Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Bed-and-Breakfasts
The ornate dwellings of
M
Bentley-Wheeler B&B
(410 Cass St., 608/784-9360 or 877/
889-8585,
www.bentley-wheeler.com
,
$135-175) took six years to build. And it shows.
Stayinaballroom—I'mnotkidding—orinaluxuriousguesthouse.Whereveryoustay,the
attention to detail and service are unparalleled here.
There'ssomethingcharmingabouttherestored1917
Wilson Schoolhouse
(W5718U.S.
14/61, 608/787-1982,
www.wilsonschoolhouseinn.com
,
$155). It's a real-deal school, a
lovelyredbrickedificeon10acresoverlookingavalley.Better,asitcanwelcomeuptosix
people, it's quite economical.
Houseboats
A unique local vacation is to rent a houseboat and take to the waters of any of the trium-
virate of rivers. Some are bare bones, some are absolutely posh. You can't beat plowing the
waters of the Mississippi in your own hotel room. Generally, these are all-inclusive—you
might need to bring nothing.
Huck's
(699 Park Plaza Dr., 608/625-3142,
www.hucks.com
)
has immaculate—nay, sybaritic—boats starting at around $1,500 for a three-day rental dur-
ing high season. (You can also just keep it parked and stay if the idea of chugging along the
Ol' Miss freaks you out.)
Camping
LaCrosseCountytakesitscampingseriously.Betterthan90percentofstatecampgrounds,
the huge
Goose Island Campground
(608/788-7018) is three miles south along WIS 35.
More than 400 sites—rustic to drive-through—are available here, with a nice sandy beach
andthecleanestbathroomsyouwilllikelyeversee.Itslocationcan'tbebeat—ontheback-
waters of the Mississippi River bordering a wildlife refuge full of egrets and eagles.
Fine Dining
Renowned eatery
M
Freight House Restaurant
(107 Vine St., 608/784-6211,
www.freighthouserestaurant.com
,
5:30pm-10pm daily, $7-30) is a 120-year-old edifice
with the original old swooping beams that line the high walls, now set off by lovely blond
wainscoting. This erstwhile brick storage structure for the Chicago, Milwaukee, and St.
Paul Railroad is on the National Register of Historic Places. Famed for its naturally aged
and hand-cut steaks, it also offers a tremendous selection of seafood entrées (it brags of its
Alaskan king crab), and a respectable wine list is available. All this amid a slew of railroad
