Wisconsin’s Fox Cities are ‘making the papers’ for meetings

Wisconsin’s Fox Cities are ‘making the papers’ for meetings

Our Convention Sales Manager, Kelly Hekler, was recently interviewed for an article in Meetings Focus magazine. Kelly gives some great insight as to why the Fox Cities is where your next meeting should be. 
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A Visit to Wilmar’s

Posted by: Kelly Hekler

Kelly’s mom watching her candy bar being made

Have you ever been eating a plain chocolate bar and thought to yourself “This would be soooo good if I could put (blank) in it?”  Well, now you can!  Wilmar Chocolates is mixing up almost any creation you can dream!

The process is simple: pick out what type of chocolate you would like (milk, semi-sweet, or a blend), choose up to 4 mix in’s, and watch your bar made before your eyes!  I was amazed at the variety of mix in’s to choose from.  Wilmar’s offered everything people would want in a chocolate bar including nuts, dried fruit, gummy worms, pop rocks, cayenne pepper, and even potato chips!  During the 15 minute drying time, you can stroll thru Wilmar’s store, sample delicious chocolates, and pick out a few snacks for later including cashew turtles and chocolate covered cherries.

I recently took my mom to Wilmar’s for this one of a kind experience.  She concocted a chocolate bar with marshmallows, dried cherries, pretzels, caramel chips, and sea salt all mixed together in gooey milk chocolate.  My bar included malt powder, malted milk balls, potato chips, sprinkles, and sea salt in blended chocolate.  Both combinations were amazing!  Not feeling creative?  Don’t worry.  Wilmar’s offered a variety of premade, local favorite bars included cherry pie (dried cherries, sea salt, cinnamon, almonds, and graham crackers), a kid-favorite bar (gummy worms, pop rocks, sprinkles, M&M’s) and a variety of others.

You and your family are sure to love this experience unique to Appleton!  For more information, visit www.wilmarchocolates.com where you can also order your bar online.
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Lunch at Zuppa’s

Looking for a unique dining option in the Fox Cities?  Look no further than Neenah’s own Zuppas.  Serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner, there’s something for everyone on Zuppas menu!

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Zuppas. Starting with my first step into the door, I was wowed with the warm, beautiful atmosphere.  Zuppas features a unique concept of gourmet, cafeteria-style dining.  The menu is just as unique and creative as the concept.  Lunch options include warm pear salad, beet and orange salad, ham and brie sandwich, and tons more.  After mulling my options, I decided to go with the soup and sandwich combo and chose lobster bisque and ½ of a vegetarian wrap.  My lunch was served with warm homemade potato chips.  Once I placed my order, the line cooks worked quickly and beautify to prepare my food right before my eyes.  The tomatoes were a deep red-maroon, perfectly fresh, as were all of the other ingredients.  True to the cafeteria-style, my food was served on a tray.  I then paid, grabbed my utensils, poured my own beverage, ate, and cleared my tray.  Within a few minutes, I had finished my tailored, gourmet lunch.  Zuppas is such a great place to dine when you only have a few minutes and don’t want another unhealthy burger and fries meal or if you’re trying to impress a client with lunch in a short amount of time.  There is certainly something for everyone!

I was pleasantly surprised to learn that Zuppas grows a lot of their own produce, explaining why everything was so fresh!  The produce is grown practically right next door.  This is a concept that I love!

For more information about Zuppas including information about them growing their own produce, private dining, menus, or catering, visit http://www.zuppas.com/index.html .  Zuppas is certainly worth the trip to Neenah.  While there, be sure to check out the great independently owned shops in the area including the Bergstrom-Mahler Museum’s gift shop, Vintique, and Lucy’s Closet.
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Another Side of da Vinci

A great post by a visitor to the Leonardo da Vinci: Machines in Motion Exhibit

http://mnprairieroots.wordpress.com/2012/11/27/wisconsin-exhibit-highlights-leonardo-da-vincis-inventive-side/
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Leonardo da Vinci: Machines in Motion

posted by: Pam Seidl

Pam Seidl
Director of Marketing & Community Relations
Fox Cities Convention & Visitors Bureau

Leonardo da Vinci: Machines in Motion is currently on exhibit at The History Museum at the Castle… and it is spectacular. On display are 40 operational, actual-size working machine replicas of da Vinci’s amazing machines, all built by modern day scientists and artisans according to da Vinci’s famous codices. The exhibit includes a revolving crane, a full-size armored tank large enough for several visitors to explore from the inside, a working robot, and four flying machines.

