36 HOURS IN MARSHFIELD

by Leenah Blair Holmes

Marshfield, Wisconsin is an up-and-coming city, to say the least. It’s almost equidistant from Minneapolis, Madison, and Milwaukee, so you can take your pick when it comes to airports. Whichever great airport you choose, you are only two hours and some change from the home of the World’s Largest Round Barn, some excellent restaurants, and two Kodiak bears!

FRIDAY

2p.m.

1. Service with a smile

After a just-over two-hour drive from whichever fantastic airport you flew into, you’ve probably developed quite a hunger. Luckily, Perkins has Breakfast All Day. Choose from mouth-watering items like Two Eggs Any Style ($3.99), Pancakes with Syrup ($5.99 full stack, $3.49 half), or, if you’re looking to share with someone, the Turkey Club is three layers of pure bliss, with salted French fries and a pickle slice that’s not too crisp, and not too sour ($7.49, but WORTH IT). They even have an all-you-can-eat salad bar for those of you calorie counters out there. ;) The bottomless iced tea should quench your thirst, no problem. While you’re there, say hi to Sharon if she's working. She’s got two kids, and another one on the way, so don’t be stingy with that tip!

4 p.m.

2. Go out and play

You must be stuffed! Luckily, Marshfield is known for it’s collection of outdoor parks and playgrounds. Jog through the sprawling green of Braem Park, or head across town to Steven J. Miller Recreation Area. You might even find some local athletic enthusiasts to join you in a pickup game at Jack Hackman field! Some people say that Milwaukee Brewers Hall of Fame legend Paul Molitor used to play there, but I don’t know if I believe him. He’s always making up facts, and I still love him for it.

7 p.m.

3. Decisions, decisions

All that ball playing might have made you hungry again, so head over to Scotty’s Pizza and Chicken. You don’t need to argue about whether to go out for pizza or wings, because Scotty’s got ‘em both! Plus, the fountain drinks have free refills ($1.00/small, $1.50/large), and the ice is that crushed kind that tastes so good, and it doesn’t come out too fast like it does at Seven Eleven. While you’re waiting for the food to come out, you can try to win a stuffed gorilla, or some other funky toy from the prize machine ($0.50/play). If you want my recommendation, get six spicy hot buffalo wings ($3.99), and two slices of pizza ($1.50/ slice for plain, $0.50 additional per topping), and share it all. It’s a great bonding experience. Oh, and get extra napkins... you know you always forget how greasy the wings are!

8:30 p.m.

4. Catch a flick

See, it’s not so late yet. There’s plenty of time to enjoy each other’s company. Rogers Cinemas is one of the best places in town to watch a movie. With four different screens, you’re sure to find something you like. Whether you’re in the mood for a laugh-out-loud comedy, a heart-stopping action film, or a touching, dramatic work that might win one of those awards, this movie theater might have it. If you’re waiting for your show to start, the arcade has four games, including Road Racer 7 ($0.50/play or $1.00 for two-player race mode - sounds fun!), and Evan’s favorite, Deer Hunter ($1.00 for twelve shots). He’s a great shot.

10:30 p.m.

5. Last Call

There are tons of great bars in Marshfield, but my top choice for late night deals is Mr. G’s Saloon. Working behind a rustic counter with creative lighting fixtures, Mr. G has all the best beers you can imagine, from Budweiser, to Coors, and even Pabst Blue Ribbon. If you’re short on cash, Miller Lite is their specialty, and at only $1.75, you can have as many as you want, without breaking the bank. If you do run out of cash don’t worry. There is an ATM in the back by the cigarette machine. The jukebox has all the classics, such as The Allman Brothers and Creed, and for all you hip-hop enthusiasts, they even have The Beastie Boys. Grab a stool and a bowl of salty peanuts, and argue over whether or not you liked that movie you just watched. Discuss, not argue. Discuss.

SATURDAY

9:30 a.m.

6. Wake up and smell the coffee

Depending on how heated that discussion got last night, you might need some time to sleep in or cuddle in bed before starting your morning. When you are ready, head over to The Daily Grind for the best coffee in Marshfield, if not in all of Wood County. Try the Grinder ($4.99), a hearty medley featuring hash browns, green peppers, onions, and ham, all mixed together in greasy, peaceful harmony. They can put flavored syrups in your coffee, but don’t get too crazy! They’ll charge you almost a buck a pop for extra flavors, and you don’t want to get scolded for spending too much. Stick with the caramel syrup, or maybe try the butter rum if you’re in the mood. I know, it’s so hard to decide. At the cash register there’s lots of candies to tempt you on your way out. Put some Jonny almonds ($1.25 a bag) in your purse for later. But maybe wait until he heads out to the car so he doesn’t say anything.

11 a.m.

7. Did somebody say shopping spree?

Stay on South Central Avenue for some great shopping options. Give your wardrobe a boost with some chic new fashion from Victory Apparel. There are lots of beautiful earrings, like, so beautiful. If you’re looking for a gift for your girlfriend - something that says you’re ready for the next step - they have rings, too. After making your purchase, go next door to Thimbleberry Books. I know you love reading, so you should definitely be able to find almost everything from your list. They have a great comic book selection, and tons of Ray Bradberg (he wrote 20,000 Degrees Fahrenheit, Evan’s favorite book). 

