who is familiar with Dubuque, Iowa? And who would be wanting to attend?

[stude31]

I am needing opinions on where to eat and to stay in Dubuque, Iowa.  I am trying to get something lined out to post on here about a saturday night get together the night before early bird Sunday at InZane. 

I was thinking of having a dinner reservation and a hotel to stay at for saturday night then however many stay we could all ride in to InZane on sunday afternoon and enjoy an extra day together. 

So if you have any input on hotels or recommendations for a place to stay please share.

I was thinking of dinner at the Potosi Brewery Saturday night.  They usually have a live band and will let us reserve the "beer garden".  Here is the link.  http://www.potosibrewery.com/

Saturday afternoon we are planning on attending the Motorcycle Museum in Animosa, Iowa  http://www.nationalmcmuseum.org/ then will head to hotel (not figured out yet) and dinner.

Then on sunday we will take this route to InZane.  http://goo.gl/maps/F4xij

[Rams]

Would love to but, I just don't have the time.  Sorry.

[Steve K (IA)]

Not sure if we are going, but you got the Best route from Dubuque to LaCrosse.  Have ridden that route many times.  And if we decide to go, that's the way we will go.  You will like it. 

[98 T]

I'm not an expert on Dubuque - but I've been through there a number of times over the years. The River Road north is a great ride.  Stop in Balltown at the little restaurant there- Breitbachs I think it's called... it has burned down 2 times in the last 15 years, but it's a nice place -Balltown is the highest point of land in Iowa.

The Museum at Animosa is worth it (about 45 minutes southwest of Dubuque)... you can spend about 2.5 - 3 hours there.   

That whole stretch along that side of the river is pretty nice ride.  While at Ground Zero, that would be a nice day ride down and back to LaCrosse too... but since you're coming through that way, might as well stop.

Potosi is a pretty cool town on the Wisconsin side, almost across the river from Dubuque... pretty small town really.. but you can stop at the Grotto -interesting home-made shrine.

[cookiedough]

You could always do a little gambling while in dubuque at diamond jo.  I've heard, allthough not been there personally, that the food is pretty decent and you could do some gambling too boot.  A guy at work goes down there regularly to play slots mostly and you hear every month or so him winning 1-2 grand, but he never admits how many times he looses.

http://www.diamondjodubuque.com/dine

  

[Willow]

...  Stop in Balltown at the little restaurant there- Breitbachs I think it's called... it has burned down 2 times in the last 15 years, ...

Joe, I think he's telling you to get a seat near the door. 

[stude31]

I agree Willow!!  

Loth, I have taken this route a few times and last time we took it was in 2011 on the way to InZane in Michigan.  We had a good group of us but we missed out on the museum.  I went to it in 2007 and was a great tour and thought it would be fitting to make the stop  since it was "on the way".  I love the mississippi river road, It is such a joy to see and witness the locks open and closing.

I heard many of the the hotels in Dubuque are being taken over by India citizens and no longer very many American owned small hotels/motels.  I'll keep looking.

Thanks for the input and the advice.

I did find this hotel and price for a double is 76.15 and would give us a better rate if we reserve 10+rooms.

[Steve K (IA)]

Some corrections.

Balltown is 466 feet short of being the highest point of elevation in Iowa.  But the view from the overlook next to Breitbach's is most excellent.

It's Anamosa....not Animosa.  

The Museum has moved to the old WalMart...at the corner of Hwy 151 and 64.  It is no longer in the downtown area.  Yes, this is a must see if your passing near by.  Also if interested,  J&P Cycles is less than a mile up highway 151 on the way to Dubuque.

If you decide to cross the River at Dubuque, the Grotto is in Dickeyville, WI, 13 miles up Hwy 151. After checking out the Grotto, take Hwy 35 north from there all the way to LaCrosse.  

 

Okay, Now.....

The Best route from Dubuque to La Crosse is to follow Hwy 52 through Dubuque north to Sherrill Rd.  Turn right on Sherrill Rd, there is a gas station on the corner.  This will take you to Sherrill where you will veer right onto Balltown Rd.  You can stop at Breitbach's for lunch.  Continue north out of Balltown.  Balltown Rd will turn into County C9Y.  An Excellent ride!!  Follow C9Y and you will eventually meet up with Hwy 52 again.  Turn right onto 52.  This will take you into Guttenburg.  In Guttenburg, look for the signs for The Great River Road and follow.  Stay on the River Road and it will take you to McGregor.  From here one mile up the road is Marquette.  This is where there is the Casino that was mentioned earlier.  Marquette is where you will hit Hwy 18 and cross the river to Prairie Du Chien, WI.  When you get to the stop sign...Hwy 35, turn left and follow all the way to La Crosse.  You will be running alongside the river from here on.

