The Chippewa Valley, a resting place for the soul -…

Chippewa Valley author Robin Tillman and her husband Michael at Jaquish Sunflower Farm. (Submitted photo)

Only after you leave a place for a while and come back do you really realize what your little hometown has to offer – and doesn’t have to offer.

I was born in Chippewa Falls, specifically the town of Lafayette. I grew up among the rolling hills of the apple orchards where my family has lived for generations.

I moved to Oshkosh in 2014 so my ex-ex could go to school. I was terrified at first since I had never been away from home, but I quickly grew to love it. Many weekends were spent exploring the numerous “beach towns” on Lake Michigan – Manitowoc, Sheboygan, Two Rivers, Port Washington and others. There was no shortage of things to do, see and places to eat.

When the ugly end of our relationship brought me to Green Bay, I used my newfound freedom to explore every park I could find within an hour’s drive. I was completely in love with the “east coast” of Wisconsin and had no intention of leaving.

But the Universe had other plans.

A series of unfortunate events brought my husband and I back here in April 2023. Due to the traumatic events that had transpired in our lives at the time, being home with family was an instant balm to my soul. I remember the first time I looked up at the night sky and saw the sparkle of countless stars, unpolluted by city lights – it brought tears to my eyes. When was the last time I was able to see that?

Being back in my home country was immediately comforting and refreshing. Life here was safe and predictable. Our first summer back was one of the best summers of my life. We spent weekends relaxing on the boat and laughing around bonfires; we went to the fair, Pioneer Days and Jaquish Sunflower Farm. I showed my husband Big Falls and Irvine Park. We enjoyed many dates getting ice cream at Olson’s and walking around downtown. It was peaceful and perfect.

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I remember the first time I looked up at the night sky and saw the sparkle of countless stars, untainted by city lights – it brought tears to my eyes. When was the last time I could see that?

ROBIN TILLMAN

We’ve been back a year now and while we still enjoy our little getaway in the Wissota Woods, this time has given me a chance to reflect on what I love about this area… and what it’s missing.

The first thing I fell in love with again was the water. When I moved to the east side of the state, I was very surprised – and dismayed – to find out that people don’t swim in Lake Winnebago. In fact, because of the amount of industry there, it’s actually really hard to find a nice beach with clean water. And no one seemed more shocked by this than I was. I grew up between Big Falls and Ray’s Beach – swimming was literally a 10 minute drive in either direction – so to live next to the LARGEST lake in Wisconsin and be told I couldn’t swim in it was just amazing. As you can imagine, I was super excited to live next to beautiful waters again and I went swimming as often as I could.

The writer enjoys the victory at the Northern Wisconsin State Fair in Chippewa Falls.

The first thing I missed when I got back was the variety of restaurants. I apologize if this offends any hardcore Chippewa Vallians, but this area is sorely lacking in restaurants. The Green Bay area has more authentic Mexican restaurants than you can count, plus every other ethnicity your heart desires. They also excel at healthy eating – it’s not hard to find a place that serves delicious food made with fresh ingredients. I often feel like I’m opting for burgers, steaks, and fried fish here, with a side of potatoes. My husband – who has lived in California and Colorado – likes to remind me of the Wisconsin stereotype that we are the land of milk and cheese – cream cheese, cottage cheese, sour cream, real cheese – and that we like to put all of these ingredients in ALL of our dishes. I don’t think that’s an exaggeration, honestly.

One thing this area does really well, and that you shouldn’t be afraid to brag about, is music. I love that there is such a vibrant music scene, from open mics to weekend bar closers to music in the park and multi-day festivals. They’re also affordable (or free), something concert venues in big cities can’t boast about.

I just love the accessibility of music and events in this area – it’s fantastic. Downtown Eau Claire is generally fantastic. That was something I missed enormously. Aside from the Packers, Green Bay didn’t really have that “vibe” – that vibe of “This is my city, and I’m invested in it, and I’m proud of it.” That’s something I’ve always loved about Eau Claire.

When I left in 2014, development of Altoona’s River Prairie was just beginning. The Pablo Center at the Confluence did not yet exist. While interning at Volume One in 2007-08, I participated in the first April Fool’s Day Pillow Fight and helped develop the very first Eat Scene. I knew Eau Claire had great potential and I knew Volume One would be a driving force in that development. It’s incredible to see this area growing and to see Chippewa Falls follow suit with its new waterfront park. Wherever I go in this life, I will always be proud to say I am from this area.

Every city obviously has its pros and cons. And what someone sees as those pros and cons depends a lot on their hobbies, age, profession, personality, etc. I also strongly believe that the characteristics of a city can serve us differently depending on where we are in our lives . The excitement and adventure of Wisconsin’s east coast was exactly what I needed at that time in my life; the relaxed, calmer atmosphere of going to a small town every weekend in the summer is what I need right now. For some people this is home, and that’s great. For others, like my husband and I, it’s a place of respite, and we enjoy all it has to offer until it’s time to move on to the next chapter of our lives.