Things to Do in Milwaukee This Summer: A Local's Guide
By
Lynn Celek
on
April 18, 2025
If Europe isn’t in the cards this summer, don’t worry—Milwaukee’s got you. Sitting along the “Fresh Coast” (aka Lake Michigan), this Midwestern city comes alive when the weather warms up.
This guide is not sponsored by any Milwaukee businesses. It's just a list of things I genuinely love as someone who lives here.
Beer Gardens and Bike Trails in Milwaukee
One of Milwaukee’s best features is that most of the lakeshore is public land.
That means you can bike for miles along or near Lake Michigan with uninterrupted views of the water.
Even better—thanks to our strong German roots, you’ll find outdoor beer gardens scattered along the way.
Bike the Oak Leaf Trail and Rent a Bubblr Bike
No bike? No problem. Milwaukee’s bike share program, Bubblr Bikes, lets you rent regular or e-assist bikes for the day. Just download the app to your smartphone—$26 covers an all-day rental.
Hop on the Oak Leaf Trail, which spans more than 135 miles and winds through parks, neighborhoods, and lakefront paths. Don’t miss the ride through Lakeshore State Park, Veterans Park Lagoon, and out to McKinley Marina.
I highly recommend going out on the breakwater near McKinley Marina for stunning views of the lake and skyline. Technically, riding your bike isn't allowed on the breakwall—but as long as you’re respectful and not mowing people down, no one seems to mind.
Bubblr bikes come with a front basket, so pack a picnic and make a day of it.
The breakwater wall.
Milwaukee's Best Outdoor Beer Gardens
Milwaukeeans don’t just love beer—we love drinking it outside. You’ll find outdoor beer gardens all over the city, many of them right off the bike trails. Most serve snacks like soft pretzels or cheese curds, and many have food trucks or restaurants nearby.
Heads up: Most beer gardens don’t serve in plastic cups. You’ll either need to bring your own pint glass or pay a small fee with your first beer to get one of theirs. Hang onto it—you can use it at your next stop.
Here are a few local favorites:
Estabrook Beer Garden (Shorewood)
OG beer garden with river views. Friday fish fry, live polka bands, and lots of seating.The Vine at Humboldt Park (Bay View)
Family-friendly, located in a historic park pavilion. Chill and community-centered.South Shore Terrace (Bay View)
Amazing lakefront views of the skyline. Full food menu and picnic table seating.Traveling Beer Garden
Rotates through different parks each week—check the schedule. Often accompanied by food trucks.Third Ward Beer Garden (Catalano Square)
Great downtown-adjacent location with live music and nearby restaurants and shops.Juneau Park Beer Garden (Lower East Side)
Formerly a pop-up, now permanent thanks to popularity. Music during peak times.Hubbard Park Beer Garden (Shorewood)
Nestled in the woods along the Oak Leaf Trail by the Milwaukee River. Shady and peaceful on hot summer days.War Memorial Beer Garden (Downtown Lakefront) Steps from the Art Museum and War Memorial, located right along the lake.
Giving Tree Garage (Walker's Point) This urban beer garden opened in 2024 and was a neighborhood hit.
Visit the Milwaukee Art Museum (Even Just for the Architecture)
If you’re not big on visiting museums, the Milwaukee Art Museum is still worth a stop just to see the building. The iconic wings of the Quadracci Pavilion open and close like a giant bird at noon daily (weather permitting). For the best view, head to Museum Center Park, just off E. Wisconsin Avenue.
The museum’s main atrium is free to enter, and it’s absolutely worth walking through—even if you don’t pay for exhibit access.
The museum is located right along the lakefront, making it a perfect stop before or after a stroll by the water.
The atrium of the art museum.
Kayak or Cruise the Milwaukee River
Skip swimming in the river (trust me) but do rent a kayak or take a boat cruise down the Milwaukee River. You’ll float past historic buildings, breweries, bridges, and lively riverfront bars.
Many bars even have public docks, so you can pull up your kayak, grab a drink, and then hop right back on the water.
Kayak Rental Companies
Rental prices average around $40 for a single kayak (4 hours) and $75 for a tandem kayak (4 hours).
Milwaukee Kayak Company – 3 locations along the river.
Brew City Kayak – Offers both rentals and guided trips.
Clearwater Outdoor – Located in the Third Ward with high-quality gear.
Milwaukee Kayak Tours – Great for groups and themed paddling events.
Unique Boat and Paddle Tours
If you prefer cruising over doing any real work, try these options:
Edelweiss Cruises – Offers everything from architecture tours to dinner cruises and live music events.
