Appleton is located in Wisconsin, in the heart of the Fox River Valley. Appleton attracts a wide range of visitors, from those looking for a quiet getaway at a B&B to sports fans who want to cheer on the city’s minor league baseball team or participate in a nature adventure at one of the many outdoor spaces, such as Appleton Memorial Park.
Things to Do in Appleton WI, Appleton and its many attractions, such as the Butterfly Gardens of Wisconsin, the Paper Discovery Center, and the Building for Kids, are popular with children of all ages at door county. The following are the top things to do in Appleton, Wisconsin. Call the attractions and restaurants ahead of time to confirm current hours of operation.
14 Best Things to Do in Appleton WI Today
1.Appleton Memorial Park in Appleton, Wisconsin
Appleton Memorial Park spans 35 acres and features gardens, ponds, trails, green spaces, and a variety of other amenities. The park has tennis courts, playgrounds, a baseball & softball pitch, basketball court, volleyball court, soccer fields, horseshoes, and a disc golf course, so visitors can spend an entire day there. There are also biking and walking trails, as well as a wading pool area for younger visitors.
Visitors can participate in archery and use the boat ramp during the summer, and hockey, ice skating, and sledding are available during the winter at New York City. A picnic pavilion with restrooms, parking, tables, a grill, a stove, and a fridge are also available at green bay.
Phone: 920-832-5905, 1620 E Witzke Blvd, Appleton, United States WI 54911.
2.Appleton, WI Attractions: Butterfly Gardens of Wisconsin
The Butterfly Gardens of Wisconsin, Wisconsin’s largest butterfly house, is open to the public every summer. Visitors of all ages can admire the many native butterfly species for fun things and observe them at various stages of the life cycle, from egg and caterpillar to pupa and adult. Visitors will come across the Butterfly Bridge and Maze outside of the Butterfly House; the bridge provides a stunning view of the surroundings, while the two-acre maze allows visitors to get up close and personal with deer, mink, turkeys, birds, and many native plants.
The gardens have added a honey bee hive attraction that demonstrates how honey bees produce honey and allows visitors to purchase fresh honey.
Phone: 920-733-2929, N2550 WI-47, Appleton, WI 54913
3.Kids Activities Near Me: Appleton, WI Downtown Appleton Farmer’s Market
For over twenty-five years, the Downtown Appleton Farmer’s Market has served the community. Every summer, from June to October, residents and visitors flock to College Avenue, which features four blocks of delectable foods, handcrafted goods, and family-friendly live entertainment. Visitors looking to take home a piece of Appleton will undoubtedly find something at the vendor stalls.
Popular items include locally grown organic fruits and vegetables, cured meats, bread and baked goods, specialty foods, and, of course, Wisconsin’s famous cheeses. There are also a lot of vendors selling handcrafted items like jewelry and ornaments.
4.Nearby Hiking: Fox Trot Trail, Appleton, Wisconsin
The Fox Trot Trail is a two-mile self-guided loop through Appleton’s riverfront and downtown area. Visitors can start their journey by following the fox symbol from Houdini Plaza. The trail passes through many of the town’s historic sites and provides breathtaking views of the Fox River.
You can download the trail’s brochure ahead of time so they can learn about the stops they’ll make, such as the Zuelke Building, where Pulitzer Prize winner Edna Ferber interviewed Harry Houdini, the History Museum at the Castle, Lawrence University Main Hall, and the Lawrence Memorial Chapel.
5.Nearby Walking Trail: Gordon Bubolz Nature Preserve, Appleton, WI
For over forty-five years, the Gordon Bubolz Nature Preserve has been teaching people about environmental ethics, appreciation of nature, conservation, and overall wellness. The non-profit organization has made environmental preservation a fun topic for the entire family by offering a variety of educational programs and recreational activities at fox river mall. The preserve encompasses over 775 acres, and visitors can walk, hike, or jog through the 8-mile trail system, viewing various flora and fauna.
