Photo: Beaver Creek Reserve
Things to Do
Find fun at Action City & Chaos Waterpark
When the temperatures drop for the season, stay warm indoors and run off your energy at Action City & Chaos Waterpark! This is Wisconsin's number-one destination for all things family fun including the largest indoor go-kart track in the Midwest, a laser tag course, a laser maze vault room, an enormous arcade featuring over 150 games, an outdoor 19-hole mini golf course, an outdoor zipline, an outdoor go-kart track, and more. Spend the day at Chaos Waterpark on waterslides, in the lazy river, hot tubing, water cannons, and more.
Explore Beaver Creek Reserve
Adventure at the outdoor oasis of Beaver Creek Reserve, and find fun for the whole family! Beaver Creek Reserve offers gear rentals for snowshoes and cross-country skis, and there are over 400 acres of woods, rivers, and marshes available to explore. Take your skis and snowshoes along more than 9 miles of trails, and visit some of the wildlife at the Nature Center. Check out more ways to explore Beaver Creek Reserve here.
Build a snowman at Eau Claire's parks
Take advantage of the snow, and work together with your family to build the biggest snowman in Eau Claire's parks! Find plenty of open space to build the perfect snowman at Owen Park, Phoenix Park, River Prairie Park, Centennial Park, Stoddard Park, Wheaton Park, and so many more!
Play at the Children's Museum of Eau Claire
If there's one place that's perfect for families visiting Eau Claire in the winter, it's the Children's Museum of Eau Claire! This new state-of-the-art facility reopened its doors in 2022 and now offers two stories of education and play. Let your kids transform into mechanics, veterinarians, doctors, historians, farmers, and more, and see their imaginations run wild at the various exhibits. Click here to see more information about the Children's Museum of Eau Claire and to view their winter hours.
Go ice skating
Find ice skating rinks all throughout Eau Claire, and spend a day mastering the art of figure skating! Get an outdoor skating experience on rinks at Pinehurst Park, Boyd Park, or Demmler Park, or take your skills indoors at Hobbs Municipal Ice Center or Hobbs Sports Center in Altoona. Check out other places to ice skate in Eau Claire here!
Play a game of Kubb
Get in on a friendly game of family Kubb in Eau Claire! While there are many perfect places to play throughout the city, some notable parks for Kubb include Carson Park, Owen Park, Phoenix Park, and River Prairie. There's also an extensive list of locations around Eau Claire where you can rent Kubb sets including hotels, schools, and more.
Round up the missing reindeer
This year, complete the Reindeer Round-Up at Eau Claire's parks! Check out the list of clues here to begin your search, take photos of the reindeer once you find them, and upload the photos for a chance to win prizes!
Take on the sledding hills
Spend a snowy day in Eau Claire racing down the sledding hills of Eau Claire! Whether you're in Wheaton Park shredding the snowy hills or braving the iconic hills at Pinehurst Park, your whole family is sure to experience a rush! Click here to see a complete list of sledding locations in Eau Claire.
Find the perfect tree at a Christmas tree farm
Pick the perfect holiday day at Christmas tree farms around Eau Claire! Visit locations like Lowes Creek Tree Farm, Curvue Hideaway & Trees, Pleasant Valley Tree Farm, and more. Find trees of all shapes and sizes that are perfect for your family this season!
Find adventure at Wheaton Park
Wheaton Park brings a whole new winter experience to the Eau Claire area with its sledding, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing trails. Spend the day with the family on the playground at the park, skating on the ice rink, or trekking through the snowy trails. Check out all the ways to enjoy Wheaton Park here!
Photo: Candle Light Snowshoe Hike at Centennial Park
Winter Events
Candle Light Snowshoe Hike
Don't miss the Candle Light Snowshoe Hike at Cenntenial Park on February 8, 2025! This annual event is a dreamy way to enjoy the winter season with the whole family in Altoona and is the perfect way to get active in the colder months.
