Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Situated where the mini-mighty La Crosse and Black Rivers flow into the Mississippi,
La Crosse is situated below one of the Mississippi's major bights, allowing heavy commer-
cial traffic. Here, the prairie, and thus all paths on it, literally march to the river's edge. The
initial name, “Prairie La Crosse,” came when voyageurs saw the Winnebago playing the
fast-paced game of lattice-head sticks, permanently infusing the original name with cruci-
form symbolism.
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Granddad's Bluff
The famed rock upthrust of
Granddad's Bluff
that towers (for Wisconsin, anyway) more
than 550 feet above the back haunches of La Crosse is without question the number one
scenic spot in western Wisconsin. Overlooking three states (Wisconsin, Minnesota, and
even Iowa—a viewing radius of some 40 miles) and the Mississippi Valley, the bluff is a
perfect representation of the 15-million-year-old geology of the Mississippi Valley. On a
clear day, when the muggy August weather doesn't vaporize the whole thing into a translu-
centhaze,theviewcanbesuperlative.Togetthere,followMainStreeteastuntilitbecomes
Bliss Road; a hiking trail also leads there from Riverside Park.
Museums and Historic Structures
Chief among the jaw-droppers is the
Hixon House
(429 N. 7th St., 608/782-1980,
10am-5pm daily except Mon. summer, $8.50 adults), an opulent, flaxen-colored Italianate
mansion. With nary a reproduction within, the place is beloved by Victorian buffs, espe-
ciallyforthe“TurkishNook”—inspiredbyalate-1890spredilectionforeverythingoriental
and a room worthy of a sultan. Woodworkers will appreciate the variegated native Wiscon-
sin woods.
