Milwaukee is the place to go for those who would like to see some of the USA from the yesteryears, while still being in a city as modern as any other in the United States. Here, one can still taste the 50s, with the baseball, Harleys, the arts, and, of course, the beer – this city is called Brew City for a good reason. There are many exciting places to visit in Milwaukee, so read on to discover the best things to do in the city.
1. Mitchell Park Horticultural Conservatory
A paradise for nature lovers and those into fairytale-like settings, Mitchell Park Horticultural Conservatory is a charming botanical garden in Milwaukee. It is a unique destination that will take you to different regions of the world without setting foot outside the gardens. It features an area with a tropical jungle setting, featuring 1200 species of plants and wildflowers. Also, it houses a desert dome with cacti and succulents as well as a dome for seasonal blooms. Inside Mitchell Park Horticultural Conservatory, there are ponds with fish and benches for visitors, making it a romantic place for dates and family bonding activities. Plus, the scent of flora fills each dome with unforgettable fragrances.
Mitchell Park Horticultural Conservatory
Address: 524 S Layton Blvd, Milwaukee, WI 53215, United States
Website: Mitchell Park Horticultural Conservatory
Opening hours: Wed - Fri: 9am - 5pm; Sat - Sun: 9am - 4pm (closed on Mon & Tue)
Price: 8 USD
2. American Family Field
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
Posted by American Family Field on Monday, November 18, 2019
Are you a baseball fanatic or a regular tourist who just wants to experience everything Milwaukee has to offer? Whatever you like, you can experience both at American Family Field. Completed in 2001, American Family Field is Milwaukee’s Major League Baseball franchise. It was constructed as a replacement for the old Milwaukee County Stadium. This mammoth stadium is home to Milwaukee Brewers, and it can accommodate tens of thousands of guests with its 41,900 seats. Besides its comfortable seats, it features a retractable roof, spotless restrooms, a gift shop, on-site dining, and function rooms for special events.
American Family Field
Address: 1 Brewers Way, Milwaukee, WI 53214, United States
Website: American Family Field
3. Bradford Beach
Unleash your inner mermaid at Bradford Beach. This lengthy stretch of public beach showcases sandy shores and refreshing waters. Beach-goers should always keep an eye on their kids as there are no lifeguards at the beach. It has volleyball courts that visitors can take advantage of and cabanas for rent. Also, there are nearby eateries for tourists who didn’t prepare picnic snacks. Occasionally, CrossFit and yoga classes are held at Bradford Beach.
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4. Milwaukee River Greenway
If you are an adventure lover and a person who likes spending most of their time outdoors, take advantage of Milwaukee’s beautiful parks like Milwaukee River Greenway. This restored riverfront urban area offers a lot of activities to its visitors. It showcases green spaces perfect for picnicking and admiring the views, numerous walking trails for cardio exercises, a play area for kids, and dining spots for visitors to try. Also, the river itself is a playground for watersports enthusiasts. It is perfect for swimming, fishing, and kayaking.
Milwaukee River Greenway
Address: Milwaukee, WI 53212, United States
5. Milwaukee Public Museum
Located in downtown Milwaukee and near local shops and dining spots, Milwaukee Public Museum is a fascinating natural and human history hub in the city that you must not miss, especially if you are into history, culture, and science. It started opening its doors to the public in 1884, and it features three floors of different exhibits centering on natural history and modern anthropology. Also, it has exhibits highlighting zoology and geology. On record, Milwaukee Public Museum has 1,870 fossils, 3,500 rocks and minerals, 23,000 plant fossils, and 43,000 specimens of invertebrate fossils on display. Don’t forget to swing by its butterfly garden for a complete and magical experience.
Milwaukee Public Museum
Address: 800 W Wells St, Milwaukee, WI 53233, United States
Website: Milwaukee Public Museum
Price: From 14 USD
6. Milwaukee Public Market
Thinking of treating your family to a delicious lunch made from scratch? If so, hurry up and buy ingredients at Milwaukee Public Market. This public market is open daily, and it has everything you need for your gastronomic experiment and more. It is home to more than 15 vendors, offering different specialties. Besides fresh produce, you can also score sweet treats at Milwaukee Public Market—all thanks to Keh'r Candies and C. Adam’s Bakery. Other shops you will find at the market include Thief Wine Shop & Bar, West Allis Cheese and Sausage Shoppe, The Spice House, and more. Milwaukee Public Market has excellent dining spots as well.
