If you click on your name, you will find your other post asking a similar question.

here is the answer I gave you to that one:
The Betty Brinn children's museum is wonderful--your kids are the perfect age for it. It's at 929 E. Wisconsin Ave, at the Lake. NML's downtown location is at 720 E. Wisconsin Avenue www.bbcmkids.org

The Public Museum is fun for both kids and adults, and there's an IMAX theater. The butterfly garden is great. It's at 800 W. Wells, which is one block north of Wisconsin. www.mpm.edu

Re: B&Bs
The Brumder Mansion 3046 W. Wisconsin www.brumdermansion.com
The Acanthus Inn 3009 W. Highland, just a few blocks north of Wisconsin
The Kilbourn Guest House 2825 W. Kilbourn, also just a few blocks north of Wisconsin Ave.
www.kilbournguesthouse.com
County Clare Irish B&B (also has a restaurant) 1234 N. Astor
Manderly B&B 3026 West Wells Street
Schuster Mansion 3209 West Wells Street

Most of the B&BS have prices that start at less than $100, but go significantly above that.

To spend under $100 per night, I'd recommend Priceline for a hotel.

30 minute drive? safe? inexpensive? Web search the airport hotels. You can easily be Down Town via the trouble free Lake Parkway in 30 minutes or most anywhere else in 30 min. http://www.wisconsinhighways.org/milwaukee/lake.html
Answering what to do:
Search fodors for - River walk - and see my reply there. Do the riverwalk!
Biking? Bike the lake front parks like Grant, Warnemont - a ten minute drive from the airport
Milwaukee swimming pools: http://www.county.milwaukee.gov/display/router.asp?docid=9145

This trip did not materialize last year so this year it is. Wondering if any new reasonable places to stay have cropped up (I keep hoping) or any areas near Milwaukee that are cool neighborhoods - we don't need to be downtown as long as it's an easy drive. I keep seeing airport hotels but for 4 nights I'd rather be somewhere that we can walk and play as well as sleep. Thanks!

http://www.lq.com is the website for LaQuinta hotels. I know it's not one you would usually think of for a nice family stay, but this one is fairly new - 3 or 4 years old? It has a pool, a nice b'fast included in the room, is right next door to a huge theater as well as several restaurants, and is right off the highway. Downtown MKE is a 15 min drive, as well as the MKE zoo.

Not sure when you'll be in MKE exactly, but just to give you a warning about Summerfest - MKE's biggest festival of many. Here is the link - I didn't read the dates, but if you are there during the Fest be prepared for hotel prices to be more and crowds to be plenty!

http://mobile.summerfest.com/index.cfm?EFA=News

The Hilton downtown has a waterpark for the kids.

Milwaukee hotels tend to be either downtown, near the airport or to the west of the city.

An airport hotel is not bad, as you can drive straight east and be at the lakefront in minutes. Most of the lakefront is part of the Milwaukee county park system.

The Marriott Residence Inn, in Glendale would be kind of nice. The Bayshore shopping area has just been remodeled. It's now and outside mall. That's about 5 minutes south of the Marriott.

Thanks for the feedback - maybe the airport wouldn't be so dismal after all. Had just hoped to be able to get out and about at night too on foot. Thanks so much for all of the advice!

A couple of years ago we went up for a Brewers game that turned out to be the same weekend as one of Milwaukee's big festivals. We had a devil of a time finding a place! We wound up at the AmeriSuites at the airport. And it actually turned out to be a pretty good choice.

Surprisingly, we heard no airport noise. It was reasonable, at that time $99 for our family of two adults, two kids (one of whom was over 18 so we were probably charged for a third adult, can't remember). And it was nice; a king bed and a queen-size sleeper sofa, fridge and microwave.

However, it doesn't have a pool. Don't know whether that matters to you.

Their breakfasts are better than most. Besides the usual continental stuff, they give you a choice of simple cooked to order items like scrambled eggs, bacon, toast.

