In southeastern Wisconsin, on the western shore of Lake Michigan, Milwaukee is about an hour north of Chicago by car. Wisconsin has a cold climate and Milwaukee is no exception. Winter temperatures of -60 F can occur with icy winds off turbulent Lake Michigan. But Milwaukeeans are a resilient bunch, and to prove it, members of the Polar Bear Club brave arctic conditions by swimming in the frozen lake every January 1st.
Known as the beer capital of the world, Milwaukee currently boasts three major breweries, including Miller, Sprecher, and Lakefront Breweries, though others, such as Pabst and Schlitz, have come and gone. The success of Milwaukee’s breweries is attributed to the brewing skills and business acumen of German immigrants, many of whom were among the city’s earliest settlers.
Brewery tours are an increasingly popular attraction and include free beer. Fredrick Pabst Mansion, “America’s Finest Flemish Renaissance Revival Mansion” was built by Captain Pabst in 1892 and is a testament to the success of Milwaukee brewing.
Milwaukee’s brewing history means that the best beers from around the world are available in most bars and restaurants. Milwaukee also has its share of good eats. Karl Ratzsch Restaurant is the place to go for great, authentic German food, and Coerper’s 5 O’Clock Club is a deceptively modern (but awesome) steakhouse. Kopp’s Custard offers amazing burgers and custard, while the Mekong Cafe is known for its excellent Thai and Vietnamese food.
Popular tourist attractions include the Milwaukee Art Museum, Brewers Baseball, Mitchell Park Conservatory, Bucks Basketball, Milwaukee Public Museum and Planetarium, Milwaukee Country Zoo, Paradise Landing Indoor Water Park, Audubon Nature Sanctuary, and the Harley-Davidson Museum.
The cultural scene includes the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, the Milwaukee Ballet, the Florentine Opera, the Milwaukee Opera and the Skylight Opera. There are also plenty of theater venues, including the Sunset Playhouse.
The Milwaukee River runs through downtown Milwaukee and into Lake Michigan with charming historic bridges and waterways throughout downtown. The Voyager and Iroquois boat tours are popular with locals and tourists alike and offer river, harbor, marina, and lake cruises. Happy Hour Cruises are especially fun and offer great views of the city.
Milwaukee’s lakefront offers a miles-long recreational area that includes the McKinley Public Marina for boat docking, jet ski rentals and boating lessons. A little north, Bradford Beach is a popular attraction with picnic areas, volleyball, in-line skating, biking, parties, and music events.
Sometimes called the city of festivals, Milwaukee has the Summerfest Music Festival, Festa Italiana, German Fest, Wisconsin State Fair, Irish Fest, African World Festival, Indian Summer Festival, and Lakefront Festival of the Arts. There’s also the Asian Festival, the Arab World Festival, the Bastille Days, the Christmas Folk Fair, the Mexican Fiesta, Water Frolics, and numerous smaller neighborhood festivals and block parties.
The city has a large student population with many colleges and universities, including the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, the Milwaukee School of Engineering, the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design, and Marquette University, with its dental and law schools. . Marquette is also home to the Patrick and Beatrice Haggerty Museum of Art and the Al McGuire Center, home of Golden Eagles basketball.