Spending A Weekend In Milwaukee: Fabulous Solo Travel Destinations

This city calls to me, begging to be explored. The traffic, sirens, culture, food, diverse people, and excitement are all waiting as I check in at the Pfister Hotel on a warm, late summer day. I’ve been traveling around Wisconsin all summer exploring the cities along Lake Michigan and Lake Superior. Leisurely walks exploring the downtown areas of each place, which I thoroughly love. But it’s time to spend a weekend in Milwaukee. All the excitement, noise, and places to explore that only a city can provide.

Spending a weekend in Milwaukee

I have visited Milwaukee many times before, often solo, like this visit was. Usually, I have a routine. For day trips, I park in the lot right across from the Hilton on Wisconsin Avenue. Unless I have a specific place I want to visit, in which case I park right at the destination. It’s a surface lot that has a ticket kiosk to pay for a parking ticket. I then walk toward the lake, taking a detour onto the Riverwalk. This is the first time I am spending a full weekend in Milwaukee solo, and I couldn’t be more excited.

Is Milwaukee worth the visit?

There are SO MANY things to do in Milwaukee for solo travelers. You can tailor a visit to your individuality. That is what I most like about visiting Milwaukee solo, because I can see all the art I want with no one along to be bored. There is a Milwaukee for sports enthusiast, a Milwaukee for outdoor adventurers, and a Milwaukee for shoppers, foodies, and festival goers. The thing I hear most is how beautiful the architecture is here. You can find the sense of Wisconsinite pride on my face when first-time visitors carry a look of surprise at how amazing Milwaukee is.
Milwaukee is an easy distance from Chicago, Madison, and Green Bay for a road trip, so hop in the car and go!
As a whole, Milwaukee is a safe city for solo travelers. That being said, I rarely venture out past dark no matter where I am. In most areas of Milwaukee, you can feel safe during the day. All the places I list are all fine during the day. Avoid dark streets and alleys at night, be aware of your surroundings, and avoid the clubs and bars at night and you will be fine.

I would like to thank Visit Milwaukee for hosting my stay. They covered my lodging and some meals. All opinions and reviews are my own.

Hotels in downtown Milwaukee

First, there are many hotel options downtown. Staying downtown gives you walking access to many of the things I mention. Of course, like most cities, you can put a lot of miles on your shoes walking to everything, so know your limits. Nothing is worse than sore feet and a tired body from overdoing it. Typically, I try to find inexpensive places to stay, but wanting to be within walkable distance to everything in a city like Milwaukee or Chicago means that you either need to go off season and search for deals, or go for a bit of indulgence. I go into a bit of detail about these two hotels, so bare with me. Call it a hotel “crush”.

Pfister Hotel

I would highly recommend two hotels. The Pfister Hotel is old world elegance with historic significance. A vision and the purchase of land for $200 in downtown Milwaukee was the beginning of the grand story of The Pfister Hotel. Guido Phister purchased the land in 1871 where it sat empty until 1888 when Guido’s dream took shape. After his death just months later, his son Charles, daughter Louise, and a group of local business people continued on with the project. In the end, the Pfister cost a million dollars to construct, doubling the original budget. Let’s take a moment and ponder that. A million dollars in 1889? That compares to well over 32 million today!
I would say that the decision to build that grand hotel was a fabulous one, because the Pfister is still the opulent hotel today that it was upon its opening in 1893.
If only its walls could talk!
I’m certain we would hear thousands and thousands of stories of events that happened (and continue to happen) within those walls.
The Phister has hosted countless celebrities and sports figures throughout the years

Did you know that the Pfister Hotel houses the largest collection of Victorian Art in the world?

Walking through the lobby will hurl you into the opulence of an old, grand European hotel. A painted ceiling that transported me back to a trip to Versailles outside Paris. Inside you’ll find gold and marble, with a bar and lounge area that will remind you of a masculine library, heavy chairs and deep colored wood tables, with a hint of a cherry cigar in the air, a throwback from a bygone era. Everything about the Pfister oozes dignity and sophistication.
The Pfister is a luxury hotel and well worth the indulgence. After a day enjoying everything Milwaukee offers, sinking into a welcoming king sized bed topped with a lush comforter and fresh white linens is an exceptional way to end the day.

