Located on a ridge overlooking the Mississippi River Valley, the city of Onalaska is a wonderful place to live.  Originally started as a lumber town in the heavily timbered area nestled between the bluffs and the lake, Onalaska real estate and the rich farmlands that surround the city have a peaceful, unspoiled beauty.

With only 16,000 residents, Onalaska real estate still has a small town feel.  Yet people living as far away as 100 miles come to the LaCrosse/Onalaska area for shopping, restaurants and services to provide for their every need.  The Valley View Mall has 90 stores, including major department stores, home furnishings, clothing, gift shops, specialty stores and restaurants.


Education in Onalaska
Students residing in Onalaska real estate attend public schools overseen by the Onalaska School District.  The Onalaska School District operates one kindergarten center, three elementary schools, one middle school and one high school for residents of Onalaska.  Because the district is small, it offers better individual attention with an average 15:1 student/teacher ratio.  If parents wish for an alternative to public education for their children, there are four private schools available for students in the city.

Local Activities in Onalaska
In addition to the indoor recreation available at the Valley View Mall, the Onalaska Parks and Recreation Department has a wide variety of programs for both children and adults.

Whatever your passion, it is within a few miles of Onalaska real estate. In the summer, you can hike or bike on one of the river trails, fish, sail, or swim on Lake Onalaska, golf at one of several clubs in town, play tennis, camp, hunt or picnic in the park.  In the winter, there is skiing, snowmobiling, cross country and ice fishing.  And anytime of year there are concerts, theater, big name entertainment and fine dining.

Onalaska has two regional biking and hiking trails along abandoned railroad rights-of-way.  The LaCrosse River Trail is through five miles of a prairie preserve and the LaCrosse River Marsh.  The Great River Trail has unusually diverse flora and fauna with plants and animal life from the northern forests, the eastern forests and the western prairies all mingling together.  You are likely to see anything from deer to hummingbirds to eagles to reptiles and amphibians.  You might even get a glimpse of a bear.  In the winter, this is a great snowmobile route.

If you love fishing, Onalaska real estate offers it all year round.  In the warmer months, fish by boat or from shore for large mouth bass, crappie, bluegills and walleyes on Lake Onalaska or the Black River.  And in winter, there is ice fishing.

Another place to enjoy fishing is the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge.  With over 200,000 acres and 260 miles long, it provides year round habitats to birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians and over 100 species of fish. Although this is a managed habitat, it is a great place for fishing, hiking, birding, sightseeing or just relaxing.

For something a little less outdoorsy, the Onalaska Area Historical Society Museum has exhibits on the local area from the Ice Age to recent history with exhibits changing regularly so there is always something new to see.  Onalaska things to do.

Whether you're a big outdoorsman or prefer the museums or the malls, the beauty and people of Onalaska real estate make it a great place to live.  Contact me for more information.