Appleton City Guide
Image by Royalbroil via wikidata

United States

Appleton City Guide

Wisconsin

Appleton, Wisconsin sits along the Fox River with a mix of city life and nature. There's a lively downtown, active arts scene, and plenty of parks. It's a welcoming city with good amenities for remote workers and visitors.

Lifestyle🍽️

🍽️
Food Scene
Good
7

Local dishes include cheese curds and bratwurst. Good international variety with Mexican, Italian, Asian, and Indian options. Vegetarian and vegan choices are growing.

Local Dishes:
Cheese curds, Bratwurst, Friday fish fry
International Cuisine:
Mexican, Italian, Asian, Indian
Vegan FriendlyVegetarian Friendly
🌙
Nightlife
Good
6

Downtown has bars, pubs, and live music venues mainly along College Avenue.

Coffee Culture
Good
7

Growing coffee scene with quality independent cafes and local focus.

💰
Tipping
Required
18%

Tipping is expected in restaurants, taxis, and many services, typically 15-20%. Optional for counter service unless a tip jar is present.

Top Attractions
Trout Museum of Art
art
Gallery featuring local art.
Fox Cities Performing Arts Center
culture
Venue for concerts and shows.
Hearthstone Historic House Museum
history
Historic house with tours.
SIM Cards

SIM cards are sold at carrier stores (AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile) and electronics shops like Best Buy. eSIMs are available. ID required for activation.

Available at:
AT&T store
Verizon store
T-Mobile store
Best Buy
Recommended Apps
Uber/Lyft(transport)
DoorDash/Grubhub(food)
Google Maps(navigation)
Weather app(utility)
Yelp(social)

Services & Infrastructure

Street Cleanliness
Excellent
8

City streets are clean and well maintained with regular waste and recycling service.

24/7 Services
Limited
5

Some 24-hour pharmacies and convenience stores. Limited 24/7 clinics; emergency rooms always open.

Groceries
Festival Foods
Pick 'n Save
Aldi

Supermarkets like Festival Foods, Pick 'n Save, and Aldi are common. International items are limited but available in larger stores. Farmers markets run in warmer months.

Cashless Payments
Widely accepted

Most businesses accept credit and debit cards. Cash is accepted but often not needed.

ATMs

ATMs are widely available at banks and retail spots. Expect fees of $2.50 to $5.00 for out-of-network use.

Schools
Local only

Public schools are under Appleton Area School District. Instruction is mainly in English. No specific international schools noted.

Available Schools:
Appleton Area School District

Work & Digital💻

Coworking Spaces
Available
6
Available Spaces:
The Connective
Professional space with meeting rooms.
The Fox Commons
Collaborative coworking in downtown.
Work-Friendly Cafés
Good
ACOCA Coffee
Popular spot with strong Wi-Fi.
Tempest Coffee Collective
Good space for working with quality coffee.
Copper Rock Coffee Co.
Casual café with Wi-Fi.
Seth's Coffee & Tea
Comfortable spot for laptops and drinks.
Alternatives:
Appleton Public Library
Quiet workspaces and free Wi-Fi.
Hotel lobbies
Some offer Wi-Fi and seating for work.
Digital Nomad Community
Poor
3

No large nomad meetups but many cafes offer Wi-Fi and a good work atmosphere.

Nature & Activities🌿

Green Spaces
Excellent
8

Many parks with shaded paths and riverside spots. Great for running and relaxing.

Running
Excellent
8

Fox River Trail and parks provide safe, scenic routes for running.

Gyms
Available

Several fitness centers and gyms are available.

Available Gyms:
YMCA of the Fox Cities
Anytime Fitness
Planet Fitness
Tennis
Limited
5

Public and indoor tennis courts available around the city.

Padel
Poor
0

Padel courts are not common in Appleton.

Yoga
Good
6

Multiple yoga studios offer classes in English.

Martial Arts
Good
6

Several schools teach Taekwondo, Karate, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu with English-speaking instructors.

Skiing
Limited
4

Ski hills like Nordic Mountain and Granite Peak are 1-2 hours away. Season runs December to March with rentals and varied terrain.

Water Sports
Limited
5

Kayaking and paddleboarding available on the Fox River and Lake Winnebago. Rentals and guided tours exist seasonally.

Surfing
Poor
0

No surfing opportunities.

Diving
Poor
0

No diving spots.

Health & Safety🏥

Healthcare
Excellent
8

Good quality private healthcare with English-speaking staff at major hospitals like Ascension NE Wisconsin and ThedaCare.

Hospitals:
Ascension NE Wisconsin - St. Elizabeth Campus
ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Appleton
Pharmacies:
Walgreens
CVS
Tap Water Safety
Safe to drink

Tap water meets federal and state safety standards and is safe to drink.

Common Scams
Online phishing, Phone scams impersonating IRS, Grandparent scams

Community & Family

Family Friendly
Excellent
8

Many playgrounds and family-friendly cafes. Attractions like The Building for Kids Children's Museum and Appleton Public Library.

LGBTQ+ Friendly
Good
7

Generally accepting community with annual Pride events and legal protections.

Pet Friendly
Good
7

Parks and accommodations are often pet-friendly. Veterinary and dog parks exist.

Communities
Appleton, WI Community Facebook Group (social)
Fox Cities Events Facebook Page (events)
Appleton Downtown Inc. (business)

Quick Facts

Population
75,644
Power Reliability
Excellent
9/10

Power is reliable with few outages that get fixed promptly.

Languages
English(90%)
Emergency
911
Emergency

⚠️Natural Disasters Risk

🌊
Tsunami
Very Low Risk
0
🏔️
Earthquake
Very Low Risk
1

🌦️Seasonal Issues

Extreme heat
July, August
Summers can be hot and humid.
Extreme cold
December, January, February, March
Winters bring cold temperatures and significant snowfall.

No reviews yet

Be the first to share your experience at this place

💬 Feedback & Bugs