Weekend Guide to Marshfield for Visitors
The jet plane has landed at the Marshfield airport, and the countdown begins. You have precisely 48 hours to explore everything there is to experience in this unknown place. What do you do? Where do you eat? Is there even a marsh?
Luckily, a lifetime resident and Explorer is your guide for this brief excursion. Discover the best places to eat depending on your mood and budget, which attractions to visit, and what’s happening on the weekend during the winter, snow or no snow.
To Find Events
Explore Marshfield publishes a list of weekend events for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday every week, and also boasts lots of community-submitted events under the Events tab. Peruse these and see what can wiggle into your timetable. A promoter of the arts, Marshfield often has live music and performances, at places like Chestnut Center for the Arts and Market on Sixth.
Friday Dinner
It’s Friday, and that means Friday Night Fish Fry! The meal is a sacred ritual for many in the state, including Marshfield, with many area restaurants filling the demand.
RiverEdge Golf Course won Best Fish Fry in 2017, and places like Crabby Dave’s and popular bar Nutz Deep II also rank as having excellent fish frys. Blue Heron Brewpub brews its own beer and has a great atmosphere. If a fish fry doesn’t suit, their Reuben sandwich is fantastic.
Friday Night
Arguably taking place any time after 4:22 p.m. during the winter, nightlife is small but it IS present. A frequent Best of Marshfield winner in multiple categories, Nutz Deep II serves as Marshfield’s nightlife in addition to serving an excellent burger. Try the cheese curd burger or just the Nutz Deep specialty.
Saturday Breakfast
Scrape the snow and ice off the car, then head to local favorite, the Daily Grind (voted Best Coffee Shop in Marshfield 2017) to warm up over great coffee in this historic downtown location. A cozy brick wall and wooden table are all you need to feel at home while tucking into a tasty omelette.
Another option nearby is the Kitchen Table, a mom and pop type place with homemade food and the best walnut pie you’ll ever have. (note: cash or local check only).
Saturday Morning
After a downtown breakfast, walk up and down Central Ave. for the downtown shopping experience. Greet the two cats at used bookstore and downtown staple Thimbleberry Books for fascinating reads by the warm fireplace. Peek into the various shops, like Marshfield Mercantile, for antiques, coffee, homemade goods, and design items.
Saturday Lunch
The previously mentioned Daily Grind and Kitchen Table are also good for lunchtime (especially soup), but for something different, El Mezcal is a great place for a speedy lunch before heading into Saturday activities. The restaurant serves Mexican food suitable for an American palate and has been a fixture of ethnic cuisine for over a decade in the community.
Saturday Afternoon
Upham Mansion is the former home of Governor William Upham and represents Victorian architecture at its finest. Visit between public hours on Saturday from 1:30-4 p.m. to take a peek at that luscious staircase and late nineteenth-century life. During December and January, the mansion is beautifully decorated for the season by the North Wood County Historical Society, which uses the home as its headquarters. Appointments can also be made outside this time to take a tour. Admission $2, 12 and under free.
The Sports Den, a local gem for sports equipment and quality bikes, rents out skis, snowboards, and snowshoes. Take these to the Marshfield High School School Forest or Riveredge Golf Course for groomed skiing and other winter activities.
Saturday Dinner
Craving authentic Mexican, or some sushi? Marshfield has its own niche of ethnic restaurants. Royal Tokyo offers an impressive night of entertainment by spatula in the historic Soo Line train station. If Teppanyaki is too exciting, head to Nagoya for a low-key but sophisticated dinner.
Taqueuria el Sol serves Mexican on the south side of town and is a favorite spot for authentic burritos, delicious margaritas, and other fare straight from family recipes.
For a Wisconsin supper club experience, Buck-a-Neer supper club fits the bill with hearty food and elegance.
A casual family experience can be found at local pizza place Scotty’s Pizza (try the Bacon-Broccoli-Cheese).
Saturday Night
After dinner, venture through the lights of Rotary Winter Wonderland on the south side beginning the day after Thanksgiving and ending December 31. Admission is a freewill donation of a non-perishable food or a non-perishable cash donation. Open every night from 5-9 p.m. with live music between 6-8 p.m.
Later, catch a movie on the mega screen at Rogers Cinema with late-night movies on or after 9 p.m.
Sunday Activities
Catch breakfast at Central Cafe (serving homemade pie) or at Melody Gardens, both open Sundays.
Worshipers can find plenty of services: The area serves Lutherans, Catholics, Presbyterians, Non-denominational etc.
During the winter, Wildwood Park & Zoo is open until 2:30. Admission is free-will donation, and the two rare Kodiak bears in a world-class exhibit are the star of the zoo. The bears, well-fed, don’t hibernate in the winter. Also check out the likely-snoozing arctic fox.
If crystals are forming around your nostrils and an outdoor adventure isn’t appealing, Rose Bowl Lanes is open starting 11 a.m. Sunday until Close. Try a few rounds of bowling and lunch here.
Sunday Night
Board the Marshfield Air* jet plane and return to warm places. We hope you enjoyed your stay.
* Unfortunately, Explore Marshfield could not verify the existence of this airline (Steve offers to resign.)
