While most trips include visits to multiple attractions, sometimes you only need one. One of my sons loves reptiles, especially snakes. One crazy weekend, we drove 6 1/2 hours to Southern Illinois to visit snake road. It was an awesome, memorable experience that neither of us will forget.
Our National Symbol
While he loves snakes, raptors are more my style. I love seeing our gorgeous national symbol in flight or perched on a tree top. It wasn’t that long ago that bald eagles were almost extinct. In 1978, our national symbol was declared “endangered.” It’s because of the important work of conservationists that that their numbers have rebounded enough for to support eagle watching now.
Once when my husband and I were on a winter weekend getaway in Wisconsin, we stopped in the small town of Prairie du Sac to have lunch. While we were driving through town, we noticed people pulling over the the side of the road. If you’ve been wildlife watching at all you know that means that something interesting is happening. We stopped and discovered that there were bald eagles fishing on the river. The dam that is just upstream keeps the river from freezing so eagles congregate there to fish.
Trip Length: 2 to 3 Days
Travel Time from Chicago: 2 Hours 45 Minutes
Travel “Flavors”: Outdoors, Food
Itinerary Suggestions
Eagle Watching Information
The Ferry Bluff Eagle Council maintains an overlook in Prairie du Sac so the public can safely watch the eagles. It’s is closed for construction as of January 2021, but their website provides a list of other locations for watching the eagles on the Wisconsin river.
Food and Beverages
Stop by John Joseph Coffee in Sauk City to get a hot beverage to keep you warm while you’re out watching eagles. They get great reviews and you’ll feel good about supporting a family-owned business. You’ll probably want to grab some coffee beans to take home too.
I spent my childhood in Wisconsin and like any good Wisconsinite, I know that the freshest cheese curds squeak when you eat them. I also know that they are delicious when breaded and fried. If you share my love for cheese curds, you may want to stop in at Prairie House Food & Spirits. Many of their Google reviews claim that they have the best fried cheese curds.
Scenic Drive
Prairie du Sac is on the Lower Wisconsin River Road, also known as Scenic Byway 60. If you enjoy scenic drives, check out the brochure for more information.
Other Midwest Locations for Eagle Watching
Prairie du Sac is just one of many eagle watching spots in the Midwest. Here are a few other suggestions.
- The Audubon Center at Riverlands, near St. Louis, MO
- Mississippi River Visitor Center in Rock Island, IL
- National Eagle Center in Wabasha, MN
- Lock & Dam #12 and Bellvue State Park in Bellvue, IA
Travel Accessory
I’m a huge fan of the product and gift lists you see floating around the internet because I usually find some new-to-me product for myself, a friend or family member. I’d like to offer you the same inspiration by highlighting a travel accessory in each post.
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I always have trouble staying hydrated, but especially when we’re traveling. This is partially because I don’t like drinking plain water. These lemon packets help by offering enough flavor to water without adding calories. They barely take up any space, so you can easily throw them in your bag and add them to your water bottle as needed.
Final Thoughts
Those are just the highlights that stood out to me. For more information, check out the Sauk Prairie Area Chamber of Commerce site. If you use my trip suggestions or if you’ve visited any of these locations in the past, please provide your reviews in the comments. Did I miss something? Please add other itinerary suggestions in the comments, especially if they are off the beaten path. Happy vacationing!