WEBVTT
1
00:00:01.629 --> 00:00:05.129
I'm Johnny Mac, and travel is back. Today's episode is
2
00:00:05.190 --> 00:00:09.810
powered by AI. Hey, we made it to Green Bay, Wisconsin.
3
00:00:10.230 --> 00:00:12.750
If you're thinking, yeah, yeah, football, you're not wrong, but
4
00:00:12.890 --> 00:00:14.900
here's the thing. You can have a great time here
5
00:00:14.980 --> 00:00:17.359
without ever stepping into a stadium. You can walk the river,
6
00:00:17.460 --> 00:00:19.679
eat very well, ride a wooden coaster that still makes
7
00:00:19.719 --> 00:00:21.899
grown-ups giggle, and get out into a surprising amount of
8
00:00:21.960 --> 00:00:24.899
nature within a short drive. It's a friendly, unfussy city
9
00:00:24.920 --> 00:00:27.280
where you show up in jeans, order the Friday fish fry,
10
00:00:27.320 --> 00:00:30.629
and you're basically a local by dessert. Start downtown along
11
00:00:30.649 --> 00:00:33.090
the Fox River. You can park easily around Washington Street,
12
00:00:33.149 --> 00:00:35.390
then just head for the water. The City Deck is
13
00:00:35.409 --> 00:00:38.270
your front porch. It runs along the river with wide planks, benches,
14
00:00:38.310 --> 00:00:40.179
and those big steps where people sit with coffee and
15
00:00:40.219 --> 00:00:42.399
watch boats slide by. It's right in the middle of things,
16
00:00:42.780 --> 00:00:45.280
but it doesn't feel hectic. When you're ready to fuel up,
17
00:00:45.359 --> 00:00:48.060
duck over to Kavarna on Broadway for a straightforward good
18
00:00:48.100 --> 00:00:50.240
cup of coffee and a breakfast sandwich that won't make
19
00:00:50.270 --> 00:00:51.990
a mess of your day. If you're in on a
20
00:00:52.030 --> 00:00:55.170
Wednesday evening in summer, the Farmers Market on Broadway takes
21
00:00:55.210 --> 00:00:57.609
over several blocks with produce stands, food trucks, and a
22
00:00:57.649 --> 00:01:00.369
beer stand that keeps things lively without going to 11
23
00:01:00.369 --> 00:01:03.090
if you're here on a Saturday morning instead. The downtown
24
00:01:03.159 --> 00:01:07.420
Farmers Market on South Washington Street is more your scene. Bread, cheese, flowers,
25
00:01:07.480 --> 00:01:09.420
the works. It's just a good way to get your
26
00:01:09.439 --> 00:01:11.239
bearings and figure out what looks fun for the rest
27
00:01:11.280 --> 00:01:13.909
of the day. Look up as you walk. The Broadway
28
00:01:13.950 --> 00:01:16.670
District and Old Main have colorful murals tucked on side
29
00:01:16.719 --> 00:01:19.599
streets and back walls. If you wander Dousman Street near
30
00:01:19.640 --> 00:01:22.620
the old train depot, you'll find Titletown Brewing in that
31
00:01:22.680 --> 00:01:25.480
handsome brick building. Grab a seat if the weather's cooperating.
32
00:01:25.519 --> 00:01:27.780
Their rooftop offers one of the better sunset views of
33
00:01:27.819 --> 00:01:30.239
the river and the bridge. If beer's not your thing,
34
00:01:30.359 --> 00:01:33.879
there's Hagemeister Park right on city deck. Big patio, easy menu,
35
00:01:33.900 --> 00:01:36.219
and those lovely late-day light streaks on the water. The
36
00:01:36.239 --> 00:01:39.560
downtown feels manageable. You're not dodging honking taxis or weaving
37
00:01:39.579 --> 00:01:42.140
through tour groups. You can go from a museum to
38
00:01:42.180 --> 00:01:45.120
a bakery in five minutes. Berenson's Candies is an old-school
39
00:01:45.159 --> 00:01:47.140
spot not far from Broadway if you want to sneak
40
00:01:47.189 --> 00:01:49.769
in a sea salt caramel. And when the evening cool
41
00:01:49.810 --> 00:01:52.129
settles in, find a bench on City Deck and watch
42
00:01:52.170 --> 00:01:54.930
the lights come on across the Ray Nitschke Memorial Bridge.