My favorite was the tank. It looks like a giant hut and needs six people to fully operate it, but the fact that da Vinci had the vision to design it four decades before we began using this type of machinery is amazing. 

The exhibit is very kid-friendly… you can operate almost every piece … and truly illustrates the genius of da Vinci.   And you thought he just did that little painting at the Sistine Chapel!
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Fall Colors at High Cliff State Park

By Kelly Ann Hekler, Convention Sales Manager

Fall colors are in full swing here in the Fox Cities and there’s no better way to enjoy them than a hike in High Cliff State Park.  Located along Lake Winnebago in Sherwood, it’s a short 20 minute drive from downtown Appleton.

High Cliff features spectacular scenery from the viewing tower near the Red Bird Trail and also at sea level on the Lime Kiln Trail.  As both a dog lover and a nature lover, High Cliff is perfect for my lifestyle!  I am able to take my dogs on long hikes along various trails, elevations, and scenery.  My personal favorite is the Lime Kiln Trail.  This trail starts where the old kilns are still standing and slowly winds down the lake.  My dogs are able to slip into the lake for a drink at various stops throughout the trail, making it perfect for them on a hot day.  This trail also features incredibly high ledge stone views that are just breathtaking!

Not the hiker?  Don’t worry, there’s still plenty to do!  With camping all over the park, a marina, playgrounds, and lots of paved roads… there’s something for everyone at High Cliff State Park!  The park is also full of old history.  For example, did you know that the whole park used to be a town?  It’s true!  Stop into the office at the park and the employees can tell you all kinds of stories with the pictures to prove it!  Even though I’m not much of a history buff, I found the stories fascinating!  There used to be a work horse there that would simply be let out of the stable in the morning and would walk the long trek up the hill to work and when the whistle blew at the end of the day, he would walk right back to his stable.  No one ever needed to take him, he knew the drill!  Also, the local bar burnt down in the town 3 times!  Car jumping was also a popular sport in the town.  People would come from miles around to watch cars fly over the high cliffs.  The stories about Chief Red Bird were also so interesting.  It is impossible to not appreciate the park once you’ve been there!

Visit http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/parks/name/highcliff/.  A $25 state park sticker would give you endless access to this and all other states around the country.  There are also very reasonable day passes available.  Head on out to High Cliff State Park and take in the beautiful fall colors before the leaves are all gone for the year!
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Mulberry Lane Petting Farm

By: Kelly Ann Hekler, Convention Sales Manager

If you are looking for a unique place to take the family for a true Wisconsin experience, look no further than Mulberry Lane Petting Farm!  This farm is located at about the outer most point in the Fox Cities on the outskirts of Sherwood.  Although that makes it sound far, it’s only about a 20 minute drive from the Fox River Mall.

One of the great things about the farm is the all-inclusive rate.  At just $11 per person (free for children under 2), it is affordable on any budget.  The Fox Cities CVB usually has coupons in the visitor’s center for a free general admission as well.  As I said before, the rate is all-inclusive (with the exception of food and beverage).  When you arrive at the farm, you are given a personal one hour tour with a knowledgeable staff member.  Kids of all ages are given the opportunity to learn and interact with the farm animals.  Being a farm girl myself, even I was surprised that I learned a few new things!  Did you know a baby bunny is called a kit or kitten?  Neither did I!

