Spring flowers are thrusting out of the earth, the robins have returned, the grass is greening-up and soon warm thoughts of enjoyable Packer Country getaways will announce the coming of summer.

Warm weather beckons fun spring celebrations and the start of new fast paced sports entertainment for your spring getaway. The Zoo Egg-Stravaganza, set for April 19 at the Northeastern Wisconsin Zoo features the traditional Easter egg hunt and Breakfast with the Bunny, maybe a real one! (920/434-7841; www.co.brown.wi.us/parks/newzoo). After the youngsters collect their eggs and enjoy the breakfast, the young-at-heart can enjoy Art Stevenson and the High Water Bluegrass at 7:30 p.m., April 19, at the Washington House (920/793-2490) in Two Rivers. Or, for the lover of fast paced sports, the Green Bay Blizzard, www.greenbayblizzard.com) an Af2 indoor football team, plays its home opener against Wichita, April 19, at the Resch Center (920/494-3401; www.ticketstaronline.com).

The warmer month of May brings another extravaganza of special event getaways for all ages. Algoma will host the 5th Annual Smelt Extravaganza (920)/487-5498), May 18. Festivities include live music, the “Schmelt Run” for those running enthusiasts and scrumptious smelt fries served by area restaurants. Later in May celebrate Memorial Day, May 26, by joining in the historical activities of A Soldier’s Story at Heritage Hill State Historical Park (920/448-5150; www.heritagehillgb.org).

One of the most popular spring events in Packer Country is the Day Out With Thomas™, and of course Sir Topham Hatt™, at the National Railroad Museum, (920/437-7623 or www.nationalrrmuseum.org) May 30, May 31 and June 1. Youngsters will enjoy many activities, including rides with Thomas; photos with Thomas focused on the famous Thomas the Tank Engine along with children’s entertainers.

Certainly blue skies, and warm weather will provide the perfect background to enjoy more than twenty (20) golf courses in Packer Country or the search for the trophy fish on the waters of the Bay of Green Bay, Lake Michigan, or the Fox River. Anglers are already prevalent on the Fox River just north of the De Pere dam in search of walleye. Soon the waters of Green Bay and Lake Michigan will draw the charter fishermen in search of lake trout, chinook and coho salmon during the coming summer season. On the lakeshore, the Kewaunee and Ahanapee Rivers see the Lake Michigan steelhead make its spring run up the tributaries and provide the angler with a good fight.

If species of fish are not of interest, why not check out some new flowers for your garden at the Green Bay Botanical Garden’s 19th Annual Garden Fair,
June 7 – June 8. Be refreshed and by gardens overflowing with beauty and serenity, then select some favorite new flowers or garden decorations from an outstanding array of garden and landscape vendors. Available food and entertainment along with the smells and colors of various flowers provide a beautiful way to spend a June day in Packer Country.

From June 6 – July 27, Farm Fest 2003 will feature the renowned Smithsonian Institution’s traveling exhibit, Barn Again®: Celebration of an American Icon. Agricultural Heritage & Resources, Inc, will host five local exhibits which will be displayed over the same period, plus host numerous weekend events (Coming Together: A Country Fair & an Old-Fashioned School Picnic; Experience America’s Dairyland; Wisconsin Farm Treasures; Ethnic Celebration; & Agri-Culture! to name a few) related to Wisconsin’s rural life. Barn Again® and these exhibits are free to the public; admission to the grounds at the Heritage Farm & new BayLake Bank Heritage Center (920/388-0604; www.agriculturalheritage.com), Hwy 42 south of Kewaunee, is $2.00.

For more information on all the great spring vacation opportunities in Packer Country log on to the Packer Country Regional Tourism Office call 1-888-867-3342.