02/22/2026
Driftless Adventure: Bakehouse, Biking and a Beach
Last Sunday we loaded up and headed off for an adventure. When it comes to things like pizza nights and farming, we are very plan-full. When it comes to our local adventures, we sometimes have a rough idea of where we'll go and what we'll do but much of the time we just hop in the car and hope for the best! With open minds and a car full of snacks and spare clothes, it usually turns out to be a great day.
Our first stop on Sunday was Opus Bakehouse in Onalaska, Wisconsin where we fueled up on treats. The owners visited our farm last summer for pizza, a few good friends sell produce and grain to the bakery and we have heard rave reviews from our staff and customers. I can honestly say that we had the hardest time deciding what to order because everything in the bakery case was unique that we felt we needed to try it all! A pastry with chocolate, coconut and bananas stole my heart. The cardamom orange roll was a close contender and we're still thinking about the peanut butter miso cookies and beet/hazelnut scones. And the bread! Wow. We picked up a loaf of their sourdough and also a loaf made with perennial wheat (Kernza) that was grown at Joia Food and Fiber Farm near Charles City, Iowa. Like us, they focus on local ingredients. The next time you're in the LaCrosse/Onalaska area give Opus Bakehouse a visit! (Note: They are working to open a new storefront in LaCrosse this spring/early summer)
It was such a beautiful day that we packed bikes for the kids and used them on a small section of the Great River Trail (very close to the bakery). We were all enthralled as we watched a few log rollers practice their sport, along the shore. Needless to say...the kids had a lot of questions about why someone would be standing on a log in the water and walking/running on it as it rolled.
Last year we noticed a new bike trail running parallel to the highway that connects Winona to the Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge. The surface was smooth and flat but our takeaway is that it's a trail better suited to adults than small children, given the traffic to one side and steep drop-off to the other. But the views over the Mississippi were pretty spectacular!
On our adventure last year we also noticed a restaurant on the shores of the Mississippi River, near Trempealeau. Having already eaten, we made a mental note to try it out another time. Sunday was the day and it was the perfect day for our first visit. At Cat Daddy's Bar and Grill we were welcomed with open arms by staff who even gave the kids a bin of toys to play with. It was way too nice to sit inside so we headed out to the patio. And not a minute later we were all soaking up the sun on their sandy beach! Ice still covered much of the Mississippi so it was this really gorgeous combination of sun/sand and snow/ice/cold water, all with the Minnesota bluffs as the backdrop. It was the most unexpected part of our day and also the most enjoyable. We must've sat there for a few hours as we enjoyed our food (grilled cheese sandwiches and burgers), a cold beer and a beautiful place.
