Good / Beautiful / Pleasant Land – This is the underlying meaning of the word Milwaukee. This is especially true in Milwaukee, the largest city in the state of Wisconsin.
Located on the southwest shore of Lake Michigan, Milwaukee is truly a pleasant place; with so much beauty that you really need to spend at least a week to discover all that is offered here.
Situated at the confluence of the Menomonee, Kinnickkinni, and Milwaukee rivers, the city of Milwaukee is known primarily for its lakeside and ethnic festivals, along with the huge breweries that once put Milwaukee on the map.
It is the perfect destination for a driving holiday, as there are so many cities and attractions in the surrounding area that it would be a shame to miss them.
Renting a car is really the best option, as it will give you the option to fly from the city of your choice, avoiding what could be a very long journey.
While visiting the city of Milwaukee, you really will have a lot of options to choose from when it comes to things to do and places to see. To make the whole process a little easier for you, here are some ideas to get your mind moving:
1. The breweries
As mentioned above, one of the business cards of the Milwaukee region is the fact that there are so many breweries within the area. Milwaukee was once home to four of the largest breweries in the world and was the number one beer-producing region in the world for many years. Two of these key breweries still remain today: Miller Brewing Company and Pabsat Brewing Company. While you’re in town, you can take a tour of each of these and learn about the brewing process, how it’s distributed, and of course how good it tastes.
These tours will show you the many reasons why Milwaukee was and still is known as the “city of beer.”
2. The museums
When it comes to museums of a wide variety, Milwaukee is certainly not lacking. The most culturally prominent of these would have to be the Milwaukee Museum of Art, which houses a wide range of exhibits of local, national, and international artwork. The Milwaukee Public Museum is the area’s premier natural history and human history museum and will take you on a journey through time to Milwaukee’s bygone days.
For a different museum experience, Milwaukee also has something unique to offer. Discovery World is the perfect destination for kids, as it is the area’s premier children’s science museum. This is the perfect way for kids to experience an educational day, while having fun at the same time.
For those of you who are not so young, don’t worry, the Harley Davidson Museum may be what you like the most. This institution pays tribute to Harley Davidson motorcycles of the past and present. This is the only museum of its kind in the world, so as long as you are in town, it should not be missed!
3. The parks
Milwaukee is known for its well-developed park system and is home to a large number of parks and gardens that are scattered throughout the city. The most prominent of these parks would have to include Lake Park, River Park, and West Park, each of which offers something unique and different from all the others. In total, there are over 140 parks in Milwaukee County, so be sure to visit at least some of them while in the area!
4. The parties
Milwaukee often bills itself as the “city of festivals” and they certainly aren’t wrong! The most famous of these festivals would undoubtedly be the Wisconsin State Fair, which attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. The annual lakefront fair, “Summerfest” also appears on most local calendars, as it is the largest music festival in the world.
Featuring some of the biggest names in music, along with much of the local talent, this event draws 1 million visitors each year, making it the drawing card of the city in more ways than one!
5. Cave of the Mounds
If you want to experience one of the best day trips in the Midwest, look no further than the Cave of Mounds! This incredible attraction is just a short drive from town, making your rental car really useful. A guided tour of the cave will take you through an unforgettable array of crystal formations, essentially making it the most beautiful cave in Wisconsin.
This is truly America’s greatest cave jewelery box, so it really shouldn’t be missed, especially since it’s so close to it!
Milwaukee isn’t just the largest city in Wisconsin; it is also undoubtedly the most exciting! There is so much to see and do here that you may have to extend your car rental to make sure everything fits!
