A Few Places Perfect For a Picnic
AREA VISITOR BUREAUS OFFER SUGGESTIONS
Summer is a time for picnics and Edible Door has asked the infor mation and visitor centers in our area to supply what they think are some of the prime locations to sit down at a picnic table or roll out a blanket and enjoy both a great meal with a great view.
As a bonus, our in-house chef Terri Milligan has provided a recipe that is certain to make your picnic almost as special as the people with whom you share the experience.
We’ll start with KEWAUNEE COUNTY:
Crescent Beach & Boardwalk along Al- goma’s Lake Michigan waterfront. Grab your beach towel, catch some rays and roll the cooler over to Crescent Beach & Boardwalk in Algoma. Enjoy a picturesque view of Lake Michigan, while you dine and sink your feet into the sand or listen to the sound of the waves from a near- by bench or picnic table.
Selner Park & Beach on the city of Ke- waunee’s waterfront. Put on your swimsuit, pack up your sand toys and bring along the volley- ball And, don't forget the camera as you enjoy a beautiful view of Lake Michigan, while you dig into your picnic basket from the beach, a nearby bench or picnic table.
Bruemmer Park & Zoo is located along County Road F in Kewaunee. There you can dine with the zoo animals at Bruemmer Park & Zoo. This family-friendly picnic spot, with plenty of room to play, is the perfect place to lay out a blanket under a shade tree or take advantage of using one of three open-air pavilions with picnic tables, when not reserved.
Let’s shift northward to DOOR COUNTY: Obviously this prime tourism destination is
known for its scenery so this makes for some mighty tough picking, but here are three gems: Ephraim Beach along Eagle Harbor. Lay
a blanket down and enjoy the sound of gentle waves hitting the shore and a beautiful back- drop of sailboats and the bluffs of Peninsula State Park. It’s also recommended to stay for the sunset!
Cave Point County Park. Located adjacent to Whitefish Dunes State Park on Lake Michigan between Sturgeon Bay and Jacksonport, this spot is a Door County must and you might as well bring food along. Hike and enjoy breathtak-ing scenery from atop the buffs overlooking the lake. But please, watch your step.
Sturgeon Bay’s Otumba Park. Not the easi- est city park to find for visitors to the city, it’s worth the search. Load up the kids and pack the sandwiches for a fun day at the park. Plenty of picnic tables along with a beach and playground make for a great summer day with family.
The people of the FOX CITIES are justly proud of their area and that probably explains a little longer list of nominees.
Riverside Park in Neenah is comprised of almost 20 acres with 2,050 feet of shoreline on Lake Winnebago. It features a large playground area, paved trails for walking, pavilion shelter and picnic areas with tables and grills.
Jefferson Park in the neighboring twin city of Menasha is slightly larger at 28.9 acres and also sits on the shores of Lake Winneba- go. It has a boat launch and 49 available boat slips, large playground, picnic area, volleyball courts, softball diamonds, fishing access and public swimming pool.
Wanick Choute Park in Sherwood has a large open-air pavilion, two playground ar- eas, four soccer fields, basketball court, tennis courts, paved walking trails and even a splash pad. Don’t forget to eat!
Appleton’s Pierce Park is located right downtown. Its 36.2 acres along the Fox River and offers a baseball field, three tennis courts, disc golf course, picnic pavilion and grills, play- ground and paved trails for walking.
Let’s go down the lakeshore and see what MANITOWOC COUNTY has to offer:
Point Beach State Park off County Road O north of Two Rivers offers opportunities to en- joy picnics in the pines of the park, magnificent dunes or throughout the campground. There are plenty of places to enjoy the scenery. Pic- nic areas include picnic tables, grills, drinking water and restrooms. Although there are pic-
nic areas near the lodge, there are other picnic areas to sit and enjoy views of Lake Michigan.
Neshota Park right in the city of Two Rivers offers a beautiful 50-acre groomed sand beach on Lake Michigan and is a wonderful place to enjoy a picnic. The Beach House is home to a bathhouse/changing area, restrooms and a concession stand. Neshota Park has various playgrounds, volleyball and basketball courts, Rawley Point bike trail, four shelters and picnic areas with tables and grills.
Nested along Lake Michigan, Red Arrow Park on South Ninth Street in the city of Mani- towoc offers a handicapped-accessible lake- front and beach walkway. Picnicking at Red Arrow Park you’ll also find a football field, boat launch, tennis courts, permanent grills, base- ball diamonds, restrooms and more. You will also find a monument telling the story of the Army National Guard’s Red Arrow Brigade.
Silver Creek is a beautiful park that over- looks Lake Michigan, just south of downtown Manitowoc. The park has access to the beach, playgrounds, hiking trails and more. In addition to the park, Silver Creek is home to one of Wis- consin’s finest public 27-hole disc golf courses.
Last but certainly not least is the GREEN BAY area: It’s hard to think of summer fun in the Green Bay without Bay Beach coming to mind. The amusement park has entertained area residents for generations. Admission into the park is free. It is the home of the “Zippin Pippin,” one of the oldest existing wooden roller coasters in the United States and Elvis Presley’s favorite. There is also a variety of other amusement rides for all ages. Take a mid-afternoon break to enjoy a picnic in one of the pavilions located throughout the park. The park sits along the southern tip of the Bay of Green Bay with some open space for a traditional picnic near the water, too.
Communiversity Park is nestled along the southeastern shores of the Bay of Green Bay near the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. This quiet park makes a great picnic area with sev- eral tables provided, or you can go the classic route by bringing your own blanket to sit on the soft grass as you gaze into the water. The mature trees provide a relaxing shady spot
Ashwaubomay Park is a 53-acre park over- looking the Fox River. In the middle of the park is a 3-million-gallon, man-made lake with a sandy beachfront surrounding the water. Enjoy a sunny picnic on the beach before going for a dip in the lake. Have fun splashing around or sliding down the water slide and jumping off the diving board!
