Best Things to Do in Milwaukee, Wis.

Yes, Milwaukee’s moniker is really Beer City USA, and, no, you can’t visit without the obligatory brewery tour. Luckily, there are two excellent options to scratch this itch. Visit Best Place at the Historic Pabst Brewery. While not a functioning brewery anymore, Best Place is a must-do for a historic brewing tour. Explore Captain Frederick Pabst’s offices while learning about the storied history of the Pabst Brewing Co. and sipping a PBR. Exuberant fans can stay at Brewhouse Inn &  Suites, in what was once the main brewery building of the Pabst Brewing Co. and is now a 90-room boutique hotel (more on that below).

One of Milwaukee’s oldest microbreweries, Lakefront Brewery, opened its doors in 1987. Today, they’re home to the most popular brewery tour in Milwaukee, which is packed with “facts, lore, jokes and beer samples” (their website’s words), which makes looking at stainless steel tanks way more entertaining. Lakefront was also the first certified organic brewing operation in the U.S., which I wish meant their beer was calorie free. 

For those who prefer to drink a stein of beer outside, Estabrook Beer Garden is a German-themed escape featuring beer brewed in Germany by the Staatliches Hofbräuhaus, giant pretzels and live polka music. Fun fact: This was the first public beer garden in America after Prohibition; if you can’t make it to Estabrook, don’t fret, as there are five other permanent beer gardens and one traveling one in Milwaukee parks. Brew City, indeed. 

Not a beer drinker? Milwaukee still has you covered with Twisted Path Distillery, one of the big three distilleries in the area. Owner Brian Sammons took a twisted path to crafting alcohol from his days as a CIA operative. The distillery started with a tiny speakeasy-style tasting room that was hidden in a warehouse but has since expanded into a much larger taproom with frequent live music and funky libations. 

The Third Ward is considered to be the city’s warehouse district turned arts and fashion hub, complete with locally owned eateries and shops. Just south of downtown MKE, this neighborhood is home to the celebrated Milwaukee Public Market, which was inspired by Pike Place in Seattle.The first floor offers everything from spices to coffee, tacos, wine and what locals say is the best lobster roll outside of the East Coast. Hop upstairs for plenty of seating as well as space for cooking classes in the Madame Kuony Demonstration Kitchen. 

The Milwaukee Riverwalk connects the Historic Third Ward to two other notable enclaves, downtown and Beerline B, rambling north-ish as it hugs the Milwaukee River. The lakefront in this area is also home to the world’s largest music festival, the incomparable Summerfest, held at Henry W. Maier Festival Park. Past performers include acts as varied as the Rolling Stones, Ludacris, Halsey, Bon Iver, Jennifer Lopez, Flogging Molly, Keith Urban, Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Weeknd, Dave Matthews Band and more. (And yes, the Biebs is planned for 2021). 

Milwaukee is the birthplace of Harley-Davidson and home to the world’s only Harley-Davidson Museum. Interactive exhibits take visitors through the company’s history, get up close and personal with famous motorcycles and even give guests the chance to saddle up on a bike. 

The massive lakefront Milwaukee Art Museum is home to 30,000 works of art, including the most prestigious collection of Haitian art outside of Haiti and one of the world’s largest collections of art from Wisconsin native Georgia O’Keeffe. Architecture enthusiasts should make sure to check out the Quadracci Pavilion, the iconic sculptural addition to the museum that was Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava’s first building in the United States. The “wings” of the building actually open every day, slowly flap at noon and close when the museum closes. It’s truly a work of art on its own and makes this museum stand out from the crowd. 

Milwaukee’s premier nonprofit science and technology center, situated next to a certain Great Lake, is a can’t-miss family-friendly pick. Hands-on exhibits will teach kids and adults about technology, physics and freshwater sciences. Check out the aquarium to learn about all the aquatic species in the area. Plus, in the milder days of summer, you can even hop aboard the S/V Denis Sullivan, the world’s only recreation of a 19th-century three-masted Great Lakes schooner. 

If an impressive and slightly whimsical collection of more than 5,000 bobbleheads is your thing, we have great news. Milwaukee’s National Bobblehead Hall of Fame is home to the world’s largest collection of bobbleheads, from all sports (beyond the hometown Bucks and Brewers), genres, weird pop culture references and more. You’ll also find trendy takes like the meme-worthy Bernie Sanders/mittens bobblehead from the 2021 Presidential Inauguration. 

The unique design of the Mitchell Park Horticultural Conservatory won a 1955 design competition and today is colloquially known as “The Domes,” due to the three conoidal glass structures that compose its structure. Each dome hosts a different climate: the desert dome, the tropical dome and the floral show dome with ever-changing themes. The show dome has displayed everything from formal Japanese gardens to autumn in Provence, a classic monster movie spoof, a street in Dickens’ London or scenes from the “Nutcracker Suite.” Mitchell Park itself is a nice Milwaukee County park, complete with a lake and trails. 

Saint Kate: The Arts Hotel is a stellar boutique property created by artists. Guests can stay in one of five “Canvas Rooms” designed by local talent for the traveler who truly wants to be immersed into the art scene. There’s also a gallery in the lobby from the Museum of Wisconsin Art, and an ever-growing, always rotating spread of contemporary art that is scattered throughout the hotel. 

The aforementioned Brewhouse Inn &  Suites is located in what was once the main brewery building of the Pabst Brewing Co. It’s now a 90-room boutique hotel that includes copper brewing kettles as decor and the most weirdly Wisconsin thing ever, a stained glass window featuring King Gambrinus, the patron saint of brewing. 

You can’t talk about Milwaukee sweets without bringing up frozen custard. Kopp’s is a quintessential Wisconsin pit stop and a local staple for a taste of this extra-creamy, extra-decadent frozen treat in pint or cone form. 

Not sure where to eat out? Try Zocalo Food Truck Park in the Walker’s Point neighborhood, which offers everything from tacos to arepas, hot chicken to bagels and ice cream to sushi. Throw in a full bar, some indoor seating and outdoor picnic table seating, and it’s the perfect place to relax with some incredible food from all over the city (and the world!). 

Milwaukee is serious about its German traditions, and luckily for the hungry, German sausages are no exception. The Vanguard takes Milwaukee’s deep-rooted traditional German sausages and makes them new again. With an ever-changing menu and solid bourbon list, this Bay View neighborhood favorite is a must-visit. 

Another great option that tastes as good as it feels is Damascus Gate, the go-to spot for Middle Eastern food on Milwaukee’s South Side. This establishment not only serves incredible culinary delights but is also owned and employed by Syrian refugees who immigrated to America when escaping the Syrian civil war.