Spring is here and we are eager to explore! And we’re setting our sights on Milwaukee, guided with some expert advice.
Milwaukee writer and mom Jenna Kashou, author of 100 Things to Do in Milwaukee Before You Die, 2nd Edition, which hits bookstores this month, shares the inside scoop on “the cultural and natural attractions that make this city a great bet for families.”
IF YOUR CREW LIKES MUSEUMS:
Milwaukee Public Museum
It’s fun to wander through the Milwaukee Public Museum’s four floors, filled with four million objects on display. Learn about science, history and cultures from around the world with life- sized exhibits, including a towering replica of a Tyrannosaurus Rex. Feel the flutter of live butterflies as you (carefully) step into a dewy, glass-enclosed tropical paradise in the Puelicher Butterfly Wing or take a trip down a dark cobblestone street to Milwaukee at the turn of the nineteenth century. The Streets of Old Milwaukee is one of the most popular exhibits and one of the first walk-through dioramas in the world.
There are also special exhibits that rotate every few months and an immersive, 3D Dome Theater and Planetarium that is the first in the world to debut Digistar, a six-computer projection system that fills the theater with lifelike animations. Check out docent-led tours on Saturdays to see a new side of the museum you might have missed.
800 W. Wells St. Milwaukee, (414) 278-2728, mpm.edu
Discovery World Science and Technology Museum
There’s lots to explore at this huge science and technology center, but pay special attention to Great Lakes attractions — like the aquarium with touch tanks in the lower level.
Wisconsin’s flagship, the Denis Sullivan, docked at Discovery World’s Pier Wisconsin, is the world’s only re-creation of a nineteenth-century cargo schooner. This three-masted ship’s original intent was to teach people about the Great Lakes, but it also hosts several two-to-five-hour daytime and sunset sails from May through October, including one with a rotating mix of craft brewers. You can choose to be a deckhand and learn how to sail or just sit back and enjoy the ride. Throughout the year, the Sullivan sails through the Great Lakes region, along the East Coast, and into the Caribbean. It was completed in 2000 with the help of nearly a thousand volunteers.
And jutting out into the Lake Michigan, behind Discovery World, is Lakeshore State Park — a wonderful loop of prairie, paved trail and lake access. Grab a Bublr bike and take a quick spin or walk and get a great view of the city and the festival grounds.
500 N. Harbor Dr., Milwaukee, (414) 765-9966, discoveryworld.org
Harley-Davidson Museum
Even if you aren’t a motorcycle enthusiast, the Harley-Davidson Museum is filled with so much American history and style that you’ll be in awe of the evolution of such an iconic brand.
Founded in Milwaukee in 1903, the Harley-Davidson Motor Company is famous for the signature sound of its engine, which stems from its unique design. In addition to these beautiful feats of engineering, including the oldest known Harley in existence, there is an experience gallery, so you can feel the thrill of climbing aboard a bike. The Build-A-Bike interactive display also lets you mix and match parts to create the bike of your dreams (virtually, at least).
There are more than a dozen exhibits and attractions geared to both adults and children, plus a historical account of the company’s contribution to America’s efforts in two world wars. Themed tours also let you dig deeper into what interests you the most, though it’s no surprise that the Bikes, Brats and Beers Tour is very popular.
400 W. Canal St., Milwaukee, (877) 436-8738, h-dmuseum.com
IF ANIMALS AND NATURE EXCITE YOU:
Milwaukee County Zoo
The Milwaukee County Zoo is consistently ranked among the top ten zoos across the country. More than 3,100 animals live within the two hundred acres of specialized habitats.
If you tire of observing the animals in their customized habitats, you can attend a sea lion show, feed the farm animals, or ride the Safari Train or Sky Safari lift. For the more intense adventurers, there are even a five-hundred-foot zip line, a climbing wall and a ropes course.
Touring exhibits such as Dinosaurs: A Jurassic Journey ensure there is always something new to see. The Milwaukee County Zoo has eight indoor exhibits, such as Apes of the World, Small Mammals and the Aviary, so it’s a great place to visit rain or shine, and it’s open 365 days a year.
10001 W. Bluemound Rd., Milwaukee, (414) 256-5412, milwaukeezoo.org
Mitchell Park Domes
Tour three distinct climates and appreciate the diverse plant life thriving under the three conical roofs that make up “The Domes,” which are part of the Mitchell Park Horticultural Conservatory. These eighty-five-foot high, honeycomb-shaped domed structures house lush vegetation and are the only ones of their kind in the world!
The arid Desert Dome is home to cacti, succulents and shrubs from deserts on three different continents. The dewy Tropical Dome is a great place to visit when you need a mood-boosting punch of bright colors and warm, humid air. There are 1,200 species of rainforest plants here, including bright banana trees. The Show Dome hosts rotating seasonal displays, such as an ornate holiday show or everyone’s favorite: the annual model train and miniature environment show that runs on a continuous loop throughout the dome.
524 S. Layton Blvd., Milwaukee, (414) 257-5606, milwaukeedomes.org
IF YOU’RE A FAMILY OF SPORTS FANATICS:
Fiserv Forum
Milwaukee’s beloved NBA team, the Milwaukee Bucks, has a new home in which to bellow its rallying cry, “Fear the Deer!” After years of debate, mostly because of the use of taxpayer funds, the new Fiserv Forum is a 714,000-square-foot, state-of- the-art arena that holds 17,500 fans. The arena and its adjacent parking garage cost a stunning $524 million. The eye-catching building features an arched roof, covered in shiny silver zinc shingles, that overlaps the glass facade and stretches down to street level on one side.
