The Packers and Beyond: 21 Fun Things to Do in Green Bay Wisconsin With and Without Kids

The writer was hosted.

While Green Bay may be most famous for football, there is so much more to this small Wisconsin city. You’ll find a wide variety of fun things to do in Green Bay, Wisconsin. And, because you’ll need a place to sleep and eat when you’re visiting, our list includes recommendations on Wisconsin hotels and Green Bay restaurants.

Depending on your and your kid’s style, you might want to get as quirky as going to a WWE event with your kids or opt for a day at an amusement park instead. Whatever you’re into, we’ve got that and more covered with these 21 things to do in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

1. The Green Bay Packers 

You can’t go to Green Bay and NOT pay homage to the Packers. After all, Green Bay is the smallest city in the USA that is home to a professional football team. And the town’s residents — frankly, the entire state’s residents as far as I can tell — are serious Packers fans.

Going to a Packers home game is the ultimate way to celebrate the only professional football team owned by fans. But there are many other ways:

2. Lambeau Field

Even if you can’t score a game-day ticket, you can still experience the wonder of Lambeau Field, the home of the Green Bay Packers.

As a lifelong Chicago Bears fan (the Bears and Packers are arch-rivals in the NFL), I felt a little disloyal exploring inside this beautiful stadium. I was pressed for time, so I didn’t buy a stadium tour. Still, I would have liked a peek inside the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame, which is housed at Lambeau, along with the Packers Pro Shop.

Before you leave, take a “Lambeau Leap” on the bronze statue outside the field for your Instagram account.

3. Titletown

This massive development just west of Lambeau Field has free outdoor fun for the whole family. Events include weekly night markets, movies in the park, live music and more. There is a unique play area and full-size football field as well. In the winter months, this area boasts a huge man-made tubing hill and skating rink.

Read More: Everything You Need to Know about Titletown

4. Walk Through Packer History

There are two self-guided walking tours through decades of Packers history:

• The mile-long Oneida Nation Walk of Legends starts near Lambeau Field at the corner of Lombardi Avenue and South Oneida Street and continues east on Lombardi. There are also statues on the aptly named Bart Starr Drive, Reggie White Way, Tony Canadeo Run, Brett Favre Pass and Holmgren Way. The 24 granite and steel statues chronicle the legends of the team in consecutive order, with each statue depicting a single player or era in the team’s history.
• The Packers Heritage Trail starts at the Neville Public Museum and wanders past buildings and businesses in downtown Green Bay that had some connection to the team, with details spelled out on large bronze plaques.

5. National Railroad Museum

The highlight of a visit to the National Railroad Museum is, of course, a train ride. And the highlight of the 30-minute ride around the property is the volunteer docent’s insightful information about the hobos who used to ride the rails, including a stop where we learned about the graffiti they used to communicate important info to one another — such as which house in town might offer free lodging in return for a little work.

There’s also a museum with fascinating railroad history and some impressive restored railroad equipment in the huge exhibit hall. The centerpiece there is “Big Boy,” the world’s largest steam locomotive weighing in at 1.1 million pounds.

The museum offers special events throughout the year, such as a Thomas the Tank Engine event, a pumpkin ride in the fall and a Polar Express ride at Christmastime. But if you want to do that last one, you have to be quick. The 2023 Polar Express ride sold out in four hours.

6. Bay Beach Amusement Park

This retro amusement park along the shores of Green Bay is a real throwback to an earlier — and super affordable — time in the amusement park business. There is no admission fee and parking is free. Instead, you buy “ride tickets” for 25 cents each. Then all riders — even little ones riding on your lap — hand over one, two, three or four tickets to ride, depending on the ride.

The most expensive is the thrilling Zippin Pippin wooden roller coaster, which was reportedly Elvis Presley’s favorite coaster. It’s one of the oldest wooden coasters in America and costs just four tickets, or $1, per person to ride.

The amusement park has kiddie rides for the littles that take just one ticket. It has family rides, including the classics such as a Ferris wheel, Tilt-a-Whirl and bumper cars, most of which cost two or three tickets. And it has thrill rides, such as the Zippin Pippin, which take two to four tickets and have height requirements.

Bay Beach is open from May through September.

7. Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary

This beautiful wildlife refuge in northeastern Green Bay is across the street from Bay Beach Amusement Park. The sanctuary spans more than 700 acres and is the second-largest wildlife rehabilitation program in the state. More than 4,500 orphaned or injured animals are in the care of the Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary.

