I admit that I had a preconception of Milwaukee as an industrial metropolis. Possibly it was a childhood of watching Laverne & Shirley (millennials, look it up) or my school days of ingesting lukewarm Outdated Milwaukee at keg events. However once I arrived I half anticipated to see breweries and mills spewing out smoke into gritty, dirty streets. Wow was I mistaken! Not solely was the Cream Metropolis lovely, however there have been so many enjoyable issues to do in Milwaukee in the summertime.
Earlier than going to Milwaukee, I had seen some lovely Instagram pictures from pals who’ve visited town, which undoubtedly intrigued me. However the clear streets, lovely skyline and charming historic Third Ward simply blew me away.
Of all of the cities that we visited throughout our mother-daughter midwest highway journey, Milwaukee was my palms down favourite (sure, even above Chicago.) I’m unsure how my husband spent two years touring there practically each week for enterprise and by no means clued me into what a cool, little metropolis Milwaukee is.
Attending to Milwaukee
While you go, I might suggest flying into Milwaukee for those who can. Since we have been making a round-trip loop to Chicago, we flew into Halfway and drove up however the hour-and-a-half drive ended up taking two and a half. Fortunately, Southwest usually runs fare gross sales that embrace Milwaukee so possibly a return journey gained’t be arduous to handle! As soon as you might be there although, driving across the metropolis is fairly simple — by no means like Chicago.
The place to Keep in Milwaukee
Notice: Our journey was hosted by Go to Milwaukee and we obtained complimentary lodging, meals, and entrance tickets to sights. All opinions are my very own. This submit accommodates affiliate hyperlinks. In the event you click on a hyperlink and make a purchase order, I’ll obtain a small fee.
We stayed within the Kimpton Journeyman Lodge, proper within the Third Ward and inside strolling distance to the lake, river, and all the foremost sights we needed to go to. It was an ideal location! The historic Third Ward is made up of previous brick buildings which were renovated and repurposed into eating places, boutiques, workplaces, and high-end shops. There are charming seating areas all through the district and it’s adorned with hanging flower pots and colourful benches. The entire space is so beautiful. I feel Hannah acquired uninterested in listening to me exclaim how cute it was.
I’ve an affinity towards Kimpton accommodations. They’re boutique-like, hip, and really trendy. I don’t journey with a pet, but when I did, I might love their pet-friendly accents just like the canine dishes within the resort room. The Kimpton Journeyman didn’t disappoint in that regard.
Downstairs within the foyer, they’ve a pool desk to 1 facet and a big seating space, the place they provide drinks and flatbreads for a group comfortable hour, on the opposite facet. There’s additionally an Italian restaurant downstairs, which my husband tells me is excellent, however we didn’t have an opportunity to pattern.
Upstairs, we have been in a big king room overlooking the road. Hannah instantly fell in love with the large toilet, particularly the beautiful free-standing tub. She loved taking a pleasant soak after our lengthy journey day and snuggling down into the resort gown. I don’t know what it’s however each of us get so excited by resort robes and good resort loos.
5 Should-See Issues to do in Milwaukee within the Summer time
I do know we solely scratched the floor of issues to do in Milwaukee, and I hope to return sooner or later to discover extra. Town would even be an excellent spot for a ladies’ journey, and in reality, I noticed fairly a number of bachelorettes in crowns and sashes with their gaggle of ladies throughout our walks across the Third Ward.
Now that I’ve been, I want we had scheduled extra time within the metropolis. If I returned with my husband, I might undoubtedly wish to do one of many brewery excursions, for the reason that metropolis has undoubtedly embraced the craft brewery development (thank god no extra Outdated Mil for me!) And my brother was disillusioned I didn’t cease off on the Harley Davidson Museum (I attempted Tim however visitors from Chicago was horrible and I ran out of time!)
However there are additionally so many enjoyable issues to do in Milwaukee with children and my teen was up for all of it. You can even make Milwaukee one cease on a Wisconsin highway journey, which may embrace Door County and go to to a few of the Door County Wineries.
1. Attend a Competition
Summer time in Milwaukee is all in regards to the festivals! There’s Summerfest and the Wisconsin State Honest, and weekly ethnic festivals so regardless of whenever you go, one thing is sure to be going on on the Henry W. Maier Competition Park. Situated proper on the Lake Michigan lakefront, this everlasting pageant floor has a number of levels, tents, and meals stands.
We have been on the town for Germanfest and the locals go all out. It felt like Oktoberfest in July, with so many attendees decked out in feathered caps and lederhosen. There have been beer tents galore serving up big steins of ales and lagers.
Youthful children have been getting a exercise on the bounce homes, climbing wall, and bungee. You will get a hen’s eye view with a sky trip that runs from finish to finish of the pageant grounds.
