Along the Mississippi, Trempealeau is a lovely river town with a picturesque Main Street listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The town is named after nearby Trempealeau Mountain, a landmark 384-foot rise completely surrounded by water. Perrot State Park, two miles northwest of Trempealeau, features 500-foot bluffs with panoramic views of the river valley. The Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge includes a large prairie and miles of nature trails among the Mississippi backwaters.

The relaxed pace of river life is evident a bit further north in Fountain City. The town offers pleasant vistas of the river from its characteristic terraced gardens. Nearby, 550-foot Eagle Bluff is the highest point on the Upper Mississippi. The Prairie Moon Museum & Sculpture Garden, a fanciful folk art attraction, is located just north of Fountain City.