There are miles of hiking trails with wildlife viewing areas to walk in the warmer months. During the winter, the trails are transformed for cross-country skiing.

You can take a self-guided bird-watching hike, fish in the Bay Beach lagoon, or take a class or guided hike.

8. See a Waterfall

Green Bay might be a 12-hour drive from America’s most famous waterfall, Niagara Falls, but it has its own falls, albeit on a much smaller scale and generally only in the springtime.

Wequiock Falls County Park is home to a small waterfall in Wequiock Creek in the spring, although it dries up in the summer. Located along Highway 57, the park is equipped with tables, restrooms, drinking water and ample parking.

Fonferek’s Glen County Park is home to a 30-foot waterfall in the spring (the falls tend to dry up in the summer and during a drought). The falls can be viewed from a designated overlook constructed in 2019. Note that the park closes at sunset; if you’re not out in time, you risk being locked in overnight.

SheBuysTravel Tip: Plan to arrive early at Fonferek’s Glen to get a place to park. Once the parking lot is full, you’re out of luck. Parking is not allowed on the surrounding streets.

9. Taste the Best Kringle in North America

This recommendation comes from SheBuysTravel contributor Jenn Mitchell. She says, “Before my visit to Green Bay, I had no idea what a Kringle was. But now I know that it’s part Scandinavian pastry, part sweet pretzel  – and all good!”

Uncle Mike’s Bake Shoppe won the North American Kringle Competition for its Sea Salt Caramel Pecan Kringle. It is to-die-for if you like sweets. The shop also sells delicious homemade breads, cakes, cookies and donuts. Come on a weekday if you can. Lines are out the door on weekends.

10. Green Bay Botanical Garden 

The 47-acre Green Bay Botanical Garden showcases more than 98,000 plants from Wisconsin and beyond.

Even if you’re not visiting with kids, head to the 2.5-acre Carol and Bruce Bell Children’s Garden to use the Hobbit House bathroom. If you are traveling with kids, bring an extra set of clothes on hot days — they will want to play in the water at the splash pad.

The garden is a 100% community-supported nonprofit whose mission is “to connect people with plants by providing year-round educational and recreational experiences for everyone in an environment that engages, inspires, and refreshes.”

Check the website before your trip to Green Bay to see what special events and exhibits will be happening during your visit — it might be a concert, storytime, a harvesting workshop or some other interesting and unique experience.

And winter doesn’t stop Wisconsites from playing outside, so there’s no reason for it to stop you either. The Garden hosts a nature-inspired holiday light show, WPS Garden of Lights. It’s also a great spot for another favorite Wisconsin wintertime activity, snowshoeing.

11. Feed a Giraffe at the NEW Zoo & Adventure Park

The NEW Zoo is located in nearby Suamico and well worth the day trip from Green Bay. It’s home to more than 200 animals. If it’s available on the day you visit, don’t miss the chance to feed a giraffe. There’s nothing quite like it. You hold up a piece of lettuce and soon enough, that big old tonque reaches out, wraps around the lettuce and pulls it from your hand.

The adventure park has a dual racing zip line 1,025 feet long, an aerial ropes course and a rock climbing tower. It’s open seasonally in the summer. In the winter, it’s the place to rent snowshoes, cross-country skis and fat tire bikes.

The most thrilling way to get from the Adventure Park to the zoo is via the Canopy Tour — a 30-minute treetop walk along narrow suspension bridges.

SheBuysTravel Tip: If you are a member of your local zoo, check whether you can get free admission to The NEW Zoo through the AZA reciprocating program.

12. Peruse a Farmers Market

When I visited Wisconsin, a local told me, “We’ve been doing farm-to-table so long that we just call it dinner.” Certainly, the agricultural underpinnings of the state can be found everywhere, but nowhere quite as clearly as a seasonal farmers market.

In Green Bay, there are markets on Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday. And, yes, you can get plenty of the freshest locally-grown fruits and vegetables. But this is Wisconsin, so you’ll also find a huge variety of locally-made cheeses. Don’t miss the chance to eat a fresh cheese curd. They squeak when you bite into them.

13. Taste Wine at a Haunted Winery

Take a drive along the Lake Michigan shoreline to the town of Algoma where you can take a winery tour at von Stiehl Winery. There is supposedly a ghost in the wine cave. Some visitors see a spooky shadow or light in their photos.