The Fiserv Forum opened just two years after its groundbreaking and includes two full blocks of development meant to be an entertainment plaza. It has transformed the northwest side of downtown into one of Milwaukee’s most vibrant areas.
It’s hard to miss the Fiserv Forum if you’re downtown – it’s been called “The giant loaf,” “The comb-over” and the “big burrito” to describe its striking curved roof. Even if there isn’t a Bucks game or other event, you can still tour the new arena and enjoy the outdoor entertainment complex, complete with a beer garden, restaurant and giant screens to watch sporting events.
901 N. Fourth St., Milwaukee, (414) 227-0500, wisconsinesc.com
Miller Park
There’s nothing more American than baseball, beer and brats. Well, that’s Wisconsin’s version of the great American game. Miller Park, just ten minutes west of downtown, is home to the Milwaukee Brewers, or Brew Crew as locals affectionately call them. Miller Park is known for epic tailgating in the stadium parking lot, complete with grills, games and drinking. And once you get inside, the rotating mix of local craft beers and a range of gourmet food — including several different styles of Johnsonville sausages — will keep you satiated for those games that seem to go on forever.
Other entertaining Milwaukee Brewers traditions that have nothing to do with the sport include the five sausage mascots who race around the field, team mascot Bernie Brewer taking a celebratory trip down his slide when the Brewers hit a home run, and the crowd singing a rollicking rendition of “Roll Out the Barrel” during the seventh-inning stretch.
Miller Park’s retractable fan-shaped roof makes a Brewers game a good choice, no matter the weather.
1 Brewers Way, Milwaukee, (414) 902-4400, milwaukee.brewers.mlb.com
IF YOU’RE HUNGRY:
SafeHouse
When you’re ready for a lunch served with a side of espionage, take your team here.
The attention to detail is impeccable at the SafeHouse, one of the only spy-themed restaurants in the country. The dark wood- paneled walls are littered with spy paraphernalia and amazing artifacts, such as an actual piece of the Berlin Wall and a Stasi prison cell. A renovation in 2016 updated the menu and decor but preserved the old classics, such as the disappearing booth and the world’s largest mechanical puzzle. New digital features, such as a control eye at the bar and green screen “alibi” photo booth, provide a more interactive experience for guests.
First, you have to find the place. It’s tucked away in an alley with a small door labeled “International Imports Ltd.” There is a password to enter, and if you don’t know it you’ll be asked to perform a series of stunts while the patrons in the bar watch you on a large screen. The password is hidden in a few different locations throughout the restaurant, so once you’re in, go on a reconnaissance mission to find it.
Each guest or “agent” gets a nametag with his or her alias, and each table gets a special mission with a chance to win a prize. Even the cocktail and food menus are written like classified documents, but you’ll find familiar favorites done well.
779 N. Front St., Milwaukee, (414) 271-2007, safe-house.com
Milwaukee Public Market
The Milwaukee Public Marketin the Third Ward is another great spot for lunch. Grab your favorite treat — from Thai to tacos, lobster or falafel, and head upstairs for a wide-open space with lots of seating.
You might not equate a lobster roll with Milwaukee, but outside of Boston the one at St. Paul’s Fish Company in the Milwaukee Public Market is the most authentic. St. Paul’s is also famous for its relatively inexpensive, live, one-pound steamed Maine lobster dinner every day of the week. But if you don’t want to put in the work to crack the shells, opt for the popular lobster roll with large chunks of buttery lobster, creamy mayo and crunchy celery, served with either kettle chips and a pickle or fries and coleslaw. The latter is more traditional.
St. Paul’s has an impressive display of fresh seafood for purchase, weekly dining specials such as two-for-one bluepoint oysters, and an expansive outdoor tiki bar where you can sip boozy slushies every day of the week.
400 N. Water St., Milwaukee, WI 53202 (414) 220-8383, milwaukeepublicmarket.org
IF YOU WANT A FREE CITY TOUR:
The New “Hop” Streetcar
For many years, the only modes of public transportation in Milwaukee have been the bus system and a trolley, which was more of a cute novelty. Last fall, Milwaukee got its first streetcar, named the Hop, which operates on fixed-rail guideways on the street. The sleek and quiet car has thirty-two seats and can accommodate a total of 150 seated and standing passengers.
The initial route, called the “M” line, starts at the Intermodal Station, goes through the Third Ward and on through East Town, and then heads out to the east end of the Lower East Side. And it stops right in front of the Milwaukee Public Market if you want to “Hop” on and take a ride.
The second “L” line should be up and running by 2020 and will connect to popular lakefront attractions such as Summerfest, the Milwaukee Art Museum, and Discovery World.
The best part: Potawatomi Hotel & Casino is sponsoring the Hop through fall 2019, so until then all rides are free!
Milwaukee native Jenna Kashou is a writer and author of 100 Things to Do in Milwaukee Before You Die, 2nd Edition. Find more fun ways to explore Milwaukee at one of Jenna’s book events.
