You’ve probably seen highlights from the first ever Driftless Sports Convergence in La Crosse, Wisconsin all over social media lately. I was lucky enough to be invited to attend with my family and, in a nutshell, it was a freaking blast.
What’s the Driftless Sports Convergence?
It’s a 50,000 sq. ft. showcase of all the fun outdoor equipment and activities this area of Wisconsin has to offer, combined with informative seminars presented by some of the nation’s top experts and retailers. If you love the outdoors as much as I do, let me tell you right now: La Crosse is a hotbed of exciting activities whether you like to hunt, fish, camp, bike, hike, paddle, bird watch, trail run or something else. There’s truly something for everyone.
Special thanks to Explore La Crosse and the Driftless Sports Convergence for sponsoring this post. All thoughts and opinions, as always, are my own.
I’ve done my share of whining about just how busy May has been with the kids’ activities, end of school obligations, family events, etc. I worried that checking out and road tripping to Wisconsin for the weekend might be unwise, but it turned out to be just the break we needed to relax, reconnect and rediscover our love of the outdoors. Here are some of the activities we packed into our fun-filled weekend.
Run. Beautiful running trails abound in La Crosse. I ran the River to Ridge 5 mile trail race during my visit and loved every beautiful yet challenging second of it. Some of my BRFs and I may be eyeing another La Crosse area race this fall….we’ll see…
Whether a kayak, canoe, SUP or something else is your vessel of choice, the Driftless Sports Convergence had plenty of watercraft to check out.
Paddle. You may know how fond I am of quality time in “Yakagawea”. That’s my beloved kayak, in case you didn’t know. What? You didn’t name your kayak? You need to get on that. Kayawatha has a nice ring to it…anyway La Crosse county is a paddler’s paradise with excellent options for all skill levels along the Mississippi, Black and La Crosse Rivers. Click here for more info.
Bike. Whether you’re a road or mountain bike enthusiast, the La Crosse area has quiet backroads as well as over 100 miles of connected trails to enjoy. We opted for a guided mountain bike tour from The Wrench & Roll Collective. As a parent, I was super concerned about bike and riding safety for my kids. John, our guide, had all aspects of safe biking covered and was very knowledgeable about the La Crosse area as well. We’d stop every couple of miles to take in the scenery and learn about the history of the area. I highly recommend this tour!
Cruise. After a day filled with running and biking, we relaxed with pizza and refreshments aboard the La Crosse Queen Paddle Wheel River Boat and cruised along the Mississippi River. The views were amazing and so were the fresh breezes.
Great Food. No getaway is complete without fabulous food and La Crosse has plenty of options to satisfy even the pickiest eaters. We enjoyed local fare from a variety of food trucks at the Sports Convergence. It was my first time tasting Thai Fried Ice Cream and of course the kiddos were shaved ice fans.
Our favorite breakfast spot was Fayze’s. You won’t go wrong with the Eggs Benedict and their bakery is the best. They use quality ingredients and no preservatives. and you can taste the difference! David Reay’s Modern Diner + Tavern was a dinnertime favorite with their local and regional fare and craft beers. It was a great way to introduce the kids to white cheddar cheese curds too!
Have I convinced you that you need to pay a visit to La Crosse? I know I’ll be back! Check out Explore La Crosse on Facebook and start planning your getaway.
Do you enjoy active vacations? Where’s the last place you went on a getaway?
I’m linking up with Rachel, Debbie and Lora for Coaches’ Corner.
This looks like such a fun weekend! You had great weather too.
I haven’t named my kayak or my bike…is that bad?
I must be out of the loop. I have never heard about the Driftless Sports Convergence until now. Now I want to go! It looks like a lot of fun. Thanks for the food tips too.
I’ve only done active vacations the past few years and I simply love them! There’s nothing better than exploring a new place by foot or bike and getting to try out all the awesome restaurants in town.
This looks like such a great way to get away and relax. A perfect place for a little family getaway!
What a fun family weekend of activities! I love this and have FOMO
Amazing! I imagine I would love that. Though water sports freak me out there’s still a part of me that would love to try.
most of our getaways are active – we try to vacation around an event and if there isn’t one we find *something*. I have told Ron I actually want to go to Club La Santa on Lanzarote sooner rather than later.
(I have named my bike. Previous bike was Frida. Current bike is Betty).
I love vacations packed with tons of activities! This looks like the perfect getaway. And dessert sounds like it was heavenly!
What a fun weekend!!! This looks like the type of weekend getaway myself and my family would enjoy 🙂
Definitely a fan of active vacations! Our last one was in Arizona where we did plenty of hiking with the kids. Exploring nature is one of my favorite things to do.
Wow, I had no idea La Crosse had so much to offer! When I was a kid, we’d go there shopping once in awhile…but never took in the sights like you did. That would be a great girls’ weekend getaway….
This seriously looks like it was such a fun trip. I love Wisconsin so, so much!
Oh, that does look like a lot of fun options. That bike tour looks great.
I love this and wish we had something like it here! Sounds like a great time!!
What a great little getaway! I love staying active and being able to explore different parts of the country. There’s so much to see an do!
I absolutely adore active vacations, although I am sorely outnumbered in my house.
Our last trip was to Jekyll Island. For a race. We did lots of beach walking, hiking and I did a 10K, so there was plenty of activity to go around.
LaCrosse looks beautiful!