There are nearly 9,000 people that call Downtown Eau Claire, WI home. That number continues to grow as new developments, businesses, and attractions are added. There are so many different reasons why Eau Claire is known throughout the Midwest. According to Leader Telegram, Eau Claire is the fastest growing small city in Wisconsin. Eau Claire has an amazing quality of life, low cost of living, entertainment, arts, attractions, restaurants, wineries, breweries, and so much more! If you are relocating, here is a helpful place to start with just a few of the many activities that make Eau Claire special to its residents.
Get Outside!
EC offers year-round outdoor activities that connect residents to nature.
Eau Claire has more than 35 miles of trails, half a dozen bodies of water, and thousands of acres of forest surrounding the historic downtown. As a result of its trail system and different opportunities to get outside, Eau Claire was ranked the 4th best place to live by
Outside Magazine
Parks & Bike Trails:
Eau Claire has dedicated more than 1,000 acres to parks. The parks in Eau Claire hold huge community events, the perfect place to sit back and relax, and so much more! The region also has state parks that are filled with trails and six different campgrounds within 50 miles of Eau Claire for a weekend getaway. With miles upon miles of trails to explore, Eau Claire is a popular destination for bike riding and hiking. Eau Claire residents and visitors enjoy a variety of trails ranging from smooth and flat trails to rough terrain and steep inclines. There is a biking trail network that weaves through the city of Eau Claire and along the edges spanning between two rivers and bridges. Besides paved trails, the system also includes off-road trails specifically for bikes if you’re looking for a more challenging bike ride. If you don’t own a bike, there are many places that you can rent a bike for a low price for the day!
Here are just a few of the many places to rent a bike!
Parks & Bike Trails:
In addition to land outdoor activities, Eau Claire offers many different opportunities to spend time on the rivers and lakes. There are six boat landings that are maintained by the city of Eau Claire that allow you access to the waterways. Listed below are more options to choose from for you to get out on the water!
Floating the River:
On a hot summer day, you will find out quickly that floating down the Chippewa River is a top pick for many. Many locals invested in their own tubes, but if you don’t want to purchase one you can also rent tubes from
Loopy’s Dock
A benefit of renting a tube through them is that you are offered shuttle service up which include pickup and drop off. If you aren’t renting a tube, the most popular place is to launch right from Phoenix Park (located right across the street from Andante). Your float can go anywhere from 45 minutes to over an hour, which makes it the perfect opportunity to sit back and relax! Click here for the map guide to your float!
Kayak Rentals:
Another way to explore Eau Claire through the rivers and lakes is to rent kayaks. Two places that you can rent kayaks from are
1. Loopy’s Saloon, Grill & River Rentals
Loopy’s is located in Chippewa Falls and offers a variety of rentals to explore the river, lakes, and ponds. In addition to renting kayaks, they also offer a shuttle service that will transport you to and from Loopy’s. Renting from Loopy’s is a great way to explore what Chippewa Falls has to offer.
2. Environmental Adventure Center at UW-Eau Claire
If you want to explore more of Eau Claire, the Environmental Adventure Center is located on the upper campus of the Hilltop building. They offer their equipment to locals, visitors and students for a very affordable price.
Enjoy the Arts
Eau Claire values artistic expression
Sculpture Tour:
Eau Claire is well known for its creative vibe and artistic flair which is showcased throughout the City and within its events. The Eau Claire Sculpture tour is one of the largest sculpture tours in the nation. The tour includes over 70 sculptures throughout the streets of downtown, Water Street, West Grand Avenue, and on the Mayo Health System campus. Each year, the residents and visitors of Eau Claire get to vote for their favorite sculpture.The winning sculpture gets to stay in place, while the other sculptures get replaced. The sculptures are original pieces designed by national, regional, and international artists. Each of these sculptures is on display throughout the year and replaced every May.
To access the self-guided sculpture tour, you can access it online or stop in to grab a brochure at these local businesses:
Sculpture Tour:
Since Andante is right across the street from Phoenix Park, this also means that you’re right next to music in the park and Sounds Like Summer Concert Series. The Summer Concert Series is put on every Thursday night from June-August from 6-8pm. In addition to the Summer Series, there is also music that continues throughout the fall and winter. Here are just a few fall music series you won’t want to miss!
September 22nd:
CV Symphony Fall Gala October 15th:
The Red Mixer October 15th:
Late Night Jazz at The Lakely: Sundae + Mr. Goessl October 18th:
John Hiatt & Lyle LovettOctober 21st:
Postmodern JukeboxOctober 28th:
Goo Goo DollsExperience Agritourism
The City of Eau Claire is the county seat of Eau Claire County, a region known for agriculture. Locally grown food is a staple at farmers markets, restaurants, wineries, orchards, and much more.
Dining:
These restaurants are known for the local and regional ingredients in their menus:
Farms
Throughout Eau Claire County, there are several farms that contribute locally as well as nationally. Many offer Farm to Fork and Together Farms., where the community is invited to dine on ingredients that have been directly sourced from the specific farm. Govin’s Meats & Berries is located in Menomonie, WI and is the perfect location for family-friendly fun. They have a “Lambing Barn & Baby Farm Animals” event each year that always draws in a crowd.
Farmers Market:
One of the biggest attractions in Eau Claire is the Farmers Market that begins in May under the Phoenix Park pavilion and occurs every Saturday. The idea of the Farmers Market is to showcase the connection between Eau Claire and the community. The Farmers Market gives the residents of Eau Claire the opportunity to meet face to face with the farmers that provide them with fresh food. Besides the Farmers Market in the summer, the cold doesn’t stop it from occurring! During the winter, the Farmers Market is held at the L.E. Phillips Senior Center. They offer many different fresh items such as local vegetables, mushrooms, meats, cheese, eggs, bakery items, honey, hummus, baba ghannouj, chips, maple syrup, beverages, and other products. This is such an amazing opportunity to support local farmers while also exploring Eau Claire!