There’s additionally leisure galore, from polka dancing to different musical acts. You undoubtedly wish to decide up a schedule upon arrival and plan your day. We have been disillusioned we missed the pet parade. As a result of canine in lederhosen would blow up Instagram.
The large mistake that we made was consuming lunch earlier than we went. As a result of I actually suppose one of the best factor to do at certainly one of these festivals is consuming all of the scrumptious ethnic meals. We noticed brats and strudels, potato pancakes and streusels.
Simply remember the fact that you’ll pay an entrance payment, however every little thing else is additional from the meals to the rides, so plan accordingly. With a teen that doesn’t wish to eat and might’t drink, you could solely want an hour or two to benefit from the pageant, except you catch leisure act. However youthful children can benefit from the playground in addition to the rides, making it a household affair.
2. Discover the Milwaukee Public Market
I’ve a passion for meals markets and attempt to go to them in each metropolis. The Milwaukee Public Market is bustling however not overwhelming. You’ll find a mixture of native meals, like sausage of each kind and cheese curds galore, but additionally wholesome choices like juices and salads. It is a little more for these consuming in versus choosing up meals to prepare dinner at dwelling, however as a vacationer that’s what I take pleasure in.
In the event you head upstairs, there’s loads of seating. Plus, exterior and across the market, you can find quite a few eating places, many with out of doors sidewalk or rooftop seating to benefit from the heat summer season solar.
3. Go to the Milwaukee Artwork Museum
When visiting a metropolis in the summertime, I prefer to benefit from the outside as a lot as potential, however I knew we needed to hit at the very least one museum. The Milwaukee Artwork Museum is such a singular and delightful constructing from the skin, that it simply beckons you to see what’s on the within.
Along with the particular collections, they’ve a broad assortment of over 25,000 items, from Renaissance to Impressionist to Put up-Fashionable. I used to be notably drawn to the extra fashionable displays, however with many artwork museums, my curiosity lies as a lot with the artwork because it did with the constructing itself.
In the event you can, attempt to arrive when the museum opens. That is when the perimeters of the roof elevate like wings over the constructing. In the event you can’t see this, your subsequent probability is at midday, when the wings “flap.” Now don’t anticipate a speedy movement, you might be higher off filming this with a time-lapse, however the wings slowly shut after which open again up once more. It’s one thing particular to see.
4. Discover the Lake Michigan Lakefront
There are quite a few biking/strolling paths that body Lake Michigan, providing splendid views of the lake and town skyline. Between the artwork museum and the pageant grounds, you possibly can hire bikes or multi-rider surreys to discover.
There’s even a spot to hire pedal boats. At a minimal, take a stroll out into Lakeshore State Park and benefit from the views.
5. Stroll Alongside the Milwaukee Riverwalk
Milwaukee doesn’t simply have one of many Nice Lakes to take pleasure in, it additionally has a river. The Milwaukee Riverwalk winds by means of 20 blocks of three of Milwaukee’s neighborhoods. You’ll stroll previous eating places, breweries, and condos alongside the way in which.
In the event you don’t wish to stroll, you too can hire a pontoon boat and discover the river from the water. As we sat on the Blue Bat Kitchen, we noticed loads of teams heading out on social gathering boats for the night.
The place to Eat in Milwaukee
Milwaukee has an excellent meals scene, particularly within the Third Ward. It isn’t all brats and cheese curds. We have been solely there for a brief keep however beloved each the meals and the ambiance of all over the place we went. For lunch, we picked from the choices on the Milwaukee Public Market, however right here is the place we ate breakfast and dinner:
Blue Bat Kitchen & Tequilaria
Blue Bat Kitchen & Tequilaria is within the Third Ward, proper on the Milwaukee Riverfront. The restaurant is unfold out between a number of rooms and has quantity of outdoor seating overlooking the river. They concentrate on “international road meals” and have an fascinating menu of small plates and nontraditional tacos.
We began with the fried brussels sprouts, which have been phenomenal. After which we every had a few tacos together with portobello, brisket, and, our favourite, the baja fish taco with beer-battered cod.
Despite the fact that I used to be in Brew Metropolis, I nonetheless wanted to pattern a few of Blue Bat’s tequila cocktails. They’ve an intensive listing of tequilas and get their identify from the bats that act as pollinators for the agave vegetation that tequila is constituted of.
Blue Bat is positioned at 249 N Water St, Milwaukee, WI
Colectivo Espresso
For breakfast, we tried certainly one of Milwaukee’s native espresso roasters. Despite the fact that I’m not a espresso connoisseur, I deeply appreciated Colectivo’s contemporary smoothies and selfmade breakfast sandwiches. I’m unsure I’ve even seen a biscuit that enormous, even within the south!
Colectivo has areas all through town in addition to areas in Madison and Chicago.
I’ve added Milwaukee to my listing of cool cities to discover, like Portland, Maine and Wichita, Kansas. Hopefully, I’ll get an opportunity to return and see much more!
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