Even though I don't actually live in Downtown Milwaukee, I fell in love with this city at a very young age. Going downtown with my family or friends has always been a fun-filled adventure. When us suburban kids say "downtown", we're talking about none other than Milwaukee. From my years of experience with this city, I've picked out a few favorites:
Best Place to Hang Out: Bradford Beach
There's no better way to spend a hot summer day than at Bradford Beach. You can play beach volleyball, swim, or just soak up the sun during the glorious (but limited) Wisconsin summer months.
Best Coffee Shop: Lakefront Colectivo
Look no further than the Lakefront Colectivo if you need a cozy place to study or catch up with a friend while enjoying a wide selection of beverages, bakery, and sandwiches. Fun fact: the building actually used to be the Milwaukee River Flushing Station.
Best Cheap Restaurant: Conejito's
My family and I have been going to this delicious, no-frills Mexican restaurant for many years. The best part about it is that everything on their menu is under five dollars. It's perfect for us "broke college kids"!
Best Fine Dining Restaurant: Harbor House
If you're willing to spend a substantial amount of money on a fancy dinner, Harbor House is definitely the place. The gourmet food, boathouse-like atmosphere and views of Lake Michigan are worth every penny.
Best Custard: Northpoint
Located near Bradford Beach, Northpoint is a cute walk-up restaurant that serves burgers, fries, shakes, and custard (the makings of a glorious American meal). Plus, their Madagascar Vanilla custard is the most vanilla-y vanilla custard I've ever had.
Best Ice Cream: Purple Door
First of all, custard and ice cream are very different things. Purple Door Ice Cream offers a wide array of flavors, ranging from the Chocolate and Vanilla basics to Cream Cheese, Whiskey and Mexican Hot Chocolate.
Best Winter Activity: Ice Skating at Red Arrow Park
Sure, winter in Milwaukee can be kind of a bummer. But outdoor ice skating at Red Arrow Park makes everything better! There's even a Starbucks to warm up in right next to the rink.
Best Summer Activity: Summerfest
Milwaukee is home to Summerfest, the world's largest music fesitival. Arguably, it's also the most affordable. You don't need to buy a 3-day pass or anything, unlike festivals such as Lollapalooza or Coachella. This year, the 11 days of music are from June 29th-July 3rd and July 5th-July 10th.
Best View: Villa Terrace
I've never seen Lake Michigan look more beautiful than from the top of Villa Terrace Decorative Arts Museum. Views like this one are part of what make Downtown Milwaukee so great.
