Marinette is named after Queen Marinette.
“What is fascinating is that it was unheard of for a Native American, much less a woman with no formal education, to have such a role in business. She earned the respect of everyone in town for her keen eye for business and, being multilingual, she could communicate with the Native Americans and the British and French. Therefore, she became known as Queen Marinette. Talk about a woman before her time!”
Have you ever considered Marinette Wisconsin for a weekend getaway? Maybe not, yet you should.
I’ll confess, just like Oconto, Marinette was a “drive through” city for my family and myself. In fact, when I mentioned to my dad that I was going to be spending a weekend in Marinette, he promptly replied, “what in the world are you going to do there?”
I cannot count the number of times I have driven through Marinette either with my family to fish the Menomonee River on the Menomonee side, or myself on the way to Escanaba for one of our yearly summer vacation trips.
So being that Marinette is one of the Wisconsin Harbor Towns, making it a must visit for my upcoming book research, I was curious to find out more about this city that I have overlooked for so long.
I packed a lot into my 3 days I spent In Marinette and so I’d like to share the 17 best things to do in Marinette Wisconsin.
Things to do in Marinette Wisconsin
Visit the Queen Marinette statue along the Menomonee River.
Marinette is named after Queen Marinette. Hers is a fascinating story.
Imagine the typical role of a woman in the eighteenth century. No rights, seen as a piece of property, most with no access to an education. Then add to that, Native American status when the white man was stripping them of their lands and killing them.
Born Marie Antoinette Chevalier to a British Fur Trader and the daughter of the Menominee Indian Chief, Wauba-Shish in 1793. She later married John Jacobs in 1823 and had three children. They opened a fur trading post in what is now known as Marinette. Jacobs left her and her three children. Marie Antoinette later married William Farnsworth and had three children with him. During this time, she ran the trading post on her own, as her husband was busy operating the first hydro sawmill on the Menominee River. He would leave her as well.
What is fascinating is that it was unheard of for a Native American, much less a woman with no formal education, to have such a role in business. She earned the respect of everyone in town for her keen eye for business and, being multilingual, she could communicate with the Native Americans and the British and French. Therefore, she became known as Queen Marinette. Talk about a woman before her time!
Take a self guided Historical House Tour.
Make sure you grab a map for this self guided walking tour of the beautiful historical homes that line Riverside Avenue from the Welcome Center on Stephensons Island, or you can download and print a history about the homes here. You will also find the location of Queen Marinette and other points of interest along the river on the map from the brochure.
Visit Stephenson Island.
Right before you cross the bridge into Menominee, Michigan, off to the left is Stephanson Island. It’s a large park with a band shell, the Evancheck Cabin (an example of a typical homesteaders’ residence) built in 1897, and the Marinette County Historical Logging Museum. You will also find a Welcome Center on the island that has visitor information about Marinette.
1680 Bridge Street Marinette
Fish the Menomonee River.
No doubt that you will come upon anglers either on shore or trolling the Menominee River. Like I mentioned in the beginning of this article, my dad has been coming up to Marinette to fish for as many years as I can remember. It’s a hot spot for walleye and other species. You can fish right off of Stephenson Island, or head on across the bridge to the boat landing in Menominee and launch there.
Red Arrow Park
Red Arrow Park is along the Bay of Green Bay. It has a veterans memorial, a shelter, bathrooms, a decent beach area, depending on water levels, and plenty of green space. There is a short nature trail that runs along the marshy part of the park. Another trail, running along the bay, connects Red Arrow Park with Menekaunie Harbor. It’s a nice trail that runs parallel to the shoreline.
318 E Bay Shore St, Marinette
Go Beach Glass Hunting.
While you’re at Red Arrow Park and walking the beach, go on the hunt for beach glass. It’s one of my favorite hobbies and one I pursue whenever I can.
Go to the Menekaunee Harbor Park.
This new harbor is a valuable asset to the city of Marinette. The modern buildings and shelters welcome not only anglers and boaters but also other recreational opportunities. There is a kayak launch. The extended trail connects the harbor with Red Arrow Park. The design also incorporated a tribute to the history of the fishing industry with several statues around the harbor.
Ogden St, Marinette
What Is That Tall Bear At Menekaunie Harbor Park?
The bear you see standing proud over the harbor signifies the original home of the Menominee Tribe. It is a replica of the ancestral bear that stands in the Menominee Indian Tribe’s Cultural Museum in Keshena, Wisconsin.
See the Menominee North Pier Lighthouse.
