Downtown Milwaukee
There are a lot of things to do in Milwaukee. This surprised me, to be quite honest. Never would I have thought there’d be so much to see and do in the city. There was so much to see and do that I didn’t even get to everything I would have liked. While I could talk about it all for quite some time, I’ll narrow it down to my five favorites. Do you have others? Then please, add them to the list by commenting.
Harley-Davidson’s Serial Number One
The Harley-Davidson company started in Milwaukee. Each year enthusiasts head to the city to celebrate the motorcycle’s history. While there are a lot of block parties with all kinds of events, none of it would be complete without a visit to the Harley-Davidson Museum. It’s here where you can see the “Serial Number One,” the first Harley bike, or the one that washed up on Canadian shoreline after being swept out to sea from Japan in the 2011 tsunami. It’s quite a special place, full of a lot of fun opportunities for the whole family.
The Harley-Davidson washed to Canada in the tsunami
The Last of the Spartans
Art? In Milwaukee? Are you for real? Heck yeah! The same questions ran through my mind before I visited the museum, and I left absolutely blown away by what I saw. Rodin, Lichtenstein, Close, Chagall, Klee, O’Keeffe, Picasso, Warhol, and so much more; they’re all here, along with some new works I had never heard of, making a visit to not only the museum, but the also the city, a must for any art enthusiast. Don’t care for art? Then at least stop by in the morning to see the sails open. The building itself is a sculpture with sails that open each morning to greet guests. It’s quite the spectacle to watch. Here’s a peek at how it looks when it’s open:
The Milwaukee Art Museum’s sails
There are a lot of trails in Milwaukee to hike, run, or ride a bike on, many of which are on the shoreline of Lake Michigan. So, with such a beautiful setting, why wouldn’t you want to get out and have some fun exploring all of the great green ventures the city has implemented? Take advantage! They’re a lot of fun with a great atmosphere, as they’re quickly becoming the heart of the city. So many people were out enjoying the day during my Visit Milwaukee trip, and I’m happy to say that I was one of them.
The historic Pabst Mansion
This may be just as surprising to some as Milwaukee having a great art museum, but the city’s history is fantastic. One of the best places to learn about it? Stop by the Pabst Mansion, of course! Beer is king in Wisconsin, so why not learn a little about beer, history, and one of the families who really put the city on the map, so to speak. Want stay in a places like the Pabst Mansion? Then check out the Brumder Mansion. It’s a fantastic bed and breakfast – only a few blocks down the street from the Pabst home – with a great history all its own.
The Best Place Tavern’s King Gambrinus
What’s the best thing to do in Milwaukee? Is there any doubt that it’s drinking beer? Not in my mind. Whether you’re at the Best Place in Milwaukee at the old Pabst Brewery complex, spending the night in the new Brewhouse Inn & Suites, touring and eating at an operational brewery, or hanging at one of many great pubs in the city while knocking back a few cold ones, you can’t go wrong with beer. Milwaukee was made for beer. And to this day, it’s still one of the best places to learn about and enjoy some with friends.
Even on the outside Milwaukee’s Lakefront Brewery is fun
WOW – just five? There are dozens! Heck just this past weekend “Doors Open Milwaukee” hosted by Historic Milwaukee Inc. featured more than 125 sites. I hope you come back to enjoy more of our city!
Would love to go back, and would have loved to include more. I was only there for a weekend, though, so hard to squeeze so much in and still make it all worthwhile. What I was able to do was a great trip.
Thanks for listing Best Place at the historic Pabst Brewery. We do appreciated your support! Karen Haertel/Owner