Jenn Mitchell recommends a wine tasting here, then heading next door to the Ahnapee Brewery where she found interesting flavors like Birthday Cake Ale. Stop along the shore for beach combing and an iconic photo at the Algoma Pierhead Light.

14. Oneida Nation Reservation

The Oneida people relocated to northeastern Wisconsin from upstate New York after the Revolutionary War, when the Native American Nation lost nearly 5 million acres of their homeland to the birth of the United States and the state of New York. In 1838, a treaty established the 65,400-acre Oneida Indian Reservation along Duck Creek, just west of Green Bay.

Stop in at the Oneida Museum to learn about the Nation’s way of life and take one of the tours to learn about the culture and see what life was like in the 1700s for the local people. It’s also the place to see the annual Oneida Pow Wow each summer.

Don’t leave without perusing the gift shop. It’s filled with contemporary Oneida and Iroquois arts and crafts, music, books and DVDs, corn husk dolls, beadwork, jewelry, clothing and fine arts.

15. Explore the Public Art

The city is filled with Instagrammable spots, in alleyways, under bridges, in abandoned lots or on the side of local businesses. The sites are all listed in this guide to the murals.

16. The Automobile Gallery

This is the place to see a 1981 DeLorean — the car that blasted Michael J. Fox “Back to the Future” — and more than 70 other classic cars. Located in a former Cadillac dealership in downtown Green Bay, The Automobile Gallery has more than 18,000 square feet of indoor event and gallery space. The cars on display range from a 1912 Maxwell to a 2015 Cadillac CTS-V.

17. Stroll the Boardwalk at Crescent Beach

Even those of us who grew up swimming in Lake Michigan think it’s a little chilly to take a dip except on the hottest summer days. But it’s always lovely to walk along the Lake Michigan shoreline to watch the water and snap photos of the iconic red Algoma Pierhead Lighthouse.

The half-mile boardwalk is handicap-accessible. It stretches from the Algoma Visitor Center to the Algoma Marina.

Even during the winter, the beach is an attraction thanks to the amazing ice shelf formations that stack up along the shore. Just remember to wear your warmest coat to ward off the stiff winds blowing in from the lake.

18. The Children’s Museum of Green Bay

The Children’s Museum is conveniently located across the street from Bay Beach Amusement Park. Exhibits allow kids to build with LEGOs and Tinker Toys, pretend to shop at a farmers market, order a burger at a diner and more.

19. Neville Public Museum of Brown County

This art, history, and science museum started in 1915 in the basement of the local library as a one-week exhibit showcasing Green Bay history. Today, it has more than one million objects that tell the history of Northeast Wisconsin and the United States.

20. Heritage Hill State Historical Park

This 56-acre living history state park sits on the banks of the Fox River. Reenactors and living history interpreters bring to life the history of Northeastern Wisconsin and its people.

The 26 buildings onsite showcase more than 9,000 artifacts, including original artwork, books, clothing and furnishings dating from the 17th century to the present.

21. Hazelwood Historic House Museum

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Greek revival Hazelwood House was built by Morgan L. Martin for his wife Elizabeth Smith Martin in 1837. The Martin family lived in the house until 1931. A visit there tells the story of Green Bay’s growth from a frontier settlement to a bustling community.

Green Bay Wisconsin Restaurants

Working your way through this list of fun things to do in Green Bay is bound to work up an appetite. Here’s our list of Green Bay restaurants to try.

Hinterland Brewery

1001 Lombardi Ave.
Green Bay

The outdoor space at this craft brewery sits in the shadow of Lambeau Field. While it’s a craft brewery — and the beer is really good — it’s also a restaurant with an urban Wisconsin vibe. There are two wood-burning fireplaces, a display kitchen and garage doors that open to an outdoor patio where you can eat, drink and watch the Packers faithful make their pilgrimage to Lambeau.

Menus change daily. The commitment to local and sustainable is manifest via direct relationships with fishermen in Honolulu; Seattle; and Portland, Maine, who ship in fresh catch daily, and with local famers and ranchers to source fresh meat and vegetables.

The result is a menu filled with unique entrees such as blackened barramundi, Highland venison meatloaf and vegetarian pan noodles — the very yummy dish I ordered. And, of course, you’ll find the requisite Wisconsin staple: cheese curds.

