Prairie du Chien – The Facts

Without further ado, this is the long and short (more short than long) on what to do in Prairie du Chien. Facts only, commentary omitted (for the most part 😉)

Near
– La Crosse (65 miles North)
– Platteville (55 miles Southeast)

Nature/Outdoor Activities
– Wyalusing State Park (located within the park are two state natural areas as well – Wyalusing Hardwood Forest and Wyalusing Walnut Forest)
– La Riviere Park
– Quite a few places to hike in Iowa (gross)
– Mississippi River tours (Maiden Voyage tours – based in Iowa but I’ll allow it)
– Literally any fishing and boating opportunities you can imagine due to the Mississippi and Wisconsin Rivers
– Plenty of birding opportunities as well due to the water/river habitat

Beer/Wine/Distilleries
– Potosi Brewing Company (not located in PDC, you’ll have to drive a bit for this
– Whispering Bluffs Winery (also located in Potosi)
– That’s unfortunately pretty much it. Any aspiring entrepreneurs reading this? PLEASE consider opening up a brewery, winery, or distillery in PDC. WE NEED YOU!

Supper Clubs
– Jones’ Black Angus (TOP TIER supper club people!!)

Got Kids?
– Prairie Fun Land – an awesome mini golf/driving range/mini arcade/water games, etc. type park.
– Shihata’s Orchard – apple picking
– Maiden Voyage Mississippi River Boat Tours
– Fishing/boating opportunities galore
– Pete’s Hamburger Stand – oldest stand in WI

No Kids?
– Two golf courses – Barnyard 9 Golf Course and Prairie du Chien Country Club
– Fun downtown scene – lots of bar and grills
– St. Feriole Island (you can bring the kids here too if you’d like)
– Villa Louis
– Fort Crawford Museum
– Take a drive north, south, and east of PDC on some back roads. Get yourself lost, and just enjoy the scenery… some of the prettiest in the state

Lodging
– Prairie Voyager Motel (CHEAP CHEAP CHEAP – use that saved money for a more enjoyable trip)
– Waterfront Hotel (Upscale hotel located near downtown)
– River District Hotel (also upscale, also downtown)
– Plenty of your standard hotels available
– I’ve also heard a rumor that the Dousman is going to someday be open for lodging as well. Super cool old building on St. Feriole Island near Villa Louis, building also owned by them at one point. If that opens up, it’s going to be a must to stay at

Dining
– I cannot name every place to eat here in this city, but a gentle reminder that the states second best cheese curds are located at Ft. Mulligan’s Grillpub. Pete’s Hamburger Stand is a standout (pun 100% intended), and it’s also the oldest hamburger stand in the state. Muddy Waters Pizza Pub has some of the best pizza I’ve ever had in my life and no I’m not exaggerating. Jone’s Black Angus Supper Club has the traditional supper club atmosphere that reminds you that when you’re in Wisconsin, you’re home.

Last but not least… I have two points I like to focus on for whether or not YOU should visit.  
– Point 1: Would I live here? From time to time during my travels, I often lapse into a daydream about living in that city. I will randomly get the urge to just pick up and move… nothing major, not a total life reset, but a nice change of scenery. And so I ask myself, “could I see myself living here? Like, if I find a decent job I enjoy that pays decently too, would I be able to enjoy living in this town/city?” If the answer is yes, I believe you need to visit this city… and for Prairie du Chien, the answer is YES. The views, the people, the friendliness…
– Point 2: Do I want to visit this place again? Regardless of whether I’ve done it all yet or not, do I want to ever revisit here? Life is short after all… would I want to spend $200-$300 on a 3 day weekend HERE, when I could go somewhere new? If the answer is yes, I believe you need to visit this city… and for Prairie du Chien, the answer is YES.

What did I miss? If you’re a local, what do you recommend that isn’t on this list? Or if you’ve been here before but I left something out, please let me know in the comments! I DO plan on coming back, and I’m always open to doing the things I haven’t done before. Life is too short, and I want to spend it in WI.