Milwaukee Public Market
Address: 400 N Water St, Milwaukee, WI 53202, United States
Website: Milwaukee Public Market
Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 10am - 8m; Sun: 10am- 6pm
7. Brown Deer Park
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
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Posted by Brown Deer Park on Tuesday, May 12, 2015
Unwind and relax at Brown Deer Park. Whether you want to spend alone time or a much-deserved family bonding day. Brown Deer Park is a fantastic place to breathe fresh air, enjoy quality time, and do fun-filled outdoor activities. It is a vast green space with an abundance of amenities, including a golf course. More so, it features a picnic area with restrooms, a kids’ play area, sports courts, scenic walking and jogging trails, a sledding hill, and a beautiful boathouse by the lake.
Brown Deer Park
Address: 7835 N Green Bay Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53209, United States
Website: Brown Deer Park
Opening hours: 6am - 10pm (daily)
8. Grohmann Museum (from USD 5.0)
Another interesting museum that you should not miss in downtown Milwaukee is Grohmann Museum. It opened its doors to the public in 2007 and tucked inside Milwaukee School of Engineering. It is a one-of-a-kind museum that highlights human work through over 1,500 paintings and sculptures. It features a lovely rooftop garden with stunning bronze sculptures and breathtaking city views. Plus, it has digital exhibitions, family-friendly programs, an on-site store, and a vending cafe. Skip the line and take advantage of the museum’s admission ticket by Viator.
Grohmann Museum Skip-the-Line Admission Ticket
Duration: 1 to 3 hours
9. Milwaukee Scavenger Hunt Adventure (from USD 44.0)
Thinking of fun things to do with your best friends in Milwaukee? Level up the adventure by booking this Milwaukee Scavenger Hunt adventure by GetYourGuide. It is an exciting game and a city tour in one. Let your smartphones be your guide to different stops in this charming city famed for its brews, gastronomic delights, and interesting German heritage. It is a three-hour journey through Milwaukee’s historic neighborhood and vibrant streets.
Milwaukee Scavenger Hunt Adventure
10. North Point Lighthouse (from USD 8.0)
Milwaukee is a city with an abundance of offerings like iconic landmarks. One of the most-visited landmarks in the city is the stunning North Point Lighthouse on North Wahl Avenue. It is situated at Lake Park and has been there since 1888. This 19th-century lighthouse is not just an ordinary lighthouse but a maritime museum as well. It boasts stunning Queen Anne-style chambers, vintage artifacts, and breathtaking lake views.
Skip the Line: North Point Lighthouse Admission Ticket
Duration: 1 to 3 hours
11. Miller Park
Grab some hot dogs and cheer for some classic American baseball action. In fact, you can enjoy a barbecue, too (just bring a grill and a truck)! Housing the Milwaukee Brewers baseball team since 2001, this stadium can also act as an indoor venue, thanks to the retractable roof. This is especially useful considering the city is cold during baseball season.
Transport to and from the stadium is fairly easy, and accessible – plenty of parking for cars is provided. Outside Miller Park is a smaller field, which was where an old stadium once stood. Also in the parking area is a plaque marking the place of the final home run of baseball legend, Henry Aaron. The main draw here is, of course, the Brewers’ games.
Miller Park
Address: 1 Brewers Way, Milwaukee, WI 53214, USA
12. Havenwoods State Forest
Located just north of the downtown area, this green space is a good combination of forests, creeks, ponds, and open grasslands – good for those seeking some relaxation from the city life. Trails run throughout the park and the Environment Awareness Center, in the middle of the forest, has staff that can guide you to learn more about the various flora and fauna found in the park.
This center usually caters to schoolchildren on field trips but can easily accommodate anyone. A baseball diamond is located just outside the park and the forest has plenty of activities and events, most open to all.
