Checking out the train in Copeland Park

 Stacy's son loves trains. She knows the hubby loves trains and wanted me to see the train in La Crosse. The only problem was she didn't exactly remember where it was. Google wasn't very helpful. She remembered getting coffee and walking down the hill to the park and stumbled upon the train. After a few attempts we figured it out.

Copeland Park is home to the La Crosse Short Line Railroad Heritage Museum which is inside the Grand Crossing Tower which was the last manually operated “Strong arm” interlocking tower in Wisconsin. There is also a Copeland engine and CMStP&P Caboose.

It appears the Museum and train are currently only open one weekend a year in July. I may have to one day take hubby there during that. 

Even though we couldn't check out the museum or go on the train, it was still neat to walk around. I don't think I've ever seen a Copeland engine before. 

If you are ever in La Crosse and need a quick stop (or have a train buff with), take 5 minutes to check out this piece of history. The only parking is at the bottom of the hill and you must enter by the baseball field. Just be careful of the one way streets.

5550. Go to the Friendship Garden in La Crosse

 Stacy and I planned a trip to western Wisconsin for Girl's weekend this year. We based ourselves out of La Crosse. Like usual, I send Stacy our tentative plan and then a list of other things to do in the area. After perusing the list and trying to figure out breakfast, we opted to go to the Friendship Garden in La Crosse before crossing the Mississippi to explore parts of eastern Minnesota.

Riverside International Friendship Gardens are a free botanical-type garden with plants from the various La Crosse sister cities across the world. They are located in Riverside Park and are open 6 am to 11 pm daily. 

The seven cities that are represented are 

Luoyang (China)

Forde (Norway)

Friedberg (Germany)

Dubna (Russia)

Epinal (France)

Bantry (Ireland)

Kumba (Cameroon)

Each garden features two to four features. Some of them are statues others are natural features.

We strolled through the gardens. Stacy was to gardens before so she let me guide us through the gardens. I think we it all of it. It is not very big but quite a place of beauty, especially early in the morning.

We also checked out the bike path mainly to see where it took us. We were confused by the crooked path but decided that it was deter speeding.

It was a great choice for a first stop of the day. The Friendship Gardens are worth checking out when in La Crosse.