Walking the Helen Kimberly Stuart Trail

Through Facebook, I discovered the Fox Cities had an app or website that allowed you to check into various cultural spots across the Fox Valley to earn points. It's called Fox Cities Experience Pass. There are 48 different locations across the Fox Valley. 

One of the locations is the Helen Kimberly Stuart Trail in Neenah. I've been wanting to check this out ever since they completed the path along Lake Winnebago. The trail starts at the corner of Wisconsin Ave and Lakeshore Ave and really ends at the lighthouse. It is also known as the Lake Winnebago Lakeshore Path. When they redid Lakeshore Ave, they added a walking path to make it safer for walkers, bikers, and cars alike. It is about a 1/2 mile from start to finish. You can keep going and do the whole loop back around along N. Park Ave.

Along the trail are signs that explain the history and impact of Lake Winnebago and the Indigenous People. This area was a marshland before their dammed the river. The natives to used these waterways for trade and food. The history lessons made it an enjoyable walk.

It was a nice night for a walk before the fireworks. It was only a little buggy but if you go in late May or early June watch out for lake flies. I try to avoid the lake when there is a lake fly hatch otherwise it's just a buggy mess. 

The Helen Kimberly Stuart Trail is definitely worth checking out. Maybe even sign up for the Fox Cities Experience Pass and check out all the other historic and creative spots through the Fox Valley. After my walk tonight, I have 7 done.. 41 more to go. 

A Nice Morning For a Canoe Trip

 I saw that Neenah Historical Society was offering free voyager canoe rides during the farmer's marker. Danielle was free and we decided to check it out since it was not raining.

We signed up for a group as soon as we got to the farmer's market but it was still an hour wait. They only had one canoe which did hold 15 people. While we waited we perused the famer's market and picked up some fresh produce for the next week. I even tried my first honey stick.

When it was finally our group's turn, we met our guides Jean Paul and Claude to get our introduction into being part of the voyager canoe company. Our guides worked for the Northwest Fur Company and we enlisted to be part of their crew. They taught us the history of the Northwest Fur Company and made sure we understood the British Fur Company was no good (pe-tuey).

After getting our paddles and life vests, it was time to board the canoe. Even tied to the dock it was pretty tippy. They said the best way was sit down on the dock and lower yourself into the canoe that way. It worked but I felt like it was going to tip over any time.

Then we started our journey down the Fox River. I will be honest, I did not paddle much at all just a little bit when we pushed off the dock. The front of the canoe did most of the work. I sat back and enjoyed the ride while looking at the back side of all the houses along the river.

Once we got to the sailboats, we turned around and headed back to the library dock. Again we just mainly floated back instead of doing any paddling. More time to enjoy the sites and take pictures.

We were never in any danger since the police boat was always nearby and there was a fire fighter on the dock. The hubby was a bit concerned that I was going canoeing but felt much better when I told him the police boat was nearby the entire time. 

This was a great family activity. Normally it is done the day of the Pow-Wow in September but the re-enactors were booked so they did it in August instead. It is definitely worth checking out next year.

Downtown Neenah Decorated Tree Beds

In way to get people downtown Neenah, the downtown businesses decorated the tree beds along Wisconsin Avenue. They were ready for Downtown Neenah's Spring Fling event right before Mother's Day. I wanted to check them out but didn't want to deal with the people so I opted to go another day.

I started at the library where 3 of them were located and walked west to The Plaza and back to the library. I walked the south side of the street and then crossed over and walked the north side making sure I hit all the tree beds.

Many of them were very well done. These businesses got creative and used the whole space including the tree to create their design. They were bright, colorful, and fun.

Others were basic but still creative. I didn't enjoy these as much but the business did try and it they were still fun to look at.

Then there were the advertising ones and those were less fun. Some tied into the theme of what their were advertising (music, farmer's market). 

Others were mainly just signs. Not so much fun.

This one outside of Tricia's Treasures was probably my favorite.

If you get a chance before the beginning of June, go check out the tree beds. They are works of art and I can't believe how much work went into some of them. Hopefully they continue to do this every year.