43
00:01:55.209 --> 00:01:58.290
It's a mellow, very Green Bay scene. Here's your move
44
00:01:58.329 --> 00:02:00.069
if you like to keep the legs moving. Hop on
45
00:02:00.109 --> 00:02:03.390
the Fox River State Trail. It starts basically downtown and
46
00:02:03.430 --> 00:02:05.870
slides south for miles along the river through Alaues and
47
00:02:05.909 --> 00:02:08.530
into De Pere, then keeps going if you've got the stamina.
48
00:02:08.710 --> 00:02:10.979
It's paved for a good stretch, flat, and you'll get
49
00:02:11.020 --> 00:02:14.080
that steady soundtrack of geese honking and bike tires humming.
50
00:02:14.319 --> 00:02:16.500
If you don't have a bike, several local shops rent them,
51
00:02:16.620 --> 00:02:18.259
or you can keep it simple and just go for
52
00:02:18.300 --> 00:02:21.180
a long, easy walk. As you head into De Pere,
53
00:02:21.219 --> 00:02:24.699
the vibe shifts to small-town charming. Cross the bridge there
54
00:02:24.740 --> 00:02:27.400
and drop down to the Riverwalk. There's a short boardwalk
55
00:02:27.500 --> 00:02:29.159
out to an island near the dam with a little
56
00:02:29.219 --> 00:02:32.370
observation tower. You can watch the river rush over the locks,
57
00:02:32.449 --> 00:02:35.030
and if you're here in spring or fall, see fish jumping.
58
00:02:35.210 --> 00:02:37.430
Voyager Park is right on the east side of the bridge,
59
00:02:37.490 --> 00:02:39.750
with wide lawns great for a picnic and a playground
60
00:02:39.770 --> 00:02:42.219
if you've got kids burning off energy. If you prefer
61
00:02:42.259 --> 00:02:44.840
your rivertime with less pedaling and more narration, look for
62
00:02:44.900 --> 00:02:48.280
Rivertime Cruises. They run vintage-style boat tours up and down
63
00:02:48.300 --> 00:02:51.159
the Fox with an easygoing guide pointing out the industry history,
64
00:02:51.210 --> 00:02:53.449
the lock system, and some offhand stories about the old
65
00:02:53.490 --> 00:02:55.530
paper mills. It's the sort of ride where you end
66
00:02:55.569 --> 00:02:57.569
up chatting with the folks at the next table, and
67
00:02:57.569 --> 00:02:59.909
20 minutes later you know which supper club they swear
68
00:02:59.949 --> 00:03:02.050
by and which custard stand has the best flavor of
69
00:03:02.069 --> 00:03:04.370
the day. Bring a light jacket. There's always a breeze
70
00:03:04.409 --> 00:03:06.750
on the water, even on a warm day. Back on land,
71
00:03:06.770 --> 00:03:08.729
you can loop your ride or walk by crossing one
72
00:03:08.750 --> 00:03:11.439
of the bridges and returning on the opposite bank. The
73
00:03:11.460 --> 00:03:14.219
west side around Lake Memorial Park is big sky open
74
00:03:14.240 --> 00:03:16.879
with a stage that hosts free summer concerts. The east
75
00:03:16.900 --> 00:03:19.840
side's city deck is more sit and watch. Flip a coin,
76
00:03:20.250 --> 00:03:22.710
or better, do both. You'll pick up on the rhythm
77
00:03:22.750 --> 00:03:25.669
of the city either way. Mornings feel calm, evenings are
78
00:03:25.710 --> 00:03:27.469
all about the glow off the water and a few
79
00:03:27.490 --> 00:03:30.469
guitars tuning up. You can't talk Green Bay fun without
80
00:03:30.509 --> 00:03:32.569
spending a chunk of time at Bay Beach. It's north
81
00:03:32.610 --> 00:03:34.590
of downtown, right on the bay, and you'll know you're
82
00:03:34.610 --> 00:03:36.789
there because the whole place looks like an old postcard
83
00:03:36.830 --> 00:03:39.550
come to life. Bay Beach Amusement Park keeps it simple.
