Wisconsin

Wisconsin’s ‘Best Place To Live’ Is A Foodie’s Utopia With A Revitalized Downtown And Scenic River Trails – Islands

Published

2 months ago

October 18, 2025

Wisconsin’s ‘Best Place To Live’ Is A Foodie’s Utopia With A Revitalized Downtown And Scenic River Trails – Islands

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Located in Wisconsin’s Chippewa Valley, the university town of Eau Claire has reinvented itself over the years with investments to improve its scenic river trails and downtown area. Once a sawmill hub, the city has shifted from its industrial roots to become an artsy town hailed by some as the “Indie Capital Of The Midwest.” Today, the community and nonprofits like Downtown Eau Claire, Inc. are transforming local riverfront areas into river trails, parks, and new businesses and restaurants.

The U.S. News & World Report named Eau Claire Wisconsin’s best city to live in and among the country’s top 50 places to live from 2025 through 2026. Here, the median home value is $230,903, far below the national average of $370,489. Commuting to work takes, on average, under 13 minutes, and unemployment is lower than the national average of 4.5%. Combine all of that with a healthy job market, revamped downtown, and river trails, and chances are, after visiting Eau Claire, you might want to move there.

Most visitors reach the city by flying into the Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport, the Midwest airport that is widely recognized as North America’s best. It’s located 93 miles west of the city, so to get into town, you can either rent a car, use a ridesharing app, or take a shuttle that links Eau Claire with the Twin Cities. Once you arrive, the downtown area is easily accessible on foot and hugged by Phoenix Park and Owen Park, filled with scenic trails. After exploring those trails, sightseers can end their night with a performance at the Pablo Center at the Confluence and dinner at one of the city’s 380+ restaurants.

Discover Eau Claire’s downtown flavors, shops, and shows

Downtown street in Eau Claire, Wisconsin

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Downtown Eau Claire is a vibrant community with an eclectic mix of independent shops, craft breweries, and innovative restaurants. It even has an ultra-modern performance venue. The creative hub here is the Pablo Center at the Confluence, a state-of-the-art, 130,000-square-foot venue that hosts musical performances and visual art exhibitions.

Instead of chain restaurants, downtown Eau Claire has a variety of locally-owned eateries serving a diverse range of cuisines — from Asian and Cajun food to Mediterranean and contemporary Italian fare. At Madden Ramen, try a flavorful poke bowl. Established in 1881, the Amber Inn Bar and Grill remains one of the city’s oldest continuously operating businesses. Once a saloon and tavern, it now serves up juicy burgers like the one-of-a-kind peanut butter and bacon burger. You can also get slow-cooked beef birria tacos at California Tacos, or stop by 3rd & Vine, a taproom that pairs craft beer and local cheeses.

In keeping with Eau Claire’s indie mindset, shops like Wisconsin Makers Market sell homemade goods from regional artisans and hold community classes and workshops. The Local Store lives up to its name by selling gifts, art, and home goods made by neighborhood creatives. Other locally-owned shops to check out include the independent bookstore Dotters Books and EC Vintage, a unique retro boutique. To end the night, head to Lazy Monk Brewing Company, a German-style beer hall overlooking the Chippewa River State Trail. Or, if you are feeling more playful, check out the arcade games at Reboot Social, a restaurant that serves up entertainment, cocktails, mocktails, and classic American pub food.

Experience the land and river trails of Eau Claire

Greenery-lined biking trail in Eau Claire, Wisconsin

Maarten Daams/Shutterstock

Recreational activities are a key investment area for Eau Claire. In 2024, the city conducted a survey showing that visiting outdoor enthusiasts boost local businesses by visiting restaurants (56%), stopping by coffee shops (55%), and exploring downtown (35%). Due to this, the community has worked to upgrade over 70 miles of trails throughout the region.

One major trail worth visiting is the Chippewa River State Trail. Starting at Phoenix Park, it extends 30 miles along the river, joins the Red Cedar State Trail in the Dunnville Wildlife Area, and ends in the city of Durand. The section within city limits is about 11 miles long and free to use. However, a state trail pass is required for bicycling and in-line skating on the rest of the trail; a daily pass will run you $5. The 10-foot wide paved trail is great for biking, running, and roller-blading in the warmer months. In the winter, you can bust out your cross-country skis and snowmobiles in designated areas.

