We were recently able to do a quick getaway overnight, leaving around noon and getting back 24 hours later. Although it was quick, we were able to pack a lot of fun in exploring the area around La Crosse, Wisconsin.
Our first stop was spur-of-the-moment. We were driving along US 53 heading into La Crosse, when I saw a sign for the McGilvray “Seven Bridges” Road. I knew from some research I’d done that this was a trail we could hike and we’d made good time, so we made a quick U-turn and stopped. I’m glad we did! It’s an easy trail, very level and well-maintained, and the surrounding floodplain is beautiful. When we were there, things hadn’t quite greened up yet, but we plan to stop again in a month with our son and I’m sure it will be even more beautiful then. Our son’s also going to enjoy the bridges!
After our spontaneous stop, we resumed to our planned destination – Hixon Forest. Our plan was to do a bit of hiking, then head to the hotel and dinner. We ended up doing a lot more hiking than we intended – 6 miles! It was all fun, with good views of the surrounding area. Again, everything was still pretty brown, but the weather was good and the trails weren’t very busy.
Next, we headed to our hotel, The Charmant in downtown La Crosse. A renovated candy factory, the building, staff, and touches are all top-notch. We got complimentary chocolates on check-in, an homage to the chocolates that used to be made in the candy factory. Our room was river-facing, with a good view, and very roomy.
For dinner, we hit up maybe the most popular place in La Crosse – at least the one that we got the most recommendations for – Buzzard Billy’s. Cajun food is their specialty and I can attest, it was delicious! We got the obligatory fried alligator as an appetizer, Alex got a po’boy, and I got blackened catfish. The catfish was maybe the best fish I’ve ever had – perfectly seasoned and flaky, and served with a side of dirty rice.
The final thing to call out in our quick night away, was the brunch we had the next morning. We decided to eat at the Charmant, which is rated one of the highest brunches in La Crosse, and it was a smart decision. We ate out on the patio, which was a nice thought, but ended up being a touch cold – we were in the shade and it was probably 50F or so. Alex had a carnitas hash, with the pork carnitas just a melt-in-your-mouth take on the dish. I had shakshuka, which is a Middle Eastern dish of tomatoes, onions, spices, and eggs. We’ve made it and similar dishes at home, but this was perfection – the perfect spice level, the perfectly cooked eggs, and beautiful, beautiful caramelized onions. Needless to say, it was all I could do not to lick my plate clean.
And that was it! 24 hours, a couple of hikes, and some delicious food. La Crosse isn’t an area we’ve frequented much, but I think we might have to go back!
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