Appleton

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Take a bite out of this city

Published:

Story and photos by Mary Bergin

Consider Appleton a city that takes its shopping seriously. In or near Fox River Mall are at least 250 retailers pleasantly competing for your attention and credit cards.

The mall area (around Highway 41 at College and Wisconsin avenues) is among the largest concentration of retailers in Wisconsin. Picture just about every familiar national chain within a two-minute drive.

Add Vande Walle’s Candies, which has sold luscious chocolates for at least 75 years, and don’t ignore the little upstairs observation deck — to witness production. It is not hard to sweet-talk workers into offering a just-cooled sample.

The plethora of shopping options sure is convenient, but I actually prefer to hop from one artsy boutique to another in downtown Appleton. Fifteen art galleries, supply shops and studios specialize in one-of-a-kind gift giving.

More than 40 regional artists sell baskets to stained glass at Studio 213 on College Avenue. Two other businesses on this block — The Fire and The Bead Garden — offer classes to help you create what you buy. Sessions are laid-back and perfect for girlfriends who want to do something constructive while they gab.

Class time averages two hours at The Fire, where you can walk away with a glass-fused pendant for as little as $3, or design a wrought-iron mosaic table for $125. Paint a set of sushi plates and bowls, or use family photographs to personalize a mirror. The customer creates, then The Fire finishes it off in a kiln.

An added bonus, for moms traveling with preschoolers, is a small and confined indoor play area.

The Bead Garden — known for its inventory of semi-precious and natural stones — presents beginning to advanced beading classes. A private party classroom can be reserved.

Best place to pamper yourself after all this hard work is the CopperLeaf Boutique Hotel and Spa, whose lovely accommodations include a hot breakfast buffet and, around sunset, just-baked cookies.

The menu at Spa BenMarNico, on the hotel’s lower level, indulges frugal to big-budget travelers. The Girls’ Night Out package includes an overnight suite for two people, bottle of wine or bubbly, appetizer platter, and some spa services.

Dinner need be no more than a short walk away. Head to Sirocco’s Mediterranean Tapas to satiate light appetites in a refined setting. For heartier fare, Lombardi’s at the Radisson Paper Valley Hotel serves steaks and seafood on white linens. The decor might be the envy of the guys back home because of the nostalgic Green Bay Packer theme.

Even if you’re not a football fan, consider swinging over to the Radisson for a nightcap. Inside the fun Intermezzo lounge are bar seats that resemble what you swayed on at the playground long ago.

Around 100 vendors fill two blocks downtown for the Saturday Farmers’ Market. Make that three blocks on the third Saturday of the month, when the Art Market appears.

For beach time, easy privacy and pretty scenery: Relax at High Cliff State Park on Lake Winnebago,

Another easy side trip: Kerrigan Brothers Winery, near Kaukauna, where owner Troy Landwehr (Wisconsin’s best-known cheese carver) arranges private-group tastings. Or, visit during typical business hours.

For more information: Contact the Fox Cities Convention and Visitors Bureau at 800-236-6673 or (920) 734-3358 or www.foxcities.org.

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