Alright people, this isn’t a drill! We have approximately two weeks before school starts up again! That means now's the time to plan that one last perfect summer day before the backpacks come out and you have to remember how to do math again. 

So what would you do if you had one final day to make the most of summer in Green Bay? 

In this edition of our Ask a Local series, we bypassed the adults and went straight to the local summer fun experts—the kids!

And we got answers that cover all the bases. Bay Beach tips, water slides, pizza, frozen custard, and even a particularly impressive bathroom (yes, you read that correctly). 

Check out our by kids, for kids list of the best ways to spend one last day in Green Bay before summer’s over.

Bay Beach Amusement Park

Family of four riding the Zippin Pippin Roller Coaster in Green Bay, Wisconsin at Bay Beach. Mom and daughter are sitting in the same row and father and son are sitting in the same row.

Okay, we won’t lie—we saw this one coming from a mile away.

Bay Beach Amusement Park was the top answer we received from kids (and their parents, too!). “We really enjoy everything about Bay Beach! The rides, the wildlife sanctuary, the new park they built, it's all fantastic!”

The best part of Bay Beach is that there is something for all ages. Younger kiddos mentioned the city's first all-inclusive playground and the smaller rides, while older kids recommended going in the evening as it’s getting dark for a perfect summer vibe. 

A few of the kiddos even shared some hot tips to help you get the most out of your Bay Beach outing:

  • “Make sure you have enough tickets to park by the playground and take the train back and forth!” 

  • “Look at the water from the top of the big wheel. It looks like the ocean.”

  • “Don’t try to touch the geese.” (Sage wisdom.)

  • “Do NOT go on the Zippin Pippin if you don’t like rollercoasters.” (This one feels extra important to mention.)

Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner

You gotta fuel up if you want to keep up the pace! Our kid experts have got you covered morning, noon, and night with these kid-friendly picks. (Fair warning for the parents: this will be a sugar-heavy dining experience.)

Start with breakfast at The Pancake Place and indulge in a whipped cream-smothered stack of pancakes. Next up, the kids are sending you to Kroll's (West or East? You decide) or Al’s Hamburger Shop (sounds like a burger is in your future either way). Dinner’s hot pick was pizza, with the most votes going to Happy Joe’s Pizza & Ice Cream and Pizza Ranch. 

“My kiddos love Pizza Ranch in Ashwaubenon for their FunZone!” one parent told us, “Tuesdays are kids night so one child (3-12) eats free per paying adult.”

It’s hard to beat a pizza place that comes with built-in entertainment.

Not feeling pizza? No worries. One kiddo recommended a trip to Hey, Soup Sister (shout out to the cheese bread that comes with each soup). 

And of course we didn’t forget dessert! It may come as no surprise, but Zesty’s Frozen Custard was the top pick for a sweet treat. Visit the Allouez or Howard/Suamico location and don’t forget to peruse the Flavor Forecast ahead of time so you can plan your trip to line up with your favorite flavor. 

Make a Splash at Resch & Joannes Aquatic Centers

Several kids told us they would head to the “water park.”

Parent translation: The Resch Aquatic Center or Joannes Aquatic Center

Highlights of the Resch include the climbing wall and 30-foot waterslides, and highlights of Joannes include the waterslides and drop slide. Both centers are open for the season until August 23rd, so you’ve still got a little summer left to strap on your goggles and make a splash!

Bonus: If the weather’s not cooperating or you simply want an indoor waterpark experience, check out the Tundra Lodge where you’ll find a whopping 30,000-square-foot aquatic playground. After swimming, check out the Gold Rush Arcade where you’ll find more than 70 arcade games.

Bell Children’s Garden

Young girl holding the map at the Bell Children's Garden in Green Bay, Wisconsin with the garden scenery behind her, smiling at the camera.

For the kiddos who want to eke out the last of that summer whimsy, the Bell Children’s Garden at the Green Bay Botanical Garden is the way to go. Enter through the colorful entryway, explore the hedge maze, bounce on the in-ground trampolines, snap some photos with the unique statues and, on a hot day, cool off in the Lily Pad Splash Play Area.

But what’s the very best part of the children’s garden?

The resounding answer? “The bathroom!”

Okay, hear us out. Green Bay hasn’t suddenly become home to a group of child bathroom enthusiasts. It just so happens that even the bathroom, designed to look like an iconic hobbit house from The Lord of the Rings, at the children’s garden is full of whimsy. 

Titletown

Lots of kids embraced their inner cheesehead, pointing us towards Titletown. The playground was a favorite, especially the “cheese parts” (we’re assuming she meant the cheese-themed slides and hopefully not any left-behind slices of cheddar).

Kids also emphatically recommended trying the 40-yard dash field where you can challenge your friends to a race or hit your next PR. Older kiddos also mentioned games like ping pong and horseshoes.

Other Titletown recs?

“Giant Jenga!!!!!” (We’re guessing at the number of exclamation points based on the volume of the answer.”)

Road Trip to Algoma

Two adult women and a young boy sitting on the beach at Crescent Beach in Algoma, Wisconsin. They are snacking on chips and playing with sand toys.

If you’re looking to venture outside of the city, Algoma was a top day-trip destination amongst kids we polled. The biggest draw was Crescent Beach & Boardwalk, where one kid gave perhaps the highest possible praise for a beach: “Good sand castle sand.”

Spend the day making S-tier sand castles, playing along the Lake Michigan shoreline, and exploring all of Algoma’s small-town charm.

Park Hopping

Sometimes the simplest activities are the most fun.

Lots of kids mentioned parks all over the area, proving that you don’t need a packed itinerary to have a great summer day. Pack a picnic and explore a few of the area's many parks, each with their own personality.

Top park picks from our experts were:

  • Pamperin Park: With one of the largest structured children's playgrounds in the area, Pamperin Park is an easy win for families. You can also explore along Duck Creek or bring your discs for the 18-hole disc golf course.

  • Voyageur Park: Head to Voyageur Park in De Pere for beautiful views and a stroll along the Fox River. Keep your eyes peeled for pelicans, or bring your fishing gear and cast a line right from shore.

  • Optimist Park: Located in Allouez, Optimist Park features a large playground and a baseball diamond. Put together a pickup game with your crew or just let the kids run the bases and burn off some energy.

  • Fonferek’s Glen County Park: For the older explorers in your family, Fonferek's Glen offers a little more adventure. This unique 75-acre county park features gorgeous views, dolomite cliffs, a 30-foot waterfall, and a stone archway.

  • Lily Lake: If your fam likes getting out on the water, Lily Lake should be your destination. The 42-acre lake (the only public inland lake in Brown County) is surrounded by mature pines and cedars and is a great spot for fishing with kids.

It's also a great place to kayak since the lake is limited to non-motorized craft. Don't have a kayak? No problem. Self-serve kayak rentals are available on-site through Kayak Wisconsin.

Even More Kid-Approved Summer Fun

Need even more options to add to fill out your itinerary? Take a look at these honorable mentions from the kids we polled:

One Last Summer Day? Make it a Day in Green Bay

If our local kid experts taught us anything, it's that you don't need to do everything to make the most of the last days of summer. You just need a few good activities and some strategic pizza and frozen custard stops along the way.

Whether you're a local looking for one last adventure before the school-year routine kicks in or you're visiting the Green Bay area for a family day trip, there's still plenty of summer fun waiting to be had.