Explore Nature

I love day trips. I also LOVE waterfalls and hiking. My kids do not enjoy road trips yet, especially ones where we are in the car for more than a few hours. Thankfully there are lots of great hiking and waterfall options within a two hour drive of Appleton....

Kids of all ages enjoy visiting zoos! There are so many nearby or within short road trip distance and several of them have free admission and/or areas to have a picnic with packed lunches turning your trip into a budget-friendly thing to do with kids! Zoos Near Northeast Wisconsin NEW Zoo 4378 Reforestation Road,...

A friend recently introduced me to a new trend in our area that involves rocks! Art meets ... scavenger hunt ... meets rock collecting. This fun treasure hunt is perfect for the whole family! Fox Valley Rocks! This simple idea sparks creativity and community and perhaps make someone someones...

1000 Islands Environmental Center, Kaukauna Snapshot Address:1000 Beaulieu Ct, Kaukauna, Wisconsin Bathrooms: yes  Admission: FREE More Info: www.1000islandsenvironmentalcenter.org Jodi’s Review Although this isn’t a playground, I thought I would include it in my Park Series reviews. My kids love going to 1000 Islands in Kaukauna. My boys are always sure to have some...

Finding enough caches to fill all these calendar days after caching in this area for over three years was a challenging task. Not only did I need to find something available in the winter months, I had to resort to different types of caches as well. New to geocaching? Check...

Just a short drive away during the spring and fall months there is a great family adventure awaiting. In Kewaunee, about an hour away from the Fox Cities is the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources’ Besadny Anadromous Fisheries Facility (BAFF). Since 1996, fish spawning has been clearly visible from this...

Have you braved the northwoods and gone camping? I've gone camping since I was young with my family and now we continue the tradition with our family. Getting up early, grilling out, watching the stars on the beach, s'mores... we can't wait! Check out these recommendations from our readers....

Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary is the perfect place to visit especially with younger children. If you’ve ever paid full admission to the zoo only to discover your children aren’t even remotely interested in looking at the animals, you might have regretted the whole adventure. Not to fear, a visit to...

I remember feeding the ducks old bread as a kid. Nowadays thats kind of frowned upon. Many local parks have had issues with geese and have strict regulations not to feed the geese. So, where can you feed the ducks? Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary in Green Bay is the...

Have you ever been to Heckrodt Nature Reserve? This gem is right in town in Menasha and its FREE! The 76-acre urban nature reserve includes forested wetland, cattail marsh, open water, created prairie, open field, and upland forest habitats. We started our exploration in The Nature Center. Nature Center at Heckrodt...