Many a child has encountered early joys dressed to impress in overalls emblazoned with the "Oshkosh B'Gosh" label ? and it's the little city on Lake Winnebago that started it all. Oshkosh, cut through by the Fox River, is still home to the factory, but, closed to the public, the most visitors can do is buy an Oshkosh souvenir to take home. But don't think for a minute that this is a place to pass through quickly ? there's more to life than clothes.
The bigger attractions these days is the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) museum. Hangars shelter a fascination array of flying machines, from basic homemade kit planes to F-16 flight simulators. Once a year, the skies resound with the an air-equivalent to rush hour traffic, the annual EEA Fly-in Convention. Bi-planes and aged antique aircraft put on a one-of-a-kind show late summer that isn't to be missed.
Between flight patterns, fit in a visit to the diverse and well-rounded displays at Oshkosh Public Museum, enjoy a stroll through the Paine Art Center and outlying gardens, or catch an evening performance at the Grand Opera House.
If you're looking for a water-based break, don't sniff at Oshkosh for fishing opportunities ? try your hand at reeling in walleye on a spring run down local rivers, or join savvy anglers as they trade in bait and tackle for sharp spikes during sturgeon spearing season.
Oshkosh is 20 miles from Appleton and 86 miles from Madison.
