Discover Oshkosh

Oshkosh offers a wide range of reasons to stay: a historic estate with art and botanical gardens, animal exhibits in Menominee Park, and experiences centered on aviation. Families can choose from hands-on exhibits, a zoo and seasonal flights. Each destination has its own focus, making Oshkosh a place where culture, nature and technology can be explored in different ways.

Historic Estate, Art and Gardens

The Paine Art Center and Gardens is an English country estate in Oshkosh. The property includes a historic mansion, an art collection and botanical gardens covering almost four acres. The Paine is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Several themes come together in one place: the history of a mansion, art and garden culture.

The Paine’s art exhibitions also change throughout the year. If you are interested in art, you can take this changing exhibition program into account when planning your trip; the specific exhibition theme is not the same all year round. The botanical gardens and art collection add further distinct interests to the experience of the estate. When planning your stay, you can therefore consider whether art and gardens should have an important place in your itinerary.

Menominee Park Zoo on Lake Winnebago

Menominee Park Zoo is located in Menominee Park on the east side of Oshkosh, near Lake Winnebago. Its permanent exhibits are home to wolves, elk, otters, eagles and American black bears. These animal species give a visit to the zoo a different focus from the art and gardens at the Paine: here, the emphasis is on a range of wild animals and their habitats.

If you are traveling with children, this difference may help you choose day trips: the zoo offers an animal-focused experience, while the Paine combines art, a mansion and gardens. The zoo’s location on the east side is also a useful reference point when weighing different areas of Oshkosh for your accommodations.

Hands-On Exhibits and Historic Aircraft

At the EAA Aviation Museum, the KidVenture Gallery offers 16 interactive, hands-on exhibits. This is a clear point of interest for visitors who want to engage with aviation as more than just an exhibition topic and are interested in an interactive format. The number of exhibits and their hands-on nature set this experience apart from an outing focused primarily on an estate, an art collection or animal exhibits.

At Pioneer Airport, visitors can fly in historic aircraft during the summer season. This adds a distinct kind of aviation experience to the hands-on exhibits at the museum: flights in historic aircraft, available during the summer season. This timing is important for planning. If this aspect of Oshkosh interests you, you can factor it into your travel plans with the season in mind, rather than assuming it is available year-round.

Which Vacation Rental Is Right for Your Stay?

The best location for a vacation rental in Oshkosh depends on which of the city’s different sides you most want to explore. If Menominee Park Zoo is on your list, its location on the east side can help guide your search across the city. If you are mainly interested in the Paine Art Center and Gardens or aviation experiences, you can take these priorities into account when considering where to stay in Oshkosh. These attractions invite you to decide before you start searching whether art and gardens, animal exhibits or aviation should shape your trip.

The timing also varies: exhibitions at the Paine change throughout the year, while flights in historic aircraft at Pioneer Airport are available during the summer season. Along with the KidVenture Gallery’s 16 interactive exhibits and the zoo’s permanent exhibits, these offer a range of interests to consider when planning your stay. You can also explore Neenah as another destination.

For the broader travel overview: Winnebago.