West Lakes Division of the American Association of Geographers (WLDAAG)

Things to Do and See in La Crosse

While you’re in La Crosse, you might consider checking out some fun places and activities. Perhaps start with Hear Here, an innovative and very geographic phone-based self-guided tour of place, stories, and little-known social and ethnic histories in the city, developed by UWL historian Ariel Beaujot.

Walk down historic Pearl Street and check out local crafts, food, beer, and cheese, maybe catch some folk or funk music at the Root Note Café, see the Mississippi River from River Park, have a drink at the Charmant Hotel (recently restored former chocolate factory), or taste the pho at the Hmong-owned Golden Egg Roll. A mile southwest of UWL is Viterbo University, home to excellent classical music and theater performances. Downtown, the La Crosse Center arena hosts championship bull riding during the West Lakes AAG conference.

Just north of campus is Myrick Park ecology center, an environmental education center on the La Crosse River marsh. Here, bike trails connect to a regional system of bike routes in all directions.

As for public transportation, here is La Crosse’s bus map/timetable, and there are also several taxi options.