What to see around Stevens Point (Green Bay, Eau Claire: university, bars, sushi)

[G Grasshopper]

I grew up in Stevens Point, but my parents moved when I was 17, about to be a Senior at PJ Jacobs. But that was in 1969. I still have family in the area, but I've just visited a couple of times since. In a couple of weeks I'm coming up for a visit with my husband and son. (Neither has ever met that part of my family, even though my son is 23.) Other than showing them the old stomping ground, does anyone have suggestions as to things to see/do in the area. I know many things have changed, and I am getting the feeling that there are a lot more parks and preserves than when I was a kid. Any thoughts? It is going to be late October, so a bit nippy, I assume. I would love to do a little canoeing.

[badgerfan1337]

I went to college at UWSP, graduating in 08, but I fell in love with that city. I'm sure there's a lot that's changed since your time there. The downtown area is still nice, and I would never shy away from a friday night fish fry at Guu's. As a college kid, I found that the ratio of bars within the radius of the DT area, was heaven. HWY 10 east has also boomed up since, and there's a very nice sushi place right on the outside of town (if you're into that). If you do get a warmer day, maybe Bukolt park would be a nice walk? I would always walk for hours starting on campus, ending up there, and circling it around to the downtown area. My final words maybe to even head up on UWSP campus. The new University Center is amazing and the Fine Arts building is always gorgeous. If your lucky there could be a decent show or play going on at one of those two places as well, during the weekend you go. Good luck!

[G Grasshopper]

Thanks, Badgerfan. When I was growing up in Point, in the 60s, I remember that there was a figure being thrown around that in the non-residential areas of the town, there was an average of 5 taverns per block. (We were supposed to call them "taverns" because they were mostly for consuming beer, not mixed drinks, which were served at "bars".) These places were mostly not peopled by students, but by working men, who would stop by to have a beer after work. That was part of the culture then, and may still be now - I don't know. The college students tended to go to places where there was also pizza, which were mostly around the campus. Thanks for your suggestions. I'm up for a fish fry, and I would love to see the new University Center. I know some of my old haunts are gone (my father's office - he taught political science - was in one of the "wings" of old main, now torn down to make the building as it was originally built,) but that doesn't bother me. You have to expect a lot of change in that amount of time.

[jmlowman]

Probably a bit late in the year for a picnic, but there is a nice park with a well-preserved steam locomotive and tender that is slightly south of downtown on US 51 Business, near the railroad tracks. We happened upon it as we were driving from Green Bay to Eau Claire late in August. I would post a photo, but don't know how to do so on this forum.