Milwaukee is one seriously underrated city. There is so much to see and do here, but Milwaukee is too often overlooked… we think that needs to change. This city is AMAZING. There are hundreds of activities and events happening in and around Milwaukee every single day, but there are a few things in this city that just cannot be missed. Whether you’ve visited these awesome spots before or just haven’t gotten around to checking them out, these 14 places definitely belong on everyone’s bucket list.
- Historic Third Ward
Flickr / Kristopher Volkman This amazing historic district is one of those places that you can visit a million times, but still see something new. It was built in 1875 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984 and has become an iconic spot to find cool shops, delicious restaurants, and beautiful galleries… plus some of the best people watching in town!
- Mitchell Park Horticultural Conservatory
Flickr / clarkmaxwell The Domes at Mitchell Park Conservatory are amazing. It could be the worst blizzard of the season, but stepping inside these stunning gardens is like walking into a hidden oasis. Each one features a unique climate; the Tropical and Arid Domes are both permanent fixtures and the Show Dome mixes it up with seasonal exhibits. We were super bummed when The Domes closed for renovations last year, but they reopened in October and we can’t wait to see what blooms this year!
Mitchell Park Horticultural Conservatory is located at 524 S Layton Blvd, Milwaukee, WI.
- Milwaukee Art Museum
Flickr / Thomas Hawk This Milwaukee icon is impossible to miss, but the stunning structure never gets old! The Milwaukee Art Museum’s collection contains over 25,000 individual works of art and is considered one of the best and largest in the nation. There’s a little bit of everything here, from classical masterpieces to modern sculptural art, but one of the most amazing pieces is the actual building itself; though the Museum was founded in 1888, the Quadracci Pavilion was constructed in 2001 and has won awards and international acclaim for it’s unbelievable design. No matter how many times you have seen the graceful bird-like wings of the building unfold, it’s still awe-inspiring. They rise each morning at 10:00 a.m. (weather permitting), are closed and again unfurled at noon, and finally closed for the evening at 5:00 p.m. (or 8:00 p.m. on Fridays).
The Milwaukee Art Museum is located at 700 N Art Museum Dr, Milwaukee, WI.
- Grant Park
Flickr / Dan Mullen Nothing beats a day exploring this stunning city park overlooking Lake Michigan. There’s tons to do here, from a beautiful beach to a full 18-hole golf course, but the standout star of this park is definitely the Seven Bridges Trail. The limestone pathways along this easy 1-mile loop were laid in the 1930s by a WPA crew, but the most iconic piece of this trail is the old wooden sign at the entrance, which reads, “Enter this wild wood and view the haunts of nature.” A little cryptic, but we promise there are no ghosts here… only fantastic views!
Grant Park is located at 100 Hawthorn Ave., Milwaukee, WI. Check out this trail map for more info!
- Harley-Davidson Museum
Flickr / Mr Hicks46 Nothing is quite as cool as a Harley, and this amazing museum shows off more than 100 years of history of this iconic American motorcycle company. More than 300,000 people visit the Harley-Davidson Museum each year to see the 450+ bikes and hundreds of historic artifacts displayed here. Over 85% of Harley-Davidson Motor Company’s corporate archive is stored and displayed here, which includes (at least) one bike saved for every year of production since 1915!
The Harley-Davidson Museum is located at 400 W Canal St, Milwaukee, WI
- The Riverwalk
Flickr / Ian Freimuth It’s hard NOT to enjoy a stroll down this lovely riverfront pathway through downtown Milwaukee. The Riverwalk is home to hundreds of awesome shops, restaurants, and bars and leads from the Historic Third Ward all the way to Caesars Park, with linked access to several other parks and landmarks along the way. We don’t think there’s a better way to appreciate the vibrant Milwaukee culture than wandering right through the middle of it!
- The Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park
Flickr / Bryce Edwards It’s time to play ball! We love our Brewers, and nothing beats a good old baseball game at Miller Park. While we may not hold a championship title, we have some of the best fans in the world and have been the home team for some of the most famous players in history, including MVP and Cy Young Award-winner Rollie Fingers (1981), Rookie of the Year and MVP Ryan Braun (2007 and 2011, respectively) and six Hall of Fame stars… like Hank Aaron!