84
00:03:39.650 --> 00:03:42.520
Classic rides, short lines, and tickets that still cost around
85
00:03:42.539 --> 00:03:45.819
a quarter. The Zippin' Pippin' is the crown jewel, a
86
00:03:45.860 --> 00:03:48.020
wooden coaster that rattles and dips just enough to make
87
00:03:48.060 --> 00:03:50.199
you laugh and maybe scream a little. It's four tickets,
88
00:03:50.259 --> 00:03:52.300
so you're on for about a buck. When you can
89
00:03:52.340 --> 00:03:55.060
ride a legit historic coaster for pocket change, you do it.
90
00:03:55.150 --> 00:03:58.949
There's more. Ferris wheel, tilt-a-whirl, scrambler, kids rides, all that
91
00:03:58.990 --> 00:04:01.530
throwback stuff that doesn't try too hard. The crowds are
92
00:04:01.569 --> 00:04:03.990
mostly families and couples doing the nostalgia thing, and the
93
00:04:04.030 --> 00:04:06.219
snack stands go heavy on the popcorn and snow cones.
94
00:04:06.590 --> 00:04:09.400
You'll lose, and you'll ride anyway, and that's fine. Right
95
00:04:09.439 --> 00:04:11.979
across the street, the Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary is a
96
00:04:12.039 --> 00:04:14.159
change of pace in the best way. It's one of
97
00:04:14.180 --> 00:04:16.980
the largest urban wildlife rehab centers in the country, with
98
00:04:17.040 --> 00:04:19.480
miles of trails, ponds full of ducks and geese, and
99
00:04:19.519 --> 00:04:21.379
a nature center where you can get a quick primer
100
00:04:21.459 --> 00:04:24.339
on who's nesting where. You can circle the lagoon, spot herons,
101
00:04:24.399 --> 00:04:26.800
and if you're quiet, catch deer moving through the trees.
102
00:04:27.040 --> 00:04:29.480
It's free to enter, and it's open year-round. In winter,
103
00:04:29.519 --> 00:04:31.600
the ponds ice over, and the whole place turns hushed
104
00:04:31.720 --> 00:04:34.180
like a snow globe somebody shook once and set down carefully.
105
00:04:34.860 --> 00:04:37.199
Walk back to the shoreline after because Bay Beach Park
106
00:04:37.230 --> 00:04:40.370
itself gives you that wide, flat view straight across the water.
107
00:04:40.569 --> 00:04:43.189
The bay is calmer than Big Lake shoreline, so even
108
00:04:43.209 --> 00:04:45.410
a breezy day feels manageable. If you're the type who
109
00:04:45.430 --> 00:04:47.509
likes bringing a little bag of snacks, there's a long
110
00:04:47.560 --> 00:04:49.519
bench right where the light gets good late in the day.
111
00:04:49.699 --> 00:04:52.660
It's low drama. Big Sky, Wisconsin. You just sit and
112
00:04:52.680 --> 00:04:54.920
take in that slow changing horizon. You might not expect
113
00:04:54.959 --> 00:04:56.699
it in a midsize city, but Green Bay's got a
114
00:04:56.720 --> 00:04:58.579
string of green spaces that feel like you've gone out
115
00:04:58.610 --> 00:05:01.310
of town without actually going out of town. Baird Creek
116
00:05:01.329 --> 00:05:03.449
Greenway is a favorite. On the east side, a few
117
00:05:03.470 --> 00:05:05.889
minutes from downtown, it's a tangle of trails that wind
118
00:05:05.939 --> 00:05:08.800
along a creek through hills and tall trees. You'll see
119
00:05:08.860 --> 00:05:12.519
trail runners, dog walkers, and mountain bikers. Some sections get
120
00:05:12.579 --> 00:05:14.839
rooty and muddy after rain, so bring decent shoes, but
121
00:05:14.879 --> 00:05:16.750
the payoff is that you're under a full canopy of
122
00:05:16.810 --> 00:05:19.129
green in summer and a firework show of leaves in fall.
