What NOT to Do When Visiting Milwaukee
Hey there, fellow travelers! Today, we’re discussing what NOT to do when planning a trip to Milwaukee. While most travel blogs will tell you the best things to do in Milwaukee Wisconsin, we want to be sure you know what NOT to do when visiting the largest city in Wisconsin.
Don’t Skip the River
The Milwaukee River runs through downtown Milwaukee, and the riverwalk is a great place to check out some of the art and architecture of the city. You can follow the river out to the lakefront, and there are many places to stop along the way. You can even join a kayak tour or hop on a water taxi!
If you grew up in the 70s or 80s, you must get your picture with the Bronze Fonz. The TV show Happy Days took place in Milwaukee, and there is a bronze statue of the Fonz on the Riverwalk.
Don’t Miss the Lakefront
You might not think of Milwaukee as a beach destination, but the Lake Michigan shoreline is a gorgeous place to spend the day! You can take boat cruises on the lake as well. Besides the beaches, parks, and walkways, some of Milwaukee’s best museums are along the lakefront.
- Milwaukee Art Museum is an incredible building with an impressive art collection.
- Milwaukee Discovery World is a science and technology museum with exhibits for all ages
- Betty Brin Children’s Museum is perfect if you’re visiting Milwaukee with kids under 10
Make sure you check the visiting hours before planning your trip; we found a lot of museums closed on both Monday and Tuesday.
Don’t Skip These Milwaukee Attractions
Besides the lakefront museums in Milwaukee, there are some other spots that you should not miss.
- The Conservatory / The Domes – biodomes look like something from an 80s movie but have beautiful gardens inside
- Brewers Stadium for a baseball game
- Milwaukee Public Museum
- Milwaukee County Zoo
- America’s Black Holocaust Museum
- Grohmann Museum
- Pabst Mansion
- Villa Terrace Decorative Art Museum
- The National Bobblehead Hall of Fame
While not a specific attraction, Milwaukee’s architecture deserves a nod. They’ve done a great job preserving and repurposing the historic buildings around town. As you drive into town, you’ll notice several churches. Milwaukee has over 500 churches, many of them are in beautiful historic buildings.
Don’t Forget the Historic 3rd Ward
Milwaukee has a great historic neighborhood in the 3rd ward. Within the historic streets and buildings, Milwaukee’s creative center has emerged. You’ll find art galleries, restaurants, rooftop beer gardens, and boutiques. It’s also home to the Milwaukee Public Market.
The Milwaukee Public Market is a great spot to visit in Milwaukee. There are over a dozen vendors selling all kinds of food and drinks. There are souvenir shops with fun t-shirts, and an upstairs seating area where you can enjoy your snacks. They also have cooking classes, so check the schedule before you go!
Summerfest is also in the Third Ward, and it’s a huge music festival with big acts for a few weeks each summer. If you love music festivals, you have to plan a trip to Milwaukee for Summerfest!
Brady Street is another fun area with lots of bars and nightlife but with a more eclectic vibe.
Don’t Miss the Brewery Scene
Milwaukee is known as “Beer City” and was the city that spawned Pabst, Schlitz, Miller, and more! While most of those original brands aren’t made here any longer, newer craft breweries and microbreweries have taken their place. You can still tour the original Miller Brewery, and Lakefront Brewery is one of the more popular spots now.
You also have to try the root beer from Sprecher, a local brewery. It’s way better than mass-market root beer you can get at home.
Don’t Miss Out on Milwaukee Food
Milwaukee has a lot of German and Polish heritage, and that’s reflected in the food. Bratwurst and pretzels go hand in hand with beer! Milwaukee’s original German Beer Hall is now a Hofbrauhaus, with a pretty good German menu! From the Polish side, Polish sausages, pierogies and pastries are great! Wisconsin has long, cold winters, so Milwaukee food is hearty!
