Green Bay and a Packer Game

Like most areas of the Midwest, this summer has been dry and hot.  Consequently, we didn't do as much as we anticipated.  We primarily stayed put at the KOA with one a one week "vacation" to the Wisconsin Dells with family.  Mirror Lake State Park was great and we all had a good time.

Our son, Erik, got us some tickets at the last minute to see the Packer's last preseason game at Lambeau.  It was to be our first game though we had been to Lambeau Field before.   We stole packer jerseys from Erik and Becky and hit the road.

We decided to stay in a hotel even though rooms were scarce.  We did find a room at a Quality (in name only) downtown Green Bay.  It was just across the street from the Fox River and a 13+ river walkway through the city.

 

The river is a major water way linking the city to Green Bay and then out to Lake Michigan.  Here the  630 foot long bulk carrier Manitowoc passes us by:

 



 





A stroll through downtown revealed many "Lombardi slept here" moments.  The coach and Curly Lambeau are everywhere in Green Bay.

And we even found one of these relics of the 1960s on the now closed Northland Hotel building:

Our hotel offered the standard fare free breakfast each morning.  We opted to be a little less boring and walked three blocks to Al's Hamburger Shop for breakfast.

In operation since 1934, it was closed last year due to a fire which gutted the place.  Now reopened, it has a modern interior (a counter and 3 booths) and has kept the same exterior. Al Was the current owners father.  George is now the man behind the counter.  Though they serve hamburgers all day, I opted for the corned beef hash which George says he makes fresh daily.  It was by far the best such hash I have ever eaten. 

The city of Green Bay bus company offers free shuttle service to and from Lambeau Field on game day.  The pick up point was across the street from our hotel so we opted to ride it in lieu of the parking hassles and expense at the stadium.  Our hotel was about 3 miles as the crow flies from the stadium. 

We arrived at the stadium early enough (3.5 hours prior to game time) to have lunch and watch practice.  Lunch of bratwurst and a fully dressed hamburger was at Curly's Pub on the second level  of the stadium.  Remarkably, it was very good and reasonably priced.  Even the Curly's ale was right on.    The Miller beer in the stands, however, were a little pricey at $8 for an aluminum bottle.

We had a good time anyway watching the 3rd and 4th string players beat up on the chiefs: