About

The Fox Cities are 19 communities along the Fox River in East Central Wisconsin,  Appleton is the largest and the cultural heart of the area.  We’re known as the place in Wisconsin for a wonderful shopping getaway.

Central to the Fox Cities’ experience is the Fox River Mall, Wisconsin’s second largest shopping mall with more than 180 retailers including J. Jill, Chico’s, Macy’s, Pottery Barn and the largest sporting goods store in Wisconsin, Scheel’s All Sports.  Fox River Mall is a destination for shoppers throughout Wisconsin and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.

Beyond the mall, the galleries and specialty retailers in downtown Appleton and historic Neenah feature unique items and personalized service sure to please even the most discerning shopper.  Top off your shopping experience by exploring some of the premier antique dealers in the state including the Harp Gallery and Urban Evolutions, a best kept secret of many Hollywood stars.  Urban Evolutions operates an outlet center in the city of Menasha featuring architectural salvage items reconditioned for interior use.

Downtown Appleton is the cultural heart of the Fox Cities where, after a day of shopping, visitors enjoy a variety of dining, nightlife and entertainment options. Two shining stars for the performing arts bookend downtown Appleton: the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center (PAC) and Lawrence University.  The PAC features the latest Broadway touring companies as well as the Fox Valley Symphony and other local performing arts groups.  Lawrence University is internationally known for its liberal arts program in music and drama. Students, faculty and numerous guest artists fill the on-campus performance calendar during the school year.

The life and illusions of Appleton’s Harry Houdini are on display in “A.K.A. Houdini” at the History Museum at the Castle and the history of papermaking is on display at the Paper Discovery Center.  Hearthstone, the world’s first home lit by its own hydroelectric system using the Edison system is another historic landmark.

Glass, including one of the largest collections of glass paperweights, is the feature at the Bergstrom-Mahler Museum in Neenah.  The paperweights have symbolic meaning in this historic “paper baron” town.  The Bergstrom-Mahler Museum is the former home of local paper magnates the Bergstrom family and it is surrounded by several blocks of impeccably maintained turn of the last century mansions that housed the local paper aristocracy.  The walk through this historic neighborhood along the shores of Lake Winnebago is one of the most beautiful in the Fox Cities.

Wisconsin’s Fox Cities offer visitors urban style in 18 communities that haven’t lost their small town warmth, safety or affordability.  Excellent facilities, great shopping, arts and nightlife are all here along the Fox River and Lake Winnebago.