Whether you’re looking for a fresh social media profile picture or trying to find the perfect outdoor backdrop for your senior pictures this summer, public art — and natural beauty — can be spied in every one of the Fox Cities.
To help you get started, we asked around The Post-Crescent's newsroom and made a list of some of our favorite free, public spots and why we like them.
This list is far from comprehensive — we tried to pick a variety of types of places located around the region — so if you have a favorite space in the cities that you think your fellow readers would be interested in, please email our editor, Taima Kern, at tkern@gannett.com with the location and why you love it. If we get enough, we’ll do a follow-up story on readers’ favorites.
Let's celebrate some picture-perfect places, documented for this list by The Post-Crescent's summer intern, Abra Richardson:
Umbrella Alley offers mix of bright colors, industrial lines
Where: Next to the Future Neenah office, 135 W. Wisconsin Ave., downtown Neenah
What: An alley with brightly colored umbrellas
Why we like it: Editor Taima Kern points to the alley’s one-point perspective as a highlight of this location. “To get super nerdy and use my studio art degree, I love landscapes and cityscapes with a single vanishing point — where all the lines in the art all lead back to a single dot in the distance,” she said. “The rigid rows of bricks create a lovely counterpoint to the organic shapes of the umbrellas hanging above.” She went on about it at length, and said something about using a “fisheye” lens, but we couldn’t print her entire diatribe.
What else should you know? Future Neenah is responsible for the decoration of this alley, with sponsorship from The Boldt Company.
Telulah Park Trail a natural oasis just east of Appleton's downtown
Where: 1300 E. Newberry St., Appleton
What: A 38.3-acre city park
Why we like it: For those seeking a natural backdrop, Telulah Park’s trail offers it all: trees, flowers, water, sky and if you’re lucky, wildlife. Connected to Newberry Trail, which spans from College Avenue and Matthias Street to East South River Street near South Olde Oneida Street, the pathway through Telulah Park brings visitors to the Fox River, where they can walk out on a dock on the water to snap a pic. It’s a gorgeous backdrop in all seasons: bright green trees and sun-sparkling water in the summer, a collage of colorful foliage in the fall, snow-tipped trees and ice along the river’s edge in winter, and blooming wildflowers in spring.
What else should you know? If you're interested in more than just pretty scenery, maybe even seeking some action shots, this park also has a 9-hole disc golf course, a pickleball complex and a skate park.
Fox Cities Trestle/Friendship Trail bridge gives you that wind machine effect for wild hair
Where: You can access the bridge from Fritse Park , 899 N. Lake St. in Neenah.
What: One of the longest lighted pedestrian bridges in the state
Why we like it: The waters of Little Lake Butte des Mortes provide a clean background that really centers the subject of the photo, and for those who like to look a little messy, the breeze offers a chance for unrestrained hair to flutter freely. We recommend going on a partially cloudy day, since the lack of shade can lead to strong shadows (unless that’s the vibe you’re going for).
What else should you know? If you want to go for a longer hike, the bridge is part of Loop the Little Lake, a 3.5-mile route that takes you through the village of Fox Crossing and the cities of Neenah and Menasha and crosses four other trestles offering interesting nature views.
1000 Islands Environmental Center offers a friendly forest just blocks from downtown Kaukauna
Where: 1000 Beaulieu Court, Kaukauna
What: Seven miles of trails weaving through 350 acres of forested land.
Why we like it: The wood-plank walkways were what first caught our attention — in that they weren't large or obtrusive. Low to the ground, with no railings, they feel like part of the woodland environment, as though the trees themselves bent down and lent their branches to help you cross otherwise impassable terrain along the shores of the Fox River.
What else should you know? Beyond simply preserving nature, the 1000 Islands Environmental Center also offers a variety of free educational programs for children and families. A list of programs is available on its website, 1000islandsenvironmentalcenter.org/education-events/ .
'Good Morning, Little Chute' highlights community pride, storybook vibes
W here: The Pine Street side of the former S and S Trading Co., 113 E. Main St., Little Chute
What: A mural of the village of Little Chute , nestled along the river
Why we like it: The bright colors and blocky shapes, mixed with the bird's eye perspective, make this mural feel like a page from a children's book, which gives it a great sense of wonder. This might make for a good family photo background, or perhaps a detail shot with a parent lifting their kid up to point at something of interest on the mural. We also recommend taking photos in the morning for best light, as the mural faces east and becomes shaded after noon — unless you plan to re-touch or brighten the photos afterward.