There are numerous programs for the entire family, including Cross Country Skiing for adults, GPS and Geocaching for grade 4 and older students, and Birds and Beaks, in which elementary school students explore the preserve with binoculars to discover an array of birds in their natural habitat at green bay packer.
Appleton, WI 54913, 4815 N Lynndale Dr, 920-731-6041
6.Things to Do Near Me: Hearthstone Historic House Museum, Appleton, WI
The Hearthstone Historic House Museum, formerly known as the Henry J. Rogers House, is an extraordinary home that has been converted to a museum to preserve the artifacts that have accumulated there over the years. Visitors can get up close and personal with the original Thomas Edison light fixtures and the Hydro Adventure Center, which has an operating model of one of the first central hydroelectric stations.
The light fixtures were significant in the history of the town because they were one of the first recorded instances of electric light replacing the use of gas for illumination. After spending a day at the museum, visitors will be able to learn a variety of interesting facts.
Appleton, WI 54911, 625 W Prospect Ave, Phone: 920-730-8204
7.Nearby Attractions: History Museum at the Castle, Appleton, Wisconsin
The History Museum at the Castle, formerly known as the Houdini Historic Center and the Outagamie Museum, is a local history museum housed in what was once a masonic temple. The building, which was built in 1923 and is on the National Register of Historic Places, has some stunning architectural features both inside and out. Visitors are welcome to browse the extensive collection, which focuses on the history of the Fox River Valley and includes artifacts dating back to 1840.
The museum has dedicated rooms and exhibitions to Appleton resident Senator Joe McCarthy, John Bradley, one of the six men who raised the flag on Iwo Jima, and Harry Houdini himself, with many of the performer’s personal documents and paraphernalia such as locks and handcuffs.
Phone: 920-735-9370, 330 E College Ave, Appleton, WI 54911.
8.Destinations: Little Lake Butte des Morts
Lake Little Butte des Morts is an excellent place to spend the day boating on the lake, swimming, relaxing in the recreational park, or fishing. The lake has two public boat landings and is popular with anglers looking for Largemouth Bass, Catfish, Walleye, or Northern Pike. During the winter, the lake is also a popular spot for ice fishing. The lake’s name, given by French settlers, adds to its mystique. Butte des Morts refers to a nearby Native American burial mound and translates to “mounds of the dead.”
9.Nearby Activities: MiLB Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
Appleton is the proud home of the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, a Minor League Baseball team named after the local timber rattlesnakes. Visitors can explore the Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium, where the team plays its home games, or attend a game. Kids will have a great time meeting their favorite players, eating delicious stadium foods, and dancing with the team’s mascot thing, Fang. The stadium is filled with exhibits about the team’s history, players, and memorable games; former Timber Rattlers alumni who have been inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame include Pat Gillick, Goose Gossage, and Earl Weaver.
Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium is located at 2400 North Casaloma Drive, P.O. Box 7464, Appleton, WI 54913, and can be reached at 920-733-4152.
10.Nearby Attractions: Paper Discovery Center, Appleton, Wisconsin
Paper is an important industry in Appleton, Wisconsin, and the Paper Discovery Center allows visitors to learn about papermaking and its importance in the community. The museum and workshop center welcomes visitors to explore the exhibits, interpretive displays, hands-on workshops, and a research center. The Purdy-Weissenborn Paper Lab, where you can create your own sheet of paper from start to finish, is one of the highlights of a visit to the Paper Discovery Center. Children will enjoy the discovery center’s numerous summer camps.
Appleton, WI 54911, 425 W Water Street, Phone: 920-380-7491
11.Things to Do Near Me: Performing Arts Center, Appleton, WI
The Fox Cities Performing Arts Center in Appleton, Wisconsin, brings together locals and visitors to learn about and enjoy the arts. In addition to events, the center provides educational opportunities for visitors to participate in. The Boldt Company Beyond the Stage curriculum, which connects classrooms to the stage, is one such educational program.
