A few months ago, I was able to spend a day in Milwaukee while traveling for work. Let me tell you, I was pumped! Specifically, for cheese curds and beer. Beyond cheesy goodness, I loved my 24 hours in Milwaukee; exploring the city and visiting two great attractions. If you need a travel plan to spend one day in Milwaukee then here is everything I did and loved. So make your life easy and practical by following the steps below to have one hell of a day in Milwaukee.
At Pragmatic Travelers, we only recommend experiences, destinations, and food that we ACTUALLY tried and loved. We stand by what we enjoyed and offer it straight up and practically. Happy travels!
Important Note
I did splurge on this trip and took Uber/Lyfts everywhere. I didn’t have much time and wanted to get to as many things as possible. I have no idea how the public transit works and how feasible this plan would be without Ubers.
Where (not) to Stay in Milwaukee
So I stayed at a Fairfield Inn & Suites which is, technically, in Brookfield. Now, the hotel was fine. It was very clean, comfortable and had a decent breakfast. However, if you want to be close to the action this hotel is not the best choice. It was about a 15 to 20 minute Uber one way. So it was just a bit far and expensive. I would not recommend staying there if you are trying to get the most out of your Milwaukee trip.
Breakfast
For breakfast, I did eat at the my hotel but then I went straight to the Milwaukee Art Museum’s café. They had great coffee and a perfect view of the lake. Not the best breakfast I have ever had but it fit what I was looking for.
Milwaukee Art Museum
The Milwaukee Art Museum really blew me away. The building itself is a wonder. It is graced with large sails called the Burke Brise Soleil which move during the day and even responds to the weather. It is fascinating to look at. The exhibits are top notch. Such a wonderful collection of Georgia O’Keefe paintings. (One of the largest collections of her works.) There are also works from Joan Miro, Pablo Picasso, Edgar Degas and so on. This is an absolute must visit while in Milwaukee.
Milwaukee Public Market for Lunch
I really enjoyed my time exploring and eating at the public market. It was a quick walk from the museum. (Cross over the bridge that connects the museum to the city.) There are a ton of options from ribs to pizza to Thai food. I settled on St. Paul Fish Company. They had a separate seating area. The food was great. I got a massive crab salad sandwich and a Bloody Mary. (Which apparently Milwaukee is known for their Bloody Marys.)The Bloody Mary had candied salmon, shrimp, a lobster tail and a beer chaser. I spent just over $30.00 on a great meal. That sandwich was just so good and plentiful. I really couldn’t get over how affordable all of that was.
Mitchell Park Domes
After lunch, I took an Uber to the Domes. I am so happy I did. I loved this massive botanical garden. There are 3 separate domes. One has tropical plants, another desert plants and the final one is a floral garden with different displays or shows throughout the year. This was so worth the journey. I loved exploring the different domes and learning all about the plants. I highly, highly recommend a visit!
Lakefront Brewery for Dinner
I picked this place for its cheese curds. I was not disappointed. The cheese curds were on point! I also loved the kielbasa with sauerkraut. So freaking delicious. Plus, the beer was great! It has a fun and young vibe. Highly recommend.
Final Thoughts
While 24 hours in one city is never enough time, I do feel that my plan above really gave a nice taste of Milwaukee. And, I really enjoyed it. It was a nice mix of cheese, art, plants and beer! Highly recommend visiting Milwaukee. Use my how to spend one day in Milwaukee guide to help with your travel plans! Happy travels!
Your Thoughts
What are your thoughts on how to spend a day in Milwaukee? What are your favorite things to do in the city? What are you excited to do? Share your thoughts below!
