Green Bay’s Austin Straubel Airport (GRB) is the perfect base of operation if you’re a pilot planning a visit to the 2011 EAA AirVenture air show. Whether you’re coming from across the state, across the country or across the globe—Green Bay is a great place to land. Here are 10 reasons why you should consider Green Bay for your EAA AirVenture visit this summer.
#1 – Smaller Crowds/Traffic – Staying at GRB gives you easy-in and easy-out flexibility without the crowds and traffic traditionally associated with flying in to the EAA. GRB’s premier FBO Executive Air offers 70,000 square feet of hangar space and expanded ramp space to ensure virtually unlimited capacity. Whether you’re planning ahead or making a last minute decision, there is room for you and your plane at GRB and Executive Air.
#2 – Packer Training Camp – You’re only minutes from Lambeau Field and the Don Hudson Practice Facility. Sports Illustrated's Peter King in 2005 listed the Packers as having one of the best training camps in the NFL and also anointed it one of the "Summer Essentials" -- a list of SI's writers' recommendations for the ultimate sports summer. Sit on the bleachers along Oneida Street and watch the Packers prepare for the 2011 season. Get autographs from your favorite player. Check out the famous bike ride from the stadium locker room to the practice field – kids offer their bikes to players so they can ride the 500 yards from the locker room to the practice field. Practices begin July 31 and continue through the month of August.
#3 – Door County – Praised by travel writers and visitors from around the world, Door County, Wisconsin offers scenic seaside experiences in the heart of the Midwest. Surrounded by Lake Michigan to the north and east and the bay of Green Bay to the west, this long and slender peninsula with 300 miles of shoreline combines natural beauty and outdoor adventure with acclaimed performing and visual arts, galleries and shops, local cuisine, and famous cherry orchards. Door County is a short 30 minute drive from Green Bay on four lane highway.
#4 – Lambeau Field & Packer Hall of Fame – Commonly referred to as the “Mecca” of professional football, Lambeau Field is minutes from GRB. The best way to enjoy the experience is with a Stadium Tour. Lambeau Field stadium tours allow fans to experience the Packers' history-rich facility first-hand and see several behind-the-scenes areas. Also be sure to check out the Packer Hall of Fame. Relive the most exciting moments in Packers and football history. There are nearly 80 exhibits including three Super Bowl trophies and a re-creation of Vince Lombardi's office. Plus, for an authentic Packer dining experience, try Curly’s Pub in the Lambeau Field Atrium.
#5 – Zippin Pippin and Bay Beach Amusement Park – Bay Beach Amusement Park is an absolute must visit for families. The park consists of 45 acres with 16 rides, seven shelters, a dance hall, rest rooms, picnic areas, playground, softball and volleyball areas. Admission and parking is free and ride tickets are only 25¢ each. Most rides require one or two tickets. Rides are a blend of small children rides, a historic small gauge train, ferris wheel, Scrambler, Scat and the newly added Zippin Pippin roller coaster. Plus the park is adjacent to the 700 acre Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary – which is also free. Your kids can feed the ducks and geese, walk through the aviary and check out many of the small animals common to Wisconsin.
#6 – World Class Dining – Despite Green Bay’s reputation for taverns and grill food, the area features some wonderful fine dining experiences. Whether you’re looking for a great steak, sushi, seafood or nouvelle cuisine, Green Bay offers a fine dining experience to satisfy any appetite. Check out these restaurants: Hinterland, Republic Chophouse, Brett Favre’s Steak House, Union Hotel, Chefusion, Koko’s, and Chives. Plus, for those Packer fans seeking an authentic dining experience, try Curly’s Pub in the Lambeau Field Atrium.
#7 – Authentic Wisconsin Fish Fry – Green Bay offers numerous very local, authentic taverns and roadside grills that have perfected the classic Wisconsin Friday Fish Fry. A Fish Fry meal typically consists of battered and deep-fried yellow perch, walleye, or Atlantic cod, French fries, coleslaw, and a buttered slice of pumpernickel or dark rye bread. The meal is traditionally preceded with a lengthy cocktail hour (be prepared to wait wherever you go) and is washed down with numerous pints of beer. Some of the best and most authentic area restaurants for a Fish Fry include Maricque’s Bar, Kroll’s West, Farr’s Grove, Redwood Inn, and Kropp Supper Club.
#8 – NEW Zoo – NEW is a common abbreviation used in the Green Bay area and stands for Northeast Wisconsin. (Now you’re a real insider.) The NEW Zoo offers numerous natural exhibits featuring lions, wolves, bears, aviary, deer, elk, otters, penguins, giraffes, tortoise and much more. The NEW Zoo is located 10 miles northwest of downtown Green Bay, within the Brown County Reforestation Camp. The NEW ZOO and Brown County Reforestation Camp together function as a 1560-acre recreational area serving over a half million visitors each year. Admission is an affordable $5.00 for adults and $3.00 for kids under 15.
#9 – Oneida Casino – Literally across the highway from GRB is one of the largest casinos in Wisconsin: Oneida Casino. The casino is integrated with a Radisson Hotel and features poker, reel slots/videos, Vegas-style table games, off-track betting and high stakes bingo.
#10 – World Class FBO – Executive Air is the first choice for many Fortune 500 companies and world class charter services. The FBO offers:
· Complete concierge services for hotels, restaurants, entertainment and ground transportation
· Discreet/confidential VIP service
· Easy in-and-out aircraft parking
· More than 70,000 square feet of hanger space
· Complete fuel and ground services, 24/7
· Air charter service
Schedule Your EAA Visit
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