It's also a very convenient area because it's just off the interstate. And there were restaurants in the area.

"Had just hoped to be able to get out and about at night too on foot"
"LATE JULY"

July can be hot. What do you want to experience on foot at night? Here are some thoughts. Walk the cooler temp lake fromt parks straight east from the Airport (or where ever you are a park is generally east get a county map or ask hotel)
Like parks AND Boats then go to the Lake front park east of Downtown Milwaukee (20 min) or drive 30 min SE to the nice Racine lake front. While there walk over and get a burger at one of the last remaining Kewpee restaurants {http://www.roadfood.com/Reviews/Writeup.aspx?ReviewID=384&RefID=384"

If you do stay at the Airport then you can walk straight North across Layton into residential neighborhoods. West South or East would be a poorer choice for quiet strolls. People might be out on porches. In spite of our modern “have no use\tolerance for other people attitudes. Milwaukee still has a big home town attitude as many claim. A cheerful wave and greeting or asking a question and just showing yourself friendly to one of these “porch sitters” and you never know what interesting conversation might develop. The kids presence alone should get the interaction rolling

Hi Sobolik - I love your ideas - thank you. Struggling with the hotel so thanks! Please tell me it's not any more HOT up there than it is down here in Williamsburg, VA in late Jule - 95+ temps and 95% + humidity! OUCH

In Milwaukee, we only average 10 days over 90 degrees per summer. When it's hot, it's usually also humid. The farther east (and therefore closer to Lake Michigan) you are, the cooler it will be.

If you want to get out at night I would not choose the airport neighborhood personally; downtown East of the river (or at least near it) is really the best place to be in the Milwaukee area. County Clare has the best location in the city in my opinion but it might be a bit pricey and not sure if it's kid friendly. Well located 3-4 star downtown hotels can often be had for less than $100 per night via priceline if you don't mind waiting to make your arrangements. Assuming you are still targeting late July note that from the period 7-25 to 7-29 is the EAA AirVenture which is about an hour or so North of the city in Oshkosh and is one of the world's largest aviation conventions. Beware if your timing falls during that period because rooms even as far away as Milwaukee will be in increased demand as 750,000 people converge on an area that doesn't have a whole lot of lodging.

Here's a link to events going on: Festa Italiana, German Fest and Brady Street Festival are all in late July and might be worth a look. http://www.milwaukee.org/calendar/index.cfm Festa Italiana and German Fest are both held at the main festival grounds just South of downtown along the lake; Brady St is an eclectic area just North of downtown that used to be full of hippies, then became somewhat of a slum but has been gentrifying for quite some time now.

Biking along the lake is beautiful, especially going North through the suburbs along Lake Drive. It's a busy street and likely not suitable for kids but it's heavily biked by adults and with good reason. Along the South Shore by Grant Park there is a bike trail as well.

The zoo is one of the best anywhere and worth a trip with the kids if you have the time.

The bike trail south of Oklahoma Ave goes all the way to Grant park without hitting a street. It's a path that goes through the park along the lake. It's a much better choice than the North end, because it's not on a street.
That stretch is good for a walk or roller skating. The only problem would be getting your hands on a bike.

I wonder if Value Village on East Layton ever had used bikes.

Ok, I confess. I'll sound like a hick when I say this but I honestly knew nothing about Milwaukee other than LaVerne & Shirley until I started reading this post and investigating all of your ideas. THANK YOU. We can't wait - too bad little ole Williamsburg is so white bread and boring now! Again, thanks!

