Oh, Eau Claire!
Who knew this was here?
The title captures my experience of visiting Eau Claire for the first time this year. It never occurred to me to put Eau Claire on my adventure list, and five weeks later I moved from Wausau and was living in Eau Claire exploring a town successfully tending to its health and well-being, showing off its natural outdoor beauty, as well as investing in a cultural and economic makeover.
Despite the numerous trips to and from Minneapolis on I-94 over the years, I had no knowledge of this revitalized city in the Chippewa Valley before then besides UWEC. It was an online search for bike trails, the Visit Eau Claire website, a need for a new adventure, and an introduction to Eau Claire’s friendly people at the Galloway Grille in downtown Eau Claire that led me to a beautiful summer bike ride along the Chippewa River Trail and the decision that Eau Claire could be my next home. The next thing I knew, I was here.
Since being here, I’ve gone to the world-renown Eaux Claires Music Festival, headlined by nationally-known Eau Claire native Justin Vernon of Bon Iver and an Eau Claire Express baseball game, among other things. The two events were quite opposite and yet both exemplified the revitalization of the area culturally, artistically, socially, physically, economically, and beyond. This is a city that has gotten itself in shape for a positive and vibrant future.
Two area musky guides, Shane McLaughlin and Scott Kieper were my cheerleaders in this move. I had met both at musky shows when I still had my musky lure business and was thrilled to have those friendly connections in a place where I didn’t know a soul. Both guides are passionate about muskies but also about the places they fish. That was enough to sell me. My first two months in Eau Claire haven’t allowed for much time to fish for any species, but a short distance from the confluence of the Chippewa River and Eau Claire River reminds me daily that the water moves me and the great outdoors is always luring me outside.
My cycling mileage on the Old Abe Trail, my balancing acts at Latitude 44 Yoga, and a group of supportive runners and local races with the men and women from the Indianhead Track Club are keeping my adventures going these days but, as always, a bit misguided. I haven’t had time for musky fishing or hunting, but training for the Eau Claire Marathon in May is adventure enough, though I do have dog sledding and a few other adventures on my radar for the coming months.
A visit to Eau Claire cannot possibly disappoint. There is something for everyone including an energy and a personality that you can make friends with easily. The community is proud of itself and for good reason. I have yet to meet anyone who doesn’t love it here. In a city of 65,000+ people it’s small enough to get anywhere you need to in less than 15 minutes and still get away from everything. The Chippewa Valley boasts gorgeous hills, rivers and a landscape worthy of framing.
When you visit, make sure to enjoy a beer at The Brewing Projekt followed by dinner at The Local Lounge, a brand new restaurant and gathering place that proudly showcases local foods, wines, décor, culture, you name it. You can’t leave without being proud of the local farms that produce such high quality foods and craftsmen that create the furnishings and décor. It is Eau Claire in a nutshell.
Kris Neilson owns Miss Guided Adventures and works for Visit Eau Claire. She lives in the Chippewa Valley with her dog, Harry, and enjoys a wide variety of outdoor adventures throughout Wisconsin.