Things to Do in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Best Free Thing to Do in Milwaukee: Stroll along the two-mile long Milwaukee RiverWalk by the Milwaukee River is an excellent and unique way to get to know Milwaukee. You can stop at one of many great restaurants or brewpubs along the way. Numerous exhibitions of public art turn the RiverWalk into a sort of outdoor gallery where you can see the current art trends in the city. Many colorful signs placed along the Riverwalk explain the city's history. The Riverwalk area is also a venue for annual city events like the Milwaukee River Challenge. The Riverwalk area links three of the most interesting Milwaukee districts: Downtown, Historic Third Ward, and Beerline B.

You might think you’ve somehow left Milwaukee when you enter the Mitchell Park Horticultural Conservatory (The Domes). Once inside, you can choose from several Domes, each one offering a unique experience.

The Desert Dome showcases one of the world’s greatest collections of shrubs, cacti, and other intriguing plant life found in the desert. The Tropical Dome, on the other hand, has lush greenery, flowers, and nut and fruit bearing trees. You can hear the rushing waterfall in the distance, and be on the lookout for the exotic birds that call this area home. The Floral Show Dome bursts with color, and its beautiful gardens of flowers are always a treat.

Find it at this Address: Mitchell Park Horticultural Conservatory (The Domes), 524 S. Layton Blvd., Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53215, Phone: 414-257-5611

The Historic Third Ward is located south of downtown Milwaukee and is one of the top Milwaukee attractions. Originally a busy and rough warehouse district known as the location of frequent brawls, it used to be called “Bloody Ward.”Historic Third Ward is the trendy Milwaukee's Arts and Fashion District, with a number of popular restaurants, theaters, spas, galleries, and boutiques. It is home to the Third Ward Riverwalk, the Milwaukee Public Market, Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design (MIAD), and the Broadway Theatre Center. Third Ward’s renaissance has attracted many locals who enjoy the unique atmosphere so much that they decided to buy one of the renovated warehouses-turned-condos.

Historic Third Ward is a fun, lively neighborhood to visit to do some shopping, see a show, or just stroll around.

Find it at this Address: Historic Third Ward, 219 N Milwaukee St, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202, Phone: 414-273-1173

Take the kids to the Milwaukee County Zoo, a fun wooded park spread across 200 acres that provides a home and natural habitat for 3,122 animals belonging to 377 different species.

It is amazing how far the zoo has come since its modest beginnings in the 1890s. It started as a tiny mammal and bird zoo in a barn at what is now Washington Park.

You can visit mammals, fish, birds, amphibians, and reptiles at this exhilarating zoo. Most of the animals are alive and thriving, and some, like the dinosaurs, are just a part of the special outdoor exhibit, which includes moving, spitting, roaring life-sized dinosaur models.

If you are wondering what to do in Milwaukee on a sunny day, the Milwaukee County Zoo is a great place to visit with the whole family. The Zoological Society's Education Department organizes tours for school and youth groups, day camps, family programs, and workshops.

Find it at this Address: Milwaukee County Zoo, 10001 West Blue Mound Road, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53226, Phone: 414-256-5412

The Milwaukee Public Museum is a natural and human history museum in downtown Milwaukee that first opened to the public in 1884. It has 150,000 square feet of exhibit space on three floors and is one of the best things to do in Milwaukee.

The Milwaukee Public Museum showcases permanent and temporary traveling exhibits and houses the first IMAX Theater in Wisconsin.

The museum moved to its current location, formerly the Milwaukee Central Library, in 1962. It has gained a worldwide reputation for its collections, exhibits, scientific research, and educational programs.

Everything, starting with the Hebior Mammoth at the entrance to the museum and going to the hall of shells in the Living Ocean exhibit, is designed to grab the attention and spark the imagination of both adults and children.

Find it at this Address: Milwaukee Public Museum, 800 West Wells Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53233, Phone: 888-700-9069

Take your date to Best Place at the Historic Pabst Brewery, a tavern, event center, and a gift shop located in the old Historic Pabst Brewery.