Take a drive over the 1st. Street bridge into Menominee, Michigan and get up close to this iconic lighthouse. There is ample parking at Lighthouse Park and you can walk the concrete elevated breakwater and get right up to the lighthouse. Please be mindful of the weather, since stormy conditions and ice may make the walk dangerous.
Lighthouse Park, Harbor Drive Menominee, Michigan
Explore the downtown shops. There are some shops in the downtown area which run along Main Street and Dunlap Avenue. You can find clothing and jewelry, gifts and furniture. The Pine Tree Mall also has chain stores like Kohl’s and TJMaxx.
Stop in the Main Street Antique Store and Studio B Art Gallery upstairs.
I recommend stopping in the Main Street Antique Mall to check out the antique stalls. If you’re not into that sort of thing, head up to the second level, where there is an art gallery featuring the art of local artist Rusty Wolfe.
1622 Main Street Marinette, WI 54143
See a $4 movie at the Mariner Theater.
Arrive early for the arcade games, grab a snack and enjoy a movie in the comfy high-backed chairs in this family-owned movie theater. I enjoy visiting a local movie theater when I’m on vacation, especially if the weather is not the best for outdoor activities. The Mariner Theater is that place in Marinette.
2000 Ella Ct, Marinette
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Food and Drink
Forgotten Fire Winery.
They named Forgotten Fire Winery after the Peshtigo fire, which took place the same day as the great Chicago fire in 1871. Even though the Peshtigo fire took more lives than Chicago’s fire, it is still “forgotten” except from the people in nearby Peshtigo and the surrounding area.
This is a great spot to spend an hour or two sampling their wine, our just enjoying a glass of your favorite in the inviting seating area.
N2393 Schacht Rd, Marinette
Pie at Hometown Family Restaurant.
You can always tell where the favorite spot to eat in town is by the number of cars in the parking lot. Hometown Family Restaurant is one of those places. They serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and are open every day from 6 am to 8 pm. Come for a meal, but make sure you don’t pass up the pie!
1400 Marinette Avenue
Coffee at A Place For Coffee.
I’m just going to say this. Go to A Place For Coffee. Owner Jen Schiller recently opened this coffee shop in a former church after an extensive renovation.
The property sat vacant for two years before Jen purchased it and made her vision into a reality.
The space is welcoming with the original high ceilings, dark heavy wood and leather furniture seating areas, paying tribute to the aesthetic of the former church.
It’s a gathering place and a place for solo travelers like me to sip a cup of latte and read, get some work done, or chat with friends. There is parking in the back.
1059 Marinette Ave
Seguins House of Cheese.
Cheese, cheese, and more cheese. If you are visiting, stop at Seguins House of Cheese. While there are tons of cheeses, the house brand, or other Wisconsin based cheese brands, there is so much more. It’s a great place to buy gifts, souvenirs, other food items, ice cream, and clothing.
W1968 US Hwy 41, Marinette
Rail House Restaurant and Brewpub.
If you enjoy visiting breweries, stop at the Rail House Restaurant and Brewpub. The Rail House is a microbrewery that has been brewing since 1995. The restaurant serves a wide variety of food, from pizza to Mexican. They always have 11 brews on tap. I enjoyed the Blueberry Ale. Their beer is also available commercially.
2029 Old Peshtigo Rd, Marinette
Mickey Lu’s
Grabbing an inexpensive burger at Mickey Lu’s is almost a requirement when you visit Marinette. The place is tiny, and it may be hard to find a table or seat at the counter during busy times. It’s a step back in time. Not much has changed since the opening of Mickey Lu’s BBQ in 1947. In the era before fast-food restaurant chains, Mickey Lu’s served up burgers, grilled cheese, hot dogs, and more fast and inexpensively. That tradition continues today. It’s a simple menu, all made at the grill behind the counter.
While the hamburgers are good, I have to say my favorite is the chocolate malts. Not a shake (they serve those too), but the malts. Having a chocolate malt is reminiscent of my mom popping a huge bowl of popcorn and a blender full of chocolate malts on a Friday night for my brother, myself, and her as we watched whatever was on TV.
Open Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday from 9 am – 8 pm. Friday and Saturday from 9 am – 9 pm. Sunday 11 am – 8 pm.
1710 Marinette Avenue.
Consider a getaway weekend in Marinette and put another checkmark on your list of Wisconsin Harbor Towns to visit. I enjoyed my stay and I think you will too.
Questions? Comments? Share then with me!