*Hosted stay sponsored by Visit Eau Claire. All ideas and opinions expressed are that of the writer, Antonia Grant. Find additional disclosure information at the bottom of this article.*
Looking for the best hotels in Eau Claire for families? Eau Claire is a fantastic Wisconsin destination with kids. Located just 90 minutes from Minneapolis and St. Paul, it’s also less than 5 hours from Chicago. Plus, due to its outdoor adventures, an emerging foodie culture, and tons of great art and cultural activities, Eau Claire is becoming a trending Midwest travel destination for families! If you’re planning a visit and wondering where to stay in Eau Claire with kids, this article outlines everything you need to know about staying at Staybridge Suites Eau Claire – Altoona, an IHG Hotel for families. Based on our own stay, this guide shares information on the location, family-friendly amenities, restaurants and things to do, and more! As one of the best hotels in Eau Claire for families, there’s a lot to love about staying at Staybridge Suites Eau Claire – Altoona with kids.
Location and Check-In
Centrally located in Eau Claire, Staybridge Suites Eau Claire – Altoona is located just off Hwy 53, one of the major thoroughfares in the area. Its location right off the highway makes it perfect for a Midwest family road trip, as well as one of the best hotels in Eau Claire with kids. Staying here, you will also be less than three miles from downtown Eau Claire, and about 11 miles from Chippewa Falls. Not to mention, within walking distance of family-friendly restaurants and River Prairie Park, a large green space with several kid-friendly activities across the street.
As one of the best family-friendly Eau Claire Hotels, you will be greeted with the warm, small-town hospitality that this area is known for. The friendly staff will assist you in getting checked in and answering any questions you have about exploring the area. You can expect a smooth check-in, with the hospitality desk located on your right immediately as you enter Staybridge Suites Eau Claire – Altoona. Then, your key card will provide access to your room and everything you want to do on-site, as well as provide the information you need for the WiFi (available across the property). Finally, there is ample free parking, including enough space for larger vehicles and RVs.
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Best Accommodations Options for Families
As one of the best hotels in Eau Claire for families, you can expect spacious suite-style accommodations at Staybridge Suites Eau Claire – Altoona. In fact, it’s the only all-suite-style hotel in the area. Families can select from several suite options, including a 1-Queen bed in a 1-bedroom suite, 1-King bed in a 1-bedroom suite, 2-Double beds in 1-bedroom suites, and 1-Queen with 2-double beds in a 2-Bedroom Suite. The larger suites sleep up to 5-7 individuals, while the smaller options sleep up to 3. Certainly, the larger suites make staying at Staybridge Suites Eau Claire – Altoona one of the best large family hotels in Eau Claire.
Regardless of which suite you select, you will also get all the comforts of home! Each suite includes a living space with a desk area and a full kitchen equipped with basic tools. The kitchen includes a full refrigerator, a cooktop stove, and a dishwasher. Families traveling with babies and toddlers, in particular, will enjoy the opportunity to have a separate napping space, options for making bottles and food, and spacious floor space for playing together. While those with tweens and teens will appreciate that the largest suite arrangement has two bathrooms and plenty of space to do homework or remote schooling!
Family-Friendly Amenities
If you’re wondering where to stay in Eau Claire with kids that offers an array of top-notch family-friendly amenities, look no further than Staybridge Suites Eau Claire – Altoona. Not only will you find a large pool, but families will appreciate the gathering spaces, laundry facilities, and more. Keep reading to learn more about the features that make Staybridge Suites Eau Claire – Altoona one of the best family-friendly Eau Claire Hotels.
Pool
No family-favorite hotel is complete without a pool! As one of the best kid-friendly hotels in Eau Claire, families will love the heated indoor pool here. Not only is the pool perfect for splashing at the end of a long day of exploring, but there is plenty of seating for adults who aren’t interested in getting in the pool. When parents are ready to don their swimming suits, there is a cozy whirlpool in the same space. Large windows surround the pool area, making it bright and pleasant throughout the day. Plus, families will appreciate the communal toys available in the pool area.
A lift is also available for individuals with disabilities excited to get into the pool or whirlpool too! Finally, there is a bathroom located just outside of the pool area, so you don’t have to run back and forth to your room to change diapers or use the restroom. No wonder this is one of the best hotels in Eau Claire for families!
Fitness Center
If you’re looking for family hotels in Eau Claire with a fitness center, you’ll appreciate the large one here! Located in the 24-hour spacious fitness center, gym-enthusiast families will find an elliptical machine, three treadmills, free weights, a stability ball, a movable bench, a stretching mat, and more. Here, you can start or end each day by breaking a sweat while exploring Eau Claire with kids. Those who want to work out in the great outdoors will appreciate nearby River Prairie Park, which connects with 70+ miles of biking and hiking trails in the area too.
