash at Chaos Water Park. To keep the party going, throw your very own pizza party with eats from Monkey In The Middle Pizza. All this is right on-site, making Metropolis the one-stop-shop for all things family fun. Explore our family adventure itinerary for more things to do with the family in Eau Claire!
Sleep Inn & Suites
Make your overnight arrangements in Wheaton, WI on your trip to Eau Claire to escape the hustle and bustle of downtown Eau Claire! Sleep Inn & Suites has everything you need for a convenient stay including Wheaton Family Restaurant, dog-friendly amenities, and comfortable guest rooms. Sleep Inn & Suites is located about 8 miles north of downtown Eau Claire right off Highway 29. It's a convenient location for families traveling from Minneapolis and puts you closer to experiencing all that the Town of Wheaton has to offer!
Stoney Creek RV Resort
Pack up the entire family for a weekend camping adventure in Osseo! Stoney Creek RV Resort is a hub for summertime entertainment and is the perfect place to make memories that will last a lifetime. With a variety of campsites, a man-made lake and beach, a Wibit system, a mini-golf course, a jumping pad, and a market on-site, Stoney Creek has everything you need to unwind and experience the magic of camping in Wisconsin! Click here to explore camping options at Stoney Creek, and click here to see more things to do on your trip to Osseo.