Ah, Green Bay in the winter. There’s nothing like it. All the snow, cold, and…more snow. I can’t speak on if it’s a winter wonderland or not, but I can tell you it’s cold. Don’t let that get you down! I’ve come up with 5 reasons to visit Green Bay in the winter.
People often mistakenly think that all there is to do in Green Bay, Wisconsin is watch the Packers. Well, that’s not true! Mostly because the Packers don’t play all year round, so certainly there are tons of other fun activities to do! Right?…Right?
Things To Do In Green Bay
Thankfully, the Detroit Lions have already played their annual game in Green Bay this season. In late September, or “early winter” as it’s probably known in Green Bay, the Lions beat the Packers 34-20 at Lambeau Field. Although, when you watched the game on TV, there were a lot of Honolulu Blue shirts in those frigid stands.
On Thanksgiving, it’s our turn to play host to the Packers. The game between the Lions and Packers will kickoff at 12:30pm on Thursday at Ford Field. Detroit has hosted a home game on Thanksgiving Day since 1934. If you plan on going to the game, there are many activities to enjoy before and after the game in and around Detroit.
Planning a days worth of activities for next year’s game in Green Bay proves to be a little more challenging. Green Bay is the smallest market city to have a professional team in any of the major sports. The team prides itself on building a great team from the ground up in the draft. The Packers don’t typically make a big splash in Free Agency. Packers fans would have you believing that’s because of culture and their front office’s skills in drafting and developing players. As true as that may be, I don’t think that’s the entire picture. Perhaps, there’s a chance that many athletes don’t want to sign in Green Bay because…there’s not a lot to do.
With all due respect, the two biggest names the Packers have had were Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers. What do they both have in common? They wanted out of town. Again, maybe that’s because of the front office, or maybe it’s because they were bored and longed for any sort of excitement. Any at all. Here are five “fun” totally serious things to do when you visit Green Bay in the winter.
Walk-Ins Welcome
An empty Lambeau Field. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
Good news! Thanks to Green Bay’s population of *checks notes* 35, there’s no need to make any reservations at Green Bay’s restaurant. You can walk right in and get seated. Party of 2? Party of 4? Hold up…party of 12? No problem, right this way!
Catch Up On Your Shows
That look fun to you? (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
Come to Green Bay in the winter and you’ll be able to catch up on all of your favorite TV shows! What else are you going to do? Go outside? Pfft. No chance. Great excuse to stay in and catch up on what you’ve missed.
Go Ice Fishing
How about this one? Look fun? (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
Have you ever been ice fishing? It’s brutal. As if normal fishing wasn’t boring enough. Let’s go out in negative temperatures, sit there for hours, and not catch anything (except a cold). Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to ice fish, and he probably won’t call you anymore. Sound good to you? Then, Green Bay is waiting for you!
Eat Cheese
Ok…all jokes aside this adorable English Bulldog in a Cheesehead hat is legit a reason to go visit Green Bay. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
Packers are nicknamed “The Cheeseheads” due to the Dairy State’s love of…well, dairy. Personally, I’m not familiar with any Green Bay cheese off the top of my head, but I believe them when they say it’s their claim to fame. Certainly, there has to be a good cheese shop to check out. Maybe just bring some Traverse City wine with you, too.
So, what did we learn? If you want to go to Green Bay go for when the Lions are playing the Packers. Outside of that time, I have no idea what you’re supposed to do for fun there. They…they have internet, right?
