Art
Ignite your creativity and see the sights throughout Milwaukee’s art scene. Visit the Milwaukee Art Museum (700 N. Art Museum Dr.) along Lake Michigan for an art experience second to none, the Lynden Sculpture Garden’s (2145 W. Brown Deer Rd., River Hills) immersive 40-acre outdoor sculpture park, Black Cat Alley’s (alley between Prospect and Farwell, Ivanhoe and Kenilworth) impressive collection of street art, or choose one of the many murals throughout the city.
(929 E. Wisconsin Ave.) is the ideal place for kids to learn and grow while enjoying hands-on exhibits.
Cream Puff
Don’t forget the Original Cream Puff on August 4-14 at the Wisconsin State Fair (640 S. 84th St., West Allis)! It may be messy, but it’s worth it.
Dance
Stop by the Marcus Performing Arts Center (929 N. Water St.) for their free kids' arts programming throughout the summer, including performances by local ethnic dance troupes.
Explore
the hands-on science exhibits at Discovery World (500 N. Harbor Dr.). Curious kids will have their hands full learning about science, the Great Lakes ecosystem, and more.
Frozen Treats
Ice cream or custard? Take your pick or try them both! Kopp’s specializes in frozen custard, a delicious frozen treat that’s creamier than ice cream. Purple Door Ice Cream (205 S. 2nd St.) offers unique flavor combinations for the traditional or the adventurous palate. Pete's Pops (petespops.net) offers big flavors on a pop. Find them at their Vliet Street store, or a seasonal Pop Window location around town.
Great Outdoors
Take a hike, see a raptor up close, and get some fresh air on Schlitz Audubon Nature Center’s (1111 E. Brown Deer Rd.) 6 miles of trails. Check out the center or any of the more than 150 Milwaukee County Parks for an adventurous day out.
Harley-Davidson
Rev up at the world’s only Harley-Davidson Museum (400 W. Canal St.). Kids can learn about the history of the iconic bike brand, take pictures on motorcycles, and even design their own Harley.
Intrigue
Add a dash of mystery and espionage to your next dining experience. Visit the spy-themed restaurant SafeHouse (779 N. Front St.). Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to acquire the password.
Jump
Jump around at the inflatable wonderland of Bounce Milwaukee (2801 S. 5th Ct.). Dunk a basketball in the inflatable sports arena, test your marksmanship in the laser tag zone, stretch your agility on the rock-climbing wall, or play a game of air hockey. It’s fun for the whole family!
Kayaking
Explore Milwaukee’s downtown by water! With tandem kayaks and canoes for rent, Milwaukee Kayak Company (318 S. Water St.), Adventure Milwaukee (600 S. Water St.), or Brew City Kayak (600 S. Water St.) makes it easy for kids and families to see the sights safely.
Lake Michigan
is a source of endless fun family activities. Fly a kite from Gift of Wings (1300 N. Lincoln Memorial Dr.) along the shore in Veterans Park, play a game of beach volleyball, or even take a tour of the harbor on Milwaukee Boat Line (1124 N. MLK Dr.). You’ll discover there’s a reason they call our lake great!
Marvel
Bobble on in to the National Bobblehead Museum and Hall of Fame (170 S. 1st St., Ste. C) to marvel at a massive and eclectic collection of bobbleheads.
New
The Northwestern Mutual Community Park (Chicago St. and Lincoln Memorial Dr.), opened in the summer of 2021, features a fully accessible playground. Located on the Summerfest grounds, adjacent to Lakeshore State Park, the playground is open year-round.
Out of this World
Blast off! Head to the Milwaukee Public Museum (800 W. Wells St.) and marvel at the wonders of the universe at the museum’s planetarium shows. While you’re there, be sure to take in all the fascinating dinosaur exhibits, the Streets of Old Milwaukee, the rainforest, live butterflies, and more!
Pizza
The family staple with a twist! Enjoy some Milwaukee-style pizza, with a cracker-thin crust,at Zaffiro's Pizza (1724 N .Farwell Ave.). Pepperoni, please!
Quench
Sprecher Brewing Co.’s (701 W. Glendale Ave., Glendale) award-winning root beer, along with their other craft sodas, is fire-brewed at the brewery. This premium root beer with a scoop of ice cream makes the perfect root beer float.
Root, Root, Root for the Home Team
From Milwaukee Bucks basketball to Milwaukee Brewers baseball, Milwaukee Admirals hockey to Milwaukee Wave indoor soccer, enjoy championship-level play in a family friendly atmosphere.
Sledding
Head over to the hill at Currie Park (3535 N. Mayfair Rd., Wauwatosa), featuring a heated snack stand glide down a hill at Whitnall Park (5879 S. 92nd St., Franklin), or fly down one of The Rock Snowpark's (7011 S. Ballpark Dr., Franklin) skiing, snowboarding, or tubing hills.
Tropics in Milwaukee
Whether you’re looking for the tropics, the desert or seasonal bontanicals, the Mitchell Park Horticultural Conservatory, “The Domes” (524 S. Layton Blvd.), offers an immersive escape while teaching about the plants indigenous to those regions.
Urban Ecology Center
The Urban Ecology Center (1500 E. Park Pl.) puts a fun spin on conservation and nature with educational classes and programs designed to engage kids and adults at their three locations throughout Milwaukee.
Vantage Point, North Point Lighthouse
A tour of the North Point Lighthouse (2650 N. Wahl Ave.) at Lake Park is the perfect way to get a vantage point over Lake Michigan. Discover the history of the 130-year-old lighthouse, and see the sights.
Wisconsin History
Take a trip to Old World Wisconsin (W372 S9727 Hwy. 67, Eagle) for a fun and interactive look into the lives of 19th century Wisconsinites. Learn about the lives of the early Wisconsin settlers by immersive experiences like big wheel bicycling, hoop-and-stick games,and demonstrations.
XC
Milwaukee County has more than 125 miles of urban trails for running, walking, and biking. Take a stroll, roll,or jaunt down one of the many trails or parks throughout Milwaukee County.
Young Talent
See the stars of tomorrow in adaptations of your favorite plays at First Stage children’s theater (325 W. Walnut St.). Audiences of all ages can enjoy theater featuring a company of talented young actors.
Zoo
Lions and tigers and bears, oh my! See your favorite animals at the Racine Zoo (2131 N. Main St., Racine) or check out the brand-new hippo exhibit at the Milwaukee County Zoo (10001 W. Bluemound Rd.).