After your guided tour, you are welcome to go back and visit any of the many animals including calves, ponies, bunnies, kittens, piglets, baby goats, chicks and more!  You can also visit their older counterparts.  I was amazed at all of the baby animals they had, especially since I visited in August!  You have the opportunity to hold any of the roaming cats, catch a chicken, milk a cow or snuggle a bunny.  Also included in the all-inclusive rate are horse rides, wagon rides, feed for the goats and (depending on the season) your very own pumpkin that you pick out of the pumpkin patch!  What a bargain!

If you aren’t really a farm person, don’t worry, the smells won’t bother you one bit.  The animals sleep in a separate area and the pens are cleaned daily.  It is the cleanest farm that I have ever been to!

Mulberry Lane also offers guided tours for elementary and nursery schools, daycare centers, families, church groups, scouts, birthday parties and corporate events.  They even have an area for wedding ceremonies and receptions!  In fact, they were just featured in a photo spread in The Wedding 2012 edition.

For hours and directions, visit www.mulberrylanefarmwi.com.  It really is great family fun for kids of all ages!  Also, check out my earlier blog about Frogg’s Ice Cream so that you can treat the family after the petting farm!
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CherryBerry

By: Kelly Ann Hekler, Convention Sales Manager

Why do I feel like I am always blogging about food?  I’d like to think that it’s because there are so many choices in the Fox Cities and not just that I like to eat!!

The build-your-own frozen yogurt market has recently hit the Fox Cities!  CherryBerry has opened in Darboy and serves up some of the most delicious soft serve frozen yogurt!  Enjoy your custom created dessert in the fun and vibrant environment.  The walls are painted cherry red with bright lime green tiles as an accent.  It’s hard to not enjoy yourself there! 

The concept is simple:

1) Grab a bowl. 

2) Choose your flavor(s) of frozen yogurt from the variety of about 15 choices including birthday cake, triple berry, cheesecake and cookies-n-cream. 

3) Load your frozen yogurt with as many toppings as you would like from the dozens of options including fresh raspberries, Kit Kat candy bar bits, crushed graham cracker, chocolate rocks and gummy bears.

 4) Pour on your favorite sauce. 

5) Garnish with sprinkles and a cherry on top.

6) Pay by the ounce.

I personally think I made the best creation, although my boyfriend thinks he did!  With all of the flavors of frozen yogurt and the variety of toppings, the combinations are endless! 

For more information, visit http://www.cherryberryyogurtbar.com/.  So much for making boring old chocolate sundae’s at home… head on out to CherryBerry where you can create exactly what you want!
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HuHot Mongolian Grill: Some Sensational Stir Fry

By: Jennifer Hecht, Visitor & Administrative Services

Are you looking for a new dining adventure? Look no further than HuHot Mongolian Grill. Here you’ll create your own Asian-inspired stir fry with fresh meats, noodles, vegetables, fruits, sauces and toppings. With so many ingredient options there is something to tickle everyone’s fancy! Don’t be intimidated by making your own dish, if I can do it anybody can!

HuHot offers delicious tastes along with an experience that’s fun for the whole family or a special date night.  Not being huge on Asian food myself, I was hesitant to try HuHot, but once I did I was hooked and frequent their fiery grill!

And if you still have room after the endless buffet (make room) I would recommend enjoying their molten muffin – it’s a cake lover’s dream! No matter what your taste – from mild to hot – you will be able to concoct perfection for your palette!
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Zuppas Cafe

By: Paige Wagner, Marketing & PR Intern

Last weekend I had the urge to try out another new lunch spot. As I was thinking over my options, I remembered that a coworker had suggestion I try Zuppas Cafe in Neenah.

Zuppas turned out to be an adorable little cafe with both indoor and outdoor seating. The pleasant staff are incredibly quick on their feet as they get your food in an assembly line style.

Not only was the atmosphere and the staff wonderful, but the menu was as well. I ordered a build your own salad with the perfect side portion of mac and cheese. My date had a turkey panini sandwich that he thought was delicious.

If you’re looking for a place to go for lunch that has variety and a great atmosphere, try Zuppas in Neenah.
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