Miller Field, home of the Brewers, is located at 1 Brewers Way, Milwaukee, WI.
- Summerfest
Flickr / Edward David Nothing beats Summerfest… and we mean that quite literally. This epic 11-day-long music festival holds the Guinness World Record for the largest on Earth (and has held that title since 1999) and it attracts some of the most famous musicians from around the world. More than 700 bands of all different genres play each year for crowds of 900,000 people, making this event one truly amazing experience that everyone in Milwaukee should experience at least once in a lifetime.
Unlike most major music festivals (we’re looking at you, Coachella), Summerfest tickets are actually incredibly affordable, with weekday admission starting at only $13 and general admission tickets for $20. Even the full 11-Day Power Passes are only $90! You really won’t find a better deal (or a more fun event) anywhere else! The 2017 Summerfest will be the 50th anniversary for this incredible show, so we expect it to be the best yet!
Summerfest takes place at 11 different stages set up along the waterfront and tickets are already available for the 2017 festival on the Summerfest website!
- Mitchell Gallery of Flight
Flickr / Allison Meier You don’t need to be an aviation buff to appreciate this awesome museum! Milwaukee has made some incredible contributions to the aerospace history and the Mitchell Gallery of Flight celebrates the best-of-the-best. There are permanent exhibits featuring Charles Lindbergh, James Lovell Jr. (NASA astronaut and commander of Apollo 13), artifacts from WWI and WWII military planes (and the flying aces who piloted them), and the “Father of the US Air Force,” Billy Mitchell.
The Mitchell Gallery of Flight is located in the General Mitchell International Airport at 5300 S Howell Ave, Milwaukee, WI.
- Milwaukee Public Museum
Flickr / Jim Trottier Take a trip back in time at the Milwaukee Public Museum! This natural history museum was opened in 1884 and contains more than 4 MILLION artifacts dating back thousands of years and includes pieces across multiple scientific subjects from around the world. The Milwaukee Public Museum showcases incredible permanent exhibits featuring research and discoveries in Anthropology, Animal and Plant Biology, Geology, and History, as well as a constantly rotating stream of temporary exhibits that keep the experience here new and different every time you visit. The best part? The Milwaukee Public Museum offers a $2 discount to Milwaukee County residents, and admission to the museum is free for all on the first Thursday of each month!
Milwaukee Public Museum is located at 800 W Wells St, Milwaukee, WI.
- Miller Brewery Tour
Flickr / Alan English CPA Even non-beer-lovers will find something to appreciate on this awesome tour! The brewing culture has played a major role in the history and industry of this city, so a tour of the Miller Brewery is far more than an excuse to go for a few brews. The Miller Brewery has been around for more than 155 years and the museum offers insight into every step of the brewing process, from the farming of hops and grains to the bottling and production line. One of the coolest parts of the tour is the historic underground caves used for refrigeration!
Miller Brewery is located at 4251 W State St., Milwaukee, WI.
- Milwaukee County Zoo
Flickr / Jim Bauer Go wild at the Milwaukee County Zoo! Sure, plenty of cities have zoos, but Milwaukee has one of the best. You can see more than 3,300 animals from around the world, each occupying exhibits from different continents and biomes. The open aviary and the aquarium are awesome, and the Safari Steam Train through the park is always a fun experience for the kiddos. The Milwaukee County Zoo is also recognized as one of the earliest wildlife facilities in the world to see the healthy birth of a Polar Bear in captivity!
The Milwaukee County Zoo is located at 10001 W Bluemound Rd, Milwaukee, WI.
- Milwaukee Public Market
Flickr / Ian Freimuth You’ll find this awesome public market downtown in the Historic Third Ward and a trip here is always a colorful experience! You can find tasty baked goods, fresh produce, flowers, and specialty items all year long in this cool indoor market, as well as some fantastic food events and cooking classes! The Milwaukee Public Market is open Monday - Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., and Sundays from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Milwaukee Public Market is located at 400 N Water St, Milwaukee, WI.
