by Tim Froberg
The time has come to wave a weary farewell to winter and welcome the long-awaited arrival of spring.
That’s easy to do. A Wisconsin winter is endured — not beloved. It’s like the Chicago Bears invading Lambeau Field for a four-month stay.
Winter wears us down with constant snow, cold weather, and a lack of sunlight. It is the least popular of Wisconsin’s four seasons by a wide margin. Most Cheeseheads celebrate winter’s exit as if it were the end of a ban on beer, brats, and cheese.
Spring is a different matter. People yearn for this transformational season, especially on days when their car doesn’t start or the plow driver has just dumped a mountain of snow into the driveway.
Spring is a time of rebirth, renewal, and regeneration. Nothing grows during the winter, except snowbanks, but everything good returns in the spring. Buds are back on trees, birds are chirping, grass is growing, and flowers are blossoming. As the great Robin Williams once said: “Spring is nature’s way of saying, ‘Let’s party.’”
Spring is also a time of optimism, energy, and opportunity. It allows us to reset mentally following a long Wisconsin winter that can be bleak and depressing due to a lack of daylight and limited freedom to pursue normal outdoor activities blocked by the formidable tag team of Jack Frost and Old Man Winter.
The calendar has slowly flipped from December to April, so it’s time to dive into spring. I’ll even help. Here’s a list of 25 fun things to do during spring. I’m not going to include spring cleaning, lawn mower maintenance, or garage cleaning because they are not fun by any definition.
Happy spring, Appleton Monthly readers. You survived another Wisconsin winter, so enjoy the warmer temps and fresh opportunities that spring provides.
DO THE WALK OF LIFE. Snow, ice, and shorter daylight hours put the kibosh on valuable cardio exercise such as walking, hiking, and running. But there is no longer an excuse to blow off that evening stroll during the spring months. The Fox Cities are loaded with scenic walking trails, and you don’t need to be an athlete or fitness freak to navigate them. Dig those sneakers out of the closet and put them to work. Never has anything so simple been so beneficial to your heart. Make it a family walk. Kids and dogs absolutely need exercise.
RUN FOR FUN: Treadmills and other indoor exercise equipment are excellent ways to stay in shape. But running outdoors gets you out of the house, connects you to nature, and allows you to get reacquainted with your neighborhood. Stay consistent and set modest goals because running is much harder on the joints than walking.
HOP ON A BIKE: Cycling is an excellent alternative to running. It provides a terrific cardio workout, yet is easier on the body and helps you reach your destination much faster. Get your tires, brakes, and chain checked at a local bike shop such as Appleton Bicycle Shop, Wheel & Sprocket, or Chain Reaction Cyclery before hitting the trails. And don’t even think about riding without wearing a helmet. Electric bikes are very handy and serve many purposes. But remember, they’re not helping you get the exercise you might need.
TAKE IN A TIMBER RATTLERS GAME: The Rattlers offer professional baseball at a bargain price and work hard to provide an entertaining evening for the entire family. They are the Class High A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers — three notches below the majors — and are in the business of developing tomorrow’s Brewers stars. There is a long list of MLB players who have spent time in Grand Chute or Appleton, ranging from big names like Alex Rodriguez and David Ortiz to current Brewers Jackson Chourio and Jacob “The Miz” Misiorowski.
The Timber Rattlers’ home opener is April 2 against the Beloit Sky Carp. They play a 66-game home schedule filled with bargain and theme nights such as Bang for Your Buck ($2 hot dogs and discounted drinks on selected Tuesdays), Harry Potter Night (May 30), Star Wars Night (June 13), and Margaritaville Night (July 11).
BACK THE BREW CREW: Major League Baseball is just 90 minutes away at American Family Field, and the Milwaukee Brewers have consistently cranked out quality teams in recent years. Sure, tickets, food, and drinks are expensive, but it’s an opportunity to see the best baseball players on the planet — cats like Paul Skenes, Aaron Judge, Tarik Skubal, Shohei Ohtani, Juan Soto, Pete Crow-Armstrong, and Cal Raleigh. Planning for a Brewers game is as easy as it gets, thanks to Milwaukee’s retractable roof, which takes rainouts and cold-weather games out of the equation. Get tickets now for the Brewers’ May 26-28 home series against the world champion Los Angeles Dodgers.
GET A GARDEN GAME PLAN: Gardening can be a relaxing and rewarding hobby, allowing us to nurture and grow plants from seed to harvest. Wisconsin’s April weather is wildly unpredictable, with snowstorms still a possibility. But barring major snowfall, it’s a good month to start planting cool-season crops like spinach, lettuce, carrots, peas, and radishes. Warm-weather crops such as tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, basil, and squash should be planted after the final frost, typically in mid-May. I’m not a gardening expert, but Appleton Monthly’s own Holly Boettcher is. Read her spring gardening suggestions in her monthly “In the Garden” columns.
VISIT A LOCAL FARM: Many public farms like Mulberry Lane in Hilbert reopen to the public in May and are great places to take the entire family for a day’s interaction with cows, pigs, sheep, chickens, and donkeys.
