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Copeland Park / La
Crosse Loggers
You know a ballpark is in the right location when there are three neighborhood bars within easy walking distance. Of course, it's hard to be anywhere in La Crosse without being in walking distance of a multitude of neighborhood bars -- but then again, that's part of the Wisconsin city's charm. It would be un-American not to put down a brew or a snort before a La Crosse Loggers game, so you can take your choice of Honest Paul's L&M, the Sports Nut or the Krazy L. But don't forget the main attraction is Copeland Park. the home of the La Crosse Loggers. Located north of downtown La Crosse and with the enthusiastic support of the locals, Copeland Park is definitely a highlight in the up-and-coming Northwoods League.
The park is basic in layout. There's a main grandstand that hold the comfortable seat-back chairs, and this section is given over almost completely to season-ticket holders. The grandstand has 14 rows and is divided into two sections: the four-row lower level contains seat-back chairs, and the upper 10-row section has both seat-back chairs and metal bleachers. Down each line is additional bleacher seating, and down the first-base line is a concessions area and a three-level all-you-can eat/drink party deck featuring concessions and restrooms. (As you might expect, the party deck is one of the most popular parts of the ballpark.) In right field are two log cabins for smaller groups that want an intimate catered affair. A large scoreboard in center field displays scores and game information. If you've not been to Copeland Park recently, you probably aren't aware of the many enhancements the Loggers have introduced in a relatively intimate footprint. A second party deck was added in the left-field corner, along with additional concessions and table seating. With Copeland Park, the La Crosse Loggers raise the bar for facilities in the Northwoods League: this is an intimate stadium that stresses accessibility to players and other fans. And while there's a lot of room for improvement -- the concessions and the seating do need to be expanded before fans get tired of standing around at games -- Copeland Park is a community resource that the residents of La Crosse should enjoy for many years. Ballpark Digest was present at the opening of Copeland Park in 2003. To see photos from Opening Night, check out this page.
Concessions For the Kids
Where to Stay Before/After the
Game La Crosse has a thriving downtown, filled with smaller bars, coffeeshops, and the sorts of smaller retailers that have disappeared from most downtowns across the Upper Midwest. If you're a baby boomer and want to get a feel for the downtowns of your youth, a stroll through downtown La Crosse is a must. It's also a must if you're craving a cocktail after the game. Farther south of downtown La Crosse is the City Brewery, the former Heileman Brewery that still cranks out the suds under contract and also under their own brands (City Lager, City Light, Kul, La Crosse Lager), which can be found in most bars in town. City Brewery offers tours throughout the day, while the City Bier Stube is open Mondays through Saturdays for lunch. It's hard to forget that La Crosse is a river town; occasionally you'll hear some blasts from the barges during a Loggers game, as the Mississippi River can be clearly seen from the park. If the romance of the river appeals to you, check out the Julia Belle Swain (227 Main St.; 608/784-4882), a replica of a steam-powered riverboat that was once common on the Mississippi. There are various cruise packages available, including local brunch and dinner reservations.
If you're coming from the Twin Cities and have some time, you'll want to cross the Mississippi River and drive down the Wisconsin side on Hwy. 35, through the Mississippi River Valley. This route takes you through several scenic bluff cities, including Pepin, Alma, Stockholm, and Trempealeau. Pepin is known for its outstanding restaurants: down by the river along First Street is the Harbor View and the Breakwater. The Harbor View draws tourists from across the region and from the Twin Cities in search of its outstanding cuisine; expect a wait on the weekends for dinner. Stockholm is a small town -- it has fewer than 200 inhabitants -- but on weekends local artists open their shops to display their wares. The biggest galleries in Stockholm are the Dragonfly Gallery, which specializes in work from local artists, Out of the Blue, and Stockholm Pottery & Mercantile; also worth a visit is Amish County Quilts and Furniture, which claims to have the largest selection of Amish-made quilts in the Midwest. If you're hungry, grab a "Swedish doughnut" (essentially a croissant rolled in sugar and cinnamon) at the Bogus Creek Cafe & Bakery. Farther down river is Trempealeau, where a mandatory stop is the Historic Trempealeau Hotel (11332 Main St.; 608/534-6898; shown above), a former businessman's hotel dating back from 1871 that is now a hotel, restaurant and bar with a decidedly laid-back atmosphere. The main rooms here are $32.40, and while you do need to deal with a shared bathroom, the rooms are charming and comfortable. (If a shared bathroom doesn't appeal to you, there are also luxury suites with Jacuzzi and air conditioning available starting at $100 a night.) The bar has several Wisconsin delicacies on tap, including New Glarus beer, and a wide variety of microbrews is available in bottled, including the New Glarus line of beers, Berghoff beers, and Huber Bock. If you time it right, you can schedule a weekend that includes a Loggers game and a weekend concert in Trempealeau; performers this summer include the Little River Band and Eric Burdon's Animals. There are some other good restaurants in Trempealeau, including the Wildflower Cafe (11364 Main St.; 608/534-6866) and Sullivan's Supper Club (W25709 Sullivan Rd.; 608/534-7775). If you're more outdoors oriented, Perrot State Park is just up the road: its hiking trails up the bluffs provide some spectacular views of the entire Upper Mississippi River. Just don't expect to show up and have a room waiting for you: summer weekends sell out months in advance. Just up the Mississippi River from La Crosse is Winona, which is now a thriving regional center. A wander through downtown Winona will yield some historic buildings, such as the Choate Building, that reflect the city's affluence from the turn of the century. Downtown Winona is still home to Watkins Products, the famous retailer whose products were sold primarily door to door. Anyone growing up in the Upper Midwest has a story about a favorite aunt or grandmother who was known to take a nip from a bottle of Watkins' Vanilla Extract, which has a good amount of alcohol. |
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