Conveniently located on I-90 between Chicago and the Twin Cities, Onalaska is a favorite place for vacations, weekend getaways, reunions and business meetings. With an ideal mix of outdoor recreation and natural areas, as well as great shopping, restaurants and hotels, Onalaska is a complete destination that has something for nearly everyone. Don’t forget to have your picture taken with “Sunny” while you’re in town.
Visitors to Onalaska will discover unparalleled beauty and a variety of recreational opportunities. Part of the many opportunities stem from the city’s location on the banks of the Black River and Lake Onalaska. The 200,000 acre Upper Mississippi Wildlife Refuge is located directly to the west and provides waterfowl hunting, fishing, canoeing, boating, sailing and camping on many sand bars. Spring and fall offer abundant opportunities for bird watching with more than 284 species sighted. Bald eagles, tundra swans and pelicans are regular residents on Onalaska’s waterfront and the refuge. Lake Onalaska is 7,700 acres and located in Pool 7 of the Mississippi River and is a fantastic location to cast a line.
The Great River State Trail offers connections to more than 101 miles of state bike trails and traverses over 18 waterways. The trail is teeming with wildlife, fauna, history, as well as a Native American effigy mound and 287 foot historic railroad trestle. Onalaska offers numerous beautiful parks that feature a variety of year-round recreational opportunities for its residents and visitors to the community. Park facilities include tennis courts, playgrounds, volleyball courts, basketball courts, horseshoe pits, shelters, athletic fields, picnic sites, walking paths, skating rinks, sledding hill, and an outdoor pool.
The city’s roots as a lumber mill town are featured in a museum located in the library on Oak Avenue. The museum boasts exhibits covering thousands of years of area history, from the Ice Age to recent local history. Exhibits change regularly.
Onalaska has the largest retail shopping district within a nine-county area. The community boasts hundreds of different shops, stores and galleries. The Valley View Mall features more than 90 specialty shops and four major department stores. From antiques to electronics, visitors will find it in Onalaska.
More than 40 restaurants also provide visitors with a complete array of dining options. Choose from great diners, top-notch supper clubs, a variety of locally-owned favorites and a full list of convenient nationally-known restaurants. There’s no shortage of great dining options in Onalaska.
Cultural activities are highlighted at the city’s OmniCenter – a focal point of community activity with a winter ice arena hosting hockey and skating. The facility offers a host of activities ranging from trade shows, business meetings, conferences, and community festivals such as Sunfish Days and Festival Food’s Salute to the 4th.
No matter what the season, Onalaska is the perfect place to explore, have fun and relax. We’re looking forward to welcoming you to Onalaska – “Sunfish Capital of the World”.
- NUMBER1EXPERT 