Finally, stop off at Talented or Not Stampin’ Fun. They sell really creative crafts and scrapbooking supplies there. Betty Ann is such a doll. She can help you find stickers, wacky tape, or funky design scissors. Something tells me: after this weekend, you are going to have enough photos to start a whole new section in that memory book you’re working on.

1 p.m.

8. Something different

It’s a little bit off the beaten path, but if you’re looking for lunch that’s a change from your average Dairy Queen burger and fries, try one of Marshfield’s newest restaurants, Lammar’s Smokehouse BBQ. It’s right next to the Dairy Queen, actually, and they just opened up last year, but already they’ve been getting tons of customers every day. Try the brisket sandwich with Tater tots and Coleslaw ($6.49), and save room for a slice of chocolate pie. I know it seems like a lot, but if you love chocolate, like I do, it’s worth splurging this time. Plus, if you’re visiting someone in Marshfield that you haven’t seen in a while, think of it as a special occasion. Sometimes the person you’re with makes you feel bad about getting pie. Like, they’ll say something like “you sure you really need those extra calories?” If that happens, you tell them: It’s just one piece of chocolate pie! It’s not gonna hurt anyone! Leave me alone!!

2:30 p.m.

9. Cute and cuddly

Wildwood Zoo is a popular destination for animal lovers. They have tons of large mammals, from the majestic American Bison to the sweet and innocent White-Tailed Deer. A highlight for some is the large collection of birds of prey. You can see a Bald Eagle, a Screech Owl, and even a Red-Tailed Hawk. Yikes! I would NOT want to be their next meal!! By far the highlight is our new Kodiak Bear exhibit. I bet these fellas weren’t here the last time your friend came to visit. There was a lot of talk leading up to their arrival, and now that they are here, you can see why. They are adorable! It’s a lot of fun to try to imagine what they would be saying to each other, if they could talk. Nothing helps your self-esteem better than cute animal voices.

6:30 p.m.

10. Donde es el cantina?

That’s right amigos, Marshfield even has an authentic Mexican restaurant. It’s called El Mezcal, which means “The Mezcal” in espanol (which is the Spanish way of saying “Spanish,” FYI). Mezcal is an alcoholic drink made out of cactus. It sounds gross, but it’s actually really popular! The food at El Mezcal is so good, you’ll think you crossed the border. Try the enchiladas ($6.99), the chicken quesadilla ($5.49), or my boyfriend’s favorite, the beef tacos ($7.99, includes rice and beans, and salad which he doesn’t eat). They have a great selection of Spanish speaking beers, like Tecate and Corona. Don’t drink too many, though, because there’s still one more stop on the itinerary. I mean, we can stay if you want, but wouldn’t rather move around? Get some fresh air? Go to another bar?

8:30 p.m.

11. To beer or not to beer, that is the question

And the answer, of course, is… To beer! Especially when you have over twelve homemade, craft brew selections to choose from. No visit to Marshfield would be complete without a visit to the Blue Heron Brew Pub. It’s a charming, two-story bar and grill that is the very definition of artisanal. You’ll want to stay all night, but they do have to close some point. Luckily, they sell bottles of their unique brews to go, so you can buy a few six packs to bring home with you. Snuggle up on the couch and watch television, or a DVD if you’re staying with a movie buff. I’ve been told I don’t have the best taste in movies, so maybe you’ll want to bring your own. Or maybe there will be something good on cable. I have over 60 channels on my TV. 

SUNDAY

10 a.m.

12. It’s hard to say goodbye

Most places in Marshfield are closed on Sunday. There are a few good options for breakfast, but if you want something special for that goodbye meal, you gotta go with Lumberyard Bar and Grill. If you’re in the mood for something sweet, go with the Monte Cristo French Toast ($5.99), and if you’re feeling really hungry, you can’t go wrong with the Lumberyard Sandwich: Sourdough bread, Wisconsin Cheddar, and your choice of breakfast meat ($7.99, with your choice of breakfast potato). This is a nice way to end your visit. You can get a Bloody Mary, if you want, or two, I don’t mind. Or just get coffee. It’s a big restaurant, and usually on Sunday it’s not too crowded, so you can have a really private meal and talk about important issues. If you sit on the west side by the window, you can see our old Elementary School. Before you know it, you might start reminiscing about the old days, when you were a kid. Remember Ms. Turnbach, with the weird, witchy looking fingers? She had that creepy cackle, and everyone said she lived in the basement at school because she was always there. Remember that field trip to the sewer cover factory in Neenah? How Anthony Venelli dared you to spit gum into the sewer, and the sinks stopped working? You were freaking out! Anthony is a podiatrist, now, in Wausau, I believe. I think it’s so funny how much people can change over time. Ms. Turnbach still teaches at Grant, believe it or not. I see her every now and again, in Shop Rite. She smiles. She’s not so bad. People change, you know. You can make things work, even difficult things. You can make a long distance relationship work. Especially these days, with the Internet; everything is so easy now. Or you can stay in Marshfield. There’s tons to do here. I only narrowed it down because, if you’re getting on a flight at noon or something on Sunday, that’s pretty much all you have time for. We coulda gotten up earlier, taken a walk in the park or seen the World’s Largest Round Barn, in the Wisconsin Fairgrounds. I would of made a reservation, don’t you know that? There’s plenty more to do here, if you want to stay more than 36 hours.