- Exploring the hidden gems of Western Wisconsin—curating unforgettable stays and sharing the places locals love most.
Feeding a family on vacation is its own sport. Somebody wants pizza, somebody wants “just plain noodles,” Grandpa wants walleye, and you’d like a drink and a view. The good news is that Prescott is small enough to walk everywhere and has more variety on one street than you’d guess.
We host a lot of families and big groups at The Cove and The Harbor, and these are the places I recommend most when someone asks where to take the whole crew. Here’s what each one does best, what the kids will eat, and when to go.
If your kids like trains, stop reading and go here. Two Rivers Lodge sits right on the river with the railroad tracks out back, and the trains roll past the windows and the deck all evening. The theme is rustic lodge, the portions are big, and the servers get named in reviews again and again for being friendly.
What to order: Start the table with Ellsworth cheese curds, battered in-house (get the large for a group). For the grown-ups, the 12-ounce Canadian walleye dinner is one of the best values in town, and Mom’s Pot Roast is comfort on a plate. Kids do well with the tenders or walleye fingers. Finish with the Paul Bunyan Carrot Cake, a one-pound slice built for the whole table, or the Cookie Butter Pie.
Insider tip: Go early. On Friday and Saturday nights there’s a DJ and dancing from 10 p.m., and the room gets livelier after 9:30. Anything that comes as a cocktail can be made as a mocktail, which is a fun treat for older kids.
Prescott Tap is a laid-back sports bar where families are welcome (anyone under 21 just needs to be with a parent or guardian). There’s pool, darts and arcade games, and about 25 TVs if there’s a game on.
What to order: The kids’ menu is $6.99 for kids 12 and under, with kid’s pizza, a cheeseburger or chicken tenders, all with fries. Grown-ups should get a handmade 12-inch pizza (the Deluxe is the crowd favorite) and an order of smothered waffle fries with homemade queso. The Pineapple Pulled Pork sandwich is a sleeper hit, and the wings are massive.
Insider tip: Wednesday through Friday from 11 to 3, pizzas are $2 off, and Monday is pizza night. The kitchen closes at 10.
The Roadhouse is a small, owner-run kitchen that somehow does slow-smoked brisket, street tacos and sushi, and does them well. That makes it perfect for the family where nobody agrees. It’s quieter than the bars on the river, so you can actually have a conversation.
What to order: Kids’ meals are $7: chicken tenders, grilled cheese, mac and cheese or a corn dog. Adults can split the cheeseburger wontons, then pick between the Smoky Brisket Platter, the Everything But the Kitchen Sink Melt (brisket, two cheeses, mac and cheese, bacon and avocado on Texas toast) or a Roadhouse Roll from the sushi menu, served Wednesday through Sunday.
Insider tip: Sushi goes fast on weekends. It’s a small dining room, so for a big group, call ahead.
A couple of blocks off Broad Street, Enrique’s is a casual, family-friendly Mexican spot with a kids’ menu and outdoor seating. Order a round of street tacos and birria tacos, the two most popular items, plus a Nachos Supreme for the table and a cheesy chimi for the hungriest person. Churros for dessert, always. They’re closed Mondays.
Kids who’ve never had ramen tend to fall hard for it. Ichiddo Ramen on Broad Street was the chain’s first Wisconsin location, in a bright, renovated space with real plants and a modern Japanese feel. Let everyone build their own bowl with more than 15 toppings, and order chicken karaage and a char siu donburi to share. The food comes out fast and hot, which matters when the kids are hungry.
Muddy Waters is a bit more of a grown-up spot, but it’s casual and family-friendly, and in summer the three levels of deck over the St. Croix are hard to beat with kids who can’t sit still inside. Go when dinner starts at 5, before the evening crowd. Order the “Bite Me” Beef Tips, the walleye, and the au gratin potatoes for the table, and on Friday and Saturday nights the house-smoked prime rib is big enough to share.
For family breakfast, go to The Kitchen Table. Kids love hunting for the giant pen among the hundreds of signs on the walls, and the Birthday Cake Pancakes are a hit whether or not it’s anyone’s birthday. It’s walk-in only, so go early with a big group.
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.