Beyond land, there’s also the Chippewa River Water Trail, which begins at Phoenix Park and runs more than 30 miles south toward Durand. The 4.2-mile stretch through downtown is popular for kayaking, canoeing, and tubing, giving visitors a unique perspective of the city and a close-up view of old lumber-era pilings along the banks. For tubing along the river, bring your own inflatable and pump it up. Or, rent a tube and a life jacket for $20 at Eau Claire Outdoors. There, you can also rent a stand-up paddle boat, kayak, or canoe for a day on the water. For more charming Wisconsin riverfront fun, head south approximately 40 miles to visit Whitehall.

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Wisconsin

Wisconsin loses starting offensive lineman to the transfer portal

Published

5 hours ago

December 11, 2025

Press Room

Wisconsin loses starting offensive lineman to the transfer portal

In a bit of a surprise, Wisconsin Badgers starting center Jake Renfro is using a medical hardship year and entering the transfer portal for his final season of eligibility.

Renfro, a sixth-year senior in 2024, battled numerous injuries this season, limiting him to only four games after having season-ending surgery. He was a full-time starter for Wisconsin in 2024 after missing the entire 2023 season except for the team’s bowl game due to injury.

Prior to his time at Wisconsin, Renfro had played for head coach Luke Fickell at Cincinnati for three seasons. He played in seven games as a freshman in 2020, making six starts at center. He then was the full-time starter as a sophomore in 2021, earning All-AAC honors before missing the entire 2022 season due to injury.

Now, he’s set to come back to college football for a seventh year, rather than turn pro, and will look to do so at another school.

“I want to thank Coach Fickell, the entire coaching and training staff, my teammates, and the University of Wisconsin for everything over the past three seasons,” Renfro wrote. “I am grateful for the support, development, friendships, and memories I have made during my time in Madison. After much prayer and consideration, I have decided to enter the transfer portal and use a medical hardship year to continue my college football journey. I will always appreciate my time as a Badger.”

Renfro was one of the biggest supporters of Fickell publicly, being a vocal leader on the team as the starting center.

With his departure, Wisconsin could need a new starting left tackle, left guard, and center next season, depending on whether Joe Brunner heads to the NFL or returns for another season.

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Wisconsin

Wisconsin’s match vs Stanford puts Alicia Andrew across net from sister

Published

17 hours ago

December 11, 2025

Press Room

Wisconsin’s match vs Stanford puts Alicia Andrew across net from sister

Sisters Alicia and Lizzy Andrew will face each other in the NCAA volleyball tournament regional semifinals.
Alicia is a redshirt senior middle blocker for Wisconsin, while Lizzy is a sophomore middle blocker for Stanford.
Alicia and Lizzy Andrew have similarities on and off the court as they each contribute to college volleyball powerhouses.

MADISON — It did not take long for Alicia Andrew to text her younger sister after watching the NCAA volleyball selection show with her Wisconsin teammates in a lounge area in the south end zone of Camp Randall Stadium.

“I was like, ‘Girl!’” Andrew said. “She’s like, ‘I know! I’ll see you in Texas! And I was like, ‘I’m so excited!’”

Andrew will not see her younger sister in the Gregory Gym stands like any other family members, but rather on the court as an opposing player in the Badgers’ NCAA tournament regional semifinal match against Stanford.

Alicia Andrew is a 6-foot-3 redshirt senior middle blocker for Wisconsin. Lizzy Andrew is a 6-foot-5 sophomore middle blocker for Stanford. The sisters will play against each other for the first time with a spot in the NCAA regional finals on the line.

“Certainly when you’re having two high-level Division I starters on teams that are top five, top 10 in the country playing the same position, that’s pretty unique,” Wisconsin coach Kelly Sheffield said. “They’re both talented and competitive. But I also know that the players aren’t going to make it about themselves or the person that’s on the other side of the net. They’re parts of teams that are trying to move on and move forward and play great volley.”

Alicia has naturally fielded questions about the sibling rivalry, but she is “not reading too much into rivalry stuff and just playing this sport.”

“It’s another game,” she said after a recent UW practice. “Yes, it’s her across the net. But it’s a business. We both want to move on to the next round.”

