Just made plans to visit Milwaukee on a day trip from Chicago for a guys weekend. The plan is to get into town by noon and end up at a Brewers game at night. Any suggestions? This is my first time to the city, so we are more than happy to do the touristy brewery tour and other typical Milwaukee activities. (for a comparison, if some asked me what to do in Philly, I would say have a cheesesteak, see the liberty bell, and run up the art museum steps).

Thanks!

I think you'd enjoy the Harley Museum. It is close to downtown.
http://www.harley-davidson.com/en_US...formation.html
You'll also need to grill some brats as you tailgate before the Brewers game. In fact, I think it is mandatory.

I agree with the recommendation of the Harley Davidson Museum.

For a brewery tour, Lakefront Brewery is often recommended. www.LakefrontBrewery.com

Buy the brats at Usingers on Old World Third Street for your tailgating- http://www.usinger.com/contact-info BEST brats made the old fashioned way.

You could wander along the RiverWalk and see the Fonzie Statute if you are going to stereotypical Milwaukee. Also in the same area is Safe House. It's a big shtick that probably has passed it's prime, but still worth a stop. http://www.safe-house.com/

Harley Museum might be up your alley as others have suggested.

When are you coming to MKE? (And welcome!) I second the suggestion to stop at Usingers on Old World Third St. to pick up some brats and pretzel buns (they sell those right at the store, made by Miller Bakery). There are also a bunch of fun places to grab a beer before or after the game.

If you're coming via Amtrak, stop at the newly opened Stone Creek Cafe on N. 5th St. for a cup of coffee, then make your way to the Milwaukee Public Market on Water St. (just 4 blocks to the east). You can get brats there too from Nehring's Family Market. Plus all the other fixins.. There's an oyster bar, wine/beer bar...all very good. Link: http://www.milwaukeepublicmarket.org/main.html Lots of restaurants in the Third Ward area (immediately south of the MKE Public Market).

If you're looking for a GREAT burger before/after the game...if you're not tailgating - which is the ultimate Brewers experience...then go to Oscar's Pub on 17th & Pierce. Opened up a few years ago and already has a steady stream of die-hard fans, including our family. IMO, best bar burger in MKE...plus if it's a nice night, you can sit out on the back patio and overlook downtown. http://www.oscarsonpierce.com/

A word of warning: if you stop at 4th Base http://www.the4thbase.com/ (51st & National), be prepared to pay through the nose for fantastic food. It's deceptive...looks like casual bar food. And it's truly fantastic. But when you get your check, you'll fall off your bar stool. My husband and I stop there sometimes for fries and a beer before a Brewers game and then watch people clutch their heart when their bill arrives. Forewarned is forearmed.

Am happy to give more suggestions based on your interest. We live downtown.

Also, I second the recommendation for a Lakefront Brewery tour. The Miller brewery tour is mass-produced and you're hustled from place to place, with not much time for lingering with a beer (only 1) at the end. I suppose it's fun to see if you're a huge Miller fan, but I'd recommend the smaller brewery tours which are more intimate and provide more beer (a key selling point to me!).

Check out this link to Milwaukee brewery tours:
http://milwaukeebrewerytours.com/

Just drove by this museum this morning: http://milwaukeebeermuseum.org/ Haven't checked it out, but seems fun. Anyone else visited yet?