HIT THE LINKS: The Fox Cities are loaded with quality public golf courses such as Reid, Chaska, Winagamie, and North Shore and most open in mid-April. Golf is a lifetime sport that can be played well into the senior years and offers good, low-impact physical activity. If you’re a beginner, take lessons and be patient because this is a tough game to master. Try not to lose your cool on the links like Happy Gilmore.
DO THE BIRD: One of my favorite parts of a Wisconsin spring is the return of migratory birds. The sight and sounds of these beautiful winged animals are a sure sign that spring has arrived. You don’t have to be a full-blown birder to enjoy their vibrant colors and gentle chirping. Put up a bird feeder to help them with their daily meals. Take a ride to southeastern Wisconsin and check out Horicon Marsh, one of the premier birding destinations in the country, with more than 300 species of birds.
HIT THE TENNIS OR PICKLEBALL COURT: Tennis is another lifetime sport that provides excellent cardio, and it’s incredibly inexpensive once you purchase a racket. Pickleball is one of the world’s fastest-growing sports and provides a solid workout that is gentle on the body.
PLAY MINI GOLF: This is golf’s little brother, and it’s far easier and less frustrating to learn than the real game. Hit Badger State Park, Funset Boulevard, On the Fringe, or Tommy’s Mini Golf & Arcade for some great family fun.
SHOOT SOME HOOPS. If you don’t have a basketball hoop in your driveway, visit a sporting goods store and get one. It’s great family fun, giving the kids fresh air and exercise. But shooting hoops is for big kids, too. I’m still trying to iron out the kinks in my step-back 3-pointer. Mom and Dad should join the fun and see if they can beat the kiddos in a game of H-O-R-S-E.
PLAY CORNHOLE. Some call it bags or beanbag toss, but practically everyone who plays this beverage-friendly, easy-to-learn lawn game calls it fun. Invite friends or neighbors over for a brew and some friendly competition.
TOSS SOME HORSEHOES. This old-school game dates way back to the Revolutionary War. Throwing horseshoes is fun, relaxing, and you need no athleticism whatsoever to play.
TREAT MOM: Don’t forget that Mother’s Day is May 10. Say thank you to Mom for all her sacrifices by taking her out for brunch, dinner, or a cocktail.
FLY A KITE: Wisconsin winds tend to be stronger and more consistent during the spring months, making it a perfect time to launch a kite. This is an enjoyable outdoor activity that pairs you with nature and allows you to experience the thrill of controlling a soaring object.
RECONNECT WITH NEIGHBORS: Chances are, you haven’t had many conversations with them since October. Spark up your fire pit and invite them over for a beverage.
TAKE IN A SHOW AT THE PAC: Yes, it’s good to get outside again, but the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center has some terrific shows lined up for the spring months. The Great Gatsby will have an eight-night run from April 14-19. The production is based on F. Scott Fitzgerald’s 1925 novel, which explores the themes of wealth, love, and social class.
Check out SixtiesMania on April 9. It’s a musical tribute that performs dead-on renditions of classic rock songs by the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Beach Boys, and others. The World Ballet’s top-notch production of Cinderella will have two shows on April 11. Take in The Big Sing on April 25, an uplifting musical production with a patriotic flair and as many as 13 choruses. Amy Grant, the well-known singer-songwriter, performs on May 3.
FIRE UP THE GRILL: Some folks barbecue year-round, but most of us turn into grill masters once the snow disappears. Wheeling the grill out of my garage and onto my patio is one of my favorite moments of spring. Celebrate spring’s arrival with a grilled ribeye or burger.
GO FISH: Wisconsin is a fishing paradise, loaded with thousands of lakes and streams. Few things are more relaxing than a day spent with a rod and reel. Whistle the Andy Griffith theme song if you like. The general inland trout season opens April 4 in Wisconsin, while the opener for game fish such as walleye, pike, and bass is May 2.
HAVE A CATCH WITH THE KIDS: Get the mitts out and toss a baseball or softball in your backyard with your son or daughter. It’s a terrific parent-child interaction that strengthens bonds and improves hand-eye coordination. If soccer is your game, roll out a ball and kick up a storm.
HIT A BATTING CAGE: Let the kids tune up for Little League season by taking some swings at recreation parks like Badger Sports Park or Play It Again Sports. Feel free to step into the cage and take a few cuts yourself. You may have a little Ohtani in you.
CELEBRATE EARTH DAY: It falls on April 22 and is a global event dedicated to environmental support. Plant a tree or some flowers. Take a walk without your phone or earbuds. Look at the raw beauty of nature and listen to its soothing sounds.
BE A STARGAZER: Spring offers some of the clearest, most unobstructed views of the evening sky, and you don’t have to dash inside after two minutes due to cold weather.
SUPPORT HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS: Go to a tennis or golf meet, soccer match, baseball or softball game, or a track meet. Young athletes need your support, especially on lap seven of the 3,200-meter run.
This article was originally published in the April 2026 issue of Appleton Monthly Magazine.
