Need a laid-back getaway with artsy vibes and riverfront charm? Head to Eau Claire! Tucked in western Wisconsin, Eau Claire mixes outdoor adventure, indie music, and Midwestern warmth. Whether you're biking the trails, discovering murals, or sipping craft brews downtown, this creative small city is full of big experiences.
Eau Claire, WI Highlights:
- For Adventurous Travelers: Kayak or paddle the Chippewa River – Launch from Phoenix Park and float through the heart of the city.
- For History Buffs: Explore the Chippewa Valley Museum – Learn about local logging history, immigrant heritage, and regional traditions.
- For Shoppers: Browse indie boutiques in downtown Eau Claire – Discover art, vintage finds, and handmade gifts in the lively Barstow Street district.
- For Couples: Stroll through Phoenix Park at sunset – Walk hand-in-hand along the riverwalk and catch live music at the outdoor pavilion.
- For Families: Play at Carson Park – Ride the mini train, tour the Paul Bunyan Logging Camp, and enjoy lakeside playgrounds and ballgames.
Best Time to Visit Eau Claire, WI
The best time to visit Eau Claire is from late spring to early fall (May through October). Enjoy warm weather for kayaking, biking, and festivals. Visit in July for music events like Blue Ox or in September for colorful autumn walks through Putnam Park.
How to Get to Eau Claire, WI
- If you are traveling by car: Eau Claire is located along I-94 and U.S. Route 53, about 90 minutes east of Minneapolis-St. Paul.
- By Air: Chippewa Valley Regional Airport (EAU) offers limited regional flights; for broader access, fly into MSP and drive or shuttle.
- By Bus: Jefferson Lines and Greyhound offer service from nearby cities, including Minneapolis and Madison.
Where to Stay in Eau Claire, WI
- Recommended for Families: Metropolis Resort – Family-friendly hotel with an indoor waterpark, trampoline park, and fun for all ages.
- For Couples: The Oxbow Hotel – Boutique downtown hotel with mid-century flair, vinyl records, and a cozy onsite restaurant.
- For a Boutique Hotel Stay: The Lismore Hotel Eau Claire – DoubleTree – Stylish downtown hotel with modern design and a rooftop bar.
Best Things to Do in Eau Claire, WI
1. The Ager House
Rating: ★★★★★
The Ager House is a museum dedicated to the life of author and writer Waldemar Ager, displaying the home where he wrote all of his seven novels and chronicling his life and career.
Located on Madison Street, the 1890s Victorian-era cottage in which Ager and his wife lived and raised nine children has been beautifully restored to its former early 1900s glory and is currently managed by the Waldemar Ager Association and listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Visitors can enjoy guided tours around this Literary Landmark and learn about the works of Waldemar Ager and the contributions made by other immigrants in the Chippewa Valley.
514 W Madison St, Eau Claire, WI 54703, Phone: 715-834-3985
2. Beaver Creek Reserve
Bordered by the Eau Claire River and two trout-stocked streams in Wisconsin's Chippewa Valley, Beaver Creek Reserve is a beautiful 400-acre reserve of pristine landscapes and wilderness that is home to a multitude of diverse flora and fauna.
The preserve features an array of terrain, ranging from river bottom forests and wetlands to upland woods and savannah areas as well as nearly 9 miles of hiking trails and a modern Nature Center.
Beaver Creek Reserve also boasts a citizen science center, the Hobbs Observatory, Wildland’s Charter School, a youth camp, and a seasonal butterfly house.
Activities in the reserve include hiking, mountain biking, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing, outdoor play pods for children, and group activities such as animal tracking, archery, and bird banding.
S1 County Road K, Fall Creek, WI 54742, Phone: 715-877-2212
3. Carson Park
Situated on a 134-acre peninsula formed in the oxbow Half Moon Lake, which was once part of the former course of the Chippewa River, Carson Park is a beautiful green space that is home to several sports fields, including baseball, softball and football fields, as well as the Chippewa Valley Museum and the Paul Bunyan Logging Camp Museum.
Named in honor of lumber baron William Carson, the park has a variety of things to see and do, including fishing at Braun's Bay, visiting the statues of Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox at the Paul Bunyan Logging Camp Museum, snacking on a famous Butterfinger Dilly Bar from the Dairy Queen, and catching amazing sunsets and photographs.
Other activities in the park range from hiking and mountain biking to waterskiing and horseshoeing.
