Ultimate Summer Bucket List – 275+ Things to do this Summer

pollock pool oshkosh

Ready for summer adventures?! We have rounded up nearly 300 summer things to do outdoors in Northeast Wisconsin including the Fox Valley, Oshkosh, Green Bay, Door County, and beyond!

One of our favorite things about living in Wisconsin is getting to experience all of the seasons. And, the long winter leads to really enjoying the summer!

We try to be prepared for quick changes in plans or opportunities for unscheduled fun or adventure. The real trick is to remember to replenish and replace as you use items!

READ MORE: 60+ Things to Do at Home this Summer!

We keep these in the car:

  • Antibacterial Soap
  • Face Masks
  • Mosquito Bug Spray
  • Sunscreen
  • Towel
  • Blanket
  • Playground Ball
  • Chalk
  • Bubbles
  • First Aid Kit, consider having a tick-removal kit as part of your standard first aid kit.
  • A book or magazine for everyone for unexpected waiting. 
  • Snacks that aren’t affected by heat like granola bars. 
  • Empty water bottles because at some point, someone will forget. 
  • A roll of toilet paper and a package of baby wipes.
  • A set of clothing for each kid and parent. This makes it easy to say yes to impromptu messy or wet activities as well as being prepared for accidents or leaky diapers.
  • A stack of empty plastic grocery bags and a few gallon size zip top bags to make it easy to pack out trash from parks or to put wet or dirty clothes inside.
Pollock Pool Oshkosh
Pollock Pool, Oshkosh

Where to cool off?

When the weather heats up, it calls for a day of splashing! Lucky for us, we’re surrounded by fresh water lakes, nearby the ocean-like experience of Lake Michigan, and rich in community pools and splash pads!

  1. Plan a Pool Day! – 10+ Outdoor Swimming Pools Near the Fox Cities
  2. Cool Off at a Splash PadNeenah Splash Pad, Park & Playground at Washington Park
  3. Head to the Beach! – 30+ Wisconsin Lakes for Your Next Beach Day: including Wisconsin State Parks Point Beach, Hartman Creek, and Kohler-Andre, Door County, and Fremont.
  4. Beach Inflatables – Plan a Fun Day at Fondy Aqua Park
  5. Wind Your Way Down a RiverSummer River Tubing in Northeast Wisconsin
  6. Eat Ice CreamThe Ultimate Ice Cream Lovers Bucket List: 60+ Favorites! – Take a road trip to Kelly’s Creamery or discover a unique local twist like Wonders or a classic like Frog’s in Sherwood.
  7. Explore by kayak or canoeWhere to Rent Kayaks in Northeast Wisconsin – discover the beautiful Chain of Lakes.
Wisconsin Explorers Program
Wisconsin Explorers Program

Where to explore in nature?

An amazing thing about living in this area is the variety of destinations for families and incredible natural areas that are largely free or very low cost to enjoy. From trails to hike to rivers float down, there’s always something to do while enjoying the natural resources available to us. 

  1. Bubolz Nature Preserve in Appleton
  2. Mosquito Hill in New London
  3. Heckrodt Wetland Reserve in Menasha
  4. 1000 Islands Environmental Center in Kaukauna
  5. Navarino Nature Center in Shiocton
  6. Ledgeview Nature Center in Chilton
  7. Brillion Nature Center in Brillion
  8. Wisconsin Explorers Program Into the Woods: Discover Nature and Earn FREE Patches through the Wisconsin Explorers Program
  9. Waterfalls Where to Find Waterfalls in Wisconsin within 2 Hours from the Fox Valley
  10. Wisconsin State Parks 26 Awesome Wisconsin State Parks That Are Less Than Two Hours From Appleton
  11. Rocks! – Paint rocks. Search for rocks. Fox Valley Rocks – Our Community Rocks! And Rock On! Fox Valley Group Spreads Kindness Through Art
  12. Treasure Hunting –  Geocaching, Hidden Rocks, Letterboxing
  13. Go fishing Kids Fishing Guide – Northeast Wisconsin
  14. Take a drive 25 Picturesque Scenic Drives to Enjoy From Your Car Window
  15. Find a lighthouse
  16. Collect beach glass
  17. Cave Tour: Maribel Caves, Cave of the Mounds & Ledgeview
  18. Take a History Tour: find local historical markers
  19. Gravity Trails in Door County offers a zip line adventure
  20. Climb an observation tower
  21. Experience Road America with an Off-Road Driving Experience
  22. Explore Washington Island with a UTV from Island Adventure Company
  23. Race Go Karts: Badger Sports Park
  24. Mine for gems and learn about rocks. Weis Earth Science Museum. Also join Great Lakes Rocks and Minerals Facebook Group. 
  25. Count Birds. Download the iBird app and count how many different birds you can see or hear. Madison Audubon is a great resource and includes a FREE Bird Guide for Kids with 27 common birds, described in ways that kids (and adults!) can relate to. 
High Cliff State Park Hiking
High Cliff State Park

