For some, there’s no better time to live in Wisconsin than winter. For the rest of us, there comes a point, often in March, when the ice, snow and cold seem never-ending and we crave an escape.
Fortunately, you don’t need a plane ticket to a southern state or tropical island to warm up. An oasis awaits right in Milwaukee.
The Mitchell Park Horticultural Conservatory, better known as “The Domes,” is a unique destination with three giant glass-ceilinged structures filled with three distinct ecosystems. Part of the Milwaukee Parks system, the conservatory features a desert dome, a tropical dome and an ever-changing, flower-filled show dome. And all promise warmth, light and color year-round.
The Domes, which opened in the 1960s, are extremely family-friendly — stroller and wheelchair accessible, with admission costing $8 for adults, $6 for kids ages six to seventeen and nothing for kids under five.
It’s the perfect place to flee the cold, pushing your baby in a stroller while admiring the beautifully designed landscapes. And it makes for an ideal day with older kids who will enjoy exploring the three distinct domes — and burning off some cooped-up energy.
After getting your tickets, shake off your coats in the open lobby and consult a paper map to plan your path. Kids love having a say in where to go first, and they may want to hang on the map and lead the way!
Wind your way past cacti, succulents and other plants from Africa, Madagascar, South America, Mexico and the American Southwest in the serene desert dome. Kids might be surprised by the diversity of plants that thrive in dry environments.
And they’ll likely be delighted with the abundance of plants, flowers and trees in the lush tropical dome — more than twelve hundred different species are featured! And if they look closely, they’ll also spot birds, fish, frogs and other creatures that call the rainforest home.
This spring, the show dome presents “April Showers,” an exhibit of tulips, daffodils, pansies, hydrangeas, buttercups, lilies and other pastel-hued springtime blooms. Nearly two thousand plants make up the show, which runs from April 11 to May 25.
Keep in mind the Domes are open 365 days a year — meaning whatever our Wisconsin weather delivers, you have an escape waiting.
Katie Vaughn is the editor and co-founder of Northerly. She is a University of Wisconsin-Madison and Stanford University-trained journalist with experience as a writer, reporter, editor, blogger and author. She lives in Madison with her husband, daughter and son, and her family is always up for an adventure.