City Guides: Things to do While Boating in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Home to parks, cultural sites, historic attractions and Milwaukee Brewers baseball at American Family Field, Milwaukee offers a wide variety of things to do and see along the western shores of Lake Michigan. Additional waterways include Milwaukee Bay, the Milwaukee River, the Menomonee River and the Kinnickinnic River.

You’ll find marinas, gas docks and boat ramps near Veteran's Park and Juneau Park, which are located conveniently near McKinley Marina South Docks. Further north sits the Milwaukee Yacht Club and the McKinley Marina Boat Ramp.

Along with the Great Lake, rivers, bay and private boat dock rentals, you’ve got the pop culture aspect of Happy Days and Laverne & Shirley, which were set in Milwaukee. While Shotz Brewery doesn’t exist, many others do. There are a wide array of craft breweries and bars along Brew Town’s historic streets.

As you can see, Milwaukee is an excellent boater’s destination. Let’s check out a few things to do in Brew Town!

Milwaukee Riverwalk

Photo: Wikimedia

The Milwaukee Riverwalk (which is home to the Milwaukee Public Market and a host of craft breweries, award-winning restaurants, ethnic festivals, cultural attractions and shops) features a charming mix of cobblestone streets, European-inspired buildings, modern condos, German beer halls and brat houses and riverfront boat traffic.

Photo: Flickr/FlickrTim/CC license

The Riverwalk winds through three neighborhoods: the Historic Third Ward (a SoHo of sorts), Downtown Riverwalk and the Beerline B Riverwalk (originally used as a railroad route for Schlitz, Pabst and Blatz). Fans of Happy Days won’t want to miss the “bronze Fonz” statue. Sculpted by Gerald P. Sawyer, it’s along the Milwaukee Riverwalk near the W Wells Street Bridge.

Harley Davidson Museum

Photo: Wikimedia

Since the Harley Davidson company got its start in 1903 in Milwaukee, so it’s appropriate that the only HD museum in the world would be along the shores of Milwaukee’s Menomonee River. The Harley Davidson Museum features two floors and a 20-acre campus-style setting of culture, history and stories told through interactive exhibits and unique displays.

Visit displays on off-road cycles, company history, tanks through the years, motorcycle lifestyle, and classic bikes (including one of Elvis’). You can take self-guided tours or book a guided tour for an in-depth insider look at Harley history. Take part in events such as bike nights, concerts, demo rides and rallies. Check out the Motor Bar and Restaurant or the gift shop before motoring back to a private boat lift rental.

Pabst Mansion

Photo: Wikimedia

When in Milwaukee, one must visit the icons of the beer industry. Completed in 1892, the Pabst Mansion is the former home of Captain Frederick and Maria Pabst. It’s on the National Register of Historic Places and makes an excellent day trip from a private boat slip for rent. Visitors can take self-guided tours or 60-minute guided tours. Learn about the mansion, the family, the architecture and the family’s art collections (they weren’t just into brewing). There’s also an after-hours candlelight tour of seldom-seem areas of the house (this is only offered in October).

Mitchell Park Domes

Photo: Wikimedia

The Mitchell Park Domes, which opened in the mid-60s, feature three glass-enclosed domes filled with desert, tropical and floral-themed displays. The original conservatory, inspired by those from the Victorian era opened in 1899. Spend time strolling among succulents, palm trees, bird of paradise plants, geraniums, olive trees, orchids and even a corpse plant. Plants are from South America, the Canary Islands, Africa and the Amazon. Birds and koi fish can be found as well. Special exhibits include a winter train show, spring and summer floral shows, holiday events and fall mum shows.

Milwaukee County Zoo

Photo: Milwaukee County Zoo (Facebook)

The 200-acre Milwaukee County Zoo is home to more than 2,100 amphibians, mammals, birds and reptiles, including camels, red-ruffed lemurs, tarantulas, snow leopards, gentoo penguins, African lions, red pandas, whooping cranes and many more. There’s a carousel, a safari train, zip lines and a sky ride. Get up close to goats, feed giraffes, learn about seals and sea lions and have a general fun time from private boat dock rentals around Lake Michigan.

Milwaukee Art Museum

Photo: Wikimedia

Even if you don’t go inside (but you should), the Milwaukee Art Museum is worth a drive-by just to see the architecturally striking exterior of the building. The wing-shaped building was designed by architect and sculptor Santiago Calatrava. The museum overlooks Milwaukee Bay and features more than 32,000 works of art in various mediums. Its location on the bay and near the Pier Wisconsin Cruise Dock gives it terrific access from marinas, docks and private boat lifts for rent.

Exhibits and rotating galleries include photography, 15th to 20th-century European and American paintings, sculptures, illustrations, textiles and quilts, furniture design, and the colorful and creative posters of French artists Jules Chéret. It also has the largest collection of works by Georgia O’Keefe, a Wisconsin native. Lectures, talks and cultural performances are held at the museum.

Are you ready to motor on over to Milwaukee? Let us know your favorite sites!