Run or Walk

  1. June 5, 2022: Oshkosh YMCA Kids Mud Run and Free Family Fest!
  2. June 5, 2022: Cole’s Crusade Obstacle Run
  3. June 6, 2021: Oshkosh YMCA Kids Mud Run and Free Family Fest!
  4. July 16, 2022: Dirty Ninja Mud Run for Kids in West Bend
  5. July 16, 2022: Filthy Fun Kids/Family Runs in Fox Crossing
  6. July 17, 2021: Dirty Ninja Mud Run for Kids in West Bend
  7. July 17, 2021: Filthy Fun Kids/Family Runs in Fox Crossing
  8. Appleton Fun Runs APRD, registration required
  9. Run the bases after a Timber Rattlers Game! On family nights, kids can run the bases and there are fireworks after the game.
  10. Walk a boardwalk – Heckrodt Wetland Reserve, 1000 Islands Environmental Center, Kohler-Andre State Park, North Side of Horicon Marsh off Hwy 28, Schmeeckle Reserve in Stevens Point and Riggs County Park in Ripon.
  11. Neenah Fun Runs: 7 pm on Sundays – June 5, June 19, July 10 & July 24
    Free! Rregistration Requested
  12. Appleton Poetry Walk – All around Appleton! Find locations.
  13. 18 Fox Valley Nature Trails for Biking, Walking & Hiking
  14. 5 Oshkosh Area Nature Trails for Biking, Walking & Hiking
  15. 13 Green Bay Area Nature Trails for Biking, Walking & Hiking (and Waterfalls!)
  16. 11 Worth the Drive Hiking Trails about One Hour from Appleton
Bookworm Gardens, Sheboygan
Bookworm Gardens, Sheboygan, Photo Credit: Veronika Richardson

Gardens

10 Gardens In and Around Northeast Wisconsin including the Scheig Center at Memorial Park in Appleton, Butterfly Gardens of Wisconsin in Appleton, Green Bay Botanical Garden in Green Bay, Paine Art Center and Gardens in Oshkosh, Sisson’s Peony Gardens in Rosendale, Gottfried Prairie & Arboretum in Fond du Lac, Bookworm Gardens in Sheboygan, Olbrich Botanical Gardens in Madison, Robert W. Monk Gardens in Wausau and Mitchell Park Horticulture Conservatory (The Domes) in Milwaukee.

  1. Sketch.
  2. Bird Watch.
  3. Count Butterflies.
  4. Learn about bees and eat some honey!
  5. Pick your own flowers at Ram Acres.
  6. Walk through Riverside Gardens.
Town Center Park Grand Chute
Town Center Park, Grand Chute

Parks & Playgrounds

Heading to the park is a great time to unplug and enjoy nature. Whether you are heading out to check out new(er) parks, like Pierce Park and Jones Park in Appleton, Hidden Pond in Menasha, Washington Park in Neenah or Menominee Park in Oshkosh, a classic favorite or hidden gem.

