Appleton Wisconsin/Door County wisconsin City Guide
Lin’s son, daughter-in-law and grandchildren live in Appleton and it’s such a charming place, especially in the winter because I really love snow!! Plus it’s so close to Door County . Door County is on a peninsula between Green Bay and Lake Michigan, in the state of Wisconsin. It’s known for its long shoreline and many parks. Peninsula State Park on Green Bay is home to sheltered Nicolet Beach, with its calm waters. On Lake Michigan, Newport State Park is a wilderness park crisscrossed with trails. Potawatomi State Park, in Sturgeon Bay, is fringed by limestone cliffs. Door County may conjure up spring cherry blossoms, grazing dairy herds, and myriad tourists. However, winter has its own special memorable charm. Walk in a fairy-tale-like snowy wood, join a snowshoe hike or get cozy by a fire. View acres of sleeping orchards, explore shops and art galleries, eat cherry pie, try local wines and fruit brews, or stroll in quaint villages. No matter that it’s cold outside, there’s lots to do and taste and people to meet.
Door County became a large Scandinavian settlement in the mid-1800s, as Swedes were reminded of their homeland by the bountiful fishing and picturesque countryside. Norwegians appreciated the same attributes as well as logging opportunities and religious freedom. From red barns with white window frames to wooded forests lining the rocky shoreline, the peninsula is dotted with Scandinavian architecture and customs.
Here are my recs for both Appleton and Door County starting with Appleton.
WHERE TO STAY
COURTYARD APPLETON RIVERFRONT-
This modern hotel near downtown Appleton WI offers everything you need for a successful stay. Relax in a stylish rooms or suite with plush Marriott bedding, free Wi-Fi, and productive workspaces. Enjoy healthy dining at the Bistro, their onsite restaurant and bar serving Starbucks® coffee, balanced breakfast and dinner entrees, and evening cocktails. We loved our room with a balcony overlooking the water.
WHAT TO DO
Eat Northern Italian Inspired Cuisine at Fratellos- The award-winning wines are a perfect for their updated Northern Italian inspired menu, or for a quiet nightcap after a delicious Fratellos meal. The casual, spacious dining room has magnificent views on the Fox River, or surround yourself with the sights and sounds of a cascading waterfall while dining on the overlooking patio. Fratellos entire menu is also available for curbside/carryout or delivery.
Get your caffeine fix at Seth’s Coffee- They very proudly serve Intelligentsia Coffee. All of their coffees are brewed by-the-cup, so please be prepared to wait for your coffee to be made fresh! The lattes and espresso are divine. They have real fruit smoothies too that are so delicious! And I adore the fact that they have a drive thru.
Try the Butterscotch & Sage Latte or any other seasonal coffee drink and Avocado Toast at Tempest Coffee Collective- They’ve recently added some new design elements in the cafe since we visited—updated window counters in industrial yellow stained maple and a matching back counter display highlighting lovely new coffees from Wonderstate Coffee. They tore up the flooring to highlight the bare concrete below and added several mid-century chairs from designers Arne Jacobsen and David Rowland. Their aim to turn away from the serene, white and blue color palette they’ve been so fond of to colors and textures that remind them of their sites history as Interlake Pulp and Paper Company. They prepare each espresso by weight to the tenth of a gram, stay up all night, every night to bake for you or changing their menu four times a year to reflect the seasons, they’re constantly working to make sure you have a memorable experience.
Try a Gyro at Josef’s- Carl is a purist when it comes to the gyros meat. It’s a specific blend he carefully tracked down based on its flavor and quality. Every day, the meat roasts the traditional way, on a vertical rotisserie, and is freshly sliced for each dish. Where Josef’s gyros do differ from tradition is in how they’re dressed. In addition to the tomato, onion and tzatziki, Carl has perfected the Josef’s gyro by adding a bit of lettuce, cilantro and a squeeze of lime juice. It’s a result that’s light and refreshing and leaves you wondering if tomorrow—or later today—is too soon for your next visit.
Devour Cheese Curds at Stone Arch Brewpub- The curds are handmade in Chippewa Falls with their Scottish Ale & deep fried. Served with ranch or marinara.
Take a drive to Neenah and go ice skating at The Plaza at Gateway Park Ice Rink- The Plaza is a year-round gathering place for the community. It features an ice skating rink for public use from November to March. From April to October, when The Plaza doesn’t have ice, it will be set with chairs, tables and umbrellas and will be used for events like small concerts, art fairs, evening movies or exercise classes. Within The Plaza, Globe Coffee operates on a year-round basis and serves coffee, hot cocoa and smoothies; light fare like bagels and paninis; and cheese fondue and s’mores during the skating season. Guests can make the s’mores themselves over gas firepits. The name of the coffee shop comes from the little girl sculpture at the entrance to Gateway Park raising her arms to the sky in joyful empowerment. Coffee experience with in-house roasting beans with zero-emission Bellwether Roaster.
Stroll around downtown Neenah and check out all the cute shops to0!
WHAT TO DO- DOOR COUNTY
Eat and shop at Al Johnson’s Swedish Restaurant & Butik- Sister Bay dining at its best, Al’s famous Swedish Pancakes are one of our most popular breakfast items…all day long. Served with your choice of lingonberries, strawberries, or maple syrup. Be like a Swede and ask for powdered sugar, too. Other popular Swedish menu items: • Swedish Meatballs • Pytt I Panna • Pickled Herring. There’s something extra-special about Al’s Hot Chocolate with mounds of spilling-over whipped cream on a cool fall or winter’s day too!!!
Al’s Butik has always been known for carrying traditional men’s and women’s Swedish clogs, Scandinavian clothing and gifts, and great specialty food items, but get ready for some fresh new items this year. This season, the Butik managers are excited to offer new product lines and more contemporary items for its customers. You can still find Al’s traditional merchandise and Scandinavian items, but they’re now mixed in with more modern women’s fashions from lines like Neon Buddha, Lior, and Icelandic, and an exciting new color selection of the well-known clogs from Troentorp.
What else? The Butik has some inventively designed lines of greeting cards, napkins, candles, and a cooler featuring Al Johnson’s homemade pickled herring and pickled beets, loaves of Swedish Limpa bread, Norwegian goat cheese, plus wine and beer. There’s also a huge selection of books that seem to fly off the shelves, say the Butik staff, including kids fiction like the Pippi Longstocking series and fun activity books, adult non-fiction, titles by local authors like Norbert Blei, and historic Door County books.
