Stoney Creek Hotel in Onalaska: A Kid-Friendly Wisconsin Getaway

WHERE TO STAY IN LA CROSSE, WI WITH KIDS

If you’re planning a trip to La Crosse, Wisconsin with kids, you’re likely looking for a family-friendly hotel that makes a perfect spot to relax and unwind at the end of a long day or road tripping or exploring.

Stoney Creek Hotel in Onalaska is a wonderful Wisconsin hotel for kids because it offers so many amenities at a great price, plus they have plenty of rooms that can fit larger families! As a mom of 4, I’m always on the lookout for rooms that accommodate 6 or more, which is pretty hard to come by!

My kids thought this was one of the coolest hotels thanks to the rustic decor and cabin-in-the-woods vibe of Stoney Creek. The staff was friendly, everything was clean, and breakfast was free - what more could a family with young kids want?

Check out all the reasons we LOVED Stoney Creek Hotel, in La Crosse, WI.

Disclosure: We were hosted by Stoney Creek Hotel in Onalaska, WI. in exchange for consideration in our La Crosse article. All opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links. That means if you click on a link and make a purchase I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.

A KID-FRIENDLY HOTEL NEAR LA CROSSE, WI

Stoney Creek Hotel in Onalaska, WI is just a short drive from La Crosse, so it’s the perfect jumping-off point for hiking, scenic drives, exploring Historic Downtown LaCrosse, or enjoying myriad outdoor adventures in the Wisconsin’s Driftless Region.

Stoney Creek offers the cozy feeling of a small cabin in the woods with all the amenities of a large chain hotel. There’s plenty to do with kids on-property, and you’ll love the welcoming atmosphere cultivated by the friendly staff.

WHAT TO DO AT STONEY CREEK HOTEL

GO SWIMMING

Our first stop after dropping our bags off in our room was the pool! The large heated indoor-outdoor pool was the highlight of our stay, specifically because of the floating basketball hoops that inspired some friendly competition.

Had we visited on a slightly warmer day, we surely would have made use of the portal between the inside portion of the pool and the outside. The kids thought it was the coolest thing!

Personally, I spent the majority of our time at the pool warming up in the gigantic whirlpool after a long day of exploring outside in the cold. It was hard to tear myself away from the warm water to play with the kids in the pool!

Stoney Creek La Crosse hot tub whirlpool

For visits during the warmer months you can also make use of the spacious outdoor patio beside the outside portion of the pool.

GRAB A BITE TO EAT

Lumber Jack Saloon is the on-site bar that serves pizza, wings, and appetizers along with your beverage of choice.

If the weather is nice during your visit, be sure to make use of the outdoor beer garden and enjoy your food and beverage on the patio!

In the morning you’ll be able to grab a free hot continental breakfast in the breakfast room. Choose from pancakes, waffles, fruit, yogurt, cereal, pastries, and much more! Continental breakfasts are one of my top criteria for family-friendly hotels because who wants to try to keep kids occupied and happy while simultaneously hunting for nearby food and coffee first thing in the morning? Not me!

TAKE A PHOTO WITH THE BEARS

My kids were delighted when they discovered the giant bear statues at the entrance of the property and promptly asked to pose for pictures with them! They really add to the cabin-in-the-woods vibe at Stoney Creek!

Honestly, it’s a small touch, and kind of silly, but I always appreciate a hotel with a family-friendly atmosphere where I don’t feel like my kids are an inconvenience. The rustic decor and friendly bear statues help cultivate a feeling that everyone is welcome!

EXPLORE ONALASKA & LA CROSSE

Naturally, one of the main draws of staying at Stoney Creek Hotel in Onalaska is the proximity to all kinds of family-friendly activities in both La Crosse and Onalaska. I detail our family’s favorite things to do on a weekend getaway here, including exploring historic downtown La Crosse, visiting Grandad Bluff, scenic drives, and the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

Onalaska has the coolest 25-foot fiberglass fish statue called Sunny the Sunfish that’s a short drive from the hotel. I was expecting to just hop out of the car for a picture and be on our way, but the view of Lake Onalaska complete with a gazebo, viewfinders, and hiking trails make it a spot you’ll want to visit for the afternoon - and bring a picnic!

CHECK CURRENT RATES FOR STONEY CREEK HERE

STONEY CREEK LA CROSSE FAMILY SUITE

Aside from free breakfasts, one of my favorite features in a hotel are suites or rooms specifically geared toward families.

Stoney Creek put us up in their King Suite with Bunk Bed, which sleeps up to 7 people. I’m going to detail the exact reasons we LOVED this room and wished we could have stayed a little longer!

SPACIOUS

The king suite had so much space to fit our family of 6 comfortably! With an open concept, you can easily fit a large sitting room with plenty of seating for a family movie night, a kitchenette, a bathroom and separate vanity area, and a lovely entrance area where we could hang up our coats and masks, line up our shoes, and keep our suitcases.

With so many people in our family, most hotel rooms feel cramped between the sheer number of kids and the luggage, but this room made us feel like we could spread out comfortably and be right at home.

This is a HUGE win for families that have 3, 4, or more young children.

BUNK BEDS

Can I just say that my kids are in HEAVEN anytime we visit a hotel that has bunk beds for them? This one was even more wonderful because the bottom bunk was a full size bed so we could fit 2 of the the kids together. Meanwhile, my husband and I got to spread out in the King Size bed without having to squeeze a kid in the middle like we normally do in a hotel room!

Even though the room was open-concept, we still felt like the kids had their own special area on the opposite side of the room.

Plus, the log bunk beds are so adorable and add to the cabin-like ambiance of the room!

A SPOT FOR THE PACK & PLAY

Having a spot that is somewhat hidden from the rest of the room is something I’ve come to value during a hotel stay. Some rooms have giant walk-in closets that can fit a pack & play. Sometime we’ll even use the bathroom if it’s big enough.

In this case, we were able to put the baby’s pack & play in the entrance area which is slightly walled off from the rest of the room.

Though it was not an enclosed space, with the help of a sound machine the baby could fall asleep before the rest of us. We put a movie on quietly for the older kids so they could stay up later and eat snacks after the baby went to sleep.

It’s always hard when the baby can see you from their pack & play or crib because then they want to stay up and party with you! It was so nice to have that front area where the baby was removed from the action.

KITCHEN

With 4 little kids you’re bound to have snacks and beverages with you when you visit a hotel. From milk for the little ones to microwaveable mac & cheese for late night hunger pangs, it’s always nice to have a place to not only store the food, but to prepare it as well.

The family suite at Stoney Creek had a nice large counter with a sink and microwave and the mini fridge underneath that made the perfect spot for our snacks, sandwiches, fruit, milk, and, of course, my coffee creamer which I never travel without.

SITTING AREA

And last of all, we always appreciate an area where our whole family can sit and hang out. Whether we’re playing cards, having a snack, or watching a movie, having a couch, a few comfy chairs, and a coffee table helped make everyone in the family feel relaxed and at home.

If you happen to bring grandparents along, the couch is actually a pull-out sofa so you have room for another bed when it’s time for lights out.

YOUR WHOLE FAMILY WILL LOVE THIS WISCONSIN HOTEL!

As I mentioned, this is the perfect place to set up camp if you’re looking to explore La Crosse and Onalaska. It’s also a perfect stop for a midwest road trip! It’s a nice stopping point if you’re headed from Milwaukee or Madison toward the Twin Cities or even beyond to South Dakota!

Check current rates here.