Havenwoods State Forest
Address: 6141 N Hopkins St, Milwaukee, WI 53209, USA
13. Milwaukee County Zoo
This zoo is large and contains many species of animals found outside the United States. More than 3000 animals reside here, grouped into a variety of exhibits, including an Australian section, a flamingo exhibit, and a primate exhibit. Some animals can even be fed at selected times, during the day.
There are plenty of shows to watch here, too - from theatre to bird shows to sea lions. Rides are also available, including zip lines and a train that goes around the zoo. Transport to and from the zoo is easy, and parking is plentiful. Admission is cheaper during the late fall and winter, but the spring and summer months would be the best time to make a visit.
Milwaukee County Zoo
Address: 10001 W Bluemound Rd, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
Website: Milwaukee County Zoo
14. Bay Beach Amusement Park
Located north of downtown Milwaukee, this amusement park really brings out the child in everybody, and more surprisingly for a relatively cheap price. There are many rides to enjoy, like a train, the Falling Star, the Sea Dragon, bumper cars, a waterslide, and others.
The main attraction, however, is the Zippin Pippin, which is one of the oldest wooden roller coasters in the country. For those not inclined to ride, there are plenty of shops and places to simply hang around while the younger ones enjoy.
Bay Beach Amusement Park
Address: 1313 Bay Beach Rd, Green Bay, WI 54302, USA
15. Milwaukee Art Museum
One will marvel at the sight of the Quadracci Pavilion, with its massive Burke Brise Soleil, opening and closing with the wind, reminiscent of a sail. It’s fitting, considering the Museum’s location downtown, beside the bay. Housing over 30,000 works in 40 galleries, the Milwaukee Art Museum is one of the largest art galleries in the United States. This is boosted by the fact that there are over 400,000 visitors to the gallery, annually.
The place itself is comprised of three pavilions and a landscaped garden in front of the Quadracci Pavilion. Many kinds of art are present in the museum’s collection, from American to modern art.
Milwaukee Art Museum
Address: 700 N. Art Museum Drive
Website: Milwaukee Art Museum
16. Discovery World
Located immediately south of the Milwaukee Art Museum, Discovery World is a science center that gets around 300 thousand visitors annually, mainly families and students and it’s a wonderful complement to a tour of the Art Museum. Many exhibits are present here: the Reiman Aquarium features different aquatic systems from the Great Lakes to the Caribbean, a Les Paul interactive exhibit, Great Lakes exhibit, and a dream machine, where robots can be tasked to do things.
There are also labs where people can be involved: biology, video and audio, printing, and others. This is a place that makes science fun for children of all ages.
Discovery World
Address: 500 N Harbor Dr, Milwaukee, WI 53202, USA
Website: Discovery World
17. American Science & Surplus
Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing
American Science & Surplus sells a wide variety of items not found in most mainstream stores. Many of the items are tilted toward the sciences and arts. High-selling items include lights, electronic components, and art tools. Some of the more complex items include microscopes, telescopes, power tools, and even car parts.
Surplus items, factory overruns, and closeout items are also sold here. Discounts and bargains can be found – one just needs to keep an eye out. The store in Milwaukee is open every day, from 10 am to around 7 pm
American Science & Surplus
Address: 6901 W Oklahoma Ave
Website: American Science & Surplus
18. Lakefront Brewery
At the Lakefront Brewery, one can enjoy beer and learn how it came to be. This brewery offers 45-minute tours around their brewery, showing how they produce their beer. A maximum of 60 people can be accommodated per tour, so booking early ensures a spot. Weekends are a good time, as the whole brewery is not in operation and open to tours.
A more advanced Technical Tour of 90-minutes will bring visitors up close with experts and brewing equipment. Note that Technical Tours are only conducted on Sundays, and visitors must be at least 21 years old.
Lakefront Brewery
Address: 1872 N Commerce St, Milwaukee, WI 53212, USA
Website: Lakefront Brewery
19. Pabst Museum
One can relive America’s Gilded Age in this mansion. This was once the home of the late Captain Frederick Pabst, founder of the Pabst Brewing Company, which is still in operation today. Inside, one can see how elaborate the fittings are – from the beds to the chairs. The collection consists mainly of art and furniture that belonged to the family, but many donations from friends have brought it to over 5000 pieces.