Saint Kate The Arts Hotel

Creative types will adore Saint Kate The Arts Hotel. Saint Kate is just a short distance away from the river in Milwaukee’s theater district. This artsy hotel is contemporary. Saint Kate has an aura of a New York sleek contemporary art museum enveloped in a hotel package. As the title implies, there is art everywhere, and they welcome the public to come in and walk through the public and gallery spaces to admire all kinds of art, from sculpture, to painting, and mixed media.

I walked to Saint Kate one afternoon during my stay in Milwaukee, feeling a little intimidated, but I soon felt at home checking out the gallery on the first floor. I must have had that wide-eyed look of wonderment, because a young woman, whom was clearly working on a bench outside the gallery asked if I had questions. She introduced herself as Curator, Samantha Timm, when I told her why I was there. What followed was a personal tour with information about the artists and pieces currently on display. One piece that struck me was Milwaukee artist Jason Ye’s “Plume” You can’t miss the giant size gray foam “cloud” going up the stairway. That’s just one example of the unique materials used. I saw paper, yarn, wood, and wire. Each piece draws in the curious eyes of the beholder.

The guest rooms offer the guests the opportunity to express themselves. I mean, how many hotels supply a ukulele in each room?
I rarely roam around a hotel unless I am staying there, but at Saint Kate, you will want to step inside. Along with art filling the lobby and stairs, there are galleries with changing exhibitions to see. The hotel also has a theater, and dining options. In fact, add this to my list of things to do during your weekend in Milwaukee.

Like I said, there are other options to stay downtown, Hilton Milwaukee City Center, The Iron Horse Hotel (south of the river), and near the Third Ward, Kimpton Journeyman Hotel. These 3 are also dog friendly.

Are you looking for quirky things to do in Milwaukee?

National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum

If you are looking for unusual things to do in Milwaukee, I highly suggest a visit to the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum. Picture thousands, I mean thousands of bobbleheads, everything from sports figures to pop culture figures from the past and of today staring back at you when you pass neat shelves all separated into categories. It gives you an eerily funky feeling, yet one that puts a smile on your face. This is how I felt when I visited.
You can find out about the history of bobbleheads, take selfies with some life size bobbleheads, and how the museum got its start. The Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum is the largest collect of bobbleheads in the world.

107 S. 1st Street (2nd floor, elevator accessible) Milwaukee, WI
Hours: Monday-Friday 10:00-6:00, Saturday and Sunday 10:00-5:00

Take a selfie with two of Milwaukee’s famous citizens

There are two statues in Milwaukee that are literally iconic figures. The Bronze Fonz really needs no introduction. Fans of the Happy Days, the sitcom that ran from 1974 to 1984 and took place in Milwaukee became a cultural phenomenon. To many that show put Milwaukee on the map (along with beer). Arthur Fonzerelli (The Fonz) became a cultural icon.

The Bronze Fonz sits on the east side of the Riverwalk between W. Wisconsin Avenue and East Wells Street.

Gertie The Duck is the beloved statue honoring, yes, a duck.
Not just any duck.
Imagine life as World War II ravaged on. People needed a sliver of hope to cling to. The story of Gertie and her ducklings provided that glimmer of positivity during a dark time.
Gertie The Duck made her home underneath the Wisconsin Avenue bridge in 1945. After the bridge attendant discovered Gertie’s nest, it captured the attention of an entire city. The Milwaukee Journal published updates on Gertie and her five eggs. Life Magazine found out about Gertie and published a story about her and her little hatchlings. Gertie obviously tugged on the heartstrings of many. They estimate that around two million visitors came to see Gertie and her babies. They eventually released the ducks on the shores of Lake Michigan.

See the Gertie Statue on the north side of the Wisconsin Avenue bridge downtown.

Other great things to do solo in Milwaukee

The Milwaukee Art Museum is always a great stop. No matter how many times I have visited, it is always refreshing. During this three day Milwaukee stay, I visited again. The exhibit that was currently running was near to my heart. A collection of Jules Cheret posters. Any kind of Paris theme and I am going.

