Discover Eau Claire

In Eau Claire, river landscapes and culture come together in different ways: the Chippewa River State Trail begins at Phoenix Park, where the Eau Claire River and Chippewa River meet. There are also museums, performance spaces, and an outdoor gallery with more than 120 sculptures. You can shape your trip around whether you want to spend time outdoors, learn more about the region, or experience art and performances.

Rivers and Outdoor Sculptures

The starting point of the Chippewa River State Trail at Phoenix Park is downtown. Here, the confluence of the two rivers is a striking landscape landmark to keep in mind when planning your trip. If you want to combine nature and culture, you can make the trail one part of your stay in Eau Claire and also explore what the city has to offer. No details about the trail’s length or individual sections are provided, so you cannot determine the full route from the starting point alone.

The Eau Claire Sculpture Tour offers another way to discover art outdoors. It is a free outdoor attraction, with more than 120 sculptures spread throughout Eau Claire, Wisconsin. You can explore the tour as an outdoor gallery year-round. This sets it apart from art offerings in gallery spaces and provides a distinct way to experience sculptures in the urban landscape.

Regional History and Discoveries for Children

The galleries of the Chippewa Valley Museum tell the story of significant events in the Chippewa Valley. This makes the museum a place to visit for anyone looking to add regional stories to their trip. Its exhibitions offer a different focus from the art galleries at Pablo Center at the Confluence: the museum centers on events in the Chippewa Valley, while Pablo Center features rotating collections of regional and national art.

For children, the Children's Museum of Eau Claire offers interactive exhibits that support their social and academic development. This is a specific option for families looking for an activity designed expressly for children, in addition to things to do together. The museum visit can be considered a separate item on your itinerary; it does not have to match the interests of every family member. If you want to account for different interests, keep the children's museum, regional history, and art in mind as distinct options for your trip.

Performances and Rotating Art

Pablo Center at the Confluence in downtown Eau Claire serves as a venue for touring performances. It is also a newly created rehearsal, teaching, and performance space for students in UW-Eau Claire's music and theater programs. As a result, touring events and student work come together under one roof. If performances are an important part of your trip, this may influence your choice between a more culture-focused stay and other priorities.

Pablo Center also has two art galleries featuring rotating collections of regional and national art. The changing collections set this offering apart from the Sculpture Tour, which can be explored outdoors year-round: here, rotating indoor gallery collections contrast with a variety of sculptures spread throughout the city. Together, the two formats offer different ways to discover art in Eau Claire without requiring you to choose just one.

Choosing the Right Focus for Your Stay

When searching for a vacation rental in Eau Claire, it can help to start by deciding which of these interests will shape your trip. The river confluence and trail draw your attention to the landscape; museums and galleries offer different emphases, while the Sculpture Tour adds an outdoor dimension to the cultural offerings. If you’re traveling with children, the Children's Museum’s interactive, child-focused offerings are another consideration. When making your choice, consider which experiences interest you most rather than treating all the offerings as the same kind of excursion.

If you’re planning your trip around culture, you can consider regional events at the Chippewa Valley Museum, rotating art collections, and touring performances separately.

For the broader travel overview: Eau Claire.