The Best of Green Bay Wisconsin
Lambeau Field at sunset.
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Wonderful Wisconsin
When I was a kid my family made regular summer treks from New Jersey to Wisconsin in our tiny compact car to visit family. My brother, sister, mom, dad, and me all trapped in a Chevy Citation taking turns playing our favorite cassette tapes. Poison for my sister, Paula Abdul for me, and motivational speaker Zig Ziglar for my dad. Looking back, I have to wonder, were these really our favorites, or were we all just taking part in some elaborate passive-aggressive exercise to torture everyone else in the car? Probably the latter. The drive took about 16-18 hours but felt like an interminable drive through the world’s largest corn maze. These trips to visit family continued well into my adulthood. Fortunately, I was able to swap the cramped car rides for a quick 3-hour plane flight ‘cause, adulting!
As I’ve gotten older, I’ve started exploring more of Wisconsin, in particular, the Green Bay area. I’m thrilled to report there’s a whole wild, wonderful Wisconsin just waiting to be explored, and many people don’t even know about it! For instance, did you know The Wisconsin Dells has the largest concentration of waterparks anywhere in the US? Or that Door County, Wisconsin is known as the Cape Cod of the Midwest? What about New Glarus, Wisconsin, the small town affectionately known as “America’s Little Switzerland”. Or Wisconsin’s amazing architectural tours, including Wisconsin’s Frank Lloyd Wright Trail? There’s so much to do in America’s Dairyland.
This list of Green Bay attractions is sure to keep you occupied with fun things to do in Green Bay. From fishing on the Fox River to Packers football, to casinos and camping, Wisconsin has it all. So what are you waiting for? Let’s visit Green Bay!
Visiting my grandma at Lodge Kohler with my little girl, Maddie. We also make a point of visiting her assisted living facility and spreading smiles.
Wild Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts, offering stunning waterfalls, numerous lakes, million-year-old caves, and gorgeous marshlands which are home to over three hundred species of birds. You’re never far from spectacular natural settings when visiting Wisconsin, and the Green Bay area is no exception.
First Off, a Little Context… Oneida Nation and Their History in Green Bay, Wisconsin
We can’t talk about Green Bay without talking about tribal communities and the Oneida people. Fourteen percent of Green Bay overlaps the Oneida Reservation. Today the Oneida Indian Nation controls only about 22% of their former reservation property. Only 22%!!! Of the more than 21,000 members, about half live on the reservation.
Oneida Nation of Wisconsin are descendants of an indigenous Iroquoian-speaking nation from present-day New York State. The Oneida Nation NY territory was of course encroached on by European-American settlers and many in the Oneida tribe relocated from New York to Wisconsin in the 1820s, where they were offered land.
Between WWII and The 60s, the US government followed the Indian Termination Policy, where our government sought to mainstream tribal people and erase tribal sovereignty. All federal aid, services, and protection offered to Native people were to cease, and the federal trust relationship and management of reservations would end.
Of course, I’ve oversimplified this a bit for the purposes of a travel blog post, but I really want to give readers some context and information about the community, a big part of which includes Oneida Nation members. For many people, the most interaction they have with a tribal community is visiting a tribal casino. Which Green Bay has plenty of, but I urge you to step away from the slot machine and actually explore the history and culture by visiting the public museum.
For more information on Oneida Nation, and Oneida Nation Enterprises, check out: Oneida Nation history and culture.
Oneida Nation shares many attractions and events with the community, including a Farmers Market, Long House, Big Apple Fest, Walk of Legends, Oneida Nation Museum, and Buffalo Overlook.
One of the hidden gems in Green Bay, Buffalo Overlook is a flat area with plenty of paved walkways easily accessible from the parking lot. Here you can look out a large, fenced-in herd of what are actually bison. Here in the US, we use the names buffalo and bison interchangeably, but buffalo are actually indigenous to Southeast Asia and Africa. Bison however are found in parts of North America and Europe. I noticed even the signage at the overlook switched between the terms.
A few bison/ buffalo spotting tips: Bison have a hump at their shoulders and shorter horns than buffalo. Between the two, Bison are the ones with big bushy beards making them look like a pack of Brooklyn hipsters on their way to pick up some vintage vinyl. Buffalo are beardless and probably enjoy streaming their music. Probably.
On the day we stopped by Buffalo Overlook, nobody else was around. My fiance took the opportunity to fly his drone overhead. It’s super important to note if you’re interested in flying a drone, PLEASE ask permission before flying over someone else’s land and be very careful to fly at an altitude that does not disturb the animals below. While I know people enjoy a good shot for the ‘gram it’s not worth terrifying animals, causing a stampede, or injuring anyone. Please be respectful.
Things To Do In Green Bay With Kids
My favorite thing to do in Green Bay with kids is hit up Bay Beach Amusement Park. It holds a ton of great childhood memories and is an amazing spot to visit if you’re on a budget. The whole family can play all day on a variety of rides and playground equipment for under $50. I dare you to find a better amusement park deal.
Another great option is Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary. This 600-acre municipal urban wildlife refuge is the largest park in the Green Bay, Wisconsin Park system and is home to the second-largest wildlife rehabilitation program in Wisconsin. If you’re looking for an ethical way to see a wide variety of animals, this is it.
