Welcome Home: 10 Reasons your Family will Love the Fox Cities!

Hi there! We’re so glad you chose our community to be your family’s home! Appleton and the Fox Cities are fantastic places to raise children. We have a small-town feel with some big-city amenities. There are so many ways to have fun and make memories with your kids year-round. Now that you’re here (or will be soon), we’d love to share some of the incredible things that our area has for families.

1. We have SO many great parks and playgrounds. Here’s a great place to start making a list of the spots that you would like to explore: Best Parks and Playgrounds in the Fox Valley
2. We have 12 Nature Centers Within One Hour of Appleton! These facilities make it easy to explore, adventure, and play outside year-round. You’ll find trails, indoor educational centers, outdoor play, ponds, wetlands, caves, riverwalks, and more.
3. There are museums to cover just about any interest you have! Art, hands-on children’s museums, trains, history, science, paper— there’s even a museum dedicated that holds the world’s largest glass paperweights collection.
4. Appleton hosts unique events. In July, the city has a weeklong celebration for children, Appleton Children’s Week with free classes, sports, playground events, a parade, carnival, and more. In August, Mile of Music is a weekend-long, free music festival that features all original music and interactive music education fun for kids. In November, there is a massive nighttime holiday parade that travels through downtown. 
5. The Fox River attracts lots of wildlife and opportunities to explore areas throughout the Fox Valley. 1000 Islands Nature Center, Telulah Park, and Lutz Park all have great access via trails and docks. The area really shines in the winter when the eagles that make the river their home are actively hunting and easy to spot. 
6. We take summer fun pretty seriously. Cycling through the seasons is a Wisconsin perk that also makes it necessary to soak up all of the warm weather that we can. At Go Valley Kids, we’ve got summer covered with our Summer Bucket List that has more 250 ways to enjoy the season. And, you’ll find a festival nearly every week from June through August.
7. There are murals covering the area. You can use our interactive map and the most comprehensive list to find them all. 
8. Many of the communities that make up the Fox Valley host Farmers Markets in the warmer months. In addition to fresh produce, dairy, meats, and flowers, you’ll also find indulgent treats and unique art and boutique shopping. Bring our printable Farmers Market Bingo along to see if you can find everything. Oh! Don’t pass up a chance to have an egg roll at the Downtown Appleton market—we promise you will love it.
9. Fall is an exciting time to live in the area as well. The weather is nearly perfect, the trees really show off and there are many apple and pumpkin farms with kid-friendly activities, seasonal treats, wagon rides, play areas, and more. We keep you in the know for where to go with our comprehensive Ultimate Fall Guide.
10. Winter is cold and feels a little long, we won’t lie. But, if you get everyone set up with winter gear (GVK pro tip: Do not underestimate the power of good socks and boots.) there are endless ways to get out and have fun in the winter. There are also many Indoor Things to Do for days that are a little too chilly or you’re looking for something new somewhere that you can stay warm. 

We’re sure you’re going to love it here! Be sure to follow us on Facebook and sign up for our newsletter to stay in the know about the best places to go and things to do.