what to do in milwaukee

What to Do in Milwaukee Looking for fun things to do with kids during your Milwaukee vacation? The Betty Brinn Children’s Museum is packed with hands-on activities in exhibits such as “Home Town” and “Science CITY: Curiosity Required,” where little ones learn while playing.

Discovery World offers interactive science and technology exhibits for the whole family, plus an aquarium, theaters, educational labs and other activities. The site is also home to S/V Denis Sullivan, a replica of a 19th-century Great Lakes schooner that offers sailing excursions on select dates when in port.

You don't have to be a biker to enjoy exploring the history of the iconic motorcycles at the Harley-Davidson Museum , which offers fascinating exhibits, tours and hands-on activities for all ages. You can even hop on a bike and take a virtual road trip in the Experience Gallery.

This destination is known for its breweries, so don't miss a chance to experience the Miller Brewery Tour & Visitor Center , where you'll learn about the 160-year history of one of the city's largest producers and sample some of its offerings.

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Baseball fans can get a behind-the-scenes look at the home of the Brewers with American Family Field Tours . Join a limited number of visitors for a tour including the dugout, press box, Bob Uecker's broadcast booth, the luxury suite level and the visiting clubhouse.

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No trip to this destination is complete without a visit to the Milwaukee Art Museum , where you can wander among four floors filled with artworks from antiquity to the present, including one of the largest collections of works by Wisconsin native Georgia O'Keefe. The museum offers drop-in activities to make your visit fun and interactive for the whole family.

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More than 3,100 creatures await you at Milwaukee County Zoo , where you can stroll through 190 acres of animal habitats and interact with the animals at live shows and presentations. Grab a seat on the Safari Train for a tour of the park, or get a bird’s-eye view from the Sky Safari.

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Head to the Historic Third Ward to hunt for souvenirs from your trip amid the neighborhood's many shops and galleries, along with Milwaukee Public Market , where you can shop for artisan food items and sample freshly prepared dishes from the market’s many places to eat.

Your vacation can include a little time travel back to the 1900s in the "Streets of Old Milwaukee" exhibit at the Milwaukee Public Museum , a science and nature museum filled with wonders from around the world, including the world’s largest known dinosaur skull.

No matter what time of year you visit Milwaukee, you can catch a spectacular floral show at Mitchell Park Horticultural Conservatory—“The Domes” . Walk through an arid oasis in the Desert Dome, explore a rainforest in the Tropical Dome and take in a themed seasonal floral event in the Show Dome.

Tour the Pabst Mansion , the 1892 Flemish Renaissance Revival-style home built by Pabst Brewing Company founder Capt. Frederick Pabst, for a glimpse into the life of this prominent Milwaukee family in the Gilded Age.

If your Milwaukee trip is in late June to early July, join more than 800,000 music fans at Summerfest , billed as "The World's Largest Music Festival,” with 11 days of concerts featuring top performers in various genres. If you've got kids in tow, no worries—family-focused activities and entertainment are offered every day of the festival.