  1. Disc Golfing is a fun activity to get outdoors. A couple reader favorites include Triangle Sports Area, Perkins Park in Green Bay, Plamann Park, and Telulah Park.
  2. Remote Control CarsHobbyTown is a great resource if you are looking to get started. Here are 12 Tips for Beginners. Check out Clark RC Park in Reedsville
  3. Golf – Reid Municipal Golf Course or check out Winnegamie’s Junior Golf Program
  4. Mini Golf – Badger Sports Park, Funset Boulevard, Chubby Seagull, Bridgewood
  5. Relax in a Hammock – While your bigger kids play or read books!
  6. Dig in the Sand – make castles or play with trucks. Burry pennies for a scavenger hunt. Sand volleyball courts are a fun spot for littles. Patriot Park in Grand Chute has nice sand.
  7. Watch the Clouds and learn about the weather. 
  8. Gaga Ball – Find a gaga pit (and youtube the directions). Memorial Park, Lions Park and Erb Park in Appleton have one.Play! – Our Park Series has features and pictures for many local parks and we will be adding to it all summer!
  9. Find a New Slide!Ultimate slides in the Fox Valley.
  10. Wooden Parks – Pamperin Park in Green Bay and Chilton Morrissey Park & Playground
  11. Born Learning Trails – these play-based learning activities are typically painted on sidewalks and a series of interactive stations at 12 Fox Cities Parks including Erb, Memorial (Appleton), Pierce, Plamann (Children’s Farm), Fritsch, Fritse, Wittman, Jefferson, Smith, Memorial (Neenan), Doyle and Lion’s (Greenville) Parks.
  12. Roll (or Run) Down a Hill – Head to your favorite sledding hill for a fun picnic spot and great view. See if you can roll or run down! Hills are also fun to run down with a kite.
  13. Run the Bases. Find a baseball diamond and get some running in. The inclusive fields like the Memorial Park Miracle League is great for younger kiddos. 
  14. 8 Fun Games to Play on a Swing – Including Superman, Tornado, and Tug of War!
  15. Skip Rocks – Lutz Park, Jefferson Park, and Fritse Park
  16. Take your Favorite Backyard Games to the Park! Bocce Ball, Lawn Dice, Lawn Jenga, Ladder Golf
  17. Write Activities on a Beach Ball (or roll a dice) – exercises, scavenger hunt, get to know questions, would you rather
  18. Go on a Scavenger Hunt – Nature Scavenger Hunt, Color Hunt, Bird Hunt, Math Scavenger Hunt, Gratitude Scavenger Hunt. Parks with scavenger hunts built-in – Kiwanis Park, Wanick Choute Park. 
  19. ABC Architecture Scavenger Hunt – Find the letters in nature! Bigger kids can make a collage or spell a word to create a digital art masterpiece
  20. Playground Bucket List – Monkey bars, fireman’s pole, zipline, teeter-totter… How many of these can you play on this summer? 
  21. Think Beyond the Playground! Open grassy area can be just as fun for a change of scenery and fun play. Try the classic outdoor games, Kick the can, capture the flag, Hot Potato Hide and Seek.
  22. School Playgrounds are also a great place to play. Many also are fenced in to keep littles from escaping! Many are closed until the end of June. They also often offer great blacktop activities – Four Square, United States map, Tether Ball…
  23. Many church playgrounds are also open to the community. Christ the Rock has a beautiful natural playground.
  24. Table Tennis – Purchase balls and paddles on Amazon or used on Facebook Marketplace and keep them in the car.  
  25. Archery – these parks have archery…Memorial Park in Appleton, Lions Park in Greenville. Woodfire Lodge in Brillion also has a sporting clay shooting course and 15 target archery course.
  26. Storytime  – Books about playgrounds and parks. Find a local story walk. Bookworm Gardens in Sheboygan is open with reservations this year. Pick up one of these playground themed titles at one of our libraries:
  27. Skate Parks – Tellulah Park, Greenville, and Menasha, NEST
  28. BMX Biking – New Rider Clinics, Racing and Strider Racing for ages 2-5 at Winnebagoland BMX
  29. Outdoor Hockey – Rollerblading – Patriot Park in Grand Chute. Looking for gear? Check out Play it Again Sports.
  30. Scooters – Both Erb Park in Appleton and Menominee Park in Oshkosh have nice paths to scooter around. Park your car on the far end and scooter to the playground. 
  31. Soccer – Practice your dribbling and goals on the soccer field.
  32. Play Basketball
  33. Picnic – Pack your own snacks or skip the dining room and order carry out. 
  34. Fly a Kite.
Farm Wisconsin Discovery Center in Manitowoc
Farm Wisconsin Discovery Center, Manitowoc

Animal Lovers

Many of our large favorite zoos have restrictions or modifications this summer. The Milwaukee County Zoo, NEW Zoo and Henry Vilas Zoo in Madison are working through reopening, consider finding a smaller focused zoo, animal rescue or farm to visit!