Chefusion

307 N Broadway #2701
Green Bay

Open for dinner only Tuesday through Saturday, this is a don’t-miss gastronomic treasure. Choose from “small plates” (which I highly recommend — Wisconsin portions are LARGE) or a three-course prix fixe dinner that allows you to choose one item from the dinner menu, one from the small plate menu and a dessert.

The options are stunningly varied — the multi-page menu is filled with small print listing dinners ranging from Waygu beef to lobster and pork belly carbonara to seared scallops with strawberry lemon curd.

The menu has an equally dense page of craft cocktails. I ordered one of the mixologist’s weekly creations, a Cucumbersome — a refreshing mix of Hendrick’s gin, fresh squeezed lime and muddled cucumber.

Chive’s Restaurant

1749 Riverside Drive
Suamico, WI

This quaint restaurant is located in a historic building in nearby Suamico. It offers choices for everyone like burgers, sandwiches and pasta. But it also has a choice of delectable specialty items each day. Jenn Mitchell visited and says the shoestring Chive Fries alone are worth the visit. She enjoyed the Ultimate BLT with Pecan Smoked Bacon, Baby Greens, Tomato, Avocado & Mayo.

Plae Bistro

1671 Hoffman Road, Suite 10
Green Bay

A favorite restaurant of Green Bay locals, this neighborhood bistro serves contemporary American cuisine. It serves a diverse menu with HUGE portions so be prepared to arrive with an empty stomach or share with a friend. Jenn loved the grouper cakes with apricot curry sauce and the grilled salmon salad.

Taverne in the Sky  

1950 South Ridge Road
Green Bay

This restaurant is located on the 5th floor of Lodge Kohler with panoramic views of Lambeau Field. The eatery specializes in modern rotisserie cuisine and features an excellent wine selection. How about a Roast Prime Rib and Brie Flatbread? Yum! Finish with an after-dinner drink featuring one of Kohler’s own signature Chocolate Brandies. There is also a children’s menu so bring the whole family.

Hotels in Green Bay, Wisconsin

Depending on your interest and budget, there’s a variety of great places to stay.

Read More: Luxury Wisconsin hotels that make your stay comfy and memorable.

Lodge Kohler

The premiere hotel in town is definitely Lodge Kohler. This newcomer was opened in 2017 across the street from Lambeau field in the heart of Titletown. Rooms are spacious and comfortable. You will truly not want to leave the Kohler 3-headed shower. Suites are great for families, girlfriend getaways and tailgating fans. The patio suite is the perfect place for a pre-game barbecue. The property also includes a spa with signature services like hydrotherapy massages.

The Astor House

For a romantic getaway, this location is ideal. The home was built in 1888 with five distinctive rooms with private baths. Most have whirlpool tubs and gas fireplaces. After a good night’s sleep, a delicious breakfast is served in the parlor or can be delivered to your door.

Home2 Suites by Hilton

This hotel is also close to Titletown and is a great value for families. The one-bedroom king suite has a kitchen, dining area and sleeper sofa. There is also an indoor pool and workout room. Breakfast is included in the room price. There’s even an outdoor patio where you can barbecue.

Green Bay Wisconsin FAQs

Where is Green Bay WI?

The city of Green Bay is Wisconsin’s oldest settlement. It’s located in northeast Wisconsin at the southern tip of Green Bay, a sub-basin of Lake Michigan. About 90 miles north of Milwaukee, it’s the third-largest city in the state. Served by a number of major airlines, the airport (Austin Straubel International) is conveniently located only 10-15 minutes from Downtown Green Bay.

When is the Best Time of Year to Visit Green Bay?

Summer is the best all-around time to visit Green Bay. The Greater Green Bay events calendar is chock full of activities from June through September.

If you’re an American football fan, the fall is the best time to visit, when the thrill of a Packers victory is in the air.

Spring comes late this far north in Wisconsin, but it’s a beautiful time of the year to visit.

While there are a number of Green Bay attractions that are open year-round, visiting in the winter requires a really good coat! The rabid Packers fans and ice fishing enthusiasts aren’t deterred by a little cold weather, but the rest of us should keep in mind that the Packers once played a game — in their OUTDOOR stadium — when the wind chill temperature plummeted to 46 F below zero. The game is famously known as the Ice Bowl. 46 Below, a bistro in Titletown, is named in honor of that 1967 game.