Take a walk down memory lane
I’m a big fan of my hometown, La Crosse, WI. That’s probably not surprising, I think most people have a special affection for where they grew up. Recently I took my fandom to another level, though, and created a list which identifies the “La Crosse” of every state. To meet the criteria, it needs to be a mid-sized river town with accessible hills for hiking and a four-year University. The criteria are actually more detailed than that, but that’s beyond the scope of this post.
Downtown La Crosse and surrounding neighborhoods are great for walking around. There are many historic buildings, as well as cool places to hang out. For a snack, try The Pearl Ice Cream Parlor or Ranison Candy. For a drink, head to Third Street. At one time, it held the Guinness Record for most bars on a single street. Some say it’s our pride, others our shame. Finally, when nature calls, walk to Riverside Park. Enjoy the views of the mighty Mississippi as it makes its slow journey to the Gulf.
Riverside Park is a sight to see any time of year, but especially so during two occasions. First, is the mayfly hatch. In early July, the mayflies come out of the ground and swarm the area for the single day they are alive. To be honest, growing up I remember the sight of dead mayflies on the water, but I don’t remember being in a real swarm. I’ll need to go back for Fourth of July some year.
The other big event is Rotary Lights. Between Thanksgiving and New Years Eve, the park lights up with millions of Christmas lights. Volunteers lay out the elaborate decorations, and it all comes together when the cold winds bite.
Let’s see those reindeer
My family always goes to see the Rotary Lights, but we never volunteered to set them up. That’s okay, there are plenty of diehards who lend a helping hand. The volunteers are a special class of citizens, revered by all those in the area. It is not a simple feat to string up millions of Christmas bulbs.
Many decorations are standard, such as the little pine trees with a few loops of lights. It’s similar to what goes on your bog-standard Christmas Tree. Other designs are much more elaborate, such as Santa and his Reindeer, which utilizes a timer to light each reindeer one at a time. Beyond that, there are snowmen, a giant tree, an igloo, a tunnel with music, and the nativity scene.
Of course, the real highlight is Santa and his Reindeer. This is not a display, it a real Santa (well, a local Grandpa in a costume), and real reindeer. I don’t know where they come from, so I’ll assume the North Pole. In Wisconsin we have lots of white-tailed deer. Compared to them, reindeer truly are the stuff of legend. They have goofy eyes, elaborate antlers, and a casual air about them. It would not surprise me to see them fly away.
I’ll close with my favorite La Crosse myth. At Riverside Park we have the Black and La Crosse Rivers flowing into the Mississippi at one point. It is said, “Where three rivers meet, tornadoes never blow”. That myth was true for my life, until May of 2011 when a twister ripped through the south side and sped its way up the bluffs and past my house. I remember the silence before the storm, and the green hue of the sky. Does this mean the myth is false? Nah, it was a Sunday. Even rivers need a day of rest.