  1. Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary, Green Bay
  2. MToxins Venom Lab, Oshkosh
  3. Mulberry Lane Farm, Sherwood
  4. Shalom Wildlife Zoo, West Bend
  5. Farm Wisconsin Discovery Center, Manitowoc
  6. Ride a Horse – Horseback Riding
  7. Doc’s Zoo, Bonduel
  8. Animal Haven Zoo, Weyauwega
  9. Lakeside Park, Fond du Lac
  10. Larson’s Famous Clydesdales in Ripon – see fourteen Famous Clydesdale’s in a 90-minute guided tour and a short Grandstand Show.
  11. Siberian Outpost in Malone – Contact for a private tour for your family to learn about dog sledding, the history of the Iditarod and the training. 
  12. The Door County Dog Sleds also has an Education and Discovery Center.
  13. LaClare Farms, Malone
  14. Alligator Alley, Alligator and reptile farm, Wisconsin Dells
  15. Timbavati Wildlife Park, Wisconsin Dells
  16. London Dairy Alpacas, Two Rivers
  17. Menomonee Park Free Zoo, Oshkosh
  18. Wisconsin Big Cat Rescue, Rock Springs
  19. Wilderness Walk Zoo, Hayward
  20. Play with cats and enjoy lunch or drinks at The Pawffee Shop Cat Cafe, Appleton
  21. Bear Den Zoo & Petting Farm, Waterford
kids playground at Heritage Hill Green Bay
Heritage Hill Wisconsin State Park, Green Bay

Educational Experiences

  1. Old World Wisconsin, Eagle
  2. Heritage Hill, Green Bay
  3. Plunkett Observatory, Belgium
  4. Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum, Pepin
  5. History Museum at the Castle, Appleton
  6. Oneida Nation Museum, De Pere
  7. Hearthstone Historic House Museum, Appleton
  8. EAA Aviation Museum, Oshkosh
  9. Wisconsin Maritime Museum, Manitowoc
  10. Wade House Historic Site, Greenbush
  11. Historic Farm Museum, Two Rivers
  12. Hutchinson Historic House, Waupaca
  13. National Railroad Museum, Green Bay
  14. Aztalan Museum, Jefferson
  15. Wisconsin River Papermaking Museum, Wisconsin Rapids
  16. Portage WWII History Museum, Portage
  17. Peshtigo Fire Museum, Peshtigo
  18. Menominee Logging Camp Museum, Keshena 
  19. Twig’s Beverage tour, Shawano
De Pere Mural
De Pere

Arts and Crafts

  1. Einstein’s Sandbox is a mobile creativity lab coming to parks, libraries, and community spaces in Appleton, Green Bay, and Rural Locations
  2. Find Murals in Appleton
  3. Find Murals in Neenah and Menasha
  4. Find Murals in Little Chute
  5. Find Murals in Kaukauna
  6. Find Murals on the CE Underpass in Kimberly 
  7. Find Murals in Green Bay
  8. Find Murals in New London 
  9. Find Murals in De Pere
  10. Oshkosh Mini Murals
  11. The Fire in Appleton
  12. Fire Escape in Oshkosh
  13. Find a new hobby or projects at Hobby Town
  14. Jurustic Park in Marshfield
  15. Stevens Point Sculpture Park
  16. Appleton’s Sculpture Valley
  17. Little Chestnut Studio
  18. The Art Garage, Green Bay
  19. The Art Spark, Appleton
  20. Pinot’s Palette, Appleton
  21. The Draw, Appleton
  22. Find a car show!
Einstein's Sandbox
Einstein’s Sandbox

Read!

  1. Appleton Public Library’s Summer Reading Program
  2. Kaukauna Public Library Summer Reading Program
  3. Neenah Public Library Summer Reading Program
  4. Oshkosh Public Library Summer Reading Challenge
  5. Brown County Library Summer Reading Challenge
  6. Free little libraries – Clean up your library and drop off some books to an empty Free Little Library.
  7. Find a storywalk. Visit Memorial Park for a Storybook Garden Walk. A different book will be featured every 2 weeks all summer long.
  8. Find vintage titles and childhood favorites at Half Priced Books
Kaukauna Public Library
Kaukauna Public Library

Cultivate Giving & Kindness

Summer provides kids with some extra time to think about others that might not be present during the busy school year. There are many organizations within our community that can use help even from small hands!

