Things to Do in Appleton
Appleton Things To Do Guide
Regardless of the time of year, there are always plenty of fun things to do in Appleton. During the summer months, an abundance of hiking trails, nature preserves, and parks are the ideal setting for outdoor adventures. When the weather turns cold, Appleton activities switch gears and transform into skiing, ice fishing, and hockey in the winter wonderland. Families can tour educational and historical museums or amp up the energy at an amusement park. Beat boredom any time of year with the exciting stuff to do in Appleton.
Nestled next to Lake Winnebago, Appleton is home to a variety of parks, nature preserves, and stunning natural beauty. Hike the trails in High Cliff State Park and absorb the wonder of the rugged and natural surroundings. With a 100-boat slip marina, visitors can enjoy views of the limestone cliffs from the water or by land. The Heckrodt Wetland Reserve is a popular Appleton activity for students and adults alike, due to the abundant wildlife, breathtaking botany, and educational activities.
When the snow starts to fall, as it does frequently during the winter months, cold weather Appleton activities abound. Take in the splendor of the season with free outdoor ice skating at Appleton Memorial Park, Erb Park or Jones Park. Many of the parks, including High Cliff State Park, are open year-round to accommodate cross-country skiers and snowshoeing lovers. At the Family Ice Center, lessons and free skating are available indoors for figure skaters and hockey players.
There are a host of Appleton attractions for families that are offered all year. Learn more about the history of the area at The History Museum at the Castle, which hosts a Houdini exhibit, or let the little ones run amok in The Building for Kids, an interactive children’s museum. For the serious shopping enthusiasts, the Fox River Mall is the largest mall in the area.
Things to Do Deals
Appleton Family Ice Center
- Appleton
Skaters glide across new ice and slake thirst with sodas; birthday parties include decorations and hot dogs or pizza for up to 10 guests
Pro Fitness, Inc.
- Green Bay
Fitness professionals give one-on-one guidance during personal-training sessions as members lift and run their way to health
Fitness Renegades
- Ashwaubenon
Renegade Rookies teaches basics workout moves, from pull-ups to squats; youth classes cover the same ground at a lower intensity
Barlow Planetarium
- Menasha
10,000-watt sound system and 48 ft. projection screen showcase educational programs and laser light shows set to classic tunes
Maple Lanes
- South Business Drive
Two hours of bowling on one or two lanes at an alley that also features sand volleyball courts and a golf simulator
Recommended Things to Do by Groupon Customers
The crunch of fallen leaves or packed snow telegraphs the motions of warriors hidden in the underbrush on the outdoor fields at Commando Paintball Sports. Paintballs whisper through the air, flitting out from the barrels of Tippmann FT-12 or Piranha markers. The projectiles splatter against two-story forts or hollowed-out vehicles on the three wooded fields, which stay open year-round in almost any weather. On the urban combat field, patrons take cover in any of 20 buildings, including a three-story bell tower perfect for getting a birds-eye-view of opponents. Those seeking tournament-style play compete in a hyperball field designed by expert players. Laser tag keeps clothing clean while still eliciting floods of adrenaline.
Resting beneath natural light from the skylights mounted above it, the hulking figure of the 1.2 million-pound Union Pacific Big Boy cloaks visitors in a shadow that stretches for nearly 50 yards. As guests ascend the monstrous cab of this steam locomotive, they enter the centerpiece of the National Railroad Museum, a chamber echoing with more than 150 years of American railroading history.
After exiting Big Boy, guests can view a computer-generated porter that recounts how African-American rail workers formed the nation's first all-black labor union, and another stop invites passengers to view inside a portion of General Eisenhower's WWII command train. Elsewhere in the museum, various collections are housed with more than 15,000 photographs, archives such as maps and engineering drawings, and more than 5,000 artifacts including uniforms and tools.
The National Railroad Museum has over 60 pieces of rolling stock, including diesel, steam, and electric locomotives, and passenger and freight cars. Among these are some of the most influential and unique pieces in railroading history, including a number of items that pertain to the state of Wisconsin.
Other must-sees of the museum include General Motors’ experimental Aerotrain; the streamlined Pennsylvania Railroad No. 4890, a GG-1 electric locomotive; and the Frederick Bauer Drumhead Collection, the largest, single collection of railroad drumheads known to exist in the United States. Most facilities are accessible, except where rolling stock cannot be altered due to their historic nature. The Museum’s train ride is accessible, and a wheelchair lift is available.
A train ride is offered on a daily basis from May through September and guided tours are available from Memorial Day to Labor Day. The Museum also hosts a variety of special events for all ages.
The instructors at First Coast Golf Academy help their students attain a better swing by first establishing fundamentals and building an impeccable stroke from there. Whether a player is a newcomer to the game or a longtime enthusiast in need of minor tweaks, lessons begin by reviewing proper club grip. Next, the instructor moves on to correct posture and alignment, key components that must be addressed prior to beginning any backswing or political campaign. Once pupils have a solid base, the instructor makes tweaks to the swing in a logical, easy-to-follow manner.