Both players have played key parts in their respective teams’ path to this stage.

Alicia, after transferring from Baylor, is the only UW player to appear in all 98 sets this season and one of five to appear in all 30 matches. She is second on the team with 111 blocks, barely trailing fellow middle blocker Carter Booth’s 119.

“Really wants to be good for the people around her,” Sheffield said of Alicia. “Wants to do her job. Takes pride in her job. There’s a maturity, but yet there’s a playfulness that is a really good balance for her. Love coaching her. She’s wired the right way. She really is.”

Lizzy, meanwhile, ranks seventh in the country with a .441 hitting percentage in 2025 after earning a spot on the all-ACC freshman team in 2024. She also has experience playing with the U.S. U21 national team.

“I’m so proud of how hard she worked and her journey to Stanford,” Alicia said. “She puts in so much work, and she just loves the sport of volleyball. And I have loved watching her grow. It’s been fun to see her get better and better every year. And this past season, she’s been playing lights out.”

That pride has turned Alicia into a frequent viewer of ACC volleyball, of course whenever it has not conflicted with the Badgers’ own matches.

“We try to watch as many of each other’s games as we can, and I always just love watching her play,” she said. “I’m so proud of her. She’s just worked her tail off at Stanford, so to see her excel has been so fun.”

The Andrew sisters — Alicia, Lizzy and Natalie, who is on the rowing team at the U.S. Naval Academy — competed together in high school. (They also have a younger brother, William.) Competing against each other is a new concept for them, though.

“We’re not huge trash talkers, neither one of us,” Alicia said. “So I think that she’s going to play her game. I’m going to play my game. We’re going to have our heads down. There might be some looking across and smiling because we make the exact same expressions and quirky faces and reactions.”

The sisters don’t look the same – Lizzy has blonde hair and Alicia has brown hair. But Alicia quickly sees the resemblance with those on-court mannerisms.

“If there’s a silly play or if there is like a really unexpected dump or something, she’ll turn around and make the exact same face that I will,” Alicia said. “And it’s funny watching her on TV because I’m like, ‘Wow, that looks scary familiar.’”

They have some similarities off the court, too.

“We’re just goobers,” Alicia said. “We just like to have a good time together. Obviously she’s my little sister, but we have always been a close family — like all the siblings — so I feel like we’ve done all the things together growing up in all the sports.”

The Andrew parents are perhaps the biggest winners of the NCAA tournament bracket.

“My parents were super excited,” Alicia said. “They don’t have to split the travel plan, so they can save some frequent flyer miles there and both be in Texas. … They’re always trying to coordinate all the schedules.”

The Andrew family made T-shirts for the unique sisterly matchup. (Alicia thinks she is getting one considering they asked her and Lizzy for their shirt sizes in the family group chat.) The shirts are black, too, so there is no favoritism between Wisconsin and Stanford’s variations of cardinal red.

“They have a Stanford ‘S’ and a tree on it and then a Wisconsin ‘W’ and a little Badger on it, too,” Andrew said. “They’re really excited about these shirts. They’re being non-biased; they’re repping both daughters.”

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Wisconsin

8-year-old dies in hospital after icy Wisconsin crash

Published

1 day ago

December 10, 2025

Press Room

8-year-old dies in hospital after icy Wisconsin crash

RICHMOND TOWNSHIP, Wis. (FOX 9) – A crash in western Wisconsin killed an 8-year-old boy and seriously injured a 27-year-old Wednesday morning.

Fatal crash in Richmond Township, Wisconsin

What we know:

According to St. Croix County, just before 10 a.m., deputies responded to a crash on the 1500 block of County Road A.

Authorities say that a 27-year-old woman was driving a van southbound, and lost control on an icy curve and collided with another vehicle.

The woman suffered serious injuries from the crash and was taken to the hospital to be treated, law enforcement said. The boy was critically injured, and was also taken to the hospital, where he later died.

Both were wearing seat belts during the crash.

The driver of the other vehicle was treated for minor injuries at the scene and was released.

This is the 10th traffic fatality in St. Croix County.

What we don’t know:

The current condition of the woman is unknown.

The Source: A press release from St. Croix County Sheriff’s Office.

Road incidentsWisconsin

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