123
00:05:19.750 --> 00:05:21.750
There's a sledding hill in winter too if you're brave,
124
00:05:21.829 --> 00:05:24.209
if you want something a little more dramatic. Point your
125
00:05:24.250 --> 00:05:26.910
car to Fonforex Glen County Park. It's a short drive
126
00:05:26.949 --> 00:05:29.550
south and east into farmland, then suddenly you're walking along
127
00:05:29.589 --> 00:05:32.290
limestone ledges to a waterfall that roars in spring and
128
00:05:32.350 --> 00:05:34.730
scales back to a trickle in summer. There are posted
129
00:05:34.790 --> 00:05:37.250
signs about staying on the trails. That rock looks grippy,
130
00:05:37.290 --> 00:05:39.850
but it can crumble. Still, it's one of those places
131
00:05:39.889 --> 00:05:41.629
where you get out of the car and go, OK,
132
00:05:41.829 --> 00:05:44.129
I didn't see this coming. Bring water and maybe trek
133
00:05:44.149 --> 00:05:46.860
poles if your knees talk back now and then. North
134
00:05:46.889 --> 00:05:50.540
of the city, Barkhausen Waterfowl Preserve in Suamico gives you
135
00:05:50.620 --> 00:05:53.779
boardwalk trails through wetlands and woods with plenty of bird life.
136
00:05:54.540 --> 00:05:57.420
Spring and fall migrations are prime time. You'll hear a
137
00:05:57.459 --> 00:06:00.339
chattering chorus before you even see anything. It's quiet enough
138
00:06:00.379 --> 00:06:02.230
that you'll catch your own steps on the wood planks.
139
00:06:02.790 --> 00:06:04.730
Take bug spray in summer and a hat for the sun.
140
00:06:05.029 --> 00:06:07.110
The marsh doesn't provide much shade once you're out in
141
00:06:07.129 --> 00:06:08.790
the open stretches, and if you want a view with
142
00:06:08.829 --> 00:06:11.670
your picnic, Bayshore County Park sits on a bluff on
143
00:06:11.689 --> 00:06:14.209
the east shore of the bay. That bluff is part
144
00:06:14.230 --> 00:06:17.449
of the Niagara Escarpment, the same geologic feature that makes
145
00:06:17.509 --> 00:06:19.949
up the base of Niagara Falls way out east. You
146
00:06:19.970 --> 00:06:21.730
can set up on a table high above the water,
147
00:06:21.790 --> 00:06:23.810
let the kids loose on the playground, and watch boats
148
00:06:23.850 --> 00:06:27.430
dart across. Sunsets here are stellar because you're looking west
149
00:06:27.490 --> 00:06:30.269
across the bay. The cliff edge has fences, but keep
150
00:06:30.290 --> 00:06:32.009
an eye on little ones while you ooh and ah.
151
00:06:32.430 --> 00:06:34.250
When you're ready to come back to town, slot in
152
00:06:34.269 --> 00:06:36.980
the Green Bay Botanical Garden on your way. It's tucked
153
00:06:37.079 --> 00:06:39.100
near the Technical College and feels like a series of
154
00:06:39.180 --> 00:06:43.279
outdoor rooms. Perennials, shady groves, a children's garden with a treehouse,
155
00:06:43.420 --> 00:06:46.519
and seasonal displays. In summer, they host concerts on the
156
00:06:46.540 --> 00:06:48.699
lawn where you can sprawl with a blanket and a basket.
157
00:06:49.149 --> 00:06:51.740
In winter, the WPS Garden of Lights turns the whole
158
00:06:51.779 --> 00:06:55.240
place into a glowing path of tunnels and trees. It's cheerful,
159
00:06:55.360 --> 00:06:57.589
it's family-friendly, and it's a solid way to cap a
160
00:06:57.610 --> 00:07:00.870
day of tromping around parks. All that walking builds an appetite,
161
00:07:00.930 --> 00:07:03.389
and this town knows how to feed people. Start the
162
00:07:03.430 --> 00:07:05.829
day at the Pancake Place on Military Avenue, where the
163
00:07:05.850 --> 00:07:08.529
pancakes are the size of steering wheels and the omelets
164
00:07:08.550 --> 00:07:10.829
seem to require team effort. It's the kind of spot
165
00:07:10.879 --> 00:07:13.139
where servers call you Han and keep the coffee topped
166
00:07:13.220 --> 00:07:16.040
up without asking. You'll see three generations at one table
167
00:07:16.120 --> 00:07:19.420
and a construction crew carbo-loading at another. Order whatever looks good.