Weespxx I have an idea. I struggled big time with where to locate my hotel in Ottawa Canada. I just could not quite put my finger on it via verbal/written communication. What solidified my choice and left no more doubt was aerial photos of Ottawa. I could see all the high rises, parks. Parliament Hill, Chateau etc. BINGO all my unsureity went bye bye. Web search for satellite views etc. You can start here http://travel.yahoo.com/p-hotel-191502036-milwaukee_hotels-i;_ylt=Ak2TzwQ0FM4x2OYbd8TJPHLUFmoL
select hybrid or sat view. You can walk the photo to the N,S E, W and zoom in or out . Play with it

We booked a room at the Comfort Inn & Suites - nothing impressive but it will allow us to walk to the Lake and museums. Thanks for the ideas and if anyone has any guide book /media recommendations, please let me know. We love out of the way places and are not convention types, despite the hotel

Jazz in the park is a short 5 block walk form you hotel. It's Thursday night in Cathedral square. Get there early to get a spot. Lots of people bring a picnic lunch. There tons of vendors and the mounted police are always there.

Depending on which weekend, you'll be there for FestaItaliana or Germanfest. Both are great fun, both will be at Mayer Festival park. Usually Thursday-Sunday.

I've never seen the Briese Soliel open (the new addition to the art museum designed by Santiago Calatrava) but it's supposed to be stunning. Maybe you can find out when it will be opening one of the days you're down at the lakefront.

Walk a bit north and you can enjoy County Claire without having to stay there.

You may not want to visit a museum, but the Milwaukee Public Museum had The Streets of Old Milwaukee, an ethnic house section (two of my kids favorites) plus the new butterfly exhibit and an imax. I'd hit that during the week and miss the weekend rush.


We have one of the best zoos in the country too. You would need a car for that as it's a bit west.

When exactly are you coming?

Not a bad choice of lodging location at all. Not bad at all. A rather green area as far as “downtown” goes. Here are some area tid bits to chew on since the location is now established as being in the Yankee Hill area. (Juneau's east bank settlement tended to be associated with New Englanders and New Yorkers - the Yankees) http://www.uwm.edu/Library/digilib/Milwaukee/records/picture.html

You will find limited access from the hotel to the Lake front due to a cliff\hill. A couple blocks south is the Art Museum access route. Farther North is the Brady street access.

Why is it called cathedral Square? Good play ground as well. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cathedral_Church_of_All_Saints,_Milwaukee

You can walk to the west several blocks to catch the River walk. You can see the photos I took by simple sign up for Walgreens account with e-mail and some password. Kind of early before Summer festers were awake. COPY THE FOLLOWING -ENTIRE- LINK and paste in browser bar, not just the highlighted.

http://photo.walgreens.com/share/p=23471152319397987/l=7588445/g=5574516/cobrandOid=1009/otsc=SYE/otsi=SALB

Brady street (people watching) is a bit of a hike north but you may want to enter the Lake Front by the Art Museum and return after an afternoon stroll via the Brady street area stairs.
Brady Street
Historic Brady Street was an early Milwaukee neighborhood that served as the main street for its immigrant community of Irish, German and Polish settlers during the 1840s, with the ethnic character of the area changing predominantly to Italian during the 1930s and 1940s.

Stretching from Lake Michigan to the Milwaukee River, Brady Street vibrates with life, vitality, and a pulse of its own. Brady Street is an architectural tapestry of styles, materials, and building types. Today, Brady Street's historic buildings house the most eclectic collection of ethnic restaurants, galleries, coffee houses, and specialty shops found in the city. Brady Street is also famous for its great nightlife and live music. The Brady Street neighborhood is home to a vibrant and diverse community and some of the best eating in the city.

