Take A Short, Scenic Drive To The Best Burger You’ve Ever Had

Over the weekend my family took the short and scenic drive up through Northeast Iowa, across the Mississippi River, and into Southwest Wisconsin. We viewed the fall colors, stopped at an apple orchard, and stopped for some cheese curds too. Oh, and I also ate the best hamburger ever.

Before McDonald's, or any other fast food restaurant that claims to do burgers better than anyone else, there was Pete's Hamburger Stand. The business got its start in 1909 in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin. And while the location has changed, Pete's is still around today, right across from Stark's Sporting Goods on Blackhawk Ave.

What makes Pete's hamburgers the best I've ever tasted? It's all in the way the burgers are cooked. The patties, along with a pile of onions, are simmered and cooked in water on a large griddle. The method gives the burgers amazing flavor. I've simply never had a juicier burger in my life. And if you don't like onion, yes, you can order your burger at Pete's without...but why would you want to?

Holly, Carly, and I stopped at Pete's Hamburger Stand on Saturday around 11:30 a.m. and there was already a line formed on each side of the stand. Pete's is only open on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Their season started back in April and the final weekend this year for burgers will be October 20th, 21st, and 22nd. Burgers are six dollars each and can be ordered with or without onions. You can order it with ketchup, mustard, spicy mustard, or just plain.

So pack up the car and take in the fall colors along the Mississippi this fall. And try Pete's Hamburger Stand in Prairie du Chien, the best hamburger I've ever had.