- Bronze Fonz
Flickr / Lynn Friedman We couldn’t possibly leave the Bronze Fonz off of this list! If you don’t have AT LEAST one photo with this iconic TV character, we question your status as a true Milwaukeean!
There’s a little something for everyone in Milwaukee! These spots are just a handful of highlights in this great city. Whether you are a history buff, art lover, music fan, or foodie, you can count on there being tons of fun activities to suit your interests. Milwaukee may be underrated, but we know that our city is the best in the world!
Flickr / Kristopher Volkman
This amazing historic district is one of those places that you can visit a million times, but still see something new. It was built in 1875 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984 and has become an iconic spot to find cool shops, delicious restaurants, and beautiful galleries… plus some of the best people watching in town!
Flickr / clarkmaxwell
The Domes at Mitchell Park Conservatory are amazing. It could be the worst blizzard of the season, but stepping inside these stunning gardens is like walking into a hidden oasis. Each one features a unique climate; the Tropical and Arid Domes are both permanent fixtures and the Show Dome mixes it up with seasonal exhibits. We were super bummed when The Domes closed for renovations last year, but they reopened in October and we can’t wait to see what blooms this year!
Mitchell Park Horticultural Conservatory is located at 524 S Layton Blvd, Milwaukee, WI.
Flickr / Thomas Hawk
This Milwaukee icon is impossible to miss, but the stunning structure never gets old! The Milwaukee Art Museum’s collection contains over 25,000 individual works of art and is considered one of the best and largest in the nation. There’s a little bit of everything here, from classical masterpieces to modern sculptural art, but one of the most amazing pieces is the actual building itself; though the Museum was founded in 1888, the Quadracci Pavilion was constructed in 2001 and has won awards and international acclaim for it’s unbelievable design. No matter how many times you have seen the graceful bird-like wings of the building unfold, it’s still awe-inspiring. They rise each morning at 10:00 a.m. (weather permitting), are closed and again unfurled at noon, and finally closed for the evening at 5:00 p.m. (or 8:00 p.m. on Fridays).
The Milwaukee Art Museum is located at 700 N Art Museum Dr, Milwaukee, WI.
Flickr / Dan Mullen
Nothing beats a day exploring this stunning city park overlooking Lake Michigan. There’s tons to do here, from a beautiful beach to a full 18-hole golf course, but the standout star of this park is definitely the Seven Bridges Trail. The limestone pathways along this easy 1-mile loop were laid in the 1930s by a WPA crew, but the most iconic piece of this trail is the old wooden sign at the entrance, which reads, “Enter this wild wood and view the haunts of nature.” A little cryptic, but we promise there are no ghosts here… only fantastic views!
Grant Park is located at 100 Hawthorn Ave., Milwaukee, WI. Check out this trail map for more info!
Flickr / Mr Hicks46
Nothing is quite as cool as a Harley, and this amazing museum shows off more than 100 years of history of this iconic American motorcycle company. More than 300,000 people visit the Harley-Davidson Museum each year to see the 450+ bikes and hundreds of historic artifacts displayed here. Over 85% of Harley-Davidson Motor Company’s corporate archive is stored and displayed here, which includes (at least) one bike saved for every year of production since 1915!
The Harley-Davidson Museum is located at 400 W Canal St, Milwaukee, WI
Flickr / Ian Freimuth
It’s hard NOT to enjoy a stroll down this lovely riverfront pathway through downtown Milwaukee. The Riverwalk is home to hundreds of awesome shops, restaurants, and bars and leads from the Historic Third Ward all the way to Caesars Park, with linked access to several other parks and landmarks along the way. We don’t think there’s a better way to appreciate the vibrant Milwaukee culture than wandering right through the middle of it!
Flickr / Bryce Edwards
It’s time to play ball! We love our Brewers, and nothing beats a good old baseball game at Miller Park. While we may not hold a championship title, we have some of the best fans in the world and have been the home team for some of the most famous players in history, including MVP and Cy Young Award-winner Rollie Fingers (1981), Rookie of the Year and MVP Ryan Braun (2007 and 2011, respectively) and six Hall of Fame stars… like Hank Aaron!
