Green Bay is a midsize city with lots of fun for the kids, even in the winter! We take regular trips to Green Bay with the kids, and even in the winter, there is plenty to do. From outside hiking trips with frozen waterfalls to indoor children’s museums, there is a lot of adventure to be found. If you are looking for fun activities for kids in the winter in Wausau, see my recommendations here.
Fonferek Falls (Free)
This beautiful park features a fantastic waterfall. The walk to it is perhaps 300 yards on a paved sidewalk. The path leads you to an overview of the falls. The real adventure happens when you go to hike to the bottom of the falls. We also saw people parking on the road near the bridge just east of the park parking lot.
From the main parking lot, you walk to the overlook, and then you can go down to the river. There are signs warning of falling rocks, which I would take seriously. The weather changes how easy or hard it is to get to the falls and affects how much frozen falls you will see.
The waterfall was beautiful the last time we were there, and the ice sculptures were amazing. We could still hear the water flowing, but for the most part, it was frozen. We were able to walk behind the falls-super cool! Well, the kids could walk; the adults had to crouch or even crawl. It was warm enough that it was pretty wet back there, but it was so mystical! I can’t wait to go back in the summer.
Bay Beach Wildlife Refugee (Free)
We were so impressed with this FREE Wisconsin gem. The Bay Beach Wildlife Refugee has a small zoo, a nature building, and an observation center. The observation center is near the aviary and is bird-focused. The nature center has a variety of educational and interactive animal exhibits. This includes live animals, a person-sized beaver damn, and examples of animal scat and footprints.
Outside, there is an approximately 1/2 mile trail that loops from the nature center past the zoo animals and to the duck pond. The zoo includes wolves, skunks, porcupines, and more.
Between the two buildings is a bridge crossing a pond and tons of birds. You can buy duck food at the observation building. We were some of the only visitors the last time we went, so the ducks were hungry, and we had a blast feeding them! In the past, we have gone in the summer with many other people, and then the ducks were less interested in our food.
The refugee center hosts some animal feedings, and you can find their event calendar here. They also host other community events such as nature walks, storytime, etc.
Green Bay Children’s Museum
My kids always love a children’s museum. The Green Bay Children’s Museum used to be located downtown and now has a warehouse near Bay Beach. It is a well-established museum with lots of fun exhibits. This includes a lighthouse, a large water table, a tree house, and a body exhibit where you go in the mouth and out into the toilet! It feels loud and chaotic on busy winter weekends, and my kids love it! No food or drinks are for sale, so bring a snack and water bottle.
For an additional indoor play area, check out Kidz Town. It is an indoor play space for toddlers and young kids.
Sport Gyms for Kids
Before kids, my husband and I had a climbing gym membership, so I was excited to bring my kids to Odessy Rock climbing Gym in Green Bay. I wish we could go more often, but even going once in a blue moon, they had a blast. You need to listen to a safety briefing, and then everyone gets to hit the walls. Even if you don’t know how to belay, you can use the bouldering wall (no ropes needed) or the auto belays on the tallest walls.
For something with a little less organization but still lots of fun with plenty of ways to burn energy, check out the Get Air Trampoline Park!
If your kids are a little older, try Green Bay Action Sports Organization. It focuses on skateboarding and on including everyone. They offer lessons for kids and adults. It’s never too late to learn!
Packer Fans and Fun
Do you have a die-hard football fan in your family? Don’t miss the Lambeau Field and the Green Bay Packer Hall of Fame! For a more active day, visit Titletown. This area adjacent to the stadium has several restaurants, a playground, and a tubing hill! Riders must be 42″. It is very fast if it ices over. Sledding tubes go up on a conveyor belt, and your ticket gives you unlimited rides for the day. You may get to the top and second-guess your choice to ride because of how steep it looks. Rest assured, the kid working said he has never seen anyone fall off. I didn’t ask him how long he had worked there. There is also a skating rink with rentals and various events throughout the year.
The New Zoo
We love the New Zoo! It’s relatively small and manageable, with lots of cool animals. Admission is half off during January and February if you buy your tickets at the door. When you get there, check the times for the giraffe feedings. Pro tip: going on off-season times or when the weather isn’t great means fewer people at the zoo and more time with the giraffes! They also have animal encounter programs you can book in advance for a more personal experience. Last time, we met a snake, a chinchilla, a large cockroach, and a hedgehog. We also did the penguin program, which was so cool! They have raised the minimum age on that since we went. It is now ages six and up. Consider participating in the animal feeding programs. If it isn’t too cold, check out the canopy tour for a view from the sky!
Heritage Hill State Park
Heritage Hill is a Wisconsin State Park in the city of Green Bay. Admission outside of the standard state park sticker is required. They focus on history and have many buildings from times gone by. Usually, these are closed during the winter, but they have special events such as “A Fort Howard Christmas” or “Winter Encampment” that are educational and fun.
Neville Public Museum
The Neville Public Museum includes a rotating exhibit as well as permanent features. It is designed for the whole family, not specifically for kids only. It is relatively small but a great place to wander around for an afternoon. There is plenty of learning to be had. The permanent exhibit has a lot of antiques displayed to give everyone a taste of days gone by. There are also cool nature-based displays. A dedicated playroom with a small variety of toys is available to keep the youngest occupied.
Food Recommendations
There is a delicious local place called the Cheesesteak Rebellion, which has a Star Wars theme. It has a bar appearance but is popular with families. There is no kids’ menu, but the portions are big, and it is easy to share. They have a small arcade with Star Wars games and lots of memorabilia on the walls. The parking is a bit tight, but plenty of street parking is available.
I love fresh bread, so Voyageurs Bakehouse did not disappoint. The sourdough baguette was delicious, chewy, and moist. The sandwiches took longer than I expected, but they had a small play area for the kids. It had a play kitchen, blocks, and coloring pages. There is not a dedicated kids menu. They have some fresh baked sweets as well.
When I travel, I always try food options that are unavailable in my hometown. We tried Indian Bhavan, and it was delicious. They included free ice cream for the kids, but I’m not sure if that is standard. My kids were less excited about Indian food, so we did take out, and they had the option of PB&J in the hotel room.
Tacos are always a win in my house, so we went to Los Arcos. It is in the Latino area of Green Bay and you can find authentic tacos and Mexican grocery stores nearby. This would be a good fit if you are looking for a place to practice your Spanish. Disfruta la comida!
Uncle Mike’s Bake Shop has terrific sweet treats! They are famous for their Kringles.
Dave and Busters has a huge arcade, and Chuck E. Cheese is great for kids.
Lodging
We often do day trips but have stayed in the Holiday Inn Express on Hoffman. It met expectations and had a kiddie pool with a fast frog slide, which was great for our group. It also had a regular pool and a hot tub. Holiday Inn has a complimentary breakfast, which is always a win with kids. They had friendly staff, clean rooms, and a fitness room.
If you want a bigger indoor waterpark, check out the Tundra Lodge. It gets busy on the weekends, as expected.
In Conclusion
What other Green Bay gems are there for kids in Wisconsin? We are already planning our next visit.