20 in 2022: Go ice skating at the Plaza in Neenah

 Neenah built an outdoor ice skating rink with the help of Bergrstroms. It is an ice skating rink in winter and a gathering area for concerts in summer. There is also a coffee shop. Even though I have not been ice skating in many years and no longer have skates, I wanted to go skating at the Plaza at least once to say I've done it. 

When I saw that a coworker of mine celebrated her birthday there, she said she'd go skating with me anytime. I didn't want to skate when it was cold out. So I planned on a Sunday afternoon when the temperatures weren't freezing.

In order to skate at the Plaza, you have to sign your life away through the website prior to actually paying. You can scan a QR code when you get there or do it before you leave. The waiver is good for 3 days from signing. Once we get to The Plaza, you give them your name and they see your waiver. It is completely paper free. Then you can pay which again is only cards or digital wallets.. no cash. I get it in COVID but this could pose a problem for people who don't have credit/debit cards or digital wallets. It is $8 for an adult to skate and $5 for skate rental.

When I got to the Plaza, the Zamboni was cleaning the ice. It does that every two hours so there is always several times during the day where they kick everyone off the ice. Then you get nice clean sheet of ice. Personally I prefer messy ice. I find it easier to skate on messy ice.

The rink is not huge. Everyone skates counter-clockwise. There are walkers for little kids to help them. I stuck close to the railing the first couple laps around the ice. I was afraid of wiping out. Remember the ice was glossy.  Because it was a nice day and the Packers were out of the playoffs, it was busy but not extremely busy.

We had fun skating. Only my co-worker wiped out once. Our other friend and I did not fall. We skated for about 45 minutes before the blisters started to form and the thighs started scream. The hubby was happy that I did not fall. 

I will definitely go again. Maybe next year they will have a season pass. I really want to skate under the lights. Not sure I will get that done before the weather turns nice but there is always November and December. Maybe a birthday night skate.

4856. See the sculptures downtown Neenah

 If you drive through downtown Neenah, you will be greeted with several sculptures/statues along Wisconsin Avenue. For whatever reason, Bergstrom and others decided that the downtown needed sculptures and statues. And not just any sculptures of presidents. Unlike a statue, most of these sculptures are sitting on benches for reasons I do not quite understand.

As you walk along Wisconsin Avenue from the library (east to west), you are first greeted by a Thomas Jefferson writing on a bench outside of Shattuck Park.

Then outside One Neenah Building is Ronald Reagan. He is the only one that is standing. It took the hubby and me several months to figure out who he was. Finally the hubby figured it out and realized it was because Ronald Reagan visited in the 1980s. There is a plaque explaining the statue next to it.

At the corner of Main Street and Wisconsin Avenue, George Washington greets you. 

There is the girl on top of the world at the entrance of Gateway Park. I am not quote sure about the meaning behind this one.

Abraham Lincoln greets you outside of the new Plexus Park area. 

Finally there is Lady Liberty standing proud at the corner of Wisconsin and Commercial. 

I  have never read any of the plaques. However, I do find it a bit odd that Neenah has so many presidential statues/sculptures in a short span especially since most of them never even visited Wisconsin.

Take a walk and see the presidents for yourself.

4732. See the live window mannequins in Neenah

Besides the Rudoph Run and the Christmas Tree Lighting, Neenah also has live mannequins in the downtown business on the First Friday in December as part of a Very Neenah Christmas. I've heard that the mannequins are very well done and everyone should check them out at least once.

Since we were already downtown for the run and the tree lighting, it only made sense to see the live mannequins.

Some were very well done and you won't know they were actual people.

Some were pretty good

Others weren't bad but as the night went on the mannequins got fidgety.

Because the live mannequins were the highlight of the evening, there were a ton of people trying to look at the mannequins and you literally followed the crowd. It is best to get right against the windows and stay there otherwise you're trying to look at the mannequins between people. Everyone was very pleasant and it was a nice evening to be out. Luckily downtown Neenah pretty much instructed you which way to go and everyone was, for the most part, headed in the same direction which helped.

Besides the mannequins, there were reindeer, carriage rides, and S'mores. I got chided for waving my fiery marshmallow around so Danielle could get a picture. Okay.. probably shouldn't do that in a group of people.

Overall it was a great evening. I would totally do it again even with all the people. If you ever get to check out live mannequins, do it. They are usually really amazing.