Travel Guide: Milwaukee
Milwaukee is best known for beer, cheese curds and brats but you don’t have to venture far to find other great entertainment options. It starts on a pontoon boat from one of the several outfitters along the Milwaukee River downtown. You could hop on a guided tour, or better yet rally up a group of friends (one who knows how to drive a boat) and cruise yourselves. Grab a growler from Lakefront Brewery and cruise to the wide-open water of Lake Michigan for one of the best views of the skyline. On the way back, dock the boat at different bars for an unconventional way to bar hop.
Post boat, grab a bite to eat at Milwaukee’s Public Market, which is filled with tons of different vendors serving all sorts of food including Mexican, Seafood and local cheese and sausage from Usinger’s, (one of the longest standing brands in Milwaukee). Or, check out Café Benelux & Market, for a hefty beer list focused on Belgium, The Netherlands & Luxemborg. Hearty skillets can be found in the way of steak tip and red flannel hash. For a lighter but still filling option, try the quinoa made with portebello mushrooms, squash, eggs, tomatoes and a fire roasted tomato sauce.
For nightlife, two options that add in a fun element are Holler House and Safe House. Holler House, a dive bar that opened in 1908 on the outskirts of town, is home to the oldest sanctioned bowling lanes in the United States. Wooden lanes still attract bowlers from across the nation who come mainly for the history and experience of a pinsetter returning the balls on the manual system.
The owner, Marcy, who is closing in on being 100 years old, ran the place with her husband Gene until he passed way. Now, Marcy runs the show solo, with a fiery and quick-witted sense of humor.
Another option for fun is Safe House a spy theme bar with a non-descript location on Front Street. To get in you must know the secret code. If you don’t, be prepared to complete a goofy challenge like acting like a robot. Silly, yes, but just go with it and you will have a blast. Once inside, grab drinks and dinner, but first explore the ins and outs that make this place different than any other spot, including solving riddles and finding secret pathways.
And of course you want to try some custard because Wisconsin is famous for this even creamier than ice cream dessert. If you don’t mind a 15-minute drive from downtown, add Leon’s Frozen Custard to your list. This spot opened in 1942 and is still run by the same family. Electric red lettering guides you to the soda shop, which is most always on a wait, even with four lines. Order custard sundae topped with hot fudge, marshmallow topping and pecans for a kind of crunch that will seriously have you thinking about ordering a second scoop.
Other big tourist spots include Harley Davidson– a museum showcases the history of the company starting with some of the very first models to present day technology and Miller Coors– a tour takes you around the plant and finishes with a sampling in the beer garden.