Owner Jim Haertel has lovingly restored The Best Place, as well as some parts of the old brewery. For a small fee, you can take a guided tour that starts at The Best pub and takes you through the history of Pabst brewery from 1844 when Best & Company started its life right up to today. That small fee includes a 16 oz. Pabst or Schlitz on tap.

The tour takes you to the historic Blue Ribbon Hall where you will hear the fascinating history of Pabst Brewery. You can stroll through the preserved areas of the old brewery and try to imagine the days when the brewery was buzzing with activity. In a city where the history of beer reflects the history of the city’s ups and downs, visiting The Best will help you understand just what makes Milwaukee tick. You will also be able to taste some absolutely outstanding beer.

Find it at this Address: Best Place at the Historic Pabst Brewery, 917 W Juneau Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53233, Phone: 414-630-1609, Facebook

Get a snack at the Milwaukee Public Market where the locals, farmers, artisans, and tourists all get together to get some delicious fresh local food, load up on supplies, do some people-watching, or just stroll around.

The Milwaukee Public Market, located in the Historic Third Ward neighborhood, is one of the prime attractions of the area, and it serves as the location where the locals, farmers, artisans, and tourists all get together to get some delicious fresh local food, load up on supplies, do some people-watching, or just stroll around.

The choice of goodies is huge: baked goods, meats, soups, produce, seafood, cheese, wine, spices, coffee, and candies. If you’re interested in non-edible items, you can find flowers, clothes, and other trinkets. Palm Garden, situated on the second floor, is the place to sit down, rest, and nibble on some of the tasty treats you just bought. The market also regularly puts on popular cooking classes and cooking demonstrations.

Find it at this Address: Milwaukee Public Market, 400 N. Water Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202, Phone: 414-336-1111, Milwaukee Public Market Facebook

Lakeshore State Park isn’t your average park. This unique urban retreat located in the city has gorgeous views of the skyline, but it certainly isn’t lacking in outdoor activities. There’s a plethora of attractions and recreation available right along the shores of Lake Michigan.

Take yourself and your four-legged companion out for a run on any one of the parks many paths, or go biking or skating along the paved trails.

When the lake is calling your name, feel free to go kayaking or canoeing on the lagoons at Lakeshore State Park.

If you have a boat, take it out for a ride on the scenic lake and get a fantastic view of the city and the surrounding areas.

Find it at this Address: Lakeshore State Park, 500 N Harbor Dr, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202, Phone: 414-274-4281

Discovery World in Milwaukee provides visitors with a wide variety of exciting and entertaining adventures.

Discovery World focuses on science and technology, making these normally challenging and intimidating fields fun and accessible.

Learn bizarre facts about the human body, discover what makes robots and other complex machines tick, and discover Morse code and the wireless telegraph – these are just a few examples of the exhibits you can find here.

The whole family can delve into a truly stimulating educational experience at this establishment. Stop by any day of the week and explore the many attractions that make learning more enjoyable at Discovery World.

Find it at this Address: Discovery World, 500 N. Harbor Dr., Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202, Phone: 414-765-9966

Check out the Grohmann Museum which features a unique collection of paintings and sculptures that date from 1580 to the present day.

Eckhart Grohmann initially collected all these masterpieces before donating the priceless assemblage to MSOE in 2001.

The collection is entitled Man at Work, as the paintings reflect the evolution work has undergone over time.

Paintings depict the humble farmer in his pasture, for example, along with miners, glassblowers, and blacksmiths.

As labor progresses in time and in technology, the paintings begin to show men working with machines during the industrial period, or they show factory workers and men carrying out daily tasks near bulky trains. Wandering through this fascinating museum will take you back to a much simpler time before showing you the transformations the world of work has experienced. It is a fascinating journey any visitor would be happy to take.

Find it at this Address: Grohmann Museum, 1000 N. Broadway, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202, Phone: 414-277-2300