As host to Summerfest, the world's largest music festival, and home to the Harley-Davidson Company, Milwaukee, Wisconsin is no stranger to good times and a rich and colorful past. But as many of the city's breweries and manufacturing plants have either moved or shut down and the city has looked for new ways to reinvent itself, it has steadily amassed a number of family-friendly, arts and culture, and nightlife attractions that appeal to business and casual travelers alike.
Summerfest is the World's Largest Music Festival
In June each year an enormous fairground on the shores of Lake Michigan is magically reborn as the city of Milwaukee hosts Summerfest, the world's largest music festival. During the eleven days of Summerfest, Milwaukee welcomes thousands of visitors who enjoy performances from over 700 bands on eleven stages.
Rotating headliners guarantee a unique experience every day and make this the perfect multi-day getaway for music and summer festival buffs. As an added bonus, local restaurants operate the food concessions, creating a miniature "taste of Milwaukee". And for those who aren't into music, Summerfest offers rides, games, and fun for all ages and families.
Wings at the Milwaukee Art Museum
Set on a bluff overlooking Lake Michigan, the Milwaukee Art Museum is itself a work of art, completely separate from its collection. The museum's signature structure, the Quadracci Pavilion, is designed so that it's outer rooftop covering of llatticed "wings" spread themselves out and up, giving the building the appearance of being a giant white bird. Spectators gather daily to watch the museum "open" for the public.
The Home of Harley Hogs
As a Milwaukee institution for over a century, the roots of the Harley-Davidson Company are deeply anchored in the soil of Milwaukee's identity. Now there is a monument to this American icon.
On the banks of the Menomonee River, the Harley-Davidson Museum has been erected to celebrate the company, the bikes themselves, and the fierce loyalty they inspire in riders, owners, and admirers of the company. Filled with HD success stories, curious experiments, and a collection of famous bikes from days gone by, the museum is a fun time not just for bikers and Harley fans, but for culture buffs and the idle curious as well.
Milwaukee's Best Nightlife
Embracing its new role as a tourist destination, the fun in downtown Milwaukee is just getting started as day turns to night. And two of the city's best nightspots are both downtown, one new, and one a classic known the world over.
As with the rest of downtown Milwaukee, the Potawatomi Bingo-Casino has undergone a massive renovation in the last few years. This flashy, glitzy hotspot is set in the heart of downtown Milwaukee and offers visitors not only exciting table games, but the casino's Dream Dance restaurant presents terrific food in a serene setting.
Still other visitors flock to the heart of downtown Milwaukee in search of the infamous Safe House. Posing as a front company by the name of International Exports, Ltd., this world-renowned nightclub plays the spy/espionage theme to the hilt. Secret cameras and spook kitch are the name of the game here. It's now so famous that it has more than a whiff of camp about it, but it's a must see nevertheless.
As the home of Summerfest, two excellent museums, and world-class nightlife all within easy reach of scenic Lake Michigan, the new Milwaukee downtown offers more than enough to keep both families and the young and single entertained for a week or a weekend.
Glenn Kaufmann - Having moved every four years up to the age of 12, I've always been something of a restless soul ready to take on the next big thing. I ...
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