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For more information: Jeannine Sherman,

Public Relations Manager at 414-287-6230 or 1-800-231-0903

Cooler by the Lake

New world class attractions adding to our beautiful lakefront location and exciting enhancements being made to classic Milwaukee hot spots make it, without a doubt, the "City of Cool."  $2.5 billion invested in Milwaukee's tourism product over the last few years has recent crowd-pleasers like the world's only Harley-Davidson Museum, Discovery World and the expanded Potawatomi Bingo Casino standing side-by-side with famous traditions like the Pabst Theater and the Milwaukee Public Museum.  The combination is creating quite a buzz, appealing to travelers the world over.

Milwaukee's Culinary Jewels-Diverse and Exceptional

With everything from sacred institutions like frozen custard, bratwurst and the Friday night fish fry to some of the most dynamic and unique cuisine you'll find anywhere, Milwaukee's culinary scene offers a taste for every palate.  The city boasts the most famous German restaurant in all of North America, not one but two James Beard award winning chefs dazzling diners with their creations and a new twist on our brewing heritage--gastropubs doing beer pairings with meals.  Classic tastes balanced out by modern attitude, both served with a warm side of hospitality, are waiting here for you. (See Culinary Jewels Fact Sheet)

Let Us Entertain You-Milwaukee's Performing Arts

A vibrant arts scene located right on the shores of Lake Michigan awaits you!  With a wide range of performing arts venues and theater companies, a unique mix of art galleries and museums, and a strong tradition of arts education, Milwaukee rivals even the largest markets. Milwaukee's two theater districts are packed with a powerhouse lineup.  The downtown district houses the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts, the historic Pabst Theater, Milwaukee Repertory Theater and the Riverside Theatre. The city is also home to the Milwaukee Ballet, the Florentine Opera, First Stage Children's Theater, the Skylight Opera Theatre, the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, the Renaissance Theaterworks and the Chamber Theatre.

That's Edutainment

Dozens of museums and cultural facilities make Milwaukee the perfect place to learn while you play.  Considered Wisconsin's premier arts institution, the Milwaukee Art Museum boasts more than 20,000 permanent holdings that span antiquity to the present and include works by Degas, Monet, Warhol and Picasso, not to mention one of the largest Georgia O'Keefe collections in the world.  Head next door to Discovery World for some interactive fun or pack a trip around the world into an afternoon at the Milwaukee Public Museum.  Delve into pop culture at the Eisner American Museum of Advertising and Design.  Stop by the Grohmann Museum where you will find the Man at Work Art Collection, the world's most comprehensive collection documenting the evolution of organized work.  And you won't want to miss Marquette University's Haggerty Museum of Art where you will find an impressive permanent collection of all media, ranging from Old Masters to 20^th century painting and sculpture.  The museum also mounts several exhibitions each year. 

Party in the "City of Festivals"

Entertainment, celebration and fun sum up Milwaukee's festival season, a summer-long homage to the city's melting pot heritage.  More than a dozen colorful ethnic celebrations invite festival goers to learn about various cultures' art, cuisine, history, and entertainment.  Each year, Milwaukee hosts the world's largest Irish heritage festival, Irish Fest, and North America's largest annually held German Festival, German Fest. The world's largest music festival, Summerfest, headlines the season as an 11-day event with 11 stages showcasing a medley of music from classic rockers to today's superstars, to tomorrow's up-and-comers.  Other events include Rainbow Summer, Polish Fest, RiverSplash!, Lakefront Festival of Arts, Bavarian VolksFest, Bastille Days, Festa Italiana, African World Festival, Mexican Fiesta and Indian Summer Festival. 

Stroll the RiverWalk

The RiverWalk winds along the Milwaukee River with access to some of the city's best restaurants, brewpubs, shops and waterfront nightlife. It's the site of many Milwaukee events, including Riversplash! and River Rhythms, and is home to some of the city's most eye-catching public art.  With both permanent and temporary pieces done in mediums of everything from aluminum and steel to neon tubing, the RiverWalk has the feel of an outdoor gallery.  The most recent addition to this impressive collection is a bronze statue of Arthur "The Fonz" Fonzarelli.  The King of Cool, complete with leather jacket and signature double thumbs up, now resides on the southeast corner of Wells Street and provides the perfect pop culture photo opportunity.  

Take Me Out to the Ballgame

Milwaukee offers sporting events that are sure to please any fan. Miller Park, the nation's only facility with a fan-shaped retractable roof and natural grass playing field, is home to the Milwaukee Brewers.  Here you can enjoy a game, tailgate along the Menomonee River, and cheer as the beloved world-famous Racing Sausages emerge from the left field corner and sprint toward home plate just before the seventh inning.

At The Bradley Center you can take in basketball, both the NBA Central Division Milwaukee Bucks and the nationally ranked Marquette Golden Eagles, as well as the International Hockey League's Milwaukee Admirals.

