Big Fun, Small Price Tag: Free & Budget-Friendly Fox Cities Adventures

Looking for ways to explore the Fox Cities without stretching your budget? Our region is filled with no-cost and low-cost adventures.

Parks

Spend a day outdoors at one of the area’s many parks, trails, playgrounds, and green spaces. From scenic walks to family-friendly adventures, these Fox Cities parks offer plenty of ways to enjoy the outdoors.

Plamann Park - Plamann Park includes a free children's farm with pigs, goats, calves, rabbits, and more, a playground and trails.
- Plamann Park Swimming Area is located within Plamann Park and has an inflatable aquapark and swimming area. Daily admission passes can be purchased on-site.
Sunset Beach at Sunset Park - Located in Kimberly's Sunset Park, Sunset Beach offers an extensive shallow water area, shallow water slides, a diving well featuring a water slide, low and high diving boards, and more. Daily admission passes can be purchased on-site.
Pierce Park - This large park has plenty to offer including new playground equipment, tennis courts, basketball courts, frisbee golf, and a zipline on the playground.
Neenah's Doty Cabin at Doty Park - Check out this historic replica home of James Duane Doty, Wisconsin's second Territorial Governor. The cabin is open to visitors from June through Labor Day, and admission is free.
Veterans Memorial Park - Spend a day exploring three playgrounds, tennis courts, an archery range, a sledding hill, a fishing pond, and more!
- Scheig Center Gardens is located in Veterans Memorial Park and has a variety of themed gardens, including a native rose garden, butterfly garden, wildflower garden, fragrance garden, and Veterans memorial garden. The gardens are free and open to the public year-round.
Town Center Park - Town Center Park sits on 23.8 acres of land in Grand Chute. The park has plenty of green space to move and play on and a playground with multiple climbing features including a mini rock wall.

For a complete listing of parks, click here.

Plamann Park Childrens Farm

Nature Preserves

1000 Islands Environmental Center - Miles of walkable trails and the beauty of nature take center stage at 1000 Islands Environmental Center. Keep an eye on their Facebook page for additional programming offers.
Bubolz Nature Preserve - Bubolz Nature Preserve has over 8 miles of trails waiting to be explored. Check their website often for different events - they fill up quickly!
Heckrodt Wetland Reserve - Three miles of trails, including nearly 4,000 feet of elevated boardwalks, provide access to the wetland habitat to all visitors to explore and enjoy bird watching, walking, and photography.

For a complete listing of trails and nature preserves, click here.

1000 Islands Environmental Center

Museums & Educational Activities

Building for Kids Children's Museum - With over 30,000 square feet of specially designed interactive exhibit space, including a real fire truck, kid's town grocery store, doll hospital, and semi-truck depot, the Building for Kids Children's Museum will keep your kids entertained for hours. General admission tickets can be purchased online or in person.
Trout Museum of Art - The newly renovated Trout Museum of Art features rotating exhibitions from local, national, and international artists. Admission is free through 2026!
Charles A. Grignon Mansion - Built in 1837 as a wedding gift to Charles A. Grignon's bride, this mansion has Greek Revival style architecture. Guided tours are available on select dates and tickets can be purchased online.
Hearthstone Historic House Museum - This stunning Victorian landmark is the first home in the world lit by a hydroelectric central station based on the Thomas A. Edison system. Guided tour and special event tickets are available for purchase online.
Fox Trot Trail - The Fox Trot Trail is a free self-guided walking tour that will take you by historic Fox Cities locations and give you some gorgeous views of the Fox River. The loop is 2.2 miles long, but does have a shortcut for a more scenic route. Stop into our visitor center to pick up a brochure complete with facts and a map for the trail.
R. Harder Gallery of Gems & Minerals - Located in the lobby of Jewelers Mutual Insurance Company in Neenah, the gallery hosts a display of gems and minerals found around the world. Admission is free.
Bergstrom-Mahler Museum of Glass - This recently renovated museum displays numerous antique paperweights, Germanic drinking glasses, and jaw-dropping contemporary glass sculptures. Free admission and parking.
Historical Society Museums - Learn the exciting history of Appleton through permanent and temporary exhibits at the Appleton Historical Society (free admission on Thursdays from 5-8pm). The Menasha Historical Society provides quality educational activities, research assistance, and programs on the history of Menasha (free admission).
History Museum at the Castle - Discover the faces and events that define life in the Fox Cities through kid-friendly, interactive, and award-winning exhibits. Their current exhibit, Fox Cities ABCs, pairs historic Fox Cities artifacts with a letter of the alphabet. The museum offers a reduced rate on children's admission.
Barlow Planetarium Star Shows - Explore the night sky or watch a laser show with 3-D excitement. Tickets can be purchased online and a reduced rate children's admission is available.
Little Chute Windmill - Go inside of and tour an authentic, 100-foot-tall, fully functioning 1850s design windmill from the Netherlands. The windmill is open for tours from April through October. A reduced rate children's admission is available.

For a complete listing of museums and historical sites, click here.

Bergstrom-Mahler Museum of Glass

Spring & Summer Activities

Wisconsin Timber Rattlers Game - Catch a baseball game at Neuroscience Group Field filled with entertainment and summer fun. Admission tickets can be purchased online and at the box office.
Field of Scenes Drive-In Movie Theater - Spend an evening at the outdoor drive-in theater seeing new movies on the big screen. Tickets include admission to a double-feature movie and are only sold at the gate.
Thursday night concert at Appleton's Jones Park - Feel the beat of summer every Thursday night at Jones Park for their free-to-attend Heid Music Summer Concert Series presented by U.S. Venture.
Farm Markets - Find fresh produce, handmade goods, delicious treats, and so much more at one of the Fox Cities free-to-attend Farm Markets. Downtown Appleton and Future Neenah have Farm Markets on Saturday mornings and the City of Kaukauna and Sustain Greenville have Farm Markets on Wednesday evenings.
City/Community Band Concerts - Enjoy complimentary concerts throughout the summer by local groups including the Appleton City Band, Neenah Community Band, Kimberly Community Band, and Little Chute Community Band.
On the Fringe Mini Golf - Play a round of mini golf followed by games and ice cream at On the Fringe Mini Golf. Admission can be purchased at the course.
Splash Pads - Cool off on a summer day at a free splash pad found in the Fox Cities, featuring water play areas perfect for kids and families. Splash pads can be found at these local parks:
- Wanick Choute Park (Sherwood)
- Alonzo Park (Hortonville)
- Van Lieshout Park (Little Chute)
- Washington Park (Neenah)
- Shattuck Park (Neenah)
- Kaukauna City Pool (Splash pad is free of charge when the main pool is closed)

For a complete listing of parks, click here.

Washington Park Splash Pad | PC: @niicoleee.ann__

Seasonal & Recreational Activities

Cuff Farms - Spend a day exploring Cuff Farms. Enjoy their play area and corn maze free of charge and pick strawberries or pumpkins for an additional fee.
Community First Champion Center Ice Skating - Hit the ice this winter during open skate hours at the Community First Champion Center indoor ice rink. Open skate admission and rental skates can be purchased on-site.
The Plaza at Gateway Park Roller Skating & Ice Skating - Lace up your skates year-round at The Plaza at Gateway Park. Enjoy roller skating on their outdoor rink in summer and ice skating in winter. Admission and skate rentals can be purchased on-site.
Roller Skating - Roll into a fun-filled outing at Skaters Edge in Grand Chute or Skate City in Kimberly. Rentals and admission can be purchased on-site.

For more family fun activities, click here.