Fenced Outdoor Patio + Fire Pit
As one of the best hotels in Eau Claire for families, parents will appreciate the intimate fenced-in patio and green space nestled along Staybridge Suites Eau Claire – Altoona. While you rest after a busy day of adventuring on an Adirondack-style chair, littles can play in the grass without the worry of them running off. Then, older kids will love roasting marshmallows in the fire pit (if you need s’more supplies, there is a grocery store across the street!). The beautiful fire pit or chimney fireplace area may even inspire a ghost story or two!
Need somewhere to stay in Eau Claire with kids that can offer an outdoor space for family meals? Staybridge Suites Eau Claire – Altoona has that too! A covered pavilion area provides multiple Weber grills for guest use. During the summer months, you can have a family cookout with hotdogs and brats on a picnic table within the fenced-in patio area. Certainly, budget-conscious families will appreciate this added perk of staying here.
Breakfast & Evening Social
Start each morning of your stay with a complimentary breakfast. Staybridge Suites Eau Claire – Altoona offers a complete, hot, buffet-style breakfast each morning, making it one of the top family-friendly Eau Claire hotels. They even have a waffle maker! I can’t think of a more delicious way to start a day of exploring a new city. In addition, there is also a complimentary social for guests Monday through Wednesday in the evenings, featuring light hors d’oeuvres, beer, and wine.
Guest Laundry Facilities
As a traveling family, you know that accidents and messes can happen! Traveling with kids isn’t always easy, especially when a little laundry may be needed. Luckily, Staybridge Suites Eau Claire – Altoona has a large guest laundry facility, just off the pool area. You can adventure all day without worry knowing that any messes can be remedied while staying at one of the best kid-friendly hotels in Eau Claire. Laundry detergent can even be purchased in the on-site convenience store for emergencies. Otherwise, the local grocery store across the street is fully stocked with everything you may need.
Reserve your family’s stay at the Staybridge Suites Eau Claire – Altoona here with Hotels.com!
Nearby Things to Do in Eau Claire with Kids
Now that you know where to stay in Eau Claire with kids, let’s talk about what you can do in the area! There are many fun things to do in Eau Claire with kids, including museums, outdoor adventures, theater performances, and more. As one of the best hotels in Eau Claire with kids, Staybridge Suites Eau Claire – Altoona puts you near it all. Keep reading to get an idea about just a few of the best things to do in Eau Claire for families.
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River Prarie Park
Within walking distance of Staybridge Suites Eau Claire – Altoona, River Prairie Park features several great things for families to do, including some of the best restaurants in Eau Claire. Here, littles will adore playing on the natural playground with wooden structures to explore and a cozy slide. Don’t forget swimming suits for the kids because there is a fun splash stream too! Once they are done splashing, they can search for hidden fairies and trolls in the lush garden, or find the large interactive trolls nearby.
Want to explore further afield? River Prairie Park connects to 70+ miles of biking and hiking trails in the area. After playing, enjoy a picnic or eat at a nearby restaurant. The best part is that this lovely park is within a 3-minute walk of one of the most kid-friendly hotels in Eau Claire, meaning you can explore it multiple times throughout your stay!
Downtown Eau Claire + Phoenix Park
Heading downtown is a must when visiting Eau Claire with kids! Only three miles from Staybridge Suites Eau Claire – Altoona, you can start your exploration of downtown with the Eau Claire Sculpture Tour. As the largest sculpture tour in the nation, families will discover over 70 unique sculptures by local, national, and international artists. Each one has a QR code for you to scan to learn more about the art installation and to get a map of the self-guided tour.
Then, located in the heart of downtown along the Eau Claire and Chippewa Rivers, Phoenix Park is perfect for a lovely stroll with an ice cream cone from Olson’s Ice Cream. Here, you can also check out some of Eau Claire’s iconic bridges, play in the grass, and more! Summer visitors can even bring tubes or kayaks to float down the rivers for a bit.
Outdoor Adventures
When you’re ready to explore the great outdoors, there are endless options for families. Firstly, Big Falls County Park, Chippewa River State Trail, and Boyd Neighborhood Park all provide family-friendly hiking trails. Then, Beaver Creek Reserve, in neighboring Fall Creek offers a fun nature center, hiking trails, and family programming.
During warmer months, outdoor enthusiasts will find a variety of places to kayak, canoe, SUP, and go fishing, including Half Moon Lake, the Chippewa River, the Eau Claire River, and more. In the winter, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing trails are also available. Alternatively, those looking to visit a local farm can check out Ferguson’s Orchards or Justorian Alpacas in nearby Osseo.