Of course, we can’t talk about what to eat in Milwaukee without talking about cheese! Wisconsin produces 25% of our country’s cheese, and it comes in many shapes, sizes, and flavors. Cheese curds are a popular snack that squeaks against your teeth. You can buy them fresh in bags, or restaurants often serve them breaded and fried. If you’re driving up from Illinois, plan a stop at the Mars Cheese Castle on your way home. They have every variety of cheese, sausage, beer, and lots of fun souvenirs.
Other foods to eat in Milwaukee include:
- Fish Fry Friday is a Wisconsin tradition, thanks in part to a large Catholic population that doesn’t eat meat on Fridays. Tons of places have a weekly Friday Fish Fry.
- Perch or walleye is usually the fish served on Fridays, but you should also try smelt fish when you are here. They’re small little fish that are usually fried.
- Frozen custard is another Wisconsin delicacy. The fast-food chain Culver’s is spreading custard around the country, but you can still get it from the original shops like Leon’s when you visit Milwaukee.
- Reuben Egg Rolls are a unique appetizer to try when you’re here.
- In Milwaukee, chili is often served over pasta, making it even heartier.
- Milwaukee pizza is a “tavern style” which is a thin cracker-crust cut into squares.
Don’t worry, though, you can get all kinds of great food in Milwaukee: Ethiopian, Greek, Mexican, and more! Milwaukee is a melting pot of cultures, so there’s good food all over town. Glorioso’s Italian Market is a great place to shop for authentic Italian ingredients. In fact, Milwaukee has a ton of great markets to explore, including farmer’s markets.
Don’t Order a Meal with a Bloody Mary
Milwaukee is known for its Bloody Mary drinks, and not because of the flavor. Rather than the usual celery stalk or pickle, a Milwaukee Bloody Mary can come with a whole meal on top of it. Bars try to outdo each other with the most outrageous Bloody Marys. I had one with bacon, celery, a bratwurst slider, sausage, cheese curds, and shredded cheese.
Don’t Be Afraid to Hop on the Hop
While Milwaukee doesn’t have the best public transportation for tourists, they do have a free streetcar around the downtown area. It’s called The Hop and it’s totally free! It might save you some walking on a hot summer day.
Fortunately, driving and parking in Milwaukee is pretty convenient and affordable, so you don’t have to worry so much about having a car in Milwaukee. It’s probably the best way to get around.
Don’t Think You Have to Be a Biker to Enjoy Harley Davidson
Milwaukee is the home of Harley Davidson, so one of the most popular things to do in Milwaukee is visiting the Harley Davidson Museum. The history of the company is actually really cool, and they have hundreds of different bikes on display.
Don’t Be Shocked if They Call You a FIB
If you’re coming up from Chicago, or anywhere in Illinois, you are considered a FIB. We’ll just say it means “Friendly Illinois Buddies” and leave it at that. It’s Milwaukee, so they’ll still be nice, but don’t advertise that you’re from Illinois unless you want a good heckling.
Don’t Be Lax with Safety
Milwaukee is generally pretty safe, but there are some rougher neighborhoods to avoid. More importantly, be aware of your surroundings at night. Even though you’re in Wisconsin, Milwaukee is a big city and does have big city problems sometimes.
Don’t Visit in Winter
We’re not opposed to winter weather, but Milwaukee is COLD. The lake effect brings extra snow and cold winds. Roads and sidewalks can be dangerous and ice-covered. The sun goes down super early, like 4 or 5 pm. It’s just not that enjoyable. Summer really is Milwaukee’s time to shine, and all other seasons can’t compare. (Although spring and fall are pretty nice, too!)
Five Things You’ll Love & Hate About Visiting the Midwest
If you do visit Milwaukee in summer, make sure you bring sunscreen and bug spray!
Grab Some Wolters World Travel Gear!
There’s more to Milwaukee than beers and brats! It’s a fun city to explore, with lots of great food and attractions. You can even take the train from Chicago for a weekend getaway!
Want more tips for visiting the Midwest US? Check out some of our other blog posts: