Moving To La Crosse!

Everyone’s idea of the perfect place to settle down with their family is different. When moving to a new place with kids, make sure there’s plenty to do in the area to keep you and your little ones entertained. The good news is that La Crosse has something for all age groups! Here’s everything you need to know before making La Crosse your forever home.

See What La Crosse Has to Offer

If you’re new to Wisconsin, a common question you may have before moving to La Crosse is: what is there to do? La Crosse has so much to offer to people of all ages, habits, and walks of life. Whether your hobby is a hiking, scenic photography, brewery hopping, or hanging out with the family, there’s something here for everyone. Check out these different categories below for ideas on things to do:

Fishing

La Crosse is near plenty of streams and rivers, like the Mississippi or Black River, and lakes so you can fish your heart out. There are various places to rent boats, canoes or pontoons like Schafer’s River Rentals or other local shops. Consider camping at a nearby site to get the most out of your fishing experience. Throughout the colder weather season, it’s home to plenty of ice fishermen and you can find out all the dos and don’ts about winter fishing.  

Fishing may not be ideal for everyone in your family so research a type of fishing adventure that includes everyone. Check out Island Outdoors to rent canoes, paddle boards, kayaks and more to let everyone have a little fun during your fishing excursion. 

More About Fishing

Children’s Activities

La Crosse has plenty of indoor and outdoor activities for kids to choose from. The Children’s Museum of La Crosse is an educational place for kids, or you can take them to an “escape game” at The Great Escape of La Crosse. Stay on the lookout for local festivals going on throughout the year for kids of all ages. If you’re still looking for a place to tire out your kids, try out Shenanigans which is readied with arcade games, pizza, inflatables and prizes!

When families come to visit, be sure to direct them to our family getaway itinerary so you can make the most our your time together. You’ll find where to stay, dine and more activities that are great for groups!

Itinerary for Families

Hiking

Attention hiking fanatics! There are plenty of bluff trails in the area to check out like Great River State Trail Park, Upper Hixon Forest, Grandad Bluff Park and many more. There’s usually a good amount of parking places, making commuting to the bluffs easy, or bike trails for convenient access. Make sure you pack for your adventure accordingly by making a day hike packing list before you go off on your own or with friends. There are tons of vistas and overlooks to see the amazing view beneath you from various bluff peaks or hills. 

More About Hiking

Attractions

If the outdoors isn’t exactly your thing, don’t worry; there are plenty of other options. If you’re interested in watching a sports game, catch a game or two at the local University of Wisconsin- La Crosse or the La Crosse Loggers collegiate wooden bat baseball team. Check out an adventure park that’s equipped for all ages if you’re looking for an adrenaline rush at Jump Start Adventure Park. There are also various restaurants, breweries and bars to have some fun at after a long day’s worth of work. If you’re looking for a more relaxing kind of vibe, look no further than the different parks and pools around town. 

More Signature Sights

Explore La Crosse’s Surrounding Areas

Last but not least, make sure you explore the encompassing areas before you make your move! You’re going to be a local before you know it and you’ll know all the best places within a few hours’ distances to plan a staycation or a day trip. Check out this article for all the places surrounding the La Crosse region that are must-sees in our book with plenty of places to hike and visit for the day. 

Once you consider all there is to know about moving to La Crosse, it’s sure to have moved to the top of your list of places to live. 

Start Preparing for Your Move

Once you’re ready to call La Crosse home, proper preparations must be made. It’s best to start planning for your move as early as possible, even if you’re not going to be physically moving in the next couple of weeks. Look into ways to save some extra cash for your new home, whether that’s changing your daily household expenses and selling unwanted furniture to put that extra monthly money into your “new home” fund. Once you have some extra cash set aside, look into things that need to be done around the home to increase its selling value. 

When you’re preparing to move, plan what you must take with you and then make a moving checklist. Once that’s all organized, begin calling moving companies and getting estimates from each one. As soon as you’ve discussed these things with your family, you can get started with the fun stuff. 

How Much Does a Home in La Crosse Cost?

After you’ve prepared your own home, it’s time to start looking at places for your future home by looking at how much current homes in La Crosse cost, what neighborhood you want to live in, and what attractions your family will be in close proximity to. An important part of deciding where you’ll live is knowing how much to expect to pay. You’ll also have to consider what the school taxes look like and how much home you’ll be able to afford after selling your current place. Check out the surrounding area and see if it’s what you expected. You may also want to look into a mortgage preapproval, which will help you get a better understanding of what your budget is before you start the house hunt. 

Now that you know everything there is to know about La Crosse, it’s time to start putting it in motion. No matter what the reason is for your move to La Crosse, you’ll be happy to know there’s always something here to make you feel at-home.

Try Something New Blog

There are epic new memories to be made in unexpected places of the La Crosse Region! If it’s your 1st visit or 50th- there are always new places to branch out to. Hidden caves, monster truck rallies, and magical gardens… say whatttttt?

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Food & Drink Itinerary

It’s the best part of any trip… THE FOOD! THE DRINKS! Want to know where to go? We’ve got it covered with our top 5 picks for the La Crosse area!

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La Crosse is home to excellent fishing opportunities, from tiny backwaters to lakes that stretch into the thousands of acres. There’s also a variety of boat launches, beaches for surf fishing, and marinas.

No matter what kind of fishing you want to do, there’s an opportunity for you in La Crosse. It’s an excellent spot for newbies to learn the ropes of fishing. But advanced anglers will also find plenty of challenges in these waters. 

We’ve put together a guide for anglers arriving in La Crosse to fish these waters. You’ll find all you need to know in this guide: Fishing 101 for first-time anglers in La Crosse. 

What Fish Can You Find & When?

Fishing is good year-round in La Crosse. There are plenty of fish species to catch, and whichever season you’re fishing in, there’ll be opportunities for excellent catches. 

Spring & Summer 

Just about every species of fish can be found in the area in spring and summer. The walleye are out in full force just after the ice and snowmelt. Head downriver or to one of the many dams if they’re your target fish. 

As the waters warm up, so do the panfish and pike. But if you’re after bass, then late spring, early summer is the ideal time to be casting your line. Both smallmouth and largemouth bass are abundant in the La Crosse waters—largemouth in shallow backwaters and smallmouth in the bigger rivers. 

Channel and flathead catfish also put up an excellent fight in the warmer months, providing a challenge for anglers of all levels. 

Other fish you may just find at the end of your line include sturgeon, sauger, crappie, and sunfish, and trout (depending on which waters you’re fishing in). 

Fall & Winter

The cooling of the climate in fall brings out the aggressive side of many fish, as they prepare for food sources to diminish in winter. Bass are much less active in the cooler months, so it’s advisable to wait for warmer weather if they’re your target. 

Walleye are still a predictable and steady catch in the cooler temperatures. And when the waters ice over, winter ice fishing for panfish is one of the most fun winter activities in the region. 

When the ice is thick and safe, you can head out to deeper waters and try your hand at reeling in a northern pike. 

What Gear Should You Bring?

If you’re fishing in the spring or summer, you’ll want to use a rod and reel that’s appropriate for the fishing you want to be doing. 

Take your pick of a fly fishing rod and reel if you want to fly fish for trout. But a normal spinner reel or baitcasting reel and rod will work well for most people if you’re fishing for bass, crappie, walleye, or other fish. 

For ice fishing, you’ll need an ice auger and a special ice fishing rod and reel. Unlike normal fly reels or baitcasting reels and fishing rods, these are designed to be able to withstand the cold and be effective for the kind of fishing you’re doing. They’re often made of fiberglass to be strong and flexible at the same time and are shorter than usual. 

It’s a good idea to do some research on fly patterns for your target fish and the season you’ll be fishing in. 

Other than that, be sure to dress for the weather. Wear wool clothing and layer up in winter to stay warm. Remember to wear a hat and sunscreen in summer. Non-slip shoes are a must, and make sure you have first aid essentials just in case. 

Which Fishing Spots Are Best?

Neshonoc Lake

This 606-acre, 11-foot deep lake is about 15 miles outside of the city and offers good fishing opportunities. You can expect to catch largemouth bass, catfish, northern pike, and a variety of panfish. 

Depending on the day, the water can be a touch cloudy. Brightly colored lures may have the best luck in these waters. 

You can fish from the shore or head out on the boat. Surrounded by trees and marsh, it’s a beautiful spot to spend some time. 

Lake Onalaska

Lake Onalaska, 4 miles wide and 40 feet deep at its deepest point, is a reservoir on the Black and Mississippi Rivers. It’s the ideal place to visit with the family in summer, as there’s a variety of activities on offer. 

While you’re fishing for walleye, smallmouth and largemouth bass, northern pike, or bluegill, the family can waterskiing, wind-surfing, or bird-watching. 

But it’s equally as great a location in the fall and winter. Fall brings a burst of spectacular color to the surrounding scenery, and when the lake ice over, it’s an extremely popular ice fishing spot. 

Lake Onalaska also holds the state record for spotted sucker. The big fellow, 20.5 inches in length and weighing 4 pounds 10 ounces, was caught in 2018 in these waters. 

Black River

The Black River in La Crosse is a backwater river that offers exciting fishing. The part of the river at MM 695 across from La Crosse is dotted with small islands, providing a variety of hideaways for walleye. 

It’s a little more remote than the first two locations, which is ideal if you’re looking for a serene spot without others around

La Crosse Lunker League

Fishing is an excellent choice of outdoor activity to partake in if you happen to have some time to spend in the great outdoors in La Crosse. 

If you want to add an extra element of excitement to your fishing, you can join the La Crosse Lunker League. 

It’s simple. Catch a qualifying species in the La Crosse area, take some pictures for size and memories, release your fish, and submit your catch! 

You’ll be notified when your catch has been approved and you can see the awards you’ve gained. There are goals, milestones, and various awards to be won. 

It’s open to both residents and visitors. It’s a fun way to challenge yourself and possibly win some cool awards! 

Top Shorelines to Fish Today

No boat?  No problem! 
The area has amazing options to fish from shorelines, docks, piers, floats, and more without ever having to step foot on the water.

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Fall Fishing Frenzy: Guides in the Region

Hit the Fall Fishing Frenzy in the La Crosse Region! Take the guesswork out and enjoy area guides with years of experience navigating the Region’s bountiful waterways.

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Autumn is officially here and the La Crosse Area is beaming with fall-filled activities to spice up the average weekend plans! It’s time to throw on your coziest sweater and take a beautiful scenic road trip through rolling bluffs painted with fall colors to uncover what adventures lie in Hidden Hills. A hidden gem for a family fun day-trip, Hidden Hills is full of wide-open spaces with gourd-geous views + exciting activities to match.

Owners Deb and Ethan have truly gotten back to the roots of how special spending quality time with family and friends is! Hidden Hills is the perfect location for making significant memories that will have you coming back time and time again. With no time limits confining your stay, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to enjoy their adventurous activities, quality produce, and scenic sites all fall long.

We’ve highlighted 6 ways to enjoy PEEK fall foliage season at Hidden Hills!

1. Get your Paint Party on!

Hidden Hills 5 acres of wooded paintball courses passes with flying colors – literally! Known for being the hit of every Bachelor and Bachelorette party, divide your party into two teams to face off on opposite sides of the field to see who survives. Or elevate the stakes of a classic capture the flag match! Suit up with your helmets and paintball guns, then locate the opposites team’s flag and bring it back to your team’s home base without being eliminated to claim victory… major bragging rights are an added bonus! If the paintball guns seem intimidating have a paint balloon throwing party instead; all the mess + fun for all ages!

2. A-MAZE-ing Courses

Nothing channels fall flannel like the Hidden hills Nerf course and child-friendly maze! Nerf wars are a great and safe alternative to paintball with all the same excitement of climbing through tunnels, venturing around absolutes, and trying to hit targets from the tower. Nerf guns, ammo, and safety glasses are provided within their war chest. More players mean more fun; making this an ideal spot for parties and field trips. Parents can also relax with ease while their young children venture through their field maze where kids are always in visible sight.

3. Sustainable Food Sourcing

Fall reminds us of all the beauty and excitement of supporting local produce! Hidden Hills’ produces high-quality farm-fresh eggs and animals raised on 99.8% grass-fed and non-GMO fields. All animals are raised in large roaring areas where they’re able to express their natural healthy and clean lives. Whole chickens and farm-fresh egg sales are frequently available. To order beef, lamb, pork, or turkey call for availability.

4. Petting Zoo & Fall Picnics

If you love playing with adorable animals, they’ve goat you! Hidden Hills petting zoo has baby lambs that love to be held, baby pigs learning how to dig, goats who love the obstacle courses as much as you will, sleepy calves, and curious farm cats. Season passes are available to watch petting farm animals grow throughout the seasons. If you’re FALLing in love with your new fluffy friends you may be in luck to take one home, live Mini-Rex and Silver-Fox Rabbits are waiting to be adopted by hoppy families! Before you leave, pick up an Animal Scavenger Hunt and take a breezy trail hike to see what local wildlife you can check off your list. Nearby trails are homes to great bird watching and picnic spots to relax with some goodies from the craft store!

5. Leaves are Falling & Local Crafts are Calling!

Never fear, local fall crafts are here! Hidden Hills craft store contains a variety of homemade decorations sourced by local artists. You’ll find charming hand-painted rocks, homemade soaps, candles, baskets, bath salts, cribbage boards, and much more! Don’t miss out on fall exclusives like pitching the cutest painted pumpkin of the patch!

6. Spooky Sights

Look out for a spooky new addition coming this fall… the Haunted Barn! In 1840, Erlend Norgaard moved with his family from Norway to 700 acres of land on the very ridgetop where Hidden Hills sits. Here the Norgaard family built a beautiful home and worked the land, but what they didn’t know was the property had been saught out by a group of businessmen before Erlend made an offer. The businessmen were enraged and made life very difficult for the Norgaard family. One fateful October night when Erlend was away someone started their home on fire tragically trapping Erlend’s family inside. To Erlend’s return, he found all he loved turned to ashes, and lived out his days in the barn among his animals. Stories arose that the barn was haunted by the ghosts of Erlend’s family and he eventually joined them after being murdered himself. The ghosts of the Norgarrd family live on through their belongs left in the barns pole shed. The haunted barn has been untouched by current owners for fear of Erlend’s rage to be kindled against them!