My Top Five Milwaukee Must-Do’s

in Eating Out, Eats & Drinks, Events, Festivals, Travel • July 17, 2015

I recently traveled north to check out Milwaukee (less than a one-hour drive from Chicago) and take-in the city’s keystone summer celebration.

Summerfest is an annual music festival held along the lakefront in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The World’s Largest Music Festival attracts the music industry’s hottest stars, emerging talent and local favorites. For 11 days, more than 800 acts play on 11 sponsor themed stages throughout the grounds, including the 23,000-capacity Marcus Amphitheater. On any given day, attendees can enjoy alternative, rock, country, hip-hop, pop, EDM headliners and much more.

I was lucky enough to take-in two of my favorite artists, Trombone Shorty and Kaskade, on the same day and within walking distance of each other. All shows are free with a general admission ticket (≤$20 depending on the time of day) with the exception of headlining acts at the Marcus Amphitheater.

Summerfest

[Kaskade concert; taken from the Harley Davidson VIP Deck]

While the festival runs from noon to midnight every day, I decided to spend my “daylight” hours exploring some of the city’s notable tourist attractions and dining establishments.

Here are my top five Milwaukee must-do’s:

Café Benelux

[I loved the neighborhood and loved the food even more!]

Milwaukee Art Museum

[Watching the wings open is fun but the interior of this place is really impressive with all its white marble, glass panes and high ceiling. One of the highlights from the weekend was getting to to see key works of Post-Impressionism to Pop Art, many of which have not toured in decades.]

Lakefront Brewery

[Ask for Josh, the tour guide — you can thank me later!]

Story Hill BKC

[Gorgeously adorned yet understated and casual, they have great brunch options with rotating daily specials that are spectacular, great staff that are kind yet also serious about food and drink, and a kitchen with an eye toward plate presentation. According to Story Hill they source for quality first, and cook foods inspired by the Upper Midwest with global technique.]

Milwaukee Kayak Company

My long weekend in Milwaukee was an awesome experience and I can’t wait for a second visit. All the pictured events above are Chicagofoodgirl approved. Now get out and see the world. And definitely add Milwaukee to the top of your list!