The Fox Cities are Wisconsin's shopping place. Central to the Fox Cities' experience is the Fox River Mall, Wisconsin's second largest shopping mall with more than 180 retailers including J. Jill, Chico's Macy's, Pottery Barn and the largest sporting goods store in Wisconsin, Scheel's All Sports. Fox River Mall is a destination for shoppers throughout Wisconsin and Michigan's Upper Peninsula, especially during the pre-holiday "hunter's widow" migration, when thousands of women flock to the area for some serious shopping and bonding.

Beyond the mall, the galleries and specialty retailers in downtown Appleton and historic Neenah feature unique items and personalized service sure to please even the most discerning shopper. Top off your shopping experience by exploring some of the premier antique dealers in the state including the Harp Gallery and Urban Evolutions, a best kept secret of many Hollywood stars. Urban Evolutions operates an outlet center in the city of Menasha featuring architectural salvage items reconditioned for interior use.

Downtown Appleton is the cultural heart of the Fox Cities where, after a day of shopping, visitors enjoy a variety of dining, nightlife and entertainment options. The life and illusions of Appleton's Harry Houdini are on display in "A.K.A. Houdini" at the Outagamie Mu seum.

Two shining stars for the performing arts bookend downtown Appleton: the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center (PAC) and Lawrence University. The PAC features the latest Broadway touring companies as well as the Fox Valley Symphony and other local performing arts groups. The PAC will host Wisconsin's premier performance of Broadway's The Lion King in 2007. Lawrence University is internationally known for its liberal arts program in music and drama. Students, faculty and numerous guest artists fill the on-campus performance calendar during the school year.

Several unique art galleries call downtown Appleton home. The Appleton Art Center features rotating exhibits of national, regional and local artists as well as many hands-on instructional classes. You can also see artists in action at Coventry Glassworks featuring extensive stained glass items.

Glass paperweights, the largest collection in the world, are the focus at the Bergstrom-Mahler Museum in Neenah. The paperweights have symbolic meaning in this historic "paper baron" town that is still home to many paper companies. The Bergstrom-Mahler Museum is the former home of local paper magnates the Bergstrom family and it is surrounded by several blocks of impeccably maintained turn of the last century mansions that housed the local paper aristocracy. The walk through this historic neighborhood along the shores of Lake Winnebago is one of the most beautiful in the Fox Cities.

Wisconsin's Fox Cities offer visitors urban style in 18 communities that haven't lost their small town warmth, safety or affordability. Excellent facilities, great shopping, arts and nightlife are all here along the Fox River and Lake Winnebago.

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