3 Best Things to Do in Osseo Wisconsin

I’ve had a chance to spend half a day in Osseo Wisconsin, and I’m pleasantly surprised at what this little town offers. Osseo is a 30-minute drive south of Eau Claire and is a quick detour off I-94. Here’s a list of the best things to do in Osseo Wisconsin.

As a note, this tour was part of a pre-TBEX FAM when I was in TBEX North America in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. All opinions and experiences remain my own. 

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The Quaint Charm of Osseo’s Historic Downtown Strip

Osseo’s Downtown looks like it’s from a Western movie, the sheriff and cowboys kind. The buildings are intact and are a step back in time. The town is small, so everything you’ll see is concentrated on one main road. There are a few stores in the area, like an antique store, a quilt store, and Norske Nook, which we’ll talk about later. It’s quaint, with free parallel street parking available. 

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Scandinavian Delights and Flavorful Pies at Norske Nook in Osseo WI

Norske Nook’s Address: 13804 7th Street Osseo, WI

Norske Nook Osseo’s Hours: Mondays to Saturdays 8 AM to 4 PM

I had no idea that Wisconsin has a big Scandinavian population. It does make sense, given that the climate in Wisconsin is comparable to Scandinavia. 

Part of our half-day trip to Osseo included a lunch stop at Norske Nook, a Scandinavian restaurant. The restaurant is famous for its pies, a lot of them are award-winning, too. The pie flavors do change across the seasons, but there are core flavors that are always available. 

I had the Scandinavian meatball dish and OMG, it was amazing. Think IKEA but better, since the meatballs are served with brown gravy that’s mouthwatering. They also serve the food with lefse, a pancake made of potato, and mashed potatoes. Leave room for dessert though, you can’t leave without trying a slice of pie there. 

What is the best pie flavor at Norske Nook? 

I personally love chocolate mousse cake, so when I had to pick my flavor, I went for something a bit safer. I made the right choice, it was positively divine. So, if you can only pick one flavor, I would personally recommend the chocolate mousse pie if you like cold pies. 

Norske Nook offers two types of pies: warm and cold. You can opt to have warm apple pie, blueberry pies, and other fruit pies that do change with the season. They have gluten-free options as well, catering to those who have food allergies and sensitivities. 

You can also opt to buy a slice or an entire pie. However, buying a whole pie may need an advance order. You can quickly call to make sure your flavor is in stock and ready for you when you pick it up. 

Feeding Alpacas at Justorian Alpacas in Osseo WI

I’ve never been up close to alpacas, much less touching them and feeling how soft their fur is. Part of our half-day tour to Osseo meant going to the farm at Justorian Alpacas to get up close and personal with these gorgeous creatures. 

We arrived on a school bus and our group had to be divided into two groups. This is to ensure that both groups have quality time with the alpacas. 

When our group got called into the alpaca enclosure, we first met the females. They eagerly ate the food from the bowls that we had. Then we got to meet the males, who ran toward us eagerly. 

The males and females are kept in separate enclosures because alpacas tend to breed all year, and the males get a bit territorial when they are trying to get a female’s attention. 

6 Alpaca Facts I Learned from our Justorian Alpacas Farm Tour

• Alpacas do spit, like llamas, but we never got spat on by any of them. 
• Alpacas only have lower teeth, the upper part is just gums. They can bite, but it won’t hurt (as much)
• Both the llama and the alpaca are endemic to South America. 
• There are 2 breeds of alpacas: Suri and Huacaya. 
• Alpaca hair is a renewable resource: You shear the hair to make alpaca wool, and it grows right back! 

The Justorian Alpacas Gift Shop in Osseo Wisconsin

If you like cute and fluffy things, this place is for you. The assortment of alpaca fur goods that you can get is huge, from toys, clothing, accessories, and home goods. In fact, it is so hard to stick to a budget. My self-control went on overdrive trying to stop me from getting more. The prices are a bit moderate to expensive, depending on what you want to get. Rugs and shawls are over $100+ while socks and hats can go for around $20+. The store takes cash and credit cards. 

What items from the gift shop are produced from the alpaca farm? 

The dryer balls come from the resident alpacas, and you can get 3 of them for $20. I myself use wool balls for the dryer as a natural fabric softener and help to dry clothes quicker. The owner of the store also weaves rugs from the alpaca fur, but she may not have them in stock. Ask whoever is attending the store, and they can provide more information on which items are made from the resident alpacas. 

Alpaca wool is woven into threads, and there are not a lot of facilities that offer to weave them. The wool is very fine, like, silk, so it tends to take time and a lot of fur to create a spool of thread to use.  

Are there enough things to do in Osseo Wisconsin worth visiting? 

If you are in the Eau Claire area, yes, it is worth the quick 30-minute detour. It is a great spot to enjoy good Scandinavian food and get alpaca fur items! 

A Half-Day Escape for Things to Do in Osseo Wisconsin

Friends, family, and colleagues tend to ask me why I go to small towns like these. I answer the same way why I randomly book airline tickets to places I’ve never been before. It’s because these places always have something new for me to offer. I crave the adventure of something new, and it’s a plus if something new involves dessert and animals. This half-day tour was thanks to TBEX Eau Claire, as it was part of the pre-tours for the 2023 North America Event. You can read more about the best travel conferences in another post here on the site. 

Do you have any experience visiting small towns off the beaten path? Let me know where in the comments below and I’ll try to add them to my ever-growing list!