Green Bay may not be the largest or most well-known city in the United States, but it packs a surprising cultural punch. As Wisconsin’s oldest city and the smallest to host a professional sports team in the NFL, Green Bay is a place where historical preservation meets lakeside beauty. With walkable neighborhoods, homegrown eateries, and a laid-back charm that defines the Midwest, the spirit of football beats as strongly as local pride.

The city’s compact size makes it ideal for exploring on foot or by bike, and several local shuttle services and rideshares are readily available. If you’re in town for a weekend, a stay at Lodge Kohler in the Titletown District places you right in the heart of Green Bay’s most vibrant new development, complete with spa treatments, rooftop views, and the energy of Lambeau Field just across the street.

Day 1: Football, History, and Local Flavors

No trip to Green Bay would be complete without a deep dive into its most beloved institution: the Green Bay Packers. Start your morning with a guided tour of Lambeau Field, an iconic landmark not just for sports fans but for anyone fascinated by civic pride. The 90-minute tour includes access to the players’ tunnel and a walk through the Packers Hall of Fame inclusive of  countless artifacts chronicling over a century of football history.

After a bit of sports history, it’s time for a bit of local tradition, this time culinary. A stop at The Booyah Shed, a Green Bay tradition. What started as a mobile restaurant now serves dishes like their soul-warming Homemade Booyah and crave-worthy creations such as the Breakfast Brat. From burgers and schnitzel to tacos and reubens, the menu focuses on comfort food with a local twist.

Spend your afternoon either strolling along the Fox River Trail or go on the Fonferek’s Glen Waterfall Hike. While the former presents a scenic 25-mile paved path that winds along the waterway and connects you with Green Bay’s natural beauty, the mile-loop trail hike features a 30-foot waterfall, dolomite cliffs, and stone archway

As evening sets in, head downtown to Copper State Brewing Co for one of their experimental beers, such as Bougie Blue Sour and Chocolate Coffee Peanut Butter Porter, and end the night at Hagemeister Park with one of their 28 different tap beers or unique beer selections in their craft beer cooler. If the Packers are in town, catch a game and soak up the electric energy that lights up this small city like few others.

Day 2: Animals, Cheese, and Small-Town Charm

Wake up and head over Kavarna Coffeehouse, a warm and spacious Green Bay coffeehouse and sit back on one of their retro couches. Owners Kayla and Mike greet you with a warm smile and friendly chat before brewing up coffee roasted in-house and some of Green Bay’s best selection of vegetarian and vegan food. 

Next, spend your morning exploring Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary, a massive 535 acre urban wildlife refuge. Along with both indoor and outdoor viewing areas, it provides sanctuary for injured animals (they care for more than 6,500 orphaned and injured animals annually) and promotes conservation. Visitors can also enjoy scenic landscapes, birdwatching, and hands-on learning experiences in a peaceful natural setting in Green Bay’s largest park. After your visit, the nearby Bay Beach Amusement Park offers a wooden roller coaster and Ferris wheel, with ticket prices that feel frozen in time.

After a light lunch at FreshKIND Kitchen, specializing in fresh, locally driven, healthy and energizing food, it’s time for a true Wisconsin rite of passage, a cheese tasting. Scray Cheese, about 10 miles southwest of Green Bay in De Pere, is a family-owned artisan cheese manufacturer that’s been perfecting its craft since 1924. Visitors can stop by the quaint on-site cheese shop, complete with a viewing window into the factory and the only cheese drive-thru in the state, for a taste of fresh cheese curds and other local favorites.

Come dinnertime, book a table at A’Bravo Bistro. Originally opened in 1999 as an upscale deli, A’Bravo has grown into a full-service restaurant known for its sophisticated comfort food, seasonal entrees, and shabby chic ambiance. Along with local favorites like tenderloin with brandy mushroom cream sauce and shrimp scampi with truffle cauliflower risotto, the restaurant boasts an award-winning wine list including 8 specialty wines. 

If you’re still energized after dinner, round out your evening with vintage arcade games at Player 2 Arcade Bar. This local spot features over 45 classic games (one token per play) and 11 pinball tables (two tokens per play) alongside a selection of beers and bites. 

A City That Surprises

Green Bay may be synonymous with football, but its true character lies in its ability to surprise visitors with its depth, warmth, and community spirit. From historic landmarks to culinary creativity and lakeside serenity, this compact city offers an itinerary full of discovery.