Headed to Milwaukee

[xtremek]

So, I'm back. It's kind of nice when your wife has the alphabet soup after her name and people like to invite yo to their conferences. This week is SF, next is Milwaukee. What should a gearhead do in Milwaukee besides see the Harley factory? Any good restaurants? Other sites? I'm not a beer drinker, but I figure that's on the to do.

 

[firworks]

Are you a cheese eater? Because that's what I'd be doing up there.

 

[brycez28]

I don't know anything about Harley factory, but I've been through the Harley museum. I personally was disappointed. There are a lot of neat bikes to look at, but I wouldn't plan on spending more than 45-60 minutes there.

If you have some extra time and don't mind driving a little, I would highly recommend the Wisconsin Maritime Museum in Manitowoc. It is about 1hr 20 minutes north of Milwaukee. In addition to their indoor displays, they have an actual navy submarine that is in the water that they give tours of. I don't know if they continue with this through the winter season or not.

 

[LOTW]

I agree, the Harley museum isn't much, but I'm not that into bikes.
If it was me id be trying to catch brown trout in the harbor.

 

[Organized_Garage]

The Wisconsin Auto Museum and The S.E. Wisconsin Short Track (racing) Hall of Fame and Museum are located about 35 minutes north of Milwaukee in Hartford.

If that tickles your gear head fancy, our laser cutting and weld shop is also in Hartford where we manufacture Sprint Car Wings, a huge assortment of shop & trailer accessories and a lot of motorsports components- including the rear axle housings and hub spacer plates used in all top tiers of NASCAR. There's usually a race car or two around here too. Your always welcome to visit.

Not too much happening around town in MKE, other than I know Guns & Roses are in concert downtown on the 7th.

If your here on the 11th, Train Fest (huge model train expo) is at The Wisconsin State Fair Park Expo Center just outside of MKE in West Allis.

 

[Cougar]

Tour the Pabst Mansion. If you like that kind of stuff.

https://www.pabstmansion.com/

 

[driverinmyhead]

Just visited family in Detroit last month, drove up North and back down through Milwaukee and flew out of Chicago.

We spent the day in Milwaukee. Other than sports, beer, sausages and Harley it's not the center of the universe. BTW, I have been to Milwaukee half a dozen times over the years (first pic is my '62 Chevy at the Harley factory 20+ years ago). Trip Advisor is a decent travel site and ranks the top rated "Things to do" in nearly every City in the World!

Wow! I thought the Harley museum was amazing! Seriously! I did the factory tour 20 years ago and figured we would do it again. Come to find out that Harley moved their engine plant out to Menomonee Falls and built an incredible museum! We spent a good 4 hours rushing through, probably should have spent all day. It's multi level and very interactive. I want to say it was around $20 bucks to get in. We were there during a bike ralley (Labor Day I guess), so there was a LOT going on outside.

Chicago is 90 miles South and one of my favorite US cities, so it's worth it if you have time. When I do the tourist thing (or take someone that has never been to that city), I do the "Hop on, Hop off" tour bus. It's usually between $25-$90 a person depending on the city. I think the one in Chicago was around $25 per person. It's nice for a day (especially if you stay in the city), to listen to the tour guide... hop off, grab something to eat or go to a museum, etc, hop back on and go to the next attraction.


Hope that helps.

 

[jako]

After Hartford, go to http://www.alfaheaven.com/.

 

[vertcnc]

http://www.lakefrontbrewery.com/ Fun Smaller brewery.

https://www.millercoors.com/av?url=...rs.com/breweries/miller-brewing-company/tours

 

[vavet]

I know you're not supposed to order a Budweiser...other than that...I dunno.

 

[bdbecker]

...Wow! I thought the Harley museum was amazing!...We spent a good 4 hours rushing through, probably should have spent all day...

Personally, I totally agree with this statement - when I go back again, I'll plan to spend the entire day there. However, I think you have to be a bit of a bike nerd to have this sort of experience. The casual enthusiast, even an HD rider, may only need a few hours to get through the museum.

 

[Milton Shaw]

Go to Oshosh and see the Experimental Aircraft Museum there. Its got about 200 planes inside to see. Everything from the Wright flyer to a F22 Raptor when we were there 10 years or so ago. Even have flights in a Stearman plane depending on weather. They build and restore planes there also. Lots to see. In the summer at the fly in there are usually more that 2,000 planes to see.

 

[TractorJeff]

Waukesha Engine has a small museum in Waukesha
Brick House on Water Street in Milwaukee
Lakefront Brewery-I'm not a big beer drinker but find the microbrew tours fun!
I haven't done it in Milwaukee yet but when we are out bumming the States we usually stop at the local historical society museum or county museum to learn about local history.
Almost forgot in Hartford is a Car Museum also!

 

[David99]

If you head for Chicago there is the Museum of Science and Industry.

Probably one of the best things there is the U-505.
https://www.msichicago.org/explore/whats-here/exhibits/u-505-submarine/

it's been so long since I was there I can't really remember what else is there.
(I do remember my camera used 35mm film!)

 

[DieselNut88]

Lots of great restaurants in downtown along the river.

 

[bczygan]

Another CraigsList to peruse.

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

Check into the Harley factory tours and museum.
Bowl a few games at the Holler House Tavern.
Have a ****** Mary at Sobelman's Pub & Grill.

 

[ishiboo]

I would normally recommend a visit to the Safe House, but with the new owners it has gotten very touristy and I was not impressed.

I highly recommend using Yelp/etc. to find restaurants that interest you.

Go to Oshosh and see the Experimental Aircraft Museum there. Its got about 200 planes inside to see. Everything from the Wright flyer to a F22 Raptor when we were there 10 years or so ago. Even have flights in a Stearman plane depending on weather. They build and restore planes there also. Lots to see. In the summer at the fly in there are usually more that 2,000 planes to see.

No better suggestion if the OP is interested in aviation/aviation history. Just so you're aware, the Wright Flyer is a replica. And the AirVenture fly-in brings in over 10,000 planes each year.

 

[Jawn]

If your here on the 11th, Train Fest (huge model train expo) is at The Wisconsin State Fair Park Expo Center just outside of MKE in West Allis.

I opened this thread because I have a short weekend in Milwaukee coming up, and this just happens to be one of the things I'm doing while there!

 

[Jeevz]

Check into the Harley factory tours and museum.
Bowl a few games at the Holler House Tavern.
Have a ****** Mary at Sobelman's Pub & Grill.

for Sobleman's Pub. ****** Mary could be a meal in itself but don't miss the burgers either. First thing I do when going to MKE is stopping there.

 

[k-os]

If you like custard I'd recommend you check out Kopp's! There's 3 locations to choose from.

 

[BitFlipr]

Tour the Pabst Mansion. If you like that kind of stuff.

https://www.pabstmansion.com/

Did the Pabst Mansion tour two years ago. Happened to be "Grand Tour Day" so we could see areas not on the normal tour. This included the basement where you could see the controls for dampers that controlled the "air conditioner vents" and other interesting things you would not normally see.

 

[terabitdan]

The Swingin’ Door Exchange bar is a favorite dinner spot of mine in Milwaukee.

I hear the Kohler Design Center is worth a visit.

kohlerdesigncenter.com

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