168
00:07:19.519 --> 00:07:22.339
There isn't a wrong move. For lunch, go basic in
169
00:07:22.360 --> 00:07:25.139
the best possible way at Al's Hamburger Shop downtown. It's
170
00:07:25.170 --> 00:07:27.930
been slinging burgers since the 1930s, and you get exactly
171
00:07:27.970 --> 00:07:30.949
what you want. A juicy patty, cheese, grilled onions, maybe
172
00:07:30.970 --> 00:07:33.069
a shake if it's that kind of day. The place
173
00:07:33.110 --> 00:07:35.189
is narrow with stools and quick turnover, and if you
174
00:07:35.209 --> 00:07:37.620
drop something, you'll feel like the five-second rule actually got
175
00:07:37.660 --> 00:07:40.279
extended to ten. In here, it's honest food. Come dinner,
176
00:07:40.319 --> 00:07:43.399
it's supper club time. This is a Wisconsin institution in
177
00:07:43.439 --> 00:07:45.500
Green Bay, and the neighboring towns still do it right.
178
00:07:46.139 --> 00:07:48.319
The Union Hotel Supper Club in De Pere looks like
179
00:07:48.360 --> 00:07:51.170
a time capsule in the best possible way. Dark wood,
180
00:07:51.350 --> 00:07:53.189
a bar where the old fashions go out two at
181
00:07:53.230 --> 00:07:56.170
a time, and a menu that skews towards steaks, prime rib,
182
00:07:56.370 --> 00:07:59.129
and walleye. You sit, you order a brandy old-fashioned sweet.
183
00:07:59.550 --> 00:08:01.279
You start with a relish tray, and for a minute,
184
00:08:01.300 --> 00:08:03.360
you're part of something that's been rolling along since your
185
00:08:03.379 --> 00:08:07.240
grandparents' day. Fridays mean fish fry all over town, cod, perch,
186
00:08:07.259 --> 00:08:09.939
or walleye, usually with a pile of rye bread and coleslaw.
187
00:08:10.579 --> 00:08:12.910
If you can't decide, just ask the table next to you.
188
00:08:13.009 --> 00:08:15.670
They'll have an opinion. You'll hear about Booyah, a local
189
00:08:15.730 --> 00:08:18.730
chicken and vegetable stew that shows up at church picnics, fundraisers,
190
00:08:18.769 --> 00:08:22.120
and weekend pop-ups. It's simmered in huge kettles and scooped
191
00:08:22.129 --> 00:08:24.399
into styrofoam cups, and it's just the thing on a
192
00:08:24.439 --> 00:08:28.620
cool day. Watch for signs or check community calendars. Sometimes
193
00:08:28.699 --> 00:08:31.500
markets or corner lots will advertise Booyah today, and you
194
00:08:31.540 --> 00:08:35.639
basically have to stop. And for dessert, Tsurugi's Chocolates in
195
00:08:35.659 --> 00:08:38.049
De Pere is a must. The smell when you walk
196
00:08:38.110 --> 00:08:41.250
in is almost unfair. Pick out a mix of truffles,
197
00:08:41.330 --> 00:08:43.690
grab some of their famous meltaways, and toss a couple
198
00:08:43.710 --> 00:08:46.389
of chocolate bars into your bag for later. If frozen
199
00:08:46.429 --> 00:08:48.909
custard speaks to you, Zesty's on the De Pere Riverfront
200
00:08:48.950 --> 00:08:51.470
does a rotating flavor of the day, plus sundaes, and
201
00:08:51.490 --> 00:08:53.289
there's always a kid at the next table with sprinkles
202
00:08:53.330 --> 00:08:56.399
on their face and zero regrets. If you'd rather mix
203
00:08:56.440 --> 00:08:58.860
a little culture into your eating schedule, Green Bay's got
204
00:08:58.899 --> 00:09:01.480
enough to keep you busy without requiring a master's degree
205
00:09:01.500 --> 00:09:04.169
in anything. The Neville Public Museum sits right on the
206
00:09:04.210 --> 00:09:07.909
river and offers approachable exhibits on local history, industry, and art.
