After 29 years of life, I finally visited the city directly across from Muskegon on the other side of Lake Michigan: Milwaukee!
I know a few people who live in Milwaukee, and it looked like a nice place. -- On a whim, I asked my friend if she wanted to take a quick trip across the lake... of course she was in!
First I should probably start with *how* we got to Milwaukee. One of the main reasons for wanting to go was because we wanted to take the Lake Express Ferry across Lake Michigan (also something we had never done before).
Let's dive right in! (No, I'm not talking about into the lake. We fully intended to stay on the ferry and make it safely across.)
Here are the things we did in Milwaukee that you might want to experience too:
1. Lake Express Ferry: This really depends on where you're coming from. We were coming from Michigan, so rather than drive several hours around the lake to get to Milwaukee, we just hopped on the ferry. You can also pay to transfer your vehicle or bicycle.
2. Historic Third Ward: This was one of my favorite spots in Milwaukee. There are trendy shops and eateries. This revitalized warehouse district has so much character.
3. Milwaukee Public Market: Also in the Historic Third Ward is the Milwaukee Public Market. It's home to fresh food and local vendors.
4. Street art: Are you interested in street art and murals? Milwaukee has a lot of it! Pretty much every corner we turned, there was something to see. Even on the sidewalks! Here's a list of some of the fun ones you might want to check out:
Black Cat Alley: Outdoor art gallery located in a private alley. E Ivanhoe Pl, Milwaukee, WI 53202
Red Solo Cup: 300 block of North Broadway in the Historic Third Ward
Greetings from MKE: 215 W Florida St, Milwaukee, WI 53204
Greetings from Milwaukee: near Fiserv Forum
You can check out other murals here.
5. Milwaukee Brewers/American Family Field: I may not understand baseball and might have cheered for the wrong team, but the atmosphere in American Family Field was amazing. I'd definitely check out another game!
6. Milwaukee Bucks/Fiserv Forum: We didn't catch a basketball game... I'm pretty sure the season wasn't even going on at the time we visited, but we did check out the *outside* of Fiserv Forum. Very cool to see and imagine the large crowds that show up for games, concerts, and events.
7. Mitchell Park Domes: There are three domes full of plants, flowers and more! It's likely you'll spend several hours here and take more pictures than you know what to do with. There is a Desert Dome, Tropical Dome, and a Floral Dome.
8. Milwaukee Art Museum: We didn't go inside, but we passed the museum several times. If you like museums, you might want to visit here.
9. Harley-Davidson Museum: I had to take a picture and tell my dad we *visited* the Harley-Davidson Museum even if we only actually walked along the sidewalk.
10. Milwaukee RiverWalk: This ties together three riverfront neighborhoods -- The Historic Third Ward, Downtown, and Beerline B. Here you will finds lots of shops, restaurants, brewpubs, art galleries, and great views!
11. Sunrise over Lake Michigan: We got up EARLY! A bit earlier than most people would like to on vacation. We walked for what seemed like eternity. (I only say that because I was breaking in new shoes. Yeah, I know. Not the smartest idea. My feet paid for it.) We power-walked from Walker's Point to Lakeshore State Park. The sunrise was not what we were hoping for. Very cloudy. Kind of disappointing, but we hung around just taking in the stillness of the quiet morning. Then the sun decided to show off! Worth the early morning alarm and walk.
12. Brats and Cheese Curds: I feel like you have to have *both* while in Wisconsin. So we did! These are from Milwaukee Brat House.
13. Trailer Park Tavern: We went to several bars we liked, but the vibe at Trailer Park Tavern was exactly what we needed. We'd been walking around with our heavy backpacks all day. It was almost time for us to catch the ferry back to Michigan, and a storm was rolling in. We were beat but not down for the count! Our spirits were lifted here... probably by the *spirits,* but we definitely recommend stopping by this neighborhood bar.
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