Top Things To Do in the Fox Cities

A guest blog from Mapping Our Tracks.

1000 Islands Environmental Center

Enjoy 7 miles of trails with great views of the Fox River. Perfect place for bird and wildlife watching. They even have goats! Unfortunately, they were not there when we visited, but you may be lucky enough to see them. We would love to go back in the winter and snowshoe on these trails!

1000 Islands Environmental Center

Heckrodt Wetland Reserve

We absolutely loved going for a stroll here while enjoying all the wildlife. We were in such awe when wild turkeys crossed our path with their babies. It offers a variety of ecosystems such as marshes, prairies, and wetlands, that are connected by boardwalks and are fun to explore. Perfect place to get some steps in!

Heckrodt Wetland Reserve

High Cliff State Park

Located right by Lake Winnebago, it offers incredible views while being surrounded by lush greenery. Outside of hiking you can also ride a bike, kayak, fish, and camp during your visit. We highly recommend going on Lime-Kiln Trail, which starts off next to lime kiln ruins and then takes you to what feels like a Midwest jungle. It is a very well-kept area, with lots of space, and plenty to explore.

High Cliff State Park

Butterfly Gardens of Wisconsin

This is such a unique and fun stop while in the area. It is owned by the cutest couple who absolutely loves butterflies and educating others. Learn a bit about butterfly life cycle and then gently feed them with Gatorade (yes, they love it!). If you are the chosen one, they may sit on you 😊 This may be the last season they are open under the current ownership, as it’s being sold to new owners. If you are in the area, we highly recommend it: it’s the best $10 we ever spent!

Butterfly Gardens of Wisconsin

Bergstrom-Mahler Museum of Glass

If you are looking for something indoors, whether it is to escape the rain or high humidity, visiting this museum was the perfect hidden find during our stay. Not only is it free, but it also offers an extraordinary experience through glass artwork that makes you appreciate this kind of art even more. They also offer classes such as flameworking, creating glass ornaments and others: could be a perfect date night idea or a girl’s night out.

Bergstrom-Mahler Museum of Glass

Timber Rattlers MiLB Game

Baseball games are a true picture of how authentic the fans are, and boy did they show it! It was super fun watching Beloit vs Appleton at the Fox Cities Stadium. A range of ticket options are available, some of which include food and beverages: so, come hungry! On certain days, they do theme nights along with fireworks which will keep everyone entertained.

Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

SAP Brunch

If brunch is your love language, then visiting this spot is a must! The atmosphere is super inviting, and the staff could not be more attentive. We highly recommend ordering Brioche French Toast along with Steak and Eggs. Seasonally, they have pastries too which were the highlight of our visit: Blueberry Scone for the win! We STILL talk about how incredible it was.

SAP Brunch

Lion's Tail Brewing

As you know we always love to brewery hop, and Fox Cities did not disappoint with that! Lion’s Tail’s fun attitude and delicious beers and seltzers create the perfect vibe for a night cap or post brunch visit. They offer plenty of seating (in/out) with house board games which paired with a flight equals the best time.

Lion’s Tail Brewing

Mill City Public House

Cozy neighborhood bar that offers delicious pub fare such as Wagyu smashburgers and smoked fried wings. The modern atmosphere along with a bit of a touch of Bob Ross playing on the TVs, made this dining experience that much memorable. Perfect stop to fuel up before you start exploring Fox Cities.

Mill City Public House

CopperLeaf Hotel

It is a very quaint, boutique hotel that is located right in Appleton’s downtown. Rooms are very spacious and modern. Our favorite part was the fireplace which added to the nightly ambiance when we watched a scary movie. As it’s located right in the center, it is only a quick walk from shops, the farmers’ market, local bars, and more.

CopperLeaf Boutique Hotel

Appleton Farm Market

Only steps away from Copperleaf Hotel, you will find 100+ vendors with baked goods, produce, handcrafted items, and so much more. This farm market is running through October 7th, so there is still lots of time to visit and explore locally sourced items. Additionally, they host free classes 9-10am which is a combination of yoga, dance, and meditation. Perfect way to start your Saturday!

Downtown Appleton Farm Market

Stone Arch Brewpub

This brewpub is certainly one of its kind as it has been around for ages and is one of the most loved places by locals. It is also the oldest brewery in Wisconsin, so they certainly know what they are doing. It is a family friendly brewpub that offers American fare which pairs great with their microbrews.

Stone Arch Brewpub

Kerrigan Brothers Winery

This place was so fun to visit! They offer free tastings, and you can try fun flavors such as spiked limoncello, green leprechaun, and more. They have a cute gift shop that offers lots of ideas for gifting along with a spacious patio. The owners are super passionate about their creations and love to share their knowledge with others. Stop by and enjoy a glass (or two) in a serene atmosphere.

The Fox Cities has so much to offer, so we hope this quick list helps you narrow down what you’d like to do during your visit.

XoXo

Adri & Kam

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