Wisconson to Duluth information (Eau Claire, Chippewa Falls: appointed, mattress, hotels)

[phenry57]

Hello,

Our boy scout troop will be traveling July 2016 to northern Minnesota for a canoeing trip. They are coming from Indiana and will want to stop overnight somewhere just north of Eau Claire WI. That's our best guess anyway. My questions to the locals or those who know the area (Hwy 53 North), could anyone recommend a good safe hotel or motel? I would like to compile a list of choices from Eau Claire to about 3 hours south of Duluth, MN. This way as they travel and know better where they may want to stop, they will have information on the choices. I will research and try to give the boys 2 or 3 choices at each stop. Some stops may have only one choice, but if it's a nice clean place with eats near, that's ok! A motel is fine as long as it is family friendly and has a place to eat near-by. Also, if you know of other concerns like road construction, all information would be helpful and very much appreciated!

[No Happy]

I would suggest Chippewa Falls. Eau Claire is within 3 hours from Duluth so if your looking to stay about 3 hours away I wouldn't go past New Auburn. There are plenty of hotels around Chi Falls , and it's generally a nice area. I've also stayed in the Super 8 hotel in Osseo (south of Eau Claire) and it's fine.

[ranger17]

I'd add to look at Trip Advisor as well; helps locate hotels along one's path and give some decent comparisons for pricing and quality.

[motorcycledoppelganger]

I'm not clear whether it's on your route or not, but I highly recommend the Sleep Inn north of Eau Claire on Hwy 29. It's in the sticks, but it's a surprisingly comfortable hotel, big travel plaza attached with a decent (not truck-stoppy) restaurant, pool, etc. I used to travel to EC regularly with my family and have probably stayed at every hotel in the area, and this is the one we keep coming back to. We overlooked it for a long time for better "names" but it's a pleasant surprise.

[Rynldsbr]

I traveled the state extensively for business for years. Best value and opportunity for a good breakfast in a clean hotel with a large pool along your route is The Plaza Hotel in Eau Claire. You will be just over 3 hours south of Duluth and the hotel has food on site or you are adjacent to a college campus with food choices galore. Pizza and fast food is across the street.
www.plazaeauclaire.com




Second choice, although smaller, would be to continue to Rice Lake and stay at the AmericInn Hotel and eat at the Norske Nook next door. Best Pie anywhere other than my mothers.
Rice Lake WI Hotels - AmericInn Rice Lake Hotel & Suites
Norske Nook | Delicious Norwegian Cooking and Award-Winning Pies

[No Happy]

Originally Posted by motorcycledoppelganger

I'm not clear whether it's on your route or not, but I highly recommend the Sleep Inn north of Eau Claire on Hwy 29. It's in the sticks, but it's a surprisingly comfortable hotel, big travel plaza attached with a decent (not truck-stoppy) restaurant, pool, etc. I used to travel to EC regularly with my family and have probably stayed at every hotel in the area, and this is the one we keep coming back to. We overlooked it for a long time for better "names" but it's a pleasant surprise.

This is a nice hotel, it's by 29 Pines. It's about 10 miles west of the 53/29 intersection on Highway 29.

[ranger17]

Originally Posted by Rynldsbr

Second choice, although smaller, would be to continue to Rice Lake and stay at the AmericInn Hotel and eat at the Norske Nook next door. Best Pie anywhere other than my mothers.
Rice Lake WI Hotels - AmericInn Rice Lake Hotel & Suites
Norske Nook | Delicious Norwegian Cooking and Award-Winning Pies

They built a Norske Nook here in town this past winter, and i can agree the pies (and serving size) do not suck


I only say that, cuz if when i was a scout and a trip included a hearty helping of pie before lights out.... it would have been one more bonus along the way lol

[motorcycledoppelganger]

Originally Posted by Rynldsbr

I traveled the state extensively for business for years. Best value and opportunity for a good breakfast in a clean hotel with a large pool along your route is The Plaza Hotel in Eau Claire. You will be just over 3 hours south of Duluth and the hotel has food on site or you are adjacent to a college campus with food choices galore. Pizza and fast food is across the street.

The problem with that Plaza is that the quality of the rooms varies hugely. Some of the rooms are appointed very nicely as described and seen in the website. But there are other rooms, particularly outside the circular tower area, which are extremely dated. It is one of the few places I've ever considered asking for a refund on. The room I stayed in had an old fashioned tube TV of about 24 inches, a non functioning remote, a mattress about 2" thick, and a bathroom which had obviously not been updated in my (not insignificant) lifetime. All this was located down a hallway that stretched for miles with random sets of 3 or 4 steps up and down. Meanwhile my sister in law was across the hotel near the tower and had a lovely, modern room. We paid the same amount.

I don't know what their deal is, or if they've remodeled the facility in the last 2 years or so since this stay, but I would not return there when there are so many other hotels that can provide a standardized experience.

Edit: I second looking at Trip advisor. I just went there to double check my memory and found several people with the same complaints I had about the Plaza.