Museums, theater, shopping and fine dining - all are abundant in Oshkosh. The city caters to every taste, including the arts and the outdoors.

Three museums, the Paine Art Center & Gardens, the Oshkosh Public Museum and the EAA Air Adventure Museum, take visitors back in time. The Oshkosh Public Museum houses a diverse collection of objects representing the people and environment of Oshkosh and the Lake Winnebago region. It is housed in the former Edgar Sawyer home. The Paine was planned to be a residence for Oshkosh lumber baron Nathan Paine, but without ever living in the home, the Paines donated the building and its contents as an art center.

Visitors enjoy the magnificent collection of paintings and sculpture as well as the serenity of the gardens. The EAA Air Adventure Museum allows visitors to explore the challenge and thrill of flight. The museum will take you from the Wright Brothers to Charles Lindbergh to World War II to the Voyager and beyond. Thanks to EAA, Oshkosh is a mecca for aviation enthusiasts and its population increases to nearly 800,000 people when the annual AirVenture Fly-In comes to town at the end of July.

Arts enthusiasts will enjoy the grandeur of the Grand Opera House, a restored 1883 Victorian theater, which features dance, music, professional touring companies and children’s programming, all of national and international status. Musical venues include the Oshkosh Symphony Orchestra, considered one of the top community orchestras in the country. At the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, the Priebe Gallery, Fredric March Theater and Music Hall present a full calendar of art exhibits, plays, concerts and traveling productions. The Alberta Kimball Civic Auditorium also is home to concerts, plays and other entertainment.

Prime Outlets provides easy shopping access to apparel, shoes, luggage, house wares and specialty items.

The outlet mall, with more than 50 shops, offers entire stores full of name-brand products, including OshKosh B’Gosh, Liz Claiborne, Tommy Hilfiger, Polo/Ralph Lauren, Nike, Lenox and more. An expansive array of shopping and restaurants line Oshkosh’s Miracle Mile on the west side. Downtown Oshkosh suits a variety of tastes with quaint shops along Main Street and in the Shops at City Center.

A day of shopping can lead to hungry appetites that can be quenched at a variety of restaurants. The flavor of Oshkosh comes alive at establishments such as the Granary and Fratello’s, both known for delicious house specialties served in an atmosphere that tells the story of Oshkosh’s past and present. Oshkosh eateries also include two drive-ins, family-style restaurants, fast-food establishments and ethnic menus, including Italian, Oriental and Mexican. The Pioneer Resort & Marina and the Fin & Feather in Winneconne offer fine dining and river boat excursions.

For visitors who want to stay a while or residents needing a night away from home, Oshkosh offers more than 1,100 hotel rooms, with nationally-known and local accommodations. Oshkosh welcomed two new hotels - the Hawthorn Inn & Suites and Hilton Garden Inn - in 2001. Programs, events and meetings are held throughout the year at the Oshkosh Convention Center, in the heart of the downtown.

In local athletics, nationally-ranked baseball, basketball and track teams have put the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh on the map. Sports enthusiasts also will find professional sports teams within driving distance - Milwaukee Bucks basketball, Milwaukee Brewers baseball and Green Bay Packer football.

Annual events that attract visitors and residents alike include the Oshkosh Holiday Parade in November, Festival of Trees kick-off to the holidays in November, the Waterfest concert series from June through August, regional Badger State Games in June, the Miss Wisconsin Pageant in June, Country USA concert in June, Sawdust Days July 4 weekend, the Winnebago County Fair in August and the Ducks Unlimited Great Outdoors Festival in August.

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