Hours are Wednesday, Friday-Sunday 10:00-5:00, Thursday 10:00-8:00
Admission: Members are free, Adults $22, Seniors, Students, and Military $17, Kids Free, Wisconsin K-12 Teachers Free Admission includes exhibitions.
Learn more and buy tickets online here

Another of my favorite places in Milwaukee is Black Cat Alley. They have transformed this private alley on the east side into a spectacular art space that is amazing, colorful, and picture worthy. I love public art and murals and this space is a testament to a neighborhood project that should be an example to other cities around the country. I have been to Black Cat Alley a few times, and it’s a wonderful place to come and enjoy art, the message, and a fabulous neighborhood in Milwaukee. You will need to drive here.

Black Cat Alley is behind the historic Oriental Theater in Milwaukee’s East Side neighborhood. Enter on Ivanhoe near the intersection of North Avenue and Ivanhoe. The entrance isn’t easy to see, and it is accessible. There is a staircase entry at the opposite end of the alley on Prospect.

Seeing Milwaukee from a whole new vantage point can give you a different perspective of the city. If you love water sports, you will enjoy a leisurely paddle down the river by either renting a kayak, canoe, or paddleboard with Milwaukee Kayak Company. As long as you stay in the river, paddling the river is not strenuous and for almost all ability levels. Milwaukee Kayak Company also offers tours on the weekends from either of their dock locations.

We know Milwaukee for beer, right? Get to know the history of Pabst at Best Place at the Historic Pabst Brewery. Pabst Blue Ribbon and Milwaukee go hand in hand. You can go on a brewery tour and then you can GO ON A BREWERY TOUR. While this is not a tour of a working brewery, you learn about this iconic brand by digging into the past. The history of Pabst, its stratospheric leap into beer history, its fall, and its revival. Our animated tour guide was incredibly knowledgeable and clearly enjoyed giving the tour. You learn why Milwaukee became the biggest beer producer, stealing the title from Chicago. You find out what it was like to be a Pabst Brewery employee.
After the introduction and the history of the brewery, you get to tour through the original corporate offices, coffee shop, and infirmary. The day I was there the offices were closed for meetings, so we could take a peek at the attached former schoolhouse that Pabst purchased and see some great memorabilia for future use. The tour finished up outside in the courtyard and coffee shop (you can get beer, wine, and spirits too). You can also get Pabst memorabilia and other things in the gift shop.

917 Juneau Avenue Milwaukee

One of my favorite things to do alone when I travel is shopping. Sometimes this just means window shopping. Milwaukee has many great options to spend some cash. The Historic Third Ward is one of the most popular shopping areas downtown. Some of my favorites are Broadway Paper, Retique, Edie Boutique, Mainstream Boutique, and the popular Public Market. If you are visiting Black Cat Alley on the east side and love bookstores, don’t miss Boswell Books.

Hungry? Check out the newest place in downtown Milwaukee, 3rd Street Market Hall

After all that sightseeing, you need a bite to eat. Just opened this year, the new 3rd Street Market Hall on Wisconsin Avenue is really more than a food hall. Central is a large bar that always has people sipping cocktails after a long day at the office. There are game areas. Shuffleboard, giant Jenga, and more. There is a variety of eateries to choose from and ample seating inside and seating outside. Have fun in the Photoverse, a selfie museum with 27 different photo installations. There’s Trivia Night and bottomless Mimosas on Sundays.
See, I told you it was more than a food hall! I ate here 3 times during my 3 days in Milwaukee. The market hall is off Wisconsin Avenue.

For a tasty treat, stop at Purple Door Ice Cream. Visiting on the weekends means you’ll most likely be standing in line. Can’t decide which flavor you’d like? Get a flight. I always get my Purple Door ice cream fix when I’m in Milwaukee. The downtown location is at 205 South 2nd Street in the Walkers Point neighborhood.

I could go on and on. There are some places I have not been to yet, or have not been to in a long time, that need to go on my list. They are Americas Black Holocaust Museum, the Mitchell Park Domes, and Villa Terrace Decorative Arts Museum. Have you been to any of these? Let me know what you think.

Milwaukee has a lot to offer solo travelers. Architecture, history, art, and fun. Spend a weekend in Milwaukee and find out for yourself.