Not to be cheesy, but there’s a lot to love about Green Bay, Wisconsin. From the friendly locals and the great food (hello, cheese curds!), to the beautiful scenery and the enthusiasm for sports (go Pack go!), you better brie-lieve this city near Lake Michigan is absolutely grate!
All cheese puns aside, Green Bay really IS a great place for families looking for a Midwestern vacation destination. There’s so much to do and explore! Here are some things to check out when you visit Green Bay with your family.
Start Your Trip at the Visitor’s Center
Did you know that Green Bay is the Toilet Paper Capital of the World? When you visit the Discover Green Bay Visitor Center, you’ll learn interesting facts like this about the area. It’s also worth it to pop into the visitor center to chat with the friendly people who work there and learn how to make the most of your visit. There’s just so much to do, see and experience in Green Bay and the surrounding communities! If for no other reason, you should visit to play a free game of Skee-Ball, a popular game that originated just outside of Green Bay.
Tour Lambeau Field
To say that Green Bay loves the Packers is an understatement. Packers season tickets have been sold out since the 1960s, and the waiting list is long … often generations long! The average visitor might not be able to see a Packers home game at Lambeau Field. But you can certainly tour Lambeau Field, the NFL’s oldest continually operating stadium and an American sports icon.
On a guided tour, you’ll learn about the history of the Packers, the only non-profit, community-owned major league professional sports team in the U.S. Get a behind-the-scenes look at the stadium’s locations, explore the legendary venue, and travel through the player’s tunnel to end up on the edge of the field. The tours are great for all ages, including kids.
Afterward, stop at the Packers Pro Shop, where you’ll find thousands of Packers-related gifts and gadgets for all ages … including the iconic Cheesehead!
Explore Titletown District
Titletown District is the place to be in Green Bay. Within sight of Lambeau Field, Titletown is a space to play, stay, eat and relax, and it’s the perfect spot that families can visit for hours.
Families will definitely want to explore the Shopko Optical Playground, which features several areas geared toward kids of different ages. Play on the huge playground, check out the football-inspired equipment and field, and sprint on the popular 40-yard dash. This multi-acre park is open year-round, with a summer night market during the warmer months, and ice skating and snow tubing on Ariens Hill during the winter months.
Get Out on the Water
Water sport enthusiasts will find a lot to love about Green Bay. Located on Lake Michigan and surrounded by rivers, Green Bay offers lots of opportunities for families to splash, paddle and fish.
One way to see Green Bay is by boat. Green Bay Sail & Paddle offers families opportunities to sail and kayak, no matter your level of experience or ability. On the weekends, you can rent kayaks and sail boats in two-hour time periods, then cruise the coast of Green Bay’s southern bay.
In De Pere, explore the Fox River by renting a kayak from Scott’s Sports, then paddle the waters and see the American White pelicans and other birds that call this place home. This area is the northern-most lock on the Fox River system, and the gateway to charming downtown East De Pere.
Even if being in the water isn’t your thing, you’ll want to walk along the De Pere Riverwalk and Wildlife Viewing Park, which includes paved walking and strolling trails that wind around the Fox River. The riverwalk extends to a pier, where you can look out onto the river and see the rushing dam.
Play the Day Away
If your kids are like most, what they really want to do is play at a playground. Luckily, Green Bay has some pretty neat public playgrounds that are free and designed for all ages.
Voyageur Park, located just steps from the De Pere Riverwalk, is a nice playground by the water. You’ll find swings (including two-person swings and swings with harnesses), a jungle gym with slides, bridges, mini rock wall and lots of places to climb. Also super neat: The jungle gym has a ramp so people with wheelchairs can access it. There’s a merry-go-round, musical instruments, a pretend pirate ship and lots more.
Marilyn’s Oasis is a playground located just west of Bay Beach Amusement Park. Of course, a visit to Bay Beach Amusement Park is always a good idea! But if you happen to visit Green Bay when Bay Beach is closed (it’s open late May through mid-August), Marylin’s Oasis is a fun and free alternative that’s open year-round.
This all-inclusive playground has a mostly rubberized surface, with lots of different playground equipment areas for all to enjoy. The park has three zip lines, musical instruments, wheelchair-accessible ramps up to the jungle gym, slides, swings, a merry-go-round with a zero-depth entry, and lots of other unique features.
Eat All the Cheese Curds
Curd’s the word in Green Bay. These fried, delightfully bite-sized nuggets of cheese that squeak between your teeth are everywhere, and you’ll find a version of cheese curds on the menu of many restaurants, from fast-food joints to upscale bistros.
Cedar & Sage Grill House, located on a Native American reservation, draws inspiration for its menu from the Oneida Nation, by using indigenous and regional ingredients. Their version of cheese curds (top left) are crusted with Oneida corn and served with green goddess sauce and chipotle aioli. A short drive away in lakeside Algoma, visit Three Eleven Bar and Bistro to find curds (top right) made from local cheese. (And while you’re there, try the roasted beet salad!) At Nicky’s Lionhead Tavern in nearby De Pere, enjoy your cheese curds (bottom left) while taking in the old-school ambiance of this college-town hangout. And at Hinterland Brewery, located just steps away from Lambeau Field in Green Bay’s Titletown District, enjoy an order of cheese curds (bottom right) while cheering on the Packers. The two just go together!
Enjoy a Kid-Free Night Out
Vacationing with children can be fun. But sometimes, the grown-ups need some kid-free time! If you’re able to sneak away for an evening (or even a few hours) without the kids, consider one of these grown-ups-only places.
Von Stiehl Winery
Located in Algoma in a historic Civil War-era building, Von Stiehl is Wisconsin’s oldest licensed winery. Enjoy a wine tasting at the bar, or hang out at the cider and spirits cottage next door. Be sure to book a tour, where you can see the ins and outs of wine-making … and perhaps see a ghost (the building is supposedly haunted!)!
Stillmank Brewing
It’s a brewery, it’s a cidery, it’s a meadery! Stillmank makes all of their beers, hard ciders, hard seltzers and mead, and you can order a flight of different kinds and sample your heart out. This is a brewery and tasting room only, so no food available, but there is a foosball table!
Cocoon Brewing
So, parents’ night out didn’t work out and you couldn’t get away from the kids. No problem! Cocoon Brewing is one place that the whole family can enjoy and will feel like you’re still having a PNO. Situated on four acres, the outdoor space at Cocoon Brewing was built to be a carefree backyard, with an expansive lawn perfect for playing on, and cocoon-like structures for small groups. Inside the restaurant, you’ll find lots of long, communal tables that are perfect for large groups, and a big selection of games to borrow and play at your table. And the food? You’ll definitely want to get one of Cocoon’s signature brick-fired pizzas.