More collegiate hoops can be seen at The U.S. Cellular Arena where The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Panthers men's basketball team competes in the Division One Horizon League.  The Milwaukee Wave also calls the arena home.  The Wave is a member of the American Indoor Soccer Association and has brought home four championship titles.

Since 1903 the Milwaukee Mile has been revving up crowds.  The oldest operating motor speedway in the world, the Milwaukee Mile is the only facility to offer all three of America's touring series, as NASCAR, the Champ Car World Series and the Indy Racing League compete at America's Legendary Oval.

Milwaukee: A Family Destination

An ideal destination for families, Milwaukee offers an abundance of fun and unique activities to entertain visitors of all ages.  Nothing is hands-off at the Betty Brinn Children's Museum.  Cited by Parents magazine as "one of the 10 best children's museums to visit nationwide," this is Milwaukee's only museum designed specifically for kids ages 10 and under and their grown-ups.  Keep young minds engaged with the activities provided (free of charge) in "The Road Pack" at the Harley-Davidson Museum.  Enjoy summer fun year-round at Paradise Landing, the Hilton Milwaukee City Center's indoor waterpark.  Cruise through the cosmos, see the world's largest-known dinosaur skull and reach out and touch a butterfly in flight, all at the Milwaukee Public Museum.  Stand completely surrounded by sea life in Discovery World's Reiman Aquariums.  Glide on the same ice as Olympic greats at the Pettit National Ice Center.  Enjoy 185-acres of unspoiled natural beauty at the Schlitz Audubon Nature Center and get up close and personal with more than 300 species at the Milwaukee County Zoo.

Milwaukee: A Recreational Haven

Milwaukee County Parks offer 15,000 acres of recreational enjoyment! The Milwaukee County Park System's year-round activities include 16 outdoor/indoor pools, fives beaches, nine community/recreation centers, 122 tennis courts, two family aquatic centers and more than 200 athletic fields for almost every sport imaginable, including baseball, softball, rugby, soccer and volleyball. The Park System's 100-mile Oak Leaf Trail is available for biking, in-line skating, cross-country skiing, running and walking.

Let's Get Ready to Rumble

The Great American Motorcycle has been a Milwaukee tradition for more than a century. William S. Harley and the Davidson brothers created the iconic Harley-Davidson motorcycle in Milwaukee in 1903.  Celebrate this American classic at the one-of-a-kind Harley-Davidson Museum.  Get to know the muscle behind the machines with a Harley-Davidson Powertrain Operations facility tour.  Earn the right to travel the open road on your own by graduating from the Milwaukee Harley-Davidson Rider's Edge Program or go for the ultimate test-drive by renting a bike from Street Eagle Milwaukee.  While in town, be sure to hang your leathers at the Iron Horse Hotel, a boutique property designed with both the business traveler and motorcycle enthusiast in mind.  Special packages include the "Biker Girl Getaway" and "Couples Ride in Style."

Milwaukee on Tap

Milwaukee's long and rich brewing heritage dates back to the 1840s.  Names like Schlitz, Blatz, Pabst and Miller hold a revered place in the city's history, establishing the foundation for our most famous industry and planting the seeds for our reputation as the quintessential brew city.  Today, Milwaukee remains a true brew city as home to one of the world's leading breweries, MillerCoors; two renowned microbreweries, the Lakefront Brewery and Sprecher Brewing Company; the world's only brewery tour by boat; and brewpubs including the Milwaukee Ale House, Delafield Brewhaus and Hinterland. 

The Greener Side of Milwaukee

The "going green" movement is going strong in Milwaukee.  15,000 acres of parkland, shoreline along a Great Lake and three rivers running through the city offer easy access to nature.  Numerous nature centers located close to downtown, including Schlitz Audubon, Wehr and the Urban Ecology Center, provide educational opportunities as well as a chance to immerse yourself in the great outdoors.  

Eco-friendly services and experiences compliment the city's natural appeal.  We are home to Lakefront Brewery, creator of the first certified organic beer in the United States.  A special Environmental Tour of the brewery is given each Friday afternoon by co-founder Russ Klisch.  Disclosed on this tour is the fact that Lakefront donates approximately 15,000 pounds of spent grain each week to Growing Power, Inc., a non-profit organization based here in Milwaukee that provides healthy organic nutrient rich produce to inner-city markets and restaurants throughout the Midwest.  

The city also boasts southeastern Wisconsin's first green hotel.  Hotel Metro was certified "green" in January 2008 by Travel Green Wisconsin, a program that reviews, certifies and recognizes tourism businesses that have made a commitment to continuously improve their operations in order to reduce their environmental impact.  The hotel has an eco-friendly rooftop spa, a green compliant kitchen and bicycles that guests can borrow to get around town while reducing their carbon footprint. 

Revised October 2008