Since its inception in 2002, the center has hosted numerous receptions, lectures, banquets, and musical and theatrical performances. Cabaret from Broadway, the Vienna Boys Choir, the Irish Comedy Tour, and the live-action graphic novel Intergalactic Nemesis: Target Earth are among their featured events.
Phone: 920-730-3760, 400 W. College Avenue, Appleton, WI 54911.
12.Kids Activities Near Me: Appleton, WI’s The Building for Kids
The Building for Kids initially housed only the Fox Cities Children’s Museum, but an expansion plan was announced in 2006. The attraction, which features exhibits designed by kids for kids, is one of the most popular in Appleton among families with children of all ages. There are numerous interactive exhibits available for children to use their imaginations while learning about their surroundings in a creative and safe environment.
Some of the more popular exhibits with visitors include a 10-foot human heart that allows kids to slide down an artery, a castle-themed mini golf adventure where kids can outwit a dragon, and the Credit Union’s Littlest Branch, where kids can be a teller, make transactions, and learn about money.
Phone: 920-734-3226, 100 W College Ave, Appleton, WI 54911.
13.Nearby Attractions: The Trout Museum of Art, Appleton, WI
The Appleton Artists Guild began work on the Trout Museum of Art in the 1960s with the goal of compiling a permanent collection, building a viewing gallery, and providing educational opportunities for local artists. The museum now provides this and much more to its visitors, who can explore the exhibitions, attend a special event, participate in a lecture or workshop, or have fun with their families at one of the museum’s many festivals. Celebrating Picasso:
Photographs by David Douglas Duncan and The Legacy: A Celebration of Life, a collection of stunning artwork by hospice patients, their loved ones, and the professional caregivers who watch them, are just two of the previous exhibitions at lambeau field.
Phone: 920-733-4089, 111 W College Ave, Appleton, WI 54911.
14.Nearby Parks: High Cliff State Park in Appleton, Wisconsin
High Cliff State Park, with over 1,000 acres of land, is the only state-owned recreational area with access to Lake Winnebago. In the summer, visitors can go hiking, biking, and horseback riding on the park’s trails, and in the winter, they can go snowshoeing, snowmobiling, and cross-country skiing. The Indian Mound Trail, which is over six miles long and has a limestone surface, is one of the more popular trails. Swimming, fishing, boating, camping, picnicking, and hunting are also available in certain areas of the park. Visitors will also be able to explore the National Register of Historic Places-listed effigy mounds known as High Cliff Mounds.
Phone: 920-989-1106, N7630 State Park Rd, Sherwood, WI 54169
FAQs about Things to Do in Appleton WI
What is Appleton, Wisconsin famous for?
Appleton and the Fox Cities, a collection of 18 communities along the Fox River and Lake Winnebago, are well-known for their shopping, Harry Houdini, and the Mile of Music festival. This family-friendly destination features one of the Midwest’s largest children’s museums, a minor league baseball team, and beautiful trails.
Is Appleton, Wisconsin? Is it a good place to live?
The Fox Cities’ largest city has been named one of the best places to live in the United States. Appleton has been named one of the top 100 best places to live in the United States. Appleton is ranked #56 based on amenities, demographics, the economy, healthcare, housing, transportation, and social/civic culture.
What is Appleton’s significance? Appleton in Wisconsin?
In recognition of his generosity, Samuel Appleton’s name was given to the newly established college library. Appleton was incorporated as a village in 1853 (with the first resident, John F. Johnston, serving as village president) and then as a city in 1857. (Amos Storey, Mayor).
Is Appleton the most inebriated city in America?
The CHR defines binge drinking as having more than four drinks in a single occasion for women and more than five drinks for men, while heavy drinking is having more than one drink on average per day for women and more than two drinks per day for men. Appleton, Wisconsin, is America’s drunkest city.
