- Exploring the hidden gems of Western Wisconsin—curating unforgettable stays and sharing the places locals love most.
Fall is when Prescott feels the most like itself. The boats are mostly out of the water, the bluffs across the St. Croix turn rust and gold, and the town settles into sweater weather. The patios get quieter, the kitchens get heartier, and there’s an orchard right up the road pressing cider.
When friends from the Cities ask me for a fall weekend that doesn’t involve a four-hour drive, this is what I give them: three days, all within about 25 minutes of downtown Prescott, built around a river dinner, an orchard morning and a farm full of animals you didn’t expect to meet in Wisconsin.
Drop your bags and walk. Downtown Prescott is a few blocks long, and Broad Street runs right along the water. Head to Muddy Waters Bar and Grill, a blues-themed spot with three levels of deck stepping down toward the St. Croix. In fall, the decks are still great on a mild evening, but my favorite seat is actually at the bar, where the locals are and the conversation is easy.
On Friday and Saturday nights they serve house-smoked prime rib, and it’s the reason to come on a Friday. If you’re not in a prime rib mood, start with Leon’s House Smoked Salmon or the baked Brie in puff pastry with spinach, bacon and caramelized onion, then get the “Bite Me” Beef Tips, Cajun-seasoned and seared, with béarnaise. Order the au gratins on the side. Trust me. Reviewers love their house red sangria and their Manhattans, and so do I.
Insider tip: Muddy Waters doesn’t take reservations, and dinner starts at 5. Go a little early, have a drink at the bar and let the night start slowly.
After breakfast at The Kitchen Table, drive about ten minutes out Highway 35 to Young Acres, a family orchard that grows 17 varieties of apples and presses its own cider on site. The country store is stocked with local products, and it’s the place to buy a jug of cider for your room and a bag of apples for the drive home. The orchard also has The Arbor, a restaurant run by a chef-sommelier who cooks from scratch with local ingredients and pairs food with drinks, including the fermented kind. If they have a dinner or event on while you’re here, it’s worth planning around.
Insider tip: The picking season winds down as fall goes on, and late-October hours vary. Call ahead or check their site the week of your trip.
Spend the afternoon at Freedom Park, on the bluff above town. The Great River Road Visitor and Learning Center there is free, with exhibits on eagles, river boats and the history of the people who lived along these rivers. Out on the overlook you can see the clear St. Croix meet the muddy Mississippi, and on a clear fall day, the line between them is easy to spot. Bald eagles are regulars here, especially as the weather cools.
Then walk back down to the riverfront and watch the bridges. Prescott has two moving bridges side by side: the Highway 10 drawbridge, which opens in two halves for boats, and the railroad lift bridge next to it. Through the end of October, the highway bridge still opens on signal for boats heading up and down the St. Croix.
Prescott Roadhouse is small, quiet and full of surprises. The owner-run kitchen is known for slow-smoked brisket, street tacos on corn tortillas and, yes, sushi from Wednesday through Sunday. Order the cheeseburger wontons to start, then the Roadhouse Roll, their most-ordered item, and a brisket platter to share. Sushi goes fast on weekends, so don’t wait too late.
After dinner, walk a block to Prescott Tap for a nightcap. It’s a laid-back sports bar with 16 taps of Wisconsin and Minnesota beer in frosted mugs, pool, darts and some of the most comfortable bar stools in town. If there’s a late game on, this is where you’ll watch it.
About 25 minutes from Prescott, outside River Falls, Eagle Eye Farm is home to more than 130 animals from 14 species. Yes, that includes alpacas, llamas and goats. It also includes kangaroos (say hi to Rooby), porcupines, peacocks, mini Highland cattle, Kune Kune pigs, Valais Blacknose sheep, angora bunnies and an armadillo. It’s open every day from 10 to 4, rain, shine or snow, and a self-guided visit is about $15.
If you want more than a walk-through, book an experience ahead of time: you can feed Rooby the kangaroo, feed a porcupine, take an alpaca for a walk or try goat yoga. Before you leave, stop in the farm shop, All Things Sheared, for alpaca socks. They’re the warmest socks you’ll own this winter.
Make downtown Prescott your home base and book direct with us: The Port of Prescott for boutique king suites steps from the river, Port After Dark for romantic suites made for couples, The Harbor Hotel for themed rooms and extended stays, and The Cove Guest House for downtown condos and group getaways.