Ok, Now The Green Bay Football…
If you’ve been to Green Bay before and you don’t live in Wisconsin or have family who lives in Wisconsin, you probably came to see the Packers. The Green Bay Packers are the third-oldest franchise in the NFL, dating back to 1919. They’re the only non-profit, community-owned major league sports team in the United States. So even if you’re not a die-hard football fan, you have to admit it’s pretty unique that a town of 104,000 people owns an NFL team. And a kick-ass one at that.
The Packers play at Lambeau Field, an open-air athletic stadium named after Packers founder, player, and long-time coach, Curly Lambeau. It’s the 5th largest stadium in the NFL. The Lambeau Field Atrium is home to the Pro Shop, Packers Hall of Fame, Lambeau Field Stadium Tours, and the 1919 Kitchen & Tap. When you’re done buying your cheese head, just west of Lambeau Field is Titletown District, an area that houses The Hinterland Restaurant and Brewery, Lodge Kohler, a Bellin Sports Medicine Clinic, an ice rink, other retail shops, and a 46-foot high hill for tubing in the winter months. It’s a pretty great place to check out even on a non-game day and offers plenty of things to do in Green Bay at night.
From the Lambeau website: “Lambeau Field recognizes the needs of persons with disabilities, as defined by the ADA, and makes every effort to comply with both ADA and state accessibility mandates.” If you have any questions, or you can reach out to the Packers ticket office at (920) 569-7501 or check out this link to their page on Services for Guests with Disabilities.
Green Bay tickets and info can be found on the official Green Bay Packers website, as well as Ticket King Green Bay.
For Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame and stadium tours check out The Green Bay Packer Hall of Fame and Tours. You can also find information about the Packers Heritage Trail, a tour of Packers football highlights throughout Green Bay.
Now let’s get to the pictures…
Where to Stay… Green Bay Lodging
As far as accommodations go, you have several options when it comes to Green Bay WI, lodging. Green Bay is a fantastic place to use Airbnb, especially if you’re in town for a game and want to stay in the center of the action. You’ll find tons of vacation homes and rentals in the area surrounding the stadium. The homes are regularly decked out in Packer gear and perfect for grilling and chilling. Just make sure you book well in advance if you’re visiting during football season. Places book up quickly.
If you choose to stay in a hotel, you’ll find that most of the hotels in the area are about average. I’ve found two exceptions that are quite nice and very reasonably priced (so long as you’re not visiting during a home game.) My first recommendation is the Aloft Hotel Green Bay. Aloft Green Bay is my top choice for anyone visiting with their pet. Aloft LOVES dogs. Maddie got her own little gift pack including doody bags with dispensers and treats. They even had dog beds and bowls available at the front desk. Every time we walked into the hotel the front desk showered Maddie with attention. Honestly, it felt like Maddie had made the reservation and we were just following her around.
Aloft offers a nice big lobby area with ample seating and a great bar. Dogs are also welcome in the common areas (excluding the pool) so long as they remain on a leash at all times.
My next recommendation is Lodge Kohler. Lodge Kohler is easily the best hotel in Green Bay. It’s located right in Titletown, directly across from Lambeau Field and in close proximity of plenty of stuff to do in Green Bay. The hotel features the Lodge Kohler Spa, a stunning rooftop bar, an indoor/outdoor restaurant, and delicious food. Prices outside football season were under $200/ night and you cannot beat the location and amenities. One word of warning, Kohler is NOT pet friendly. We visited with Maddie and had to produce her paperwork proving she is an ESA. Thankfully, I never leave home without it.
Things to Do in Green Bay, WI
If you’re looking for fun things to do in Green Bay, WI, a great place to start is the Lambeau Field area and Downtown Green Bay. Restaurants near Lambeau Field include 1919 Kitchen and Tap, a great gastropub with 80 beers on tap, The Pancake Place, a delicious American diner specializing in, you guessed it, pancakes, and Margaritas, home of excellent Mexican food and drinks. If you’re looking for a less crowded, less bar-centric option, I recommend Kavarna in Downtown Green Bay. Kavarna has been cooking with local, organic ingredients for 20 years and is one of the few locations that offer a wide variety of vegan and vegetarian options. This a huge deal as several members of my family are vegetarian and finding dining options in the area can be rather difficult. Kavarna Cafe Green Bay regularly hosts gatherings including knitting club meetings, LGBTQ alliance events, and local musicians. Plus, Kavarna coffee is the best coffee in Green Bay. The building Kavarna is housed in is also a Wisconsin historical landmark. 143 North Broadway is an example of the 1920’s Egyptian Revival style. The Brown County Historical Society awarded Kavarna and Parisi’s Delicatessen with the 2011 Historic Preservation Award for Adaptive Reuse.
If you’re looking for more things to do you can always explore one of the Oneida Casinos, check out the Green Bay Botanical Garden, the Heritage Hill State Historical Park, or the National Railroad Museum, Green Bay, WI. Or, weather permitting, you can just wander around looking for the biggest nuts in town. Green Bay has it all.
Packer Fastener - They’ve got the biggest nuts (and bolts) in town.
