Oshkosh Park with Zoo

Planning an afternoon in Oshkosh would not be complete without a trip to the Menominee Park and Zoo. The zoo is located on the east side of the city. It is surrounded by Lake Winnebago, and Hazel and Merritt Streets. The zoo is open during the warmer months in Wisconsin, from the beginning of May through the last weekend of September. Most of the animals at the zoo are leased from other zoos, so each season will feature different animals. The zoo intends to grow and may eventually stay open year-round and keep animals onsite. There are 20 to 50 animals featured each year on about eight acres worth of space. The zoo runs education and entertainment programs, and typically receives over 40,000 visitors per year. Many of these visitors are excited school children, enjoying a field trip the zoo.

The zoo's missions is "...to serve the community through the exhibition of a historical collection of both native Wisconsin exotic and domestic animals. To enrich the zoo visitor while encouraging the appreciation of animal behavior, habitat, and diversity.'' The zoo strives to educate visitors, and considers education the cornerstone of every good zoo. There are self-guided tour sheets, as well as the organized field trip program. Each gives visitors a chance to learn about native Wisconsin wildlife. The zoo also offers biology internships through their Animal Care Department. This is a great way for biology students to get hands on experience working with a variety of life animals in a fairly natural habitat. It is an accepted program and students can use it for credit in their college courses.

The zoo and park are located in the City of Oshkosh, located in the Fox River Valley along Lake Winnebago. Incorporated in 1853, the community is home to over 60,000 residents. The city is about 24 square miles large. There is a wide variety of retail, manufacturing, and education facilities in Oshkosh. Shop at the Outlet Shoppes of Oshkosh, visit the Oshkosh B'Gosh factory, and take a look around the campus of the University of Wisconsin- Oshkosh. The town is also home to the Experimental Aircraft Association, an attraction that brings nearly a million people from around the world to its annual air show. There is also a new hospital, a YMCA, and a hockey rink.

Near the beginning of the 20th century, Oshkosh was Wisconsin's second most populated city. It was the largest town in the Fox River Valley. The village was originally built on the lumber industry, and today is based on the manufacturing and retail industries that keep the town ticking. Oshkosh is a town that makes for a great weekend getaway, as well as an excellent place to explore nature, art, and recreation. Instead of visiting the same old locations in the Midwest, consider heading to Oshkosh. While there, you will be able to stroll through the Menominee Park and visit the animals at the zoo. The next time you are looking for a weekend escape, head to Oshkosh, Wisconsin.