Things to do in Downtown Appleton, Wisconsin

I've visited Appleton a few times over the years, but this trip gave me the chance to spend more time exploring everything downtown has to offer. With local restaurants, coffee shops, boutiques, and plenty of entertainment packed into a walkable area, it's an easy destination for a Wisconsin weekend getaway. If you're planning a visit, here are some of my favorite things to do in Downtown Appleton.

Activities

We arrived in Appleton early Saturday morning so we could catch the Downtown Appleton Farm Market, and it was well worth setting the alarm for. A stretch of College Avenue is closed to traffic and transformed into a bustling market filled with local farmers, food vendors, artists, makers, and small businesses. We walked the entire market three times and still managed to discover something new each pass.

Some of our favorite farmers market finds included a wine tasting with Hammen Family Orchard and Winery and a stop at the beer garden hosted by McFleshman's Brewery. We also tried the famous egg rolls that everyone seemed to be talking about—the line was long, but they were absolutely worth the wait. We couldn't resist picking up a few treats from a vendor selling adorable dog cookies, and there were plenty of other vendors offering fresh flowers, fruits and vegetables, cheese, baked goods, and handmade items. I can't stress enough how big the Downtown Appleton Farm Market is. You could easily spend an entire morning there, and honestly, it's worth the drive on its own.

After the market, we headed over to the History Museum at the Castle, which is conveniently located right off College Avenue. Did you know Appleton is the hometown of Houdini? The museum features an entire exhibit dedicated to his life and career, complete with interactive displays where you can try a few of his famous tricks yourself.

Another floor focuses on the history of Appleton and Wisconsin as a whole. We learned about products that originated in the area, notable people from the region, and how the community continues to evolve. I'm not usually a museum person, but I genuinely enjoyed this stop and learned a lot.

One of our favorite unexpected finds was Player 2 Arcade Bar. We grabbed a handful of tokens and spent some time playing pinball, Guitar Hero, Super Mario, and other classic games. It was such a fun way to spend part of the afternoon.

Food & Drink

Of course, we couldn't survive on egg rolls alone, so we made a few additional food and drink stops throughout downtown. First up was Commodore Club, which was exactly the vibe we were looking for. One side operates as a cozy café while the other is a stylish cocktail lounge. The atmosphere was inviting, and the craft cocktails were excellent.

Next, we stopped at Bazil's Pub after multiple people told us to try their cheese curds. We ordered a basket to share along with a BLT wrap and grabbed a table on the patio. The cheese curds were tossed in their signature garlic bazil sauce, which was unlike anything I've had before and definitely worth trying.

By mid-afternoon, we needed a little pick-me-up, so we stopped into Bona Fide Juicery. Kailagh ordered a strawberry matcha, and we both loved the bright, welcoming space. Whether you're looking for coffee, smoothies, juices, matcha, or a lighter meal, this is a great downtown stop.

Before calling it a day, we treated ourselves to dessert at Legendairy Cookies N Creamery. Their build-your-own ice cream sandwiches were such a fun concept. We picked our cookies, chose our ice cream flavor, added toppings, and ended up with one of our favorite treats of the trip. I honestly need them to open a Milwaukee-area location.

Shopping

Downtown Appleton is an ideal destination for a girls' day or weekend getaway, especially if you love shopping. Since everything is so walkable, we spent a few hours wandering up and down College Avenue and popping into nearly every store that caught our eye.

One of my favorite finds was Eco Candle Co. The shop is filled with candles, incense, bath products, and gift items, and I could have spent hours smelling everything. I ended up picking up a few gifts for an upcoming birthday and had a hard time narrowing down my choices.

We also loved Blue Moon Emporium, which carries a wide variety of locally made products, home décor, clothing, artwork, and gifts. Kailagh and I both left with a few purchases because there were so many unique items you don't typically see elsewhere.

Finally, we visited several clothing boutiques, including Beatnik Betty's Resale Boutique, Olive and Rose, and Sugar Rushlow Boutique. Each shop had its own style and personality, and we were impressed by both the selection and the prices. Whether you're looking for a statement piece, everyday basics, or something vintage-inspired, downtown Appleton has plenty of options.

After spending a full day exploring, it's easy to see why so many people love Downtown Appleton. Between the incredible farm market, locally owned shops, great restaurants, unique attractions, and walkable downtown, there's something for just about everyone. Whether you're planning a day trip or a weekend getaway, Appleton is a destination that's well worth the visit. We barely scratched the surface during our time there, and I already have a list of places I want to check out on our next trip back.