207
00:09:08.190 --> 00:09:10.289
It's the easiest way to understand how the paper mills
208
00:09:10.330 --> 00:09:12.429
shaped the city, why the river matters, and how the
209
00:09:12.470 --> 00:09:15.070
region grew. It won't eat your whole day, but it'll
210
00:09:15.090 --> 00:09:19.480
tune your radar for details once you're back outside. Right nearby,
211
00:09:19.720 --> 00:09:22.950
the Automobile Gallery is a sleeper hit. It's a sleek
212
00:09:22.970 --> 00:09:26.039
space filled with cars that chart American design from chrome
213
00:09:26.100 --> 00:09:28.740
to muscle to just plain cool. Even if you're not
214
00:09:28.799 --> 00:09:31.360
deep into horsepower, there's a lot to like here. Stories
215
00:09:31.399 --> 00:09:34.259
tied to the models, pristine restorations, that sense of what
216
00:09:34.299 --> 00:09:37.169
people thought the future would look like in 1957. You
217
00:09:37.190 --> 00:09:39.129
learn a lot by just walking past the fins and
218
00:09:39.149 --> 00:09:42.549
the curves. Over in Ashwaubenon, the National Railroad Museum sprawls
219
00:09:42.610 --> 00:09:45.100
bigger than you expect with locomotives and train cars you
220
00:09:45.129 --> 00:09:48.269
can actually climb aboard. There's a Union Pacific Big Boy
221
00:09:48.330 --> 00:09:50.769
on display, one of the massive steam engines that ran
222
00:09:50.840 --> 00:09:54.179
out west, and Eisenhower's W3 command train cars are there, too.
223
00:09:54.580 --> 00:09:56.759
You'll get the history in bite-sized chunks, and if you
224
00:09:56.779 --> 00:09:58.570
time it right, they run short rides for an extra
225
00:09:58.590 --> 00:09:59.690
fee that let you feel like you're in the middle
226
00:09:59.710 --> 00:09:51.389
of the world. The Art Garage on the East Side
227
00:09:51.450 --> 00:09:53.570
is a community gallery and studio. You can catch a
228
00:09:53.570 --> 00:09:55.740
rotating show, sometimes meet the artists and pick up a
229
00:09:55.740 --> 00:10:18.370
small piece that actually fits in your luggage. In the evening,
230
00:10:18.509 --> 00:10:21.009
check the Meyer Theater downtown for a show. It's a
231
00:10:21.110 --> 00:10:24.409
renovated 1930s gem with a cozy golden interior and a
232
00:10:24.450 --> 00:10:27.710
calendar that ranges from comedy to tribute bands. On the
233
00:10:27.809 --> 00:10:31.210
UW-Green Bay campus to the northeast, the Widener Center brings
234
00:10:31.269 --> 00:10:34.350
in bigger touring productions and orchestral concerts. And if you
235
00:10:34.370 --> 00:10:36.809
just want a quirky night out, the Tarleton Theater is
236
00:10:36.830 --> 00:10:39.309
an old cinema reborn as a lounge and event space,
237
00:10:39.509 --> 00:10:41.129
one of those places where you can end up watching
238
00:10:41.149 --> 00:10:43.169
a silent film with live music or a magic show
239
00:10:43.220 --> 00:10:46.450
on a Tuesday. Go with it. One last thought on
240
00:10:46.509 --> 00:10:48.460
how to thread your days so you don't feel like
241
00:10:48.480 --> 00:10:52.679
you're ping-ponging all over. Cluster your time. Do downtown, City Deck,
242
00:10:52.799 --> 00:10:55.700
and the Neville together. Make a De Pere loop, bike there,
243
00:10:55.840 --> 00:10:59.240
river walk, Tsurugi's Supper Club. Save north of town for