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Published on 5/17/08
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 | Map it: Click here for a Google map of these spots, along with our other favorite Milwaukee restaurants, shops, bars and attractions. |
Cactus Club
Loud, smoky and boozy best describe this lively bar and rock club—and we mean that in the best possible way. The music venue half of the club is great for checking out bands on their way to larger venues—the White Stripes, Queens of the Stone Age, Interpol, Bright Eyes and Death Cab for Cutie all have headlined the intimate 80-person space—while the separate, no-cover bar area is a great place to drink up a few beers and take in the nonstop rush of rock music pouring from the jukebox. The likes of Danzig and the Wu-Tang Clan are in regular rotation, but there are also soft-rock classics like the Doobies when you want to get mellow. 2496 S Wentworth Ave, 414-482-0160.—Martina Sheehan
Suds sightseeing
Milwaukee was built on beer, so a brewery tour is almost mandatory. If time only permits one, make sure you hit Russ Klisch’s Lakefront Brewery, where you might catch the brewmaster pouring a few of his selections (the Riverwest Amber Lager is a tried-and-true favorite) during the $5 tours. If you’ve got more time, the Sprecher Brewery tour can even win over the rugrats with the promise of unlimited pulls from the seven soda taps at the end of their $3 tour. But if it’s sunny out and the day calls for more than just a few tastings, contact the Riverwalk Boat Tours ($25) to hop aboard the Brew City Queen II for a pub “crawl” down the Milwaukee River that stops at the Lakefront as well as the Milwaukee Ale House (try Lily Jo’s Belgian Triple). And yeah, there’s this Miller Brewing tour, too, but take a pass—the tours are as dull as the lagers they brew. Lakefront Brewery, 1872 N Commerce St, 414-372-8800, lakefrontbrewery.com; Sprecher Brewery, 701 W Glendale Ave, Glendale, 414-964-2739, sprecherbrewery.com; Riverwalk Boat Tours, 414-283-9999, cafevecchio.com; Milwaukee Ale House, 233 N Water St, 414-226-2337, ale-house.com.—Tim McCormick
What do you like most about Milwaukee?
The Germans that immigrated to the area around the turn of the 20th century use the word gemütlichkeit, which stands for a strong sense of community belonging. Milwaukee has just that.
What’s a fun bike ride to take in Milwaukee?
The north or south shore Oak Leaf Trail (county.milwaukee.gov/OakLeafTrail8289.htm) routes are always fun and relaxing.—Ruth Welte
Miller Park
Many Chicagoans are already familiar with the home of the Central Division–leading Milwaukee Brewers—it’s often referred to as Wrigley North when the Cubs come to play. So we don’t have to tell you to plan for a few hours of tailgating (pregame or, better yet, afterward to avoid the I-94 snarl) among folks who are thrilled to finally have a winning team. And thanks to SportsCenter, most of you have already caught yourself chanting “Go Chorizo, Go!” during the famed sausage race. We guess the only thing left to tell you is don’t skimp on the Secret Stadium Sauce on your brat. 1 Brewers Way, 414-902-4400, milwaukee.brewers. mlb.com.—TM
Milwaukee County Zoo
We were hungover when we hit the zoo, so we didn’t see all of the more than 1,700 mammals, birds, fish, amphibians and reptiles (the Lincoln Park Zoo only has 1,200). And our time at the Primates of the World exhibit was cut short because we couldn’t handle the kids going apeshit. But that shouldn’t stop you from covering the 200 acres that make up one of the nation’s top zoos; just be glad that the concession stand has plenty of ice-cold brews. 10001 W Blue Mound Rd, 414-771-5500, milwaukeezoo.org. $10.50, seniors $9.50, kids ages 3–12 $7.50, 2 and under free, parking $9.—TM
Oriental Theatre
You’ve ventured up to Milwaukee and you’re itching to see…a movie? We’re guessing you were an indoor kid. Actually, you’ve got the right idea, because this historic theater’s palacelike decor makes it one of the best movie houses in the country. Catching an indie or foreign film in the main theater, with the original East Indian motif still intact from its construction in the ’20s, is enough to give any film buff goose bumps. 2230 N Farwell Ave, 414-276-8711.—Tim Lowery
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