Sitting pretty on the western shore of Lake Michigan, Milwaukee is an inviting city with an impressive lakefront and friendly riverwalk. In-between the two are fun attractions, notable architecture, and amazing food and drink. Whether you’re planning a day trip to Milwaukee, or you’ll be spending a couple days, there are so many things to do that you’ll want to plan a follow-up visit as soon as possible.
This post contains affiliate links to products and services I recommend. I may make a commission, and there is no cost to you.
Is Milwaukee Worth Visiting?
Milwaukee is a fantastic place to visit! It’s not a big city, so it feels comfortable, accessible, and not crowded or overwhelming. Milwaukee has museums, festivals, sporting events, a zoo, a lighthouse, boating and waterfront, and tons of excellent food and drink.
Milwaukee has beautiful views, beaches, and some of the most popular beer in the world. If you’re a Gen-Xer, you probably grew up watching Happy Days and Laverne & Shirley – both set in Milwaukee! Read on for some iconic TV travel spots you can visit.
What to Do in Milwaukee Wisconsin
Any day trip to Milwaukee should start with breakfast and a beverage at Colectivo on the Lakefront. The decor is cozy inside, but I recommend sitting on their adorable outdoor patio. You’ll soak in beautiful views of Lake Michigan while fueling up for your day.
Colectivo features all-day breakfast, with items such as avocado toast, baked oatmeal, and chorizo burritos. They also serve sandwiches, chili and fresh-baked bread and pastries.
While the food is tasty, everyone knows you visit a coffee shop for the coffee. And Colectivo excels with all your favorite brews and teas.
I love a coffee shop that offers unique drinks and Colectivo delivers with specialties such as the Cardamom Honey Latte, the Windy Ci-Tea (with lavendar syrup), and the Mango Peach Ginger Smoothie.
North Point Lighthouse and Milwaukee Art Museum
Milwaukee’s 74-foot tall North Point Lighthouse served as a beacon for commercial and private ships and boats for more than 100 years, from 1855 until 1994. With a Queen Anne-styled keeper’s house attached, the lighthouse now serves as a museum, sharing the area’s maritime history with visitors.
Offering a look at Milwaukee’s past, with the city growing from 11,000 people in 1836 to more than 300,000 by 1850, the lighthouse was often the first thing immigrants saw as their ships approached the docks. The lighthouse museum shares artifacts, photos, and more, as well as special exhibits, as part of the city’s storied history.
It’s a short climb to the top where you can enjoy expansive views of Lake Michigan.
If time allows and you are an architecture fan, drive around the neighborhoods near the lighthouse. The houses are absolutely gorgeous, and most of them look like they should definitely be haunted.
Your next stop on your Milwaukee day trip should be the Milwaukee Art Museum. With an exterior that resembles a sailboat, including a brise soleil that opens in the morning to resemble a sail and closes at night to help control natural light, the Milwaukee Art Museum calls the lakefront home.
With a collection of artwork that ranges from 16th-century classical paintings to pop culture and contemporary pieces, as well as sculptures, pottery, and video, the MAM challenges your senses.
Burnham Block and Milwaukee Food
By now you might be hungry for lunch and Milwaukee has a lot of options!
If you have time, I highly recommend Milwaukee Food Tours! You can choose from a walking or bus tour for a whirlwind culinary experience of some of the city’s unique and amazing eateries. Your palate will be challenged as you sample some of the best cuisine offered in Milwaukee. You’ll also learn about some of Milwaukee’s history!
You should also make time for a stroll through the Milwaukee Public Market. Snack at C. Adam’s Bakery for incredible cookies, cupcakes, pies, and cakes, or West Allis Cheese and Sausage Shoppe, with more than 200 varieties of cheese, brats, sausages, and Bavarian-style meats.
If you’re having lunch or dinner, check out Thai-namite or grab pizza at Foltz Family Market/Commission Row Produce. There are also wineries at the market and you can sit down for a tasting.
Don’t forget to pick up some treats for home!
After lunch, your Milwaukee itinerary continues with a walk around Frank Lloyd Wright’s Burnham Block.
Known worldwide for the homes he built for the rich, Frank Lloyd Wright felt a responsibility to also build affordable housing for middle-class people. The small houses on Burnham Block are examples of that commitment.
Using his famed “Prairie School” style of flat, overhanging roofs, straight lines, and lots of wood (though cheaper than he would use for a millionaire’s home), the homes have persevered for decades. Touring one of the 90-year-old restored houses needs to be on everyone’s Milwaukee itinerary.
TV Travel – The Bronz Fonz and Lakefront Brewery
Classic television fans quickly recognize Fonzie’s famous “Aaaayyyyy!” with the thumbs-up.
Henry Winkler portrayed Fonzie on the 1970’s hit Happy Days. Since the show was based in Milwaukee, the city honored the actor with his own statue, known as the Bronz Fonz, along the downtown riverwalk.
The statue stands 5’ 6,” just like the actor, and is decked out in his famous black leather jacket. The statue is a popular spot for selfies and photos of the downtown area. Along the riverwalk, you’ll find additional sculptures and flower beds, all to brighten the beautiful area.
After walking the riverwalk – or maybe even renting a kayak or taking a boat tour – it’s time to head to Lakefront Brewery for a super fun tour and dinner experience.
With a name like Lakefront Brewery, you’d expect it to be along Lake Michigan. But the craft brewery is located in a former warehouse along the riverwalk. In addition to serving great food and beer, they offer lively, joke-filled tours of the brewery and a chance to view the bottling line used in the TV show Laverne and Shirley.
If you recall the iconic title sequence for Laverne and Shirley, you probably know the song by heart and can see that glove-topped beer bottle rolling by. The original bottling line used in that opening was in the Schlitz Brewery in Milwaukee. After it closed, the bottling line was purchased by the owners of Lakefront Brewery. It is used daily and can be seen during the tour.
We had such a blast on this tour! Our guide was so entertaining and at the end, we were all singing the Laverne and Shirley song while a few participants got to put a glove on some beer bottles.
Tours run about 45 minutes and include four 6-oz. pours.
For home brewers or beer fanatics, a Sunday technical tour is offered. The 3-hour event includes 90 minutes of in-depth exploration of Lakefront’s equipment and brewing process, with the second half focused on pairing food with beer.
After our tour, we enjoyed dinner at Lakefront and were entertained by a polka band. The Pumpkin Lager and lightly-fried cheese curds made all my dreams come true.
Can you fit in all these attractions in one day in Milwaukee? It might be possible, but two days (which is how long we spent in Milwaukee) would make for a much more enjoyable pace. If you are only taking a day trip to Milwaukee, I hope this gives you some great ideas to choose from!
A Milwaukee day trip (or weekend!) is a must for anyone who enjoys exploring small cities. With its scenic lakefront, tours, and festivals, as well as the Milwaukee Art Museum and TV-travel attractions, this friendly city should be on your list of places to visit.
Leave a Reply