Top Milwaukee Attractions

From ring-tailed lemurs to snow leopards to long-armed crabs, the Milwaukee County Zoo is home to more than 2,200 mammals, birds, fish, amphibians and reptiles. With nearly 120 years of experience under its belt -- the zoo was established in 1892 in Washington Park -- the zoo is now recognized as one of the finest in the country. The Milwaukee County Zoo moved to its Blue Mound Road location in 1958, where currently more than 320 species of animals now reside on 200 acres of beautiful park land.

The Milwaukee Public Market, located in Milwaukee's Third Ward, features 20 specialty-food vendors. A great spot for lunch, and a one-stop place to pick up fresh dinner ingredients or even carry-out if your feeling lazy. You'll find a variety of fresh fish, produce, ethnic food, bakery, fine wine, spices, flowers and chocolate at the Milwaukee Public Market.

Miller Park's most famous feature is its retractable roof. The 12,000-ton, seven-panel roof opens and closes almost silently in just 10 minutes. Miller Park is not a walking destination, but is still just a short jaunt west of downtown situated in an industrial area, and flanked by far-reaching parking lots. What makes Miller Park bad for foot traffic also makes it perfect for tailgating, and the stadium's parking lots are a habitual party for three hours prior to each home game, and well into the first few innings.

Though officially called the Mitchell Park Horticultural Conservatory, most Milwaukeeans refer to this interesting botanical attraction as simply "the Domes." A popular place for weddings, events, and a great stop for out-of-towners, the Domes are a fun, peaceful place to spend an afternoon. Visitors will find three distinct climates in the domes: one features a desert climate, another features a tropical climate, and the third, the Floral Show dome, features rotating seasonal floral displays.

The Milwaukee Art Museum is much more than just a pretty face -- although it definitely is that. The "wings" on the Museum's  Quadracci Pavilion (actually called the Burke Brise Soleil) created by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava, are featured in nearly any travel shot of Milwaukee. Four floors of more than forty galleries feature rotating selections from the museum's extensive collection, including paintings, sculpture, prints, drawings, decorative arts, photographs, and folk and self-taught art.

When it's hot in Milwaukee, locals know to hit Bradford Beach. After undergoing a massive clean-up and concerted efforts by local non-profits, businesses and the County Parks to bring entertainment to this lakeside gem, Bradford Beach is experiencing a renaissance. From the active -- you'll see organized sports like soccer, sand volleyball tournaments and yoga to low key games of frisbee -- to the inactive splendor of simply lying on the beach, there is something for here for anyone who enjoys being outside.