I must say that I strongly disagree with these statements.
I question if you have actually been back in town over the past 10 years! I think Appleton has changed for the better in recent years.
I grew up in Appleton, and lived there for 21 years until moving to NYC and then Milwaukee for the past 10. I have been back in Appleton to visit family and friends monthly for the past 5 years, and I have to say that the city isn't the same as it was when I was growing up. Good! Good for Appleton!
Let's start with downtown - many new restaurants and bars have opened in the past few years and have brought some much-needed culture and diversity to this city. There is a new hotel downtown to give the Paper Valley Hotel some competition. Many buildings have been re-purposed and renovated. I think downtown is more alive now and more safe now than it has ever been.
The Children's Museum is a wonderful place for the kids and parents too. There is a beautiful city park near the
Lawrence University campus. The
Performing Arts Center (PAC) has been a wonderful addition to the city's entertainment offerings, bringing Broadway shows and top class acts to town. Lawrence University, also downtown, and its top rated
Conservatory of Music continues to provide wonderful concerts and musical series. Each summer, the Arts Alliance council puts on a juried art show in the city park called
Art in the Park. This event is extremely well attended and very popular. In fact, it's gotten so large in recent years that they have extended it to include a non-juried arts and crafts show on the Lawrence University campus called
Art Off the Park. I'm sure other postings have mentioned Appleton's
Oktoberfest (which, ironically, is held the last weekend in September.) It's a wonderful family event with HUNDREDS of food booths, an arts and crafts show, multiple music stages, and of course beer. There are many family-owned shops on College Avenue that have been in business for decades, including
Conkey's Bookstore and
Heid Music - two of my personal favorites.
Next, let's talk about the roads. Could they be better? Absolutely. People joke that in Wisconsin, there are only two seasons...Winter, and Road Construction. I think that Appleton and the surrounding Fox River Valley has expanded a great deal over the past 10 years, perhaps too fast for it's own good. I do think road conditions have suffered because of all the new construction that city planners are so focused on... but I challenge you to find a city of similar size in Wisconsin (or MN, IL, MI, OH or IN) whose roads are all in great condition, all of the time, without fail. Go ahead... I'll wait... Mmm Hmm. Thought so. Can't do it? Right. The roads are, on average, good. The road plans make sense for the most part too. Downtown a little confusing with one way streets and strange traffic patterns? You should have been here 20 years ago when that silly downtown mall was built. That really messed things up! Locals are all used to it, and if you move here, you'll get used to it in time as well.
Last, let's talk about the people. Talk about rude! Citizens of Appleton are glad you've moved away, Mr. Grumpy!
The people in Appleton are no more rude than in any other place I've ever lived - and that includes New York City and Milwaukee. Midwesterners are quiet but willing to help if asked. They won't butt in on an overheard conversation to offer assistance because in the midwest
that is considered rude. They will gladly give the best directions they can, often telling you to follow them if you're walking, or pointing out the route as clearly as they can if you're in a car. Most Appletonians prefer to drive you if you're a guest because sometimes it's easier than talking you through how to get there. Folks will tell you their favorites - pizza, beer, cheese, restaurants, shops, flea markets, rummage sale-ing neighborhoods, types of dogs, football teams, colleges, high school teams, casinos, fishing spots, types of lures, brand of cigarettes, Friday Fish Fry, Pancake 'n Porkie breakfast, way to get to Green Bay, route to the best lake for northern, best ice fishing spot, and the best place to go deer hunting -
if you ask. (But, just be warned, they're LYING about the deer hunting spot and the fishing spots -- these things are only passed on to best friends and grandkids. Sorry.
) Folks in Appleton are NOT rude... why should they be? They're just minding their own business at the moment.
So... What other good things can I point out?
* Appleton's airport is very convenient and can get you to a major hub in less than an hour - Chicago or Minneapolis.
* Half an hour away from one of the best teams in the NFL with one of the greatest quarterbacks to ever play the game who is going to play at least one more season!
*Best shopping mall in Northeastern Wisconsin - Fox River Mall.
*Excellent schools, both public and private
*Top rated Major-League farm team, The Timber Rattlers, whose games are generally more exciting and less costly than going to Milwaukee for Brewer Games
*Great parks system, including city parks, county parks, and state parks all in and around Appleton.
*The greatest pizza joint north of Milwaukee - Frank's Pizza Palace on College Ave (IMHO). Try the Special. Yum!
All in all, Appleton is a great town with many improvements made over the last ten years. Is it perfect? Of course not. If you find Perfect, like in the Walgreen's ads, you just let me know where that is because I'd like to visit. But I think on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the best, I'd give Appleton at least a 7 compared to other cities of similar size.
Don't take my word for it, though. Come for a visit!
If you'd like to email me with further questions or want ideas of where to stay and what to do, please feel free to do so.
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Appleton-Again!
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