Green Bay Greetings

Sadly, we left the Mackinac Island environs yesterday morning, and headed to our next baseball destination, Minneapolis, via a stop tonight in Green Bay, Wisconsin. 

We chose Green Bay for no reason other than it was a halfway point between Mackinac and Minneapolis. Nothing to do with it being a Mecca of the NFL. Really. 

Before heading to Green Bay, we took a detour to Sault Ste Marie, Michigan, because we had heard about the “Soo Locks," and wanted to see them in action. Because of limited time, we decided not to take the two hour tour of the locks, but rode up the Sault Tower of History, with a commanding view of the river between Lake Superior and Lake Huron, and the Locks, and a clear view of the descent from one altitude to another. 

Locks far left, Coast Guard boat which just passed through in center, and tour boat right heading to locks

Tour Boat on the Canal, headed to locks

Tower of History

Oh Canada! So near and yet so far

And, then it was on to Green Bay. I had always read about Green Bay being a charming small city, where the players lived among the ordinary people, and the stadium was part of the fabric of the city. So, when Hotels.com listed a hotel close to Lambeau Field, (and the address is on Holmgren Way, no less) we envisioned a neighborhood with bars, restaurants, shops, etc., kind of like the Wrigley Field area of Chicago, or the area near the Seahawks Stadium in Seattle, and quickly booked it with a non-refundable rate. 

When we got off the freeway, and saw Lambeau, we were initially surprised, because it seemed to be in the middle of nowhere. And, we were right. I imagine on Sundays in the fall, there is loads of traffic, and people scalping tickets and selling programs, but today it was dead and deserted. And, it isn’t even in Green Bay, but in the suburb of Ashwaubenon. As is our hotel, which is at least two miles from Lambeau and even more deserted. 

Home of the Ashwaubenon Packers

We were early enough that before we checked in we decided to see if there really was a city of Green Bay, and indeed there is. It is a small city with a nondescript downtown, and what seemed to be some lovely residential neighborhoods. And, I imagine on Mondays there is a lot of talk about what the Packers did on Sunday, but there did not seem to be a connection between the stadium and the city, which was very surprising and disappointing. 

Tomorrow, it is off to Minneapolis, another city I have always wanted to see. Happy weekend.