Close to Home. Far from Ordinary.

Named one of the best small towns in America by Smithsonian Magazine and recently called one of Wisconsin's most underrated gems for 2026 by WorldAtlas, Menomonie offers much more than the typical.

Situated along the southern shores of Lake Menomin, the town offers instant access to water recreation, and the 14.5-mile Red Cedar State Trail departs right from Menomonie, winding through marshlands, prairies, sandstone bluffs, and river bottomlands before connecting to the broader Chippewa River trail network. Devil's Punchbowl, a moss-covered sandstone gorge tucked just outside town and Stout student favorite, is the kind of natural wonder most college students discover and never stop talking about.

Downtown Menomonie is compact, walkable, and genuinely worth exploring. Locally owned restaurants, coffee shops, and craft breweries like Lucette Brewing Company and Zymurgy Brewing (both of which are operated by Stout graduates) adorn Main Street alongside boutique shops, a rotating outdoor sculpture tour, and the historic Mabel Tainter theater. The Menomonie Farmers Market runs spring through fall with local produce, baked goods, and food trucks.

It's a college town that feels like more, and for four years, it's all yours.