I toured the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire about two years ago, and I fell in love with the campus. Now, after attending school here for a year, I’m still in love with the campus, but I’ve also fallen in love with the city. The city has a variety of different things to offer, and there is something for everyone. There’s parks and trails, cute specialty shops, a unique and fun downtown and amazing restaurants and coffee shops. That being said, here’s a list of the eight best things about Eau Claire.
1. The Nucleus
The Nucleus is a restaurant located on Water Street. that specializes in brunch. It’s only open Wednesday through Sunday until 2 p.m. Despite the kind of weird hours, the food is spectacular. Their menu includes a wide variety of typical brunch foods, like omelets, waffles, pancakes, crepes and sandwiches. They even have an omelet called “Real Housewives of E.C.," which I’ve heard is fantastic. So if you’re ever looking for a brunch place in Eau Claire, The Nucleus would be my first recommendation.
2. Sculpture Tour
The city of Eau Claire displays various sculptures around the city for people to look at. It’s free and all the sculptures are outdoors, mainly located on Water Street, Barstow Street and Whipple Street. The sculptures are unique, and looking at them is a fun way to spend the day.
3. Revival Records
A music shop specializing in CDs and vinyl records is a good shop to check out if you’re looking for old or new music. It’s located on Barstow Street and one of my favorite shops to browse around in. You never know what kind of music you’ll find.
4. Farmers Market
During the nicer months, there’s a Farmers Market in Phoenix Park located near downtown. There’s a wide variety of items available for sale, like fruits and vegetables, bread, salsa, and so many other foods. The market even has a token program where you can purchase tokens to buy stuff at the Farmers Market so you don’t have to worry about carrying money around. It’s definitely a nice start to any Saturday morning.
5. Racy D’Lenes Coffee Lounge
Being a college student, I spend a lot of time in coffee shops, and this coffee shop is one of my favorites. Racy D’Lenes Coffee Lounge, often referred to as “Racy’s” is connected to the restaurant The Nucleus and is only a short walk from the UWEC campus. The baristas are so nice and friendly, the atmosphere is chill and the coffee is some of the best. It’s a place where you can spend hours doing homework and feel like you’ve only been there for a few minutes.
6. The Local Store
This is the perfect store to find unique items and gifts. It sells apparel, books, music, art, glassware and so much more. The best part is that all of their products relate to the Eau Claire area or Wisconsin in general. So it’s a great place to find an item to remind you of Wisconsin.
7. Phoenix Park Bridge
It was a railroad truss bridge, but has been converted into a pedestrian bridge. The bridge crosses the Chippewa River and gives you a beautiful view of the city. Something to look forward to is the addition of colored lights to be added to the bridge. It will be a great addition to the bridge and the downtown area.
8. University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire’s Campus
The college campus is a work of art and many think it’s the prettiest college campus in Wisconsin. While walking up the hill may not be the best, walking down the hill gives you the perfect view of the Chippewa River. The changing leaves in the fall and blooming flowers in the spring give the campus life. It’s a beautiful campus to walk around and makes waking up for 8 a.m. classes not so bad.
