When it comes time to plan your visit to Green Bay, you might feel a little overwhelmed by all of the options. There are so many great things to see, hear, do, and taste! So how do you know the real hot spots of a city? Easy… just ask a local!
In our first of this ongoing “Ask a Local” series, we wanted to know about those things that local Green Bayers (Green Baytians? Green Bayites? Green Baes?) have been meaning to try and just haven’t gotten around to yet. You know, those "one day I’ll finally do it" bucket list items.
To help build this list, I did the hard work of pestering my friends and family (you're welcome) and doing a little crowdsourcing in the Green Bay subreddit. (For those blissfully unaware of Reddit’s existence, it’s basically an online forum—kind of like a never-ending town hall, but with more memes.)
So, what has earned a spot on our Green Bay bucket lists? Let’s dive in!
Green Bay Curling Club
Let’s start off with one that might be a little unexpected from Reddit user BTC69HODL—curling! Sure, it's a little more niche, but thanks to Wisconsin natives and Olympic stars Matt and Becca Hamilton, curling is gaining attention. And you can channel your own Olympian at the Green Bay Curling Club!
For those unfamiliar, curling is a winter sport where players slide polished granite stones on a sheet of ice toward a target while teammates feverishly sweep the ice to guide the stone’s speed and direction—basically shuffleboard’s cooler (bigger) cousin.
The Green Bay Curling Club has been around since 1958. They host leagues for curlers of all skill levels and run bonspiels (curling tournaments) that draw in competitors from all over. If you just want to dip your toe in and try it out, they offer learn-to-curl clinics, junior programs, and even group rentals so you and your friends can give it a whirl—no Olympic training required.
Packers Hall of Fame & The Lambeau Leap
In my survey of locals, the Packers Hall of Fame was a common bucket list item, which surprised me! Many of us have been to Packers games but it seems like we’ve never actually taken the time to check out the hidden gem that is the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame.
The Hall of Fame offers an immersive journey through one of the most legendary teams in sports history and really is a must-see if you’re a fan of the green and gold. With 15,000 square feet spread across two levels, the Hall of Fame boasts nine permanent galleries and spaces for temporary exhibits, where each era of greatness is brought to life with artifacts, stories, and interactive displays.
And speaking of Packers-related bucket list items, one Reddit user Square_Answer_5839 said they’d like to "do a Lambeau Leap as a fan and pray its not a felony."
Well, good news—there’s a legal way to fulfill that dream! Just outside the entrance to the Packers Pro Shop, you’ll find the Lambeau Leap statue, where you can perform your own mini Lambeau Leap and get a little taste of what it feels like to be LeRoy Butler!
The Night Market
Reddit user hellgawashere says, "I always say ‘This summer, I'm going to the igNight Market.’ I never make it before the season ends. I missed it this year, but next year, I swear!”
If you’re feeling that same regret, you’re not alone. For those who didn’t make it this year, Summer 2025 is your chance—make sure to put the igNight Market on your calendar!
This unique night market series transforms the streets of the Broadway District into a vibrant, open-air market. Local artisans and makers set up shop alongside interactive art demos, live music, and games that light up the night. The market offers a mix of food, drinks, and entertainment, creating a festival-like atmosphere perfect for summer evenings.
Highlights have included a mesmerizing Hot Air Balloon Glow, pop-up climbing walls from Odyssey Climbing + Fitness, street performers, aerial dancers, and giant yard games. It’s an event full of surprises and creative energy, so make sure you catch it next year, along with hellgawashere!
Hidden Chapel in the Woods
Looking to add a bit of adventure and whimsy to your life? Reddit user hellloowisconsin has the perfect bucket list item: "Visit UWGB and find the chapel hidden in the woods."
This hidden gem, officially known as the Shrine of St. Anthony of Padua, is tucked away off the arboretum trails on UW-Green Bay’s campus, just waiting to be discovered. While it’s a rite of passage for many UWGB freshmen to locate this special spot, anyone can go on the quest!
The chapel dates back to 1925, when Odile Le Mieux had it built as a quiet sanctuary for her son, Fr. Ed Le Mieux, to pray and celebrate Mass during his visits. Later, it became her own personal refuge when she could no longer attend her parish church. The structure itself was crafted by Odile’s husband, Joseph Le Mieux, a talented stonemason who built lighthouses on the Great Lakes. He and his brother-in-law, Fabian LaPlant, used local limestone to create the quaint 12-by-18-foot building, complete with arched windows, a wood-framed interior, and beautiful hand-carved details.
Today, the chapel is lovingly maintained by Odile’s descendants, the Jadin family, with help from the university’s maintenance team. It’s a peaceful, hidden treasure that locals and visitors alike enjoy visiting. While the university ensures basic upkeep, the chapel remains largely as it was in 1925—a quiet, beautiful piece of history hidden in the woods.
Dine in an Igloo
Another popular bucket list item is dining in the riverside igloos at Hagemeister Park. These igloos, added in 2020, quickly became a hit with locals and visitors alike. Several responders mentioned this unique winter experience, and with igloo season around the corner, it's a great time to start planning!
Each of the 12-foot igloos offers a cozy, private dining space for up to eight people, complete with comfy seating, pillows, blankets, flameless candles, heaters, and board games. You can enjoy a meal or drinks while taking in views of the wintry Green Bay riverfront through the igloo’s clear vinyl walls. And if you happen to be there while it’s snowing, it’s pure winter magic.
Zip Line at the N.E.W. Zoo Adventure Park
If you're craving some more adrenaline-pumping fun to add to your bucket list, look no further than the N.E.W. Zoo Adventure Park, another bucket list item that several thrill-seekers mentioned.
The park’s dual racing zip lines offer a thrilling ride that stretches 1,000 feet from the top of a historic 50-foot fire tower down to a landing deck near the zoo entrance. These side-by-side zip lines let you race a friend or just enjoy the ride, reaching speeds of 25 to 35 miles per hour. Perfect for adventurers from ages 6 to 80 (with a recommended weight limit of 60 to 260 lbs), this experience is both exhilarating and accessible.
And for those looking to extend the excitement, the park features a challenging ropes course with seventeen different obstacles, including floating platforms and wobbly catwalks, culminating in a daring 32-foot free fall as well as a 36-foot climbing wall.
Snowmobiling
With winter approaching, it's the perfect time to start planning your snow-filled adventures. As GreenBayRealtor on Reddit enthusiastically puts it, “every year I say I'm going to go snowmobile riding for the first time and THIS IS MY YEAR!” We believe in you, GreenBayRealtor!
Green Bay is a fantastic place to tick snowmobiling off your bucket list. The area boasts 98 miles of well-marked and groomed trails throughout Brown County. For the best experience, head to the Brown County Parks Department website to find detailed maps and live condition reports.
One note of caution: be sure to avoid the Cat Island Chain in the Howard area. The restoration of this sensitive ecosystem has introduced obstacles along the West shore of the bay, so it’s best to steer clear of this section to ensure a smooth and enjoyable ride.
Honorable Mentions:
I received dozens of answers from online and offline Green Baes alike, so here are a few of the other honorable mentions you may want to add to your Green Bay Bucket List.
And as one Reddit user so lovingly put it: “So we have to do your job now? Go find something to do in Green Bay and write about it.”
Now I have the perfect list to do just that! Happy exploring!
