Appleton is a fabulous small town, population 77,000, nestled in northeastern Wisconsin near Lake Michigan and at the north end of large Lake Winnebago, home of the unique Winnebago lake fly. Appleton is a beautiful place to live, especially when it's not winter.Abundant wild flowers line the roads and many species of wild birds inhabit the area, including the ubiquitous and gorgeous red-winged blackbird. One of the things about Appleton is the majesty of the Fox River. The River runs through the heart of Appleton. Though once heavily polluted, in recent decades it has been largely restored to a clean and biologically diverse wonder. Many species of fish live in the river, including (so I hear) sturgeon, bass, pike, trout, perch, walleye and carp. The Fox River is unusual in that it flows north for its entire course.A series of locks exist that once permitted navigation from Lake Winnebago to Lake Michigan and from there, the world. In spite of being a small town, Appleton has a lot of sophistication. Lawrence University brings a lot of culture into town, but there is plenty of local musical and artistic talent, along with outstanding music instruction and numerous performance opportunities for students. Music seems to be taken pretty seriously in Appleton. It also has several fine art galleries, and five or six music shops in a short stretch on College Avenue.