Milwaukee Boat Line – Known for scenic, historical, and sunset cruises on both the river and lake.
Riverwalk Boat Tours – Laid-back boats with onboard bars and private charter options.
Sea Dog Sailing – Explore Lake Michigan on a beautiful sailboat—perfect for sunsets or private events.
Milwaukee Paddle Tavern – A floating group bar powered by—you guessed it—your paddling (or rather pedaling). Bring your own drinks and snacks and up to 14 friends. It’s part workout (very mild) and part party (mainly).
Tour the Breweries in Milwaukee
Milwaukee’s beer roots run deep—it was once home to giants like Pabst, Schlitz, and Miller. Of the Big 3, only Miller is still brewing here, but the real excitement now comes from the city’s booming craft beer scene.
Here are some local favorites:
Lakefront Brewery (Lower East Side, on the Milwaukee River)
Known for their laugh-out-loud tours and legendary Friday Night Fish Fry. Great cheese curds, riverfront patio, and even polka dancing. Super fun atmosphere.Third Space Brewing (Menomonee Valley)
Spacious beer garden and chill vibe tucked between downtown and the Valley.MobCraft Beer (Walker's Point)
This brewery is scheduled to reopen under new ownership. So you’ll need to check if they will be giving tours. The space is great to hang out in and drink regardless.Indeed Brewing Company (Walker's Point)
A transplant from Minneapolis with a Milwaukee twist. Industrial-chic taproom with a rotating lineup of seasonals. Their pistachio cream ale is a cult favorite.Black Husky Brewing (Riverwest)
This brewery started in a log cabin in northern Wisconsin and brought the vibe south. Known for bold, unfiltered beers and a laid-back dog-friendly patio.Great Lakes Distillery and Tasting Room (Walker’s Point)
Although it’s not a brewery, it’s still a great tour. They make an assortment of premium spirits.
Lakefront Brewery
Milwaukee Summer Festivals
From June through August, Milwaukee lives up to its nickname as the “City of Festivals.” There’s something happening nearly every weekend—whether it’s music, art, food, or culture.
Below is a sampling of some of the bigger festivals, or check out the full list of festivals and events.
Summerfest
(Paid admission)
📅 Dates: June 19–21, June 26–28, July 3–5, 2025
📍 Location: Henry Maier Festival Park, Downtown Lakefront
Known as “The World’s Largest Music Festival,” Summerfest spans three weekends with over 600 acts across multiple stages.
Riverwest 24
(free) This is my favorite summer event!
📅 Dates: July 25–26, 2025
📍 Location: Riverwest Neighborhood
A 24-hour community bike race and block party rolled into one. People bike in ridiculous costumes, neighbors give out food and drinks, and some riders get a new tattoo.
Lakefront Festival of the Arts
(paid admission)
📅 Dates: June 13–15, 2025
📍 Location: Milwaukee Art Museum, Downtown Lakefront
A juried art show featuring over 150 artists, live music, food vendors, and a wine and beer garden—all set against the stunning backdrop of the Milwaukee Art Museum.
Locust Street Festival
(free)
📅 Date: June 1, 2025
📍 Location: Riverwest Neighborhood
A neighborhood street festival known for its eclectic music lineup, local vendors, and the famous 1.6-mile beer run with multiple beer stops along the route.
Brady Street Festival
(free)
📅 Date: July 26, 2025
📍 Location: Brady Street, Lower East Side
This vibrant street festival features multiple stages of live music, local food vendors, arts and crafts, and a variety of activities that showcase the eclectic spirit of the Brady Street neighborhood.
Bastille Days
(free)
📅 Dates: July 17–20, 2025
📍 Location: Cathedral Square Park, East Town
One of the largest French-themed festivals in the U.S., featuring French cuisine, live music, an international marketplace, fortune tellers, and the popular “Storm the Bastille” 5K run/walk.
Irish Fest
(paid admission)
📅 Dates: August 14–17, 2025
📍 Location: Henry Maier Festival Park, Downtown Lakefront
Celebrating Irish culture with traditional music, dance, food, and cultural exhibits across 16 stages.
Mexican Fiesta
(paid admission)
📅 Dates: August 22–24, 2025
📍 Location: Henry Maier Festival Park, Downtown Lakefront
A vibrant celebration of Mexican culture, featuring traditional food, mariachi bands, folkloric dancers, and a variety of family-friendly activities.
Scenes from Riverwest 24 bike race.