  1. The Appleton Public Library has compiled a list of books to help parents and teachers talk about racial equity with children, young adults, and adults.
  2. Volunteer, Donate and Support the work of Jake’s Diapers
  3. Send cards to a Nursing Home
  4. Bring treats to the police station, fire station or Harbor House
  5. Make blessing bags for the homeless or less fortunate 
  6. Send a thank you to a local farmer
  7. Make birthday boxes for families in need
  8. Join a pen pal program and share words of kindness
  9. Buy lunch for your neighbor or friend
  10. Surprise your postal worker with a treat and note in the mailbox
  11. Pay for someone’s meal behind you in a drive-thru or restaurant line
  12. Make and hide kindness rocks
  13. Clean up your local park
  14. Support your local small businesses, pop up shops and entrepreneurs 
  15. Organize a school supply drive for your school or make supply backpacks to give
  16. Help clean pews and gardens at local churches
  17. Spend time with adoptable animals at the local animal shelters
  18. Help clean an elderly neighbor’s yard, garden or home
Zesty's Frozen Custard, Green Bay
Zesty’s Frozen Custard, Green Bay

Treats

Summer is the perfect time to grab a sweet frozen treat in the Fox Valley!

  1. Ice Cream – Soft serve, gelato, hand-scooped and more – eat your
  2. Ice Cream – Soft serve, gelato, hand-scooped and more – eat your way through this list while supporting our local dairy farmers!
  3. Donuts – We have so many great options! Simple Simons has a Donut House in the parking lot on Saturday mornings. Happy Bellies Bakeshop has a yummy baked cinnamon donut. Or enjoy a classic from Manderfields, Mom & Pop’s Bakery or Hill Top Bakery.
  4. Cheese Curds – Here are other ways to celebrate June Dairy month along with 10 delicious cheese stops!
  5. Kids Eat FREE
  6. FREE School Lunch Programs
  7. Candy shops – Head to Crazy Sweet in downtown Appleton
  8. Shaved Ice – Snow Biz in Kimberly, Snowy Cabin in Neenah
  9. Homemade Popsicles – Stop by Drop Bar Cafe for a homemade popsicle on your bike ride on the CE Trail in Kaukauna or follow Fox Pop on Facebook to find where the popsicle bicycle will pop up next
  10. Eat Delicious Fresh Popcorn – Mike’s Popcorn or Archie’s Famous Popcorn at Downtown Neenah Dairy Queen or the Neenah Dairy Queen Grill & Chill
Plank Road Outdoor Dining
Plank Road Pub and Grill, De Pere

Outdoor Dining

Spending lots of time outdoors in the summer often includes meal times! We’re not sure what sort of magic is involved but food tastes so much better on a sunny day on the grass or a patio. Pack a picnic and head to a beautiful spot or check out somewhere new that has outdoor service.

  1. Eat your way through the alphabet with The ABCs of Summer Snackin’: A Bucket List of Local Goodies! 
  2. Drive-Ins
  3. Outdoor Dining in the Fox Cities
  4. Outdoor Dining in Green Bay
  5. Outdoor Dining in Oshkosh
  6. New Food Truck Mash-Up: look for events at WG&R Furniture. Follow Fox Valley Food Truck Rally on Facebook for upcoming events.
Drive in Movie
Field of Scenes, Freedom

Outdoor Movies

Northeast Wisconsin is usually full of local parks and businesses offering free and very low-cost summertime entertainment like outdoor movies.

  1. Field of Scenes, Freedom 
  2. Get Reel Chilton Twilight Drive-In Theater, Chilton
  3. Grab a blanket and watch a Community Outdoor Movie. These are generally FREE!
  4. Kids Dream Family Summer Film Series from American Family Insurance is currently being planned — stay tuned for updates!
Peninsula State Park, Fish Creek Door County
Peninsula State Park, Fish Creek Door County

Camping

  1. Go camping!
  2. Reader Recommended Wisconsin Campgrounds
  3. Try a new campground treat Smores, Pudgie Pies and more
  4. Kid-Friendly Camping Recipes – Check out these Camping Recipes!
  5. Camp and visit the Plunkett observatory at Harrington Beach State Park
  6. Coming soon: Sensory considerations for successful family camping trips!
Stevens Point Sculpture Park
Stevens Point

Plan a Day Trip

Here are some of our favorites outside to help you start to plan your day!