I Guarantee this is the absolute BEST route from Dbq to La Crosse.  

[dano1946]

You might want to check out the possibility of staying at the "hotel bar" in New Diggings, WI.  It is a big biker stop just a few miles from Dubuque and has a number of rooms for overnight guest.  I don't know the rates or the quality but it might be interesting.- and there are lots of great riding roads in the area.  Just a thought.

[cookiedough]

I was in Anamosa IA last year and stayed at the hotel right by JP Cycles.   Walked on over there but they don't have much besides for HD cycles mostly.  However, if looking for a cheap yet effective black plastic cupholder they did have very good price around 21 bucks for barefoot willy cupholders.  I liked that one so much I bought another one for the misses fitting on the right side of my handlebars.  Now, if the misses is not along,  I can drink 2 fisted!   

Didn't have time to stop at cycle museum but sure would like to of, heard it is worth it.

[stude31]

Ok...  Time to bust this post back out... 

We are a tad late but still looking for a place to stop on July 13th before heading to InZane the next afternoon.  I was going to look for a place in Dubuque, Iowa but that is not looking too promising..  I do know that if anyone is wanting to meet up we will be going through Pella around noon and looks like they are having a car show!!  http://members.pella.org/Events/details/bologna-nationals-hosted-by-the-resurrected-tin-car-club-320

We will then head to Animosa for the Motorcycle Museum and then after that will be to the town we stay the night in but that is still to be determined.   I will post or someone will post when we figure this out in the next couple of days.  It would be great to get a good group of us to ride up the mississippi river valley and then roll into ground zero that afternoon.

Not much longer!!

Stude31

[gregk]

Here you go guys. Potosi Beer Reg is Best. Near the museum is JP Cycles but do not miss the museum as it is really special, loc, right next to the highway. Dubuqe is nothing special in my book but 15M. south on the East side of the River is Galena Ill. Which is really nice and a big tourist trap, lots to see, food east of the highway the main drag on the far end is a place that sells pizza and its fantastic(take your belly). Your choice of going up river is really good but some pointers here--- Either side of the river to run is nice, At Casville is a pay Ferry to jump the River.    A run from Lacrosse down to Casville jumping the river and back is something all should do as a run one day as things to see which Ill post later (puter was down), On the East side of the River Is the best to run north, and has a Cabelas store just north edge of Praire Du Chien, it appears small but is a hub and they can get just about any thing the Cat. has from the back.  Moving on  this stuff is on the W, side of the river is Pikes Peak State Park    I have to get ready for work I'll finish this around supper time   Onward-- The State Park is free and has a great view of where the Wi. River joins the Mississippi River. MaGregor is a neat little town with a motel next to the river(hint). Just 1/2 - 1m. north of MaGregor is a Gambling Boat(overhead walkway)( Dont know open times.)and just past it you can cross the river if you want.   Another mile north of that is Effigy Mounds Nationat Monument (you will need to walk here and I guarentee you will loose weight up hill ).   Oh-South of MaGregor stay on the road that runs next to the river. going north again you will come to Lansing by x52. In Lansing go West on the main drag to 6th st. an turn right to go up to the top of Mt.Hosmere where you'll have a great sight of the River. You'll need to be carefull here as at the start you'll have a sharp incline you'll have to make a 90 right with the possibility of someone comming down hill, I'll remind you you will have to swing wide an if you have a trailer take it really carefull dont ruin your trip!  you can follow the river north to lacrosse then.    If you dont like Cabelas dont shop there Dont be a xxx an say its over rated. I mentioned it because the just might be your best ticket to buy something that you may need on your trip.

[cookiedough]

Yes, definitely stop at cycle museum in Animosa (spelling?) and while there, up the road 2 miles is JP cycles so might as well spend 15-20 minutes in there as well pretty much to look since 95% HD items (unless you have a HD of course). 

Cabelas in PDC, in my opinion, is way overrated.  Yes, they have sales, but that is about it otherwise pretty pricey.  What I do for Cabelas is look online under clearance stuff or sale items and call Cabelas in PDC to HOLD that clearance item for you and they will for like a week or so.  Found some good deals that way for my ATV and fishing/hunting items. 