What else should you know? The mural was painted by Oshkosh artist Leif Larson in 2018, and was meant to “capture the essence of a small, tight-knit community,” according to a 2020 writeup in Fox Cities Magazine . Larson also has murals in Oshkosh and Waupaca.
Vulcan Heritage Park is small, yet spunky
Where: 535 Water St., Appleton
What: A small park with a lot of opportunities
Why we like it: Vulcan Heritage Park is a small-but-interesting area to not only explore, but to challenge you with photographic opportunities. Post-Crescent photographer Dan Powers recommends this spot because of its versatility. There is a viewing deck next to Fratello’s that gives a sort of panoramic view of a dam along the Fox River. Meanwhile, if you are in the open park area, there is a nice view of the river that can provide colorful opportunities as the sun begins to set in the west. Looking towards the east, there is an old stone wall that has an interesting look as a backdrop in the late afternoon sun. And lastly there is a wooded area that brushes up against the waterfront, where it isn’t uncommon to spot a fisherman trying to get the catch of the day.
What else should we know? You’re likely to see a variety of birds along the water, including ducks, geese, pelicans, cranes or eagles.
Apple Creek Trail/Thrivent Trail is a cute and convenient spot
Where: North of Interstate 41 between Ballard Road and Mead Street in Appleton
What: A walking path with lots of greenery and a willow tree overlooking a small pond
Why we like it: The natural scenery makes the spot feel like you've left the city behind, without having to get your nice outfit or shoes dirty. The path is paved, making it convenient for families or couples to get the desired shot and there are lots of options whether you want to frolic through a field or pose in a wooded area. Editor Alexandria Bursiek Kloehn especially recommends a romantic spot where a large willow tree overlooks a small pound. It's where she took her engagement photos.
What else should we know? Parking is available at the USA Youth Sports Complex at 3300 E. Evergreen Drive. Additionally, Thrivent Financial has plans to redevelop it's 600-acre grounds , which the trail runs through, in the future.
Honorable mentions: Three other murals, a park and a lookout tower
- The white and black mural with marigolds sporting clock faces , called “Tick Tock Tapestry” at 139 E. Second St. in downtown Kaukauna. Painted by Lawrence University grad Elyse-Krista Mische in 2017 , this mural's graphic nature is striking and would compliment a wide range of bright colors posed before it.
- Doty Park, 701 Lincoln St., in Neenah got a shout-out from Mike Sherry, the Post-Crescent's sports editor, as a nice place to take senior photos — something he's done there in the past. Some highlights include a visually interesting arched-stone bridge dappled with sunlight from neighboring trees and a gazebo near calm waters.
- The brick wall mountain range mural on College Avenue in downtown Appleton, between the 222 Building and Copper Rock Coffee Company. Painted by Chad Brady, this mural's soft tertiary colors — orange, purple and green — partnered with the incandescent Edison-style string lights feels like it was made for a warm Instagram filter.
- The Mile of Music mural , also by Brady. It felt wrong to leave such an iconic piece of downtown Appleton out of this list. If you're attending the annual music festival, this is certainly a selfie stop you can't skip. With a variety of blues and an overall sunset color palette, this mural on the corner of College Avenue and State Street makes itself known, inviting visitors to Google the name and find out why this particular mile is musical .
- High Cliff State Park's observation tower got a shout-out from Powers, as well, and though it's a little out of town — in Sherwood — it's worth the drive. While other locations on this list are free, this park does require a vehicle admission sticker , but both daily and annual passes are available. The park offers a number of interesting scenic overlooks from atop the Niagara Escarpment over Lake Winnebago. The tower can be accessed by hiking from the parking lots on Lower Cliff Road, or by following State Park Road, turning left on Lower Cliff Road then turning left again on High Cliff Road.
This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: 7 Fox Cities spots perfect for selfies, family photos, with natural beauty, public art
Most Popular
Comments / 0