Beyond Legendary

Explore downtown

Just a few short miles from the South Bay Marina you will find the heart of Green Bay — the Downtown District. This area is booming with fun things to do, cool things to see, and a diverse selection of locally owned restaurants to tempt your taste buds.

For a family-friendly adventure, start with a visit to the Neville Public Museum. In the permanent Generations Gallery, you can experience Green Bay’s preserved history, dating back more than a century. From fossils to footballs, you will get a chance to see it all, with several hands-on displays for kids who want to engage with the exhibits.

After the museum, why not see some of the public art on display throughout the district? You’ll really get a sense of the city’s culture as you take in the dozens of murals, sculptures, monuments, statues and mosaics, all thoughtfully created by talented local artists.

Of course, all of this learning and exploring will make you hungry. For a casual meal, check out White Dog, Cheesesteak Rebellion or Jake’s Pizza. For something a little more elevated, try Angelina Restaurant, Republic Chophouse or Chefusion.

After your meal, stroll along the quarter-mile CityDeck, which stretches along the Fox River. On certain Friday nights throughout the summer, the CityDeck hosts outdoor concerts, and you can tie up your boat along the riverwalk to listen and explore downtown.

Calling all cheeseheads!

If you’re a fan of the Green Bay Packers, you’ll definitely want to set aside some time to check out the Stadium District. Located in the vibrant suburb of Ashwaubenon, this area is only about 3.5 miles away from downtown Green Bay.

The Green Bay Packers have played their home games at Lambeau Field since 1957, which makes it the oldest stadium with an NFL team in continuous residence. But it’s so much more than just a football stadium — it’s a shrine to professional football in the NFL’s smallest city.

Unlike many NFL stadiums, Lambeau Field is open year-round to visitors. It’s home to the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame, Packers Pro Shop and 1919 Kitchen & Tap. Guided stadium tours are offered daily, except for on home game days. This behind-the-scenes experience is your chance to walk in the footsteps of generations of Green Bay Packers greats.

After your visit to Lambeau, head across the street to explore Titletown, a community park located just west of the stadium. In the winter, visitors can enjoy the ice skating rink and snow tubing hill. In the summer, there are free outdoor games, a huge playground, and a full-size football field to challenge your friends and test your skills.

Make family memories

Greater Green Bay is home to dozens of family-friendly attractions but the top three — aside from Lambeau Field, of course — are Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary, Bay Beach Amusement Park and Green Bay Botanical Garden.

Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary is an urban wildlife refuge located less than two miles from the South Bay Marina. It’s an amazing place where you can connect with nature, see live animals and interact with educational exhibits in the Nature Center. The sanctuary is open year-round and there’s no admission fee. The only thing you’ll pay for is a bag of corn to feed the ducks!

Just across the street from the wildlife sanctuary is Bay Beach Amusement Park. In its early days, it was primarily a dance hall and swimming beach. These days, it’s an extremely popular amusement park with two Ferris wheels, bumper cars, tilt-a-whirl, a giant slide, and the famous Zippin’ Pippin’ Roller Coaster… just to name a few. The best part? Ride tickets only cost $0.25, so it’s a great way to spend an afternoon in the summer without breaking the bank.

Finally, the Green Bay Botanical Garden is a great outdoor destination for nature lovers of all ages. The garden features 98,000 plants from Wisconsin and around the world spread over 47 beautiful acres. It has year-round programming and special exhibits that you won’t want to miss, and its newly opened Bell Children’s Garden has tons of opportunities for young ones to engage in age-appropriate multi-sensory play.

Beyond legendary

Whether you’re all about exploring the outdoors, discovering hidden gems, or hitting up some local events, there’s something here for everyone.

“Visiting Green Bay means pulling up a chair, pouring a drink and making new friends,” Nick Meisner says. “There’s no subway to catch or traffic to beat. Just four beautiful seasons and some of the friendliest faces around.”

From football to sailing, cheese curds to burrata, bike trails to public art, Green Bay is a unique place that deserves a spot on your “must-visit” list of waterfront destinations. Spend a day here and you’ll see why everyone refers to the city as “beyond legendary.”