Miller Field, home of the Brewers, is located at 1 Brewers Way, Milwaukee, WI.
Flickr / Edward David
Nothing beats Summerfest… and we mean that quite literally. This epic 11-day-long music festival holds the Guinness World Record for the largest on Earth (and has held that title since 1999) and it attracts some of the most famous musicians from around the world. More than 700 bands of all different genres play each year for crowds of 900,000 people, making this event one truly amazing experience that everyone in Milwaukee should experience at least once in a lifetime.
Unlike most major music festivals (we’re looking at you, Coachella), Summerfest tickets are actually incredibly affordable, with weekday admission starting at only $13 and general admission tickets for $20. Even the full 11-Day Power Passes are only $90! You really won’t find a better deal (or a more fun event) anywhere else! The 2017 Summerfest will be the 50th anniversary for this incredible show, so we expect it to be the best yet!
Summerfest takes place at 11 different stages set up along the waterfront and tickets are already available for the 2017 festival on the Summerfest website!
Flickr / Allison Meier
You don’t need to be an aviation buff to appreciate this awesome museum! Milwaukee has made some incredible contributions to the aerospace history and the Mitchell Gallery of Flight celebrates the best-of-the-best. There are permanent exhibits featuring Charles Lindbergh, James Lovell Jr. (NASA astronaut and commander of Apollo 13), artifacts from WWI and WWII military planes (and the flying aces who piloted them), and the “Father of the US Air Force,” Billy Mitchell.
The Mitchell Gallery of Flight is located in the General Mitchell International Airport at 5300 S Howell Ave, Milwaukee, WI.
Flickr / Jim Trottier
Take a trip back in time at the Milwaukee Public Museum! This natural history museum was opened in 1884 and contains more than 4 MILLION artifacts dating back thousands of years and includes pieces across multiple scientific subjects from around the world. The Milwaukee Public Museum showcases incredible permanent exhibits featuring research and discoveries in Anthropology, Animal and Plant Biology, Geology, and History, as well as a constantly rotating stream of temporary exhibits that keep the experience here new and different every time you visit. The best part? The Milwaukee Public Museum offers a $2 discount to Milwaukee County residents, and admission to the museum is free for all on the first Thursday of each month!
Milwaukee Public Museum is located at 800 W Wells St, Milwaukee, WI.
Flickr / Alan English CPA
Even non-beer-lovers will find something to appreciate on this awesome tour! The brewing culture has played a major role in the history and industry of this city, so a tour of the Miller Brewery is far more than an excuse to go for a few brews. The Miller Brewery has been around for more than 155 years and the museum offers insight into every step of the brewing process, from the farming of hops and grains to the bottling and production line. One of the coolest parts of the tour is the historic underground caves used for refrigeration!
Miller Brewery is located at 4251 W State St., Milwaukee, WI.
Flickr / Jim Bauer
Go wild at the Milwaukee County Zoo! Sure, plenty of cities have zoos, but Milwaukee has one of the best. You can see more than 3,300 animals from around the world, each occupying exhibits from different continents and biomes. The open aviary and the aquarium are awesome, and the Safari Steam Train through the park is always a fun experience for the kiddos. The Milwaukee County Zoo is also recognized as one of the earliest wildlife facilities in the world to see the healthy birth of a Polar Bear in captivity!
The Milwaukee County Zoo is located at 10001 W Bluemound Rd, Milwaukee, WI.
You’ll find this awesome public market downtown in the Historic Third Ward and a trip here is always a colorful experience! You can find tasty baked goods, fresh produce, flowers, and specialty items all year long in this cool indoor market, as well as some fantastic food events and cooking classes! The Milwaukee Public Market is open Monday - Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., and Sundays from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Milwaukee Public Market is located at 400 N Water St, Milwaukee, WI.
Flickr / Lynn Friedman
We couldn’t possibly leave the Bronze Fonz off of this list! If you don’t have AT LEAST one photo with this iconic TV character, we question your status as a true Milwaukeean!
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.