With citizens from nearly every ethnic background, Brady Street is a walk-around neighborhood filled with parks, historic architecture, conveniences, specialty shops and galleries, varied and abundant nightlife, and some of the best eating and clothes shopping in the city. As Oscar Wilde remarked when visiting the neighborhood early in the last century - "If what you want isn't on Brady Street, you probably don't need it." Located north of the Midwest Airlines Center, Brady Street is a short drive from the Show. Take Kilbourn Avenue east to Van Buren Street and turn left (north) to reach the Brady Street area. While in Milwaukee, plan a visit to Brady Street and savor the flavor that is uniquely Brady Street. http://www.beadandbuttonshow.com/bnbshow/default.aspx?c=a&id=37


East Town: East Town Association; East town is the area east of the Milwaukee River, north of Clybourn Street and south of Ogden Avenue; home of Bastille Days, Jazz in the Park, Gallery Night, a farmer's market; home of many office and condo buildings http://www.easttown.com/

Not out of walking range, Third Ward: Historic Third Ward Association; the Third Ward encompasses many art galleries, theaters, restaurants, apartments and condos, media-related businesses, the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design; the area south of downtown, bordered on the east by Lake Michigan and the Summerfest grounds and on the west by the Milwaukee River; see photo http://www.historicthirdward.org/
Here you will find the highest concentration of art galleries in the city, numerous antique shops, distinct ethnic and bistro-style restaurants, unique specialty stores and boutiques, theatres, factory outlets, showrooms, the Broadway Theater Center, and the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design. For those who like to explore, take a historic walking tour.
To learn more about
Milwaukee's Historic Third Ward click here.


And the obvious stuff that shows up in a Milwaukee search

I thought it was Cathedral Square because St. John's Cathedral is on the east side of the square.

BTW I went to St. John's Cathedral grade school in the 60's (it was where the parking lot behind St. Mary's is). The high school was next to the Cathedral, it's now part of MSOE.

angethereader: click on the link this time. What part of that post was confusing? (I thought it was Cathedral Square because St. John's Cathedral is on the east side of the square.)

I figured it out, I was asking rhetorical question (with answer) it was read / taken as legitimate question

ps I noticed yesterday that there is a stairs to the top of the hill (Hotel)from the Lake front about 1/2 way between the Art Museum area one, and the ramp/bridge/stairs of Brady street.

Can I even tell you all how excited I am to explore Milwaukee? Kids or no kids, we're going to make the most of it. Someone asked when we're coming - it's the 3rd weekend. I think the Italiafest is happening then. Thanks again - your city sounds very hip and cool!

Summer is here so I'm riding my motorcycle. Went here today.

If you want to do a very cool hike or ride to view what might be the densest concentration of the best homes in the area. You can start/park at Lake park. Head west up the very neat deep dark forested ravine/hill with impressive forest covered bridge. (sidewalk is along road) When starting out there is a neat view of the stairs up to a restaurant. ( http://www.lakeparkbistro.com/ )

Then straight west on the very beautiful mansion strewn E. Newberry Blvd. Gorgeous Blvd in the summer.

Probably 3-4 miles north of your hotel along the lake.

http://maps.yahoo.com/maps.py?&addr=&csz=Milwaukee,WI

Weespxx,
You can rent bikes at the lakefront that seat 4-6 (great with kids---my son loves doing this more than once a summer!) for an hour or two---not sure of the exact name but it's across lincoln memorial drive from alterra coffee shop (another great place for lunch/snacks). Also, check out onmilwaukee.com for things to do when coming to town. Have fun!

I can't wait to rent the bikes - it sounds like a blast, as do so many of the ideas here. Off to do more research - thanks to all of you for helping me plan a great trip.

A quick recap. Comfort Inn was decent - front desk staff were all young. Does include breakfast and is an easy walk to all museums on the lakefront. We loved the Zoo, Discovery Museum, Betty Brinn Children's Museum and the Public Museum (where we only saw the first floor in nearly 3 hrs). Had a lovely lunch at a cool place called LuLu on KK Street. Walked the Third Ward and shopped at the market there (can't remember the name - Public Market?). Ate some amazing cheese that I can only compare to those we used to get in Europe. We did not have a long time (3 days) but loved every minute of it. Art Museum is amazing. The people, above all, were so hospitable and warm. We southerners really felt at home! Thanks to all the Milwaukeeans for your advice. We'll be back this time next year.