Pablo Center at the Confluence
Pablo Center at the Confluence offers an array of amazing activities for families who love art, music, and theater! Not only do they have theatrical performances throughout the year, but they also offer galleries and exhibitions. Three year-round galleries are sure to be a hit with your family. Not to mention, they are free and open to the public. Then, check the performance schedule for upcoming productions during your visit. From musicians to comedians and stage theater, there is always something happening here! Pablo Center is less than a 10-minute drive from Staybridge Suites Eau Claire – Altoona.
Book your stay at the Staybridge Suites Eau Claire – Altoona here!
Carson Park
Less than 5 miles from the hotel, Carson Park is filled with nature, family-friendly activities, history, and more! In fact, this spacious park offers some of the best things to do in Eau Claire with kids. If you want to enjoy the great outdoors, families can enjoy scenic views of Half Moon Lake, hike, bike, play on the playground, and more. It is worth a visit to Carson Park for the huge playground alone. Carson Park Playground is sure to thrill kids who need to run, jump, slide, swing, and climb. Those with older kids can even go geocaching. Baseball fans will love knowing that Hank Aaron played right here in Carson Park in the early part of his career. Finally, the Chippewa Valley Museum and The Wisconsin Logging Museum are located here.
Family-Friendly Museums in Eau Claire
There are several amazing family-friendly museums in the Eau Claire area. Here are three to help you start planning your trip. Certainly, when you visit Eau Claire with kids, add at least one of these museums to your itinerary!
- Children’s Museum of Eau Claire is currently in an intimate, temporary space until November. However, in January 2023, this inclusive space will open its new doors to families searching for a vibrant, indoor place to play together and experience hands-on exhibits. This museum is less than a 10-minute drive from Staybridge Suites Eau Claire – Altoona.
- Chippewa Valley Museum is located in Carson Park (less than 15 minutes by car from the hotel) and offers interactive exhibits to help visitors learn about topics from local farm life to the Hmong experience in Eau Claire. Additionally, there are three nearby historic buildings worth checking out.
- Wisconsin Logging Museum is also located in Carson Park. Here, kids will delight in the large statues of Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox. Inside, you will learn about loggers and their lives within an authentic 1890s logging camp reproduction.
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Nearby Dining + Grocery Store
Staybridge Suites Eau Claire – Altoona is within walking distance of several family-friendly restaurants, including one with an arcade! Grab your morning coffee at Cabin Coffee Co. Kids will love the pastries and fun interior. When you’re hungry for pizza, grab a pie at Za51. Then, 44 North offers delicious American fare with an exciting arcade for everyone in your family. Plus, there is an ice cream shop on-site too. All three are located within a 5-minute walk of Staybridge Suites Eau Claire – Altoona. Across the street, there is also a large grocery store. If you need to grab groceries for a picnic lunch or dinner, head to Woodman’s Food Market.
If you want to head outside of the immediate area, here are some additional restaurants that families will love – all within 4.5 miles of Staybridge Suites Eau Claire – Altoona. Firstly, Stella Blues is a cajun-inspired restaurant with a fun kids’ menu. Craving a burger? Head to Valley Burger Company. For lunch, grab a yummy sandwich downtown a the Acoustic Cafe or from the nearby Eau Claire Cheese & Deli. Then, start one of your mornings with a scrumptious breakfast at The Nucleus. Finally, located downtown, Olson’s Ice Cream, and Ramone’s Ice Cream Parlor both offer some of the best ice cream in the area!
Would I Recommend Staying at Staybridge Suites Eau Claire – Altoona for Families?
If you’re looking for a hotel with large suite-style rooms, a pool, and additional kid-friendly amenities in Eau Claire, I definitely recommend staying at Staybridge Suites Eau Claire – Altoona! Plus, if you are wondering where to stay in Eau Claire with kids that offers several things to do within walking distance of the hotel, it’s a great fit for that reason too. Whether you need ample nearby green space to play or a full kitchen to cook family meals, Staybridge Suites Eau Claire – Altoona offers one of the best hotels in Eau Claire for families.
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Happy Travels!
Certainly, if you are looking for one of the best hotels in Eau Claire with kids, you can end your search! Staybridge Suites Eau Claire – Altoona offers spacious suites, many family-friendly amenities, and an excellent location for exploring the Eau Claire area. Then, as one of the best family hotels in Eau Claire, you will be well taken care of by friendly staff. When you’re ready to explore, everything you want to do is also close at hand (usually less than 5-15 minutes by car from the hotel). What more could you ask for? Have a great time in Eau Claire, Wisconsin with kids!
*Unless otherwise noted, all pictures within this article belong to and are courtesy of Antonia Grant.
*Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, some of the attractions, accommodations, or things to do on this list may be closed. Please ensure availability before making your decision.
*This post may contain affiliate links that may earn us a small commission at no additional cost to you. Affiliate links in no way inform the hotels, sights, products, or other recommendations included in our articles. All opinions and recommendations expressed here are compiled from submissions submitted by the generous members of our Families Who Love To Travel community.
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