Chill Out at Bradford Beach
Bradford Beach has had a serious glow-up since the early 2000s. It used to be quiet and kind of boring. Now? It’s full of life in the summer. Expect tiki bars, volleyball courts, and people everywhere soaking up the sun. There are bathrooms, bike racks, and two parking lots.
Food and Drink to Try in Milwaukee
Bloody Marys with Beer Chasers (everywhere) – A true Milwaukee experience. Nearly every bar includes a mini beer with your Bloody. (Why doesn’t every city do this?)
Colectivo Coffee on the Lake (Lakefront) – Great coffee, baked goods, and live music with outdoor seating right on the lake. (Located near the breakwater and just off the Oak Leaf Bike Trail.) This is a local chain, so you’ll likely see other locations as you tour the city.
Milwaukee Public Market (Third Ward) – Indoor market (with plenty of outdoor seating) with food vendors, wine bar, fish market, and more. Good spot for lunch or gifts. Located in the same area as the Third Ward Beer Garden and Clearwater Outdoor Kayak rentals.
Zócalo Food Truck Park (Walker’s Point) – Food trucks, outdoor seating, cocktails, and live music.
Frozen Custard (ice cream) – I honestly don’t understand why all states don’t make frozen custard. It’s richer than ice cream and smoother than soft serve. It’s heaven.
Kopp’s Frozen Custard (Whitefish Bay)
Moosa’s Custard Stand (Bradford Beach)
Culver’s (fast food chain)
Rooftop Bars –
The Outsider is a swanky cocktail bar located on the rooftop of The Kimpton Journeyman Hotel (Third Ward).
Cafe Benelux is a restaurant in the Third Ward with a lower rooftop patio.
PufferFish on top of Hotel Metro (downtown) is a tiki-themed rooftop cocktail bar.
The Aviary is on top of the Central Standard Crafthouse and Kitchen located on the edge of downtown and the Third Ward.
The Milwaukeean Bloody Mary at Cafe Benelux in the Third Ward.
Other Activities and Points of Interest
Harley-Davidson Museum – Even if you’re not a biker, it’s a cool museum.
Milwaukee Domes (Mitchell Park Horticultural Conservatory) – Perfect on a rainy day. Desert, tropical, and floral domes. Quirky and great for photos.
Concerts in the Parks – There are over 200 live music events held throughout Milwaukee's Parks. Bring your own beverages and snack or usually there are food trucks.
North Point Lighthouse and Lake Park – Designed by Frederick Law Olmsted. Historic, scenic, and full of trails.
Skyline Music Series - Kadish Park
Getting Around Milwaukee
Milwaukee is a relatively easy city to navigate, especially in the warmer months. The terrain is fairly flat, making it great for walking and biking, and most neighborhoods are only a short ride from downtown.
🚲 Biking
Milwaukee has an impressive network of bike trails, including the scenic Oak Leaf Trail and the Hank Aaron State Trail. You’ll find bike racks all over the city.
Bubblr Bikes – Milwaukee’s bike share system. You can rent standard or e-assist bikes for a single ride or an all-day adventure. Download the app to get started.
Lime Scooters – Electric scooters are also available around the city for short rides. Just scan and go with the Lime app.
🚎 The Hop (Milwaukee Streetcar)
Milwaukee has a free streetcar called The Hop, which runs through downtown and the Lower East Side. It’s clean, reliable, and a great way to get around the city core—just be aware that it only comes every 15–20 minutes and has a limited route.
🚗 Ride Shares & Public Transit
Uber and Lyft are widely available and typically affordable.
Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS) runs the city’s buses. They’re generally clean and reliable, though less frequent at night and on weekends. Use the Ride MCTS app to plan your route and track buses in real time.
Take a Piece of Milwaukee Home
3D Wooden Maps by MapCuts
If you fell in love with Milwaukee’s summer vibe—or want a memorable thank-you gift for your host—MapCuts makes handcrafted wooden maps that capture the places that matter most.
What is MapCuts?
We’re a small business that makes laser-cut, layered wood maps of lakes, cities, and coastlines—each one crafted in our shop in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. Every map is stained, framed, and assembled by hand.
Our Milwaukee city map and Lake Michigan map are local favorites. You can also customize a map to show a specific neighborhood or stretch of shoreline.
You’ll get to choose:
✔ Frame size
✔ Standard location or a fully custom map
✔ 8 water stain options to match your style
✔ Frame color: walnut, black, or natural
✔ Custom nameplate text (add a date, quote, or name)
Shipping is free anywhere in the continental U.S.
We’ll send a digital proof before we make your map so you can tweak it until it’s perfect.
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