  1. Appleton – Downtown Appleton, Lawrence University, Jones Park, City Park, go-karts, mini-golf and batting cages at Badger Sports Park, mini-golf at Funset Boulevard, Appleton Farmer’s Market
  2. Grand ChuteBubolz Nature Preserve, Town Center Park
  3. New London Murals, Kist Kandies & Ice Cream, Mosquito Hill
  4. Neenah – Downtown Neenah, Riverside Park, Kimberly Point Lighthouse, The Plaza, Bergstrom-Mahler Museum of Glass, Washington Park & Splash Pad
  5. Menasha – Ice Cream at Lemon Loves Lime, Weis Earth Science Museum, Barlow Planetarium, Elisha D Smith Public Library, Heckrodt Nature Reserve
  6. Sherwood Wanick Choute Park, High Cliff State Park, Ice Cream and Mini Golf at Chubby Seagull
  7. Brillion – Lion mural, Brillion Nature Center
  8. Chilton Ledge View Nature Center, Caves, Wooden Park & Ice Cream, Chilton Twilight Drive-In Theater
  9. Oshkosh – Menominee Park and Zoo, Paine Art Center and Gardens, Glow Mini Golf Opening in July, Ardy & Ed’s Drive-in
  10. Winneconne– Historical Museum, Marble Lake, The Well
  11. New London– Familiar Grounds Coffee Shop, Mosquito Hill Nature Center, Cuff Farms strawberry picking & outdoor playground
  12. Fond du Lac – Lakeside Park
  13. Kaukauna1000 Islands Environmental Center, Dick’s Drive-In, Star Orchard, Sticky Fingers
  14. Green Bay Murals, Pamperin Park, Heritage Hill, Zesty’s Frozen Custard, Bay Beach, Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary, Titletown District 
  15. De Pere Murals, Art, Sunset Point Love Lock Tradition, St. Norbert College, Fox River Trail
  16. Door County Thing to do in Door County with Kids
  17. WaupacaHartman Creek State Park, Red Mill
  18. Stevens Point Feltz Family Farms and Dairy Store, Stevens Point Sculpture Park, Green Circle, Schmeeckle Reserve, Downtown Murals, Ice Cream at Belt’s
  19. Wausau Quarry hike at Rib Mountain State Park, Riverlife Park, JoJo’s Jungle, downtown Wausau
  20. Sparta Sleep in a caboose!, Largest Bike Wheel, Elroy-Sparta state trail
  21. Wisconsin Dells (beyond the water parks) – Downtown Wisconsin Dells, Downtown Candy Shops, Devil’s Lake State Park, Wisconsin Deer Park, Pirate’s Cove Adventure Golf, Duck Tour, Paul Bunyans for Breakfast, Ripley’s Believe it or Not, Wizard’s Quest, Mirror Lake State Park, Rocky Arbor State Park
  22. Baraboo – Devil’s Lake State Park, Circus World Museum, Oschner Park and Zoo, Downtown Baraboo, the Baraboo Hills, New Life Lavender and Cherry Farm, Concerts on the Square, Mirror Lake State Park, Parfrey’s Glen
  23. Milwaukee Milwaukee County Zoo, Milwaukee Museum, Discovery World, Lakeshore State Park, Betty Brinn Children’s Museum
  24. Madison – Olbrich Botanical Gardens, Henry Vilas Zoo, Wisconsin State Capitol, Madison Children’s Museum, Capitol Square Farmer’s Market, Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra Concerts on the Square, Art Fair on the Square, The Taste of Madison, Camp Randall Stadium, Babcock Hall Ice Cream
  25. Sun PrairieExplore Children’s Museum, The Sassy Cow Creamery
  26. Blue MoundsCave of the Mounds, Blue Mound State Park
  27. Stoughton– Lake Kegonsa State Park, Cheesers, movie theater
  28. Sheboygan Bookworm Gardens, Kohler-Andrae State Park, North Beach and Playground, Lottie Cooper Shipwreck, Acuity Flagpole
  29. Two Rivers – Point Beach State Park, Washington House
  30. Weyauwega – Evanswood Outdoor Village shops, Animal Haven Farm and Zoo
  31. Shawano – Yoder’s Bakery, Shawano Lake, Twig’s Soda Museum
  32. Manitowoc – USS Cobia, Beernsteen’s, Screamin’ Cronuts, Sputnik Crash site
  33. Minneapolis – we have lots of ideas for a fun road trip!
olbrich botanical gardens madison
Olbrich Botanical Gardens, Madison