There is also an archives section, housing papers that pertain to the Pabst family, some paraphernalia, and the records of the brewery. An appointment is needed to secure a tour of the archives. It is also important to note that restoration of some parts of the mansion is still ongoing.
Pabst Museum
Address: Avenues West, Milwaukee
Website: Pabst Museum
20. Harley-Davidson Museum
When it comes to motorcycles, nothing is more popular than a Harley-Davidson. Celebrating over a century of existence, the Harley-Davidson Museum displays almost 500 motorcycles and a plethora of motorcycle pieces across its lifetime. The earliest known Harley-Davidson is also housed here.
There is also a history tour of the company, from its birth to what it is today. There are experience centers, where you can sit in some motorcycles while watching videos – good for those who like their picture taken. If you get hungry, there are food stalls and souvenir shops here. Saturday afternoons are a good time to go, with some blues music and an all you can eat barbecue, in the evening.
Harley-Davidson Museum
Address: 400 W Canal St, Milwaukee, WI 53201, USA
Website: Harley-Davidson Museum
21. Milwaukee Riverwalk
The past and the present intersect perfectly at the Milwaukee Riverwalk. This historic river walk stretches for 2 miles (3.2 km) and cuts across three major parts of the city – traversing more than 20 blocks along its path, lined with an endless selection of restaurants, pubs, and other gastronomic delights.
The Riverwalk is also home to RiverSculpture – an outdoor gallery which features 20 striking urban art pieces, each representing the finest national, regional, and local artists. Lined with an endless selection of restaurants, pubs, and breweries, a trip to the Milwaukee Riverwalk would not be complete without exploring these gastronomic delights.
Milwaukee Riverwalk
Address: Riverwalk, Milwaukee, WI 53212, USA
22. The Historic Third Ward
Once the site of a great fire over a century ago, the Historic Third Ward is now a thriving hub for art and commerce, and it shows in the general design of buildings and spaces. There are many art galleries in this area, along with many specialty stores and restaurants to dine and shop in.
Also located here is the Broadway Theatre Center and the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design. The area just oozes with creativity, which makes it a must-see for anyone visiting Milwaukee.
The Historic Third Ward
Address: Milwaukee, WI 53202
Website: The Historic Third Ward
23. Milwaukee's secret food tour (from USD 99.0)
A gastronomic adventure is a big part of city tours, especially if it’s your first time in a foreign city. Milwaukee is not only famous for its brew, but it is also a city acknowledged for its delicious culinary delights. Discover the best of the city’s delicacies through this three-hour-long food trip by Viator. Through this package, you will get to sample the best food in East Town Downtown and Third Ward. You will be relishing tempting cheese and other local specialties.
Milwaukee Small-Group Walking Food Tour
Duration: 3 hours 30 minutes
24. Chudnow Museum of Yesteryear (from USD 6.0)
Pioneered by Avrum M. Chudnow in 1991, Chudnow Museum of Yesteryear is nestled in a period residence that once belonged to Dr. Joseph J. Eisenberg. It houses artifacts that were collected by the late doctor. Most of the items here are tools, equipment, and objects that were utilized in the 1910s to 1940s, giving visitors a quick look at the lifestyle of those eras. Secure an admission ticket to avoid waiting in long queues.
Skip the Line: Chudnow Museum of Yesteryear Admission Ticket
Duration: 1 hour
25. Doctor K's Lethal Injection - Escape Room Mission (from USD 38.0)
Invite your best buds and test your teamwork and friendship at Escape Room Missions. Enjoy an exciting escape room mission at Escape MKE. Solve riddles and find clues under pressure to free yourself from being locked up. It is an hour-long activity that will pressure you to create a cure for a deadly virus by collecting hidden items in the room. You and your friends should strategize before Doctor K returns!
Milwaukee Doctor K's Lethal Injection Escape Game Experience
Duration: 1 hour
Past meets present in Milwaukee
The historic meets the contemporary in this fascinating city. Although these sights are definite must-sees, there is so much more to be discovered in Milwaukee.
History
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