Yes, if you have a state park sticker,  definitely worth a quick break off the bike stop at BOTH Wyalusing state park a few miles outside PDC and also Pikes Peak state park across river in Iowa.  Both state parks are right across the river from each other and can see each other, but offer different looks/viewpoints of the river. 

If need gas, I'd recommend filling up in Iowa somewhere across from PDC WI since Iowa gas is almost always cheaper than gas in PDC, etc. in WI.  From there after getting gas in Iowa,  I'd recommend crossing the river at PDC for sure and follow the great river road all the way to Lacrosse since that side of the river follows closer along the river than the Iowa/Minnesota side. 

Sorry, not much help with hotels only hotel we have stayed at is the one right next to JP Cycles in Iowa also where the cycle museum is at.   Nice clean chain hotel can't remember the name but wasn't terribly overpriced for a one night stay.  Dubuque is a nice river town with a few things to see and do,  but somewhat run down in areas. 

I can tell you one thing to do with family if ever in Iowa, is go 30 miles or so south of Dubuque IA to Markotaka  IA (spelling way off) caves state park if open during the summer due to bats in the caves having an issue living.  All state parks are free in Iowa just like Illinois (unlike WI) and the main cave and the surrounding other smaller caves walking thru the woods is well worth the visit.  WE go down almost every year since only about  1 1/2 hours south of us in southern WI. 

[GiG]

Nope - Immagonnabethere June 28 - sorry   

[R J]

I was in Anamosa IA last year and stayed at the hotel right by JP Cycles.   Walked on over there but they don't have much besides for HD cycles mostly.  However, if looking for a cheap yet effective black plastic cupholder they did have very good price around 21 bucks for barefoot willy cupholders.  I liked that one so much I bought another one for the misses fitting on the right side of my handlebars.  Now, if the misses is not along,  I can drink 2 fisted!   

Didn't have time to stop at cycle museum but sure would like to of, heard it is worth it.

I believe the Motel referred to in the above is the Super 8 in Anamosa, IA.    Might be wrong, but it won't be the 1st time.    Galena is a Tourist Trap, but it is an interesting stop to just look & see.    There is or was a good Restaurant on the edge of Galena as you are leaving to get on the highway on North.

[cookiedough]

I was in Anamosa IA last year and stayed at the hotel right by JP Cycles.   Walked on over there but they don't have much besides for HD cycles mostly.  However, if looking for a cheap yet effective black plastic cupholder they did have very good price around 21 bucks for barefoot willy cupholders.  I liked that one so much I bought another one for the misses fitting on the right side of my handlebars.  Now, if the misses is not along,  I can drink 2 fisted!  

Didn't have time to stop at cycle museum but sure would like to of, heard it is worth it.

I believe the Motel referred to in the above is the Super 8 in Anamosa, IA.    Might be wrong, but it won't be the 1st time.    Galena is a Tourist Trap, but it is an interesting stop to just look & see.    There is or was a good Restaurant on the edge of Galena as you are leaving to get on the highway on North.

I think the hotel right next to JP cycles was AmericInn not Super 8, but could be wrong as well.   Nice clean hotel with breakfast and inside pool and can walk from parking lot to JP cycles no problems.  Unless something going on nearby,  most likely they will have rooms available I bet for a decent rate say 70-90 bucks or so.

Doubt you want to drive this far north past dubuque to stay, but this is right over the river from Prairie du Chien WI in Macgregor IA that is a nice motel (holiday shores) right ON the river literally steps away and can have fire pits at night and the paddleboat gambling boat (http://marquette.isleofcapricasinos.com/index.aspx ) is ride down the road 2 miles follow the railroad tracks along river can't miss it in Marquette IA.  The kwik trip in Macgregor IA is right next door to motel holiday shores has cheaper gas there than in PDC across bridge to WI good place to fill up before LaCrosse north from PDC or get gas in Marquette IA as well only 2 miles north of Macgregor by gambling boat before cross bridge over river.  Should be able to get room for 70 bucks or so I would think:  http://holidayshoresmotel.com/index.html

Just up the road from Macgregor IA is Pikes Peak State Park about 5-7 miles up the hill (road) has a nice overlook and all wooden boardwalk leading to a small waterfall easy walking.  In winter, can see bald eagles soaring all over.

[gregk]

I forgot the grotto that 98T posted. I went buy it a time or two before stopping. It is well worth a look as It may not be the biggest but it is the biggest I've everr seen.