Marion offers a variety of reasons to plan a stay outdoors or explore local history. At Lions Point Park, a swimming area and sandy beach meet a boat and kayak launch. Trails wind through different landscapes, while museums, historic buildings, and monuments offer other points of interest. The places you choose may also depend on whether you would rather walk, get out on the water, go sledding, or learn about the city’s history.

Parks, Water, and Outdoor Activities

Lions Point Park has a swimming area with a sandy beach. Swimming and beach conditions can vary by season. If you’d like to get out on the water by boat or kayak, the park has a launch; check seasonal conditions before your visit. Wallace Park also has a boat and kayak launch. It provides access to this section of Marion Millpond, though access to the water depends on local conditions.

There are two different sledding options for winter activities. The sledding hill at 132 N Parkview Ave has a 50-foot vertical drop and is lit every evening from 4 to 10 p.m. Snow and hill conditions vary by season. Legion Memorial Park in Marion is a good spot for a half-day of sledding; check winter conditions and facilities before you go.

Marion Athletic Park has baseball and football fields, a softball field, a youth ball field, and a playground. Its range of facilities makes the park another option for spending time outdoors. The features of these places differ: this park focuses on sports fields and a playground, while Lions Point Park offers a swimming area and water access.

Trails Through Prairie and Wetlands

PAPA’s Walking Trail is about 1.25 miles long and passes through hardwood stands, wetlands, prairie, and meadows. It starts and ends at the baseball field. The route connects several types of landscape, and its approximate length can help you fit it into your day’s plans.

Veteran’s Memorial Park offers a different trail setting: a paved walking path winds through a prairie with native flowers, butterflies, and birds. While PAPA’s Walking Trail crosses various landscapes, this path runs through a prairie. At the same park, granite walls listing military veterans stand at the entrance. The walk and the memorial give the park two different points of interest.

Local History and Events

At the Ray Arndt Tool Museum, the Marion-Advertiser office features an exhibit of historic printing equipment. The original Chicago Northwestern Depot has been restored with its original furnishings. The Marion Area Historical Society Northwestern Railroad Depot Museum offers special tours; check opening hours and tour availability before your visit.

A one-room log schoolhouse and a log cabin also offer glimpses into local history. The log cabin illustrates life around the turn of the century. Alongside the printing equipment and restored depot, these buildings also highlight earlier ways of life and work.

The memorial sites each have a different focus. Veteran’s Memorial Park lists military veterans on granite walls at the park entrance. The Marion Area Veterans Memorial includes a monument honoring every branch of the U.S. Armed Forces. An old military cannon stands in Cannon Park, at the corner where two roads meet. These places offer different points of interest for visitors interested in local history.

The Marion Area Historical Society’s Heritage Day takes place in July and is one of the society’s three annual events. The program includes a classic car show, arts and crafts, live music, building tours, raffles, food, and refreshments. If you’d like to plan your trip around the event, check the date for your travel year.

Planning Your Stay

When looking for a vacation rental in Marion, you can start by deciding which activities you’d like to shape your stay: walking trails and parks, seasonal options on the water or in the snow, or local history. This can help you match your travel plans to the different attractions in the area. For specific travel dates, seasonal conditions, the date of Heritage Day, and tour availability at the depot museum are especially relevant.

Explore more destinations: Bowler, Wittenberg, Shawano, Tilleda.

Back to the regional travel guide: Shawano County.