Along the Lakefront and on the Trails

The Milwaukee County Parks system includes more than 150 parks. Milwaukee County Parks includes several miles of Lake Michigan shoreline; it also has Wisconsin’s longest paved trail network. The Seven Bridges Trail is two miles long in total and crosses ten bridges to reach a secluded beach area. Conditions can affect access in winter, so check before visiting in winter.

The Oak Leaf Trail is a multi-use trail network with more than 135 miles of trails. Its South Shore Line is about 16 miles long and starts at Cupertino Park. It initially runs along the shore of Lake Michigan through South Shore Park, Warnimont Park, Sheridan Park and Grant Park. It then follows the Oak Creek Parkway; a new section in Bender Park takes it back to the lakefront.

The Lake Park Loop offers a different distance: it is a scenic bike ride of about 8 miles along Milwaukee’s lakefront. That makes the South Shore Line roughly twice as long. The Milwaukee Urban Water Trail identifies access points for canoes, kayaks and other small non-motorized boats along the urban sections of the three rivers and the Milwaukee County shoreline. Check access conditions before paddling.

Museums, Architecture and History

The Milwaukee County Zoo covers 190 acres and opened in 1961. The Milwaukee Art Museum’s lakefront campus covers 24 acres; its collection includes more than 34,000 works of art. At the Milwaukee Public Museum, free-flying butterflies from around the world live in a 76-degree indoor garden.

Visitors to the Harley-Davidson Museum can also get a glimpse into the archival work areas and see the so-called “Vault” with its stored motorcycles. Pabst Mansion is a historic house museum and an architectural landmark in Milwaukee. Docent-led, 60-minute tours cover the mansion, the Pabst family, architecture and furnishings, and explore the first through third floors. A tour geared toward adults focuses on the development of Milwaukee’s brewing industry and includes a toast with Pabst Blue Ribbon.

Market and Cooking Classes

The Milwaukee Public Market offers handcrafted goods, products from a range of culinary traditions and freshly prepared food. Ongoing cooking classes include printed recipes and tastings of the dishes prepared. You can get to know the market through its food offerings or explore cooking in a class.

Discover more destinations: Milwaukee, Greenfield, South Milwaukee, Oak Creek, Wauwatosa, Glendale, West Allis, Cudahy, Brown Deer, Whitefish Bay, Shorewood, St. Francis, River Hills

For the main travel overview: Wisconsin.