Wisconsin Roots

  1. Watch the Milk Bottling Process Live at Lamers Dairy, Inc.
  2. Take a selfie with Bernice the giant fiberglass cow at Cedar Crest Ice Cream Parlor
  3. See a calf be born at Land O’ Lakes Birthing Barn at Farm Wisconsin Discovery Center
  4. Check out vintage farm equipment at the Historic Farm Museum
  5. Learn how to milk a cow at Mulberry Lane
  6. Observe the cheese-making process at Marieke Gouda and Scray Cheese
  7. Attend the Great Wisconsin Cheese Festival
  8. Whip up your own butter or make homemade ice cream
  9. Learn more about sustainability and ethical farming at the G Farm
Urban Air Adventure Park Appleton
Urban Air Adventure Park Appleton

Indoor Places to Play

  1. Urban Air Adventure Park
  2. The Building for Kids
  3. History Museum at the Castle
  4. Paper Discovery Center
  5. Trout Museum of Art
  6. Weis Earth Science Museum
  7. Green Bay Children’s Museum
  8. Neville Public Museum – Spectacular Science Exhibit
  9. EAA AirVenture
  10. Coffee Shops with Play Areas
  11. Kenna’s Kabin at Bubolz Nature Preserve
  12. Indoor Play Area at the Heart of the Valley YMCA
  13. Archery
  14. Art & Craft Studios
  15. 1000 Islands Nature Center
  16. Heckrodt Wetland Reserve Nature Center
  17. Bowling – Kid’s Bowl FREE
  18. Bumper Cars & Boats
  19. Children’s Museums
  20. Lowes FREE Kids Workshops
  21. Ice Skating
  22. Indoor Play Areas
  23. Libraries: Appleton Public Library, Kaukauna Public Library, Menasha Public Library, Neenah Public Library
  24. Manicures / Pedicures
  25. Movie Theaters
  26. Rock Climbing
  27. Roller Skating
  28. Swimming Indoors
Burger Fest Hot Air Balloon Festival
Burger Fest Hot Air Balloon Festival

Save the Date – Events to Watch

  1. Throughout June: Breakfasts on the Farm
  2. June 3: Let’s Go Froggin @ Bubolz Nature Preserve
  3. June 3 – 5: Great Wisconsin Cheese Festival, Little Chute
  4. June 8 – 11: Electric City Experience, Kaukauna
  5. June 10-12: Paw Patrol Paw-Palooza, The National Railroad Museum, Green Bay
  6. June 12: Juneteenth @ Jones Park in Appleton
  7. June 12: Wild, Wild West Day @ Menomonee Park Zoo, Oshkosh
  8. June 13: Young Rider Camp @ Forward Farm, LLC
  9. June 17: Pajama Party @ Bear Den Zoo & Petting Farm
  10. June 27: Burger Train @ East Troy Railroad Museum 
  11. July 1 – 3: Oneida Powwow
  12. July 7 – 10: Lifest, Oshkosh
  13. July 8 -9: Catfish Races and Community Night, Greenville
  14. July 11: Krazy Daze, Downtown Manitowoc
  15. July 15 – 18: Paperfest, Kimberly
  16. July 15-19: Fond Du Lac County Fair
  17. July 21: Wild, Wild West Day @ Menomonee Park Zoo, Oshkosh
  18. July 22-24: SnowFest 2022, Neshotah Park, Two Rivers
  19. July 24-30: Appleton Children’s Week 
  20. July 25 – 31: EAA Air Venture, Oshkosh
  21. July 26-31: Fairyfolk Festival at Bookworm Gardens, Sheboygan
  22. August 4 – 7: Mile of Music, Appleton
  23. August 10: Summer Fun in the Park – Flight Night Balloon Glow,  Appleton
  24. August 12-13: Hamburger Fest and Hot Air Balloons, Seymour
  25. September 3-4: Kites over Lake Michigan, Neshotah Beach, Two Rivers

What’s on your Summer Bucket List? We would love to hear what you are up to!

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