Make the most of your Milwaukee Visit! Here's my list of the top places you should visit in Milwaukee.
ONE MILWAUKEEAN'S GUIDE TO THE BEST PLACES TO VISIT
I moved to Milwaukee about ten years ago. I grew to love this city very quickly. Anytime family, friends, or business colleagues came to visit, I'd take them to experience one of my favorite places in the city - places that we found fun and easy to enjoy. Over time, it became clear to me which experiences really connected with visitors. I know there are travel websites and organizations that encourage tourism to the city but honestly, I kind of feel like it would be useful to make just a simple, basic list of the best places to visit and why. So if you're visiting Milwaukee, you should check out these places.
You can click on the 'Learn More' links to find more information about each place. Enjoy your MILWAUKEE VISIT!
Miller Park? American Family Field? However you refer to the Brewers' ballpark, the place is special. I've been to a lot of ballparks and they each have a personality, some not perfectly pleasant. Brewers fans are there for the love of the game. What's more, I've never seen so many parents trying to pass on their love of the game to their kids - patiently explaining the finer points of baseball strategy.
Anytime the weather is nice, even on a randomly warm day in March, the city flocks here. It's a great place to lounge and take in a volley ball tournament during the summer or the weekend-long air show usually in July. The views of Lake Michigan are of course wonderful. Try the North Point Custard Stand for an iconic frozen treat.
City Hall is a gem. The exterior has a definitive German influence (at one point in the late 1800's, one-third of the city's population was of German ancestry). The interior though is pretty amazing with a central atrium space that goes all the way to the 8th floor. There's a skylight at the top that illuminates the space beautifully.
The center of downtown since the founding of the city has revolved around the intersection of Wisconsin Avenue and Water Street right next to the Milwaukee River. There are river level walkways to explore. With good weather in the late Spring through early Fall, there are also boat tours going up and down the river. Some office buildings have their own boat for the use of their tenants for 'meetings'.
There are a lot of great restaurants here but few that rival the overall experience of Harbor House. Situated on a small piece of land projecting into the harbor, the views are spectacular both of Lake Michigan and of the Milwaukee skyline. The food is wonderful - amazing seafood of course but great steaks too. My hard-to-please in-laws, who've travelled the world, were thrilled with their experience here.
City leaders about a century ago had the great, generous sense to invest in an amazing park system including several parks along the shoreline. Originally, this area had railway lines and was hard to get to. With the creation of Lincoln Memorial Drive, it's become one of the most beautiful Great Lakes shorelines, on par with Chicago. There are a lot of walkways, plenty of parking along the drive.
The Mason Street Grill is another wonderful restaurant experience. It has a cool, but traditional vibe with a lot of old-school swank. Its bar area features different live jazz pianists or combos most nights! I've actually scheduled a dinner here to catch specific groups - they're that good. The food and service are great of course too.
Milwaukee has a lot of great architecture, especially from the late 1800's and early 1900's when it was a manufacturing powerhouse and wealth was pouring in. Two of the most interesting buildings from this time are side by side. The Mitchell Building is still in use as an office building, but the amazingly ornate exterior is worth a visit. The Mackie Building/Grain Exchange is also another amazing architectural gem.
The Milwaukee Museum of Art is an astounding example of architecture transforming into art itself. The iconic pavilion, designed by the brilliant Spanish architect Calatrava, is really breathtaking - the wing-like projections are closed and opened periodically. The interior of this space is just as spectacular. The main collection is very good with some great works from Wisconsin native Georgia O'Keefe.
What is it about lighthouses that make the so compelling? This one is in the exceptionally gorgeous Lake Park. It's a museum so you can do the whole tour thing of course. Personally, it's an incredibly beautiful setting, perfect for a picturesque walk. I think it's impossible to take a bad photo here.
There are a lot of live performance venues in Milwaukee - frankly way more than you'd expect for a city of this size, which is a good thing. The Pabst Theater is the prettiest and most historic of the lot. Try to catch a performance here. Built in 1895, it has hosted luminaries such as Sergei Rachmaninoff, Oscar Wilde, Paul Robeson, Noel Coward, and George Bernard Shaw. Wow.
The Pfister hotel is another iconic, Milwaukee experience. Whether you stay here, grab a meal, or just pass through it's a beautiful place. The interior architecture outshines the exterior. The location of choice for presidential visits and fundraisers. A great breakfast spot and the Mason Street Grill is attached.
Situated on the north side of Milwaukee's Third Ward, the Milwaukee Public Market has some excellent food shops. I don't think I've ever walked through it without grabbing something tasty. It's a perfect place to meet up when you're exploring the Third Ward.
City neighborhoods like the the Third Ward usually get replaced piece by piece by real-estate developers. Somewhat magically, much of this area is pretty intact. The architecture includes converted factories, warehouses, and historic office buildings. It's home to probably the best concentration of restaurants, shops, and galleries in the city. A great place to explore on foot.
This one is a bit of a personal favorite. Everyday thousands of people drive past this decorative water tower (it was built in the 1870's to disguise a pipe for the city's water processing system). Off to the side is Water Tower Park which has a nice water fountain. Across the street there's bluff overlooking Lake Michigan. There are few places lovelier for a walk.
We use cookies to personalize and enhance your experience on our site. By using our site, you agree to our use of cookies. Visit our Terms and Conditions page to learn more.