100 Carson Park Dr, Eau Claire, WI 54703, Phone: 715-839-5039
What to do if you are traveling with kids:
4. Children's Museum of Eau Claire
The Children's Museum of Eau Claire is an interactive institution for children and their families to inspire imagination and creativity through play.
Spanning three floors, the museum features a variety of interactive exhibits and displays that encourage children to see, touch, play, think, and grow in a colorful and friendly environment.
Permanent exhibits include the sizeable digestive system of BodySmarts, the wonderful world of water in WaterWorks, and designing and building a fort in the Imagination Playground in addition to such exhibits as Bitty City, Kidstruction, and Show Business. The museum also offers a range of daily programs for children of all ages, such as art classes, planetarium shows, face painting, and science workshops.
40 S Barstow St, Eau Claire, WI 54701, Phone: 715-832-5437
5. Chippewa River Trail
The Chippewa River Trail is a 26-mile urban-rural trail system that follows the path of the Chippewa River in western Wisconsin.
The trail begins in Phoenix Park in downtown Eau Claire, at the point where the Eau Claire River meets the Chippewa River, and runs all the way to the town of Durand, where it meets the Red Cedar State Trail.
Once a railroad corridor, the Chippewa River State Trail passes through beautiful landscapes and terrains, including prairies, wetlands, and sandstone bluffs.
The trail also connects with smaller trails in and around the city, including a lovely walking trail through Putnam Park and an access pathway to the ever-popular farmers market in Phoenix Park, which is open on Saturday mornings. The path is paved for about 11 miles from downtown Eau Claire to near Caryville and is ideal for mountain biking, cycling, and in-line skating.
6. Chippewa Valley Museum
The Chippewa Valley Museum is a museum dedicated to highlighting the history and the intertwining stories of the Chippewa Valley and the people who have inhabited it through time.
Set in Eau Claire's beautiful Carson Park, the museum features several galleries and award-winning exhibits, a 1950s ice cream parlor, a museum store, and a variety of educational programs and activities for visitors of all ages.
Exhibitions include the Barland Gallery, Farm Life, Object Theater: This Day, Ayres Associates Gallery: Picture of Health, and the RCU Children’s Gallery: History Quest, and the grounds around the museum feature beautifully preserved historical structures.
1204 E Half Moon Dr, Eau Claire, WI 54703, Phone: 715-834-7871
Activities and Attractions for Couples and Singles:
7. Chippewa Valley Railroad
The Chippewa Valley Railroad (CVRR) is an historic 1880 mini steam locomotive with coaches that offers fun rides around a forested park.
Pulled by coal-fired steam locomotives and a diesel engine, the mini train is made up wooden 1880-style passenger coaches, a gondola car, and a caboose.
The quarter-size working railroad includes a depot, a roundtable, a passenger waiting canopy, a turntable, a switchyard, and the oldest interlocking tower in the state, all of which visitors can experience on their ride around the park.
The vintage train station has suspender-clad conductors wearing pin-striped engineer's hats to complete the experience.
Carson Park, Eau Claire, WI 54702-1266, Phone: 715-831-0900, Eau Claire, WI 54703
8. Downtown Farmers Market
Located next to the Madison Street Bridge in the north section of Phoenix Park, the Downtown Farmers Market features 70 vendors who sell a variety of organic produce, ranging from fruit, vegetables, fresh flowers and bread to butter, eggs, meats, cheeses, and more. Established to supply the citizens of Eau Claire with farm-fresh products of the highest quality, the market was created in 1994 by Philip Arthur Chute. The Downtown Farmers Market hosts an array of events throughout the year as well as a unique winter market, which sells a variety of seasonal produce and other homemade goodies, such as honey, popcorn, baked treats, and more.
300 Riverfront Terrace, Eau Claire, WI 54701
9. Mount Simon Park
Located on Dells Pond, Mount Simon Park is a 49-acre green urban space that runs along the banks of the Chippewa River. The park features a variety of recreational and outdoor activities, such as two picnic pavilions, two sand volleyball courts, two Frisbee nine-hole golf courses, and a boat landing and dock. Other activities to be enjoyed in the park include fishing, swimming, kayaking, canoeing, boating, and water-skiing in the river, along with hiking, biking, tennis, and golf. There are plenty of restrooms and parking throughout the park, and it can be accessed from Birch or Madison Streets.
1100 Addison St, Eau Claire, WI 54703, Phone: 715-839-5032
Plan Your Trip