Clearwater Winter Parade & Fireworks
Kick off the holiday season at the Clearwater Winter Parade & fireworks show on December 6, 2024! See downtown Eau Claire transform into a winter wonderland, and celebrate the holiday season with Wintertime in the City.
Chippewa Valley Parade of Lights
See the city of Eau Claire lit up this holiday season, and drive through the Chippewa Valley Parade of Lights. Every year, select homes in the Chippewa Valley decorate the exterior of their houses with Christmas lights and holiday-themed decor. Click here to learn more information about the Parade of Lights!
Crokicurl Family Fun Tournament
Get in on the Crokicurl Family Fun Tournament this winter! This event takes place on February 1, 2025, in River Prairie Park on the ice rink next to 44 North. Bring your family out to compete for the trophy and more prizes at this Altoona winter event!
Jelly Bean Hill Challenge
The Jelly Bean Hill Challenge is taking place on February 22, 2025. Spend the day with the family sledding down the hill and taking on the obstacle-style race. Join in on this free event and try to win the first-place awards!
Photo: Norske Nook
Places to Eat
Wheaton Family Restaurant
If you're making reservations for your family at the Sleep Inn & Suites Conference Suites, you're family will always have a place to eat at Wheaton Family Restaurant! This restaurant offers a huge breakfast, lunch, dinner, and buffet menu, as well as options with small plates that are perfect for kids.
44 North & 44 Below
The menu and arcade make 44 North & 44 Below a family-friendly haven in River Prairie. Find something tasty for everyone in the fam including appetizers, sandwiches, burgers, tacos, wraps, pasta, steaks, fish, salads, mac & cheese, pizza, wings, and drinks! After playing in the arcade at 44 Below and building up an appetite, cure your sweet tooth with ice cream and other delicious desserts!
Cancun Mexican Grill
Treat your family to a fantastic dinner at Cancun Mexican Grill in Eau Claire! Their menu covers everything from appetizers, nachos, salads, enchiladas, chimichangas, las tortas, tacos, burritos, fajitas, quesadillas, and so much more. The locals love this spot and always go back to Cancun for good food and good times with family!
Norske Nook
Norske Nook is the perfect dining experience to bring family together and savor a home-cooked-style meal! The menu at Norske Nook is known to "taste like Grandma's" cooking and is filled with Norwegian dishes for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert. There are enough seasonal pie flavors for everyone to try a different slice– be sure to try a little bit of everything, they're all to die for!
Reboot Social
Get your grub and game on at Reboot Social in downtown Eau Claire! This arcade bar and restaurant is always serving up amazing food and fun games like pinball, duckpin bowling, darts, pool, vintage Nintendo, Pac-Man, skeeball, and more. Order up some delicious burgers, sandwiches, piles of fries, pizza, and more family-friendly goodness!
Randy's Family Restaurant
On the cold winter days in Eau Claire, warm up after a day in the snow at Randy's Family Restaurant with a bowl of soup, salads, and more home-cooked meals! It doesn't get more family-friendly than the family restaurants in town, and Randy's is one of the best, so the locals say. If soup sounds good on a freezing day, click here to see more places to get delicious hot soup in Eau Claire.
Photo: Metropolis Resort & Conference Center
Places to Stay
Metropolis Resort & Conference Center
If you're looking for a family getaway to Eau Claire with entertainment for all ages, Metropolis Resort is your answer. Metropolis is home to over 100 unique hotel rooms, Action City, Chaos Waterpark, City Eats, and more indoor activities! Spend your family vacation at the trampoline park, on the water slides, exploring the arcade, playing laser tag, driving go-karts, and more at Metropolis Resort.
Staybridge Suites
Staybridge Suites is known as one of Altoona's most family-friendly hotels and is just a short drive from the Chippewa Valley Regional Airport. This home-away-from-home style hotel is located in River Prairie within walking distance to restaurants like Juanita's, 44 North, and Cowboy Jack's. See more things to do during your stay in River Prairie here.
