attractions

HARLEY-DAVIDSON MUSEUM
400 W. Canal St. (Canal St. at S. Sixth St.)
Milwaukee's newest museum celebrates the culture and traditions of one of the city's corporate icons, Harley-Davidson Motor Company. Located on a 20-acre site minutes south of downtown Milwaukee, the 130,000-square-foot museum is open 365 days a year. Includes specialty restaurants and gift shop. Winter hours Nov.-April, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. weekdays and 9-6 p.m. weekends. Spring-fall hours May-October, 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Wednesdays, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. all other weekdays and weekends.

MILWAUKEE ART MUSEUM
700 N. Art Museum Dr. Ph. 224-3200. The internationally known museum's Santiago Calatrava-designed Quadracci Pavilion today is the symbol of Milwaukee and is considered the premier work of the Spanish architect. From its roots in 1888, the museum has grown to where it now houses 20,000 works or art and attracts more than 300,00 visitors annually. In addition to the Calatrava-designed pavilion, the 341,000-square-foot museum includes the War Memorial Center (1957) designed by Finnish-American architect Eero Saarinen and the Kahler Building (1975) by David Kahler. The museum is open from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tues.-Sun., with extended hours until 8 p.m. Thurs.

POTAWATOMI BINGO CASINO
1721 W. Canal St. Located minutes from downtown, two-story entertainment complex offers high-stakes bingo; blackjack, craps and roulette table games, and video and reel slot machines. 500-seat cabaret-style theater and 1,800-seat concert hall host some of the nation's top performers. Dining options include international buffet, sports bar & grill, fine dining restaurant and snack bars. Open 24 hours a day. Call toll-free, 1-800-PAYS-BIG or visit website at www.paysbig.com

CAPTAIN FREDERICK PABST MANSION
2000 W. Wisconsin Avenue. Ph. 931-0808. This Flemish Renaissance home of Captain Frederick Pabst, built in 1893, features unique Victorian craftsmanship and design. Open 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday; noon-3:30 p.m. on Sunday. Admission.

THE MUSEUM CENTER
Corner of 7th and Wells Sts. The Museum Center includes the Milwaukee Public Museum and the Humphrey IMAX Dome Theater. The museum and IMAX share a common entrance but feature their own unique educational and entertaining offerings, two gift shops and food court. The Milwaukee Public Museum, among the world's best natural history museums, boasts award-wining, walk-through exhibits and outstanding lifelike dioramas. Ph. 278-2700. The Humphrey IMAX Dome Theater's six-story, domed screen is the first of its kind in Wisconsin. The IMAX is now home to the Daniel M. Soref Planetarium, a digital state-of-the-art planetarium which began operations on Nov. 10, 2006. Ph. (414) 319-IMAX for showtimes or visit the website. Closed Tuesdays through Sept. 30.

MILWAUKEE COUNTY ZOO
10001 W. Bluemound Road. Ph. 771-3040. Located just 10 minutes from downtown, the Milwaukee County Zoo is home to 2,500 rare and wild animals. The animals roam in naturalistic exhibits located on 194 acres. Considered to be among the finest zoos in the country, the Milwaukee County Zoo is open year round. Other special features include an authentic carousel and scheduled winter events. The Milwaukee County Zoo is completely handicapped accessible. Open weekdays 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Sat. & Sun. 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Open 365 days a year. Restaurant. Admission.

BETTY BRINN CHILDREN'S MUSEUM
Miller Company Pavilion at O'Donnell Park, 929 E. Wisconsin Ave. Ph 291-0888. Milwaukee's "hands-on" museum designed especially for children ages one to ten. The interior and exhibits capitalize on the lakefront location. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, noon-5 p.m. Sunday.

DISCOVERY WORLD at PIER WISCONSIN
500 N. Harbor Dr. 765-9966. Summer home of the S/V Denis Sullivan, Milwaukee’s own Great Lakes tall ship, Pier Wisconsin also houses Discovery World Museum, with unique interactive science attractions sponsored by some of Milwaukee's leading corporations, freshwater and saltwater aquariums and the HIVE, a virtual-reality chamber that puts visitors into 30 simulated environments. Discovery World is open to the public from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday (open until 8 p.m. the second Thursday of each month) and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

MILWAUKEE PUBLIC MARKET
400 N. Water St. 336-1111. Opened in 2005, this year-round, indoor marketplace for specialty food vendors is surrounded by outdoor seasonal stalls on Saturdays during the growing season. The Public Market is located at downtown’s entrance to the Historic Third Ward, once headquarters for the area’s produce brokers. The market also hosts cooking classes and other special events. Open 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday. The market’s coffee shop, Cedarburg Coffee Roastery, opens weekdays at 7:00AM.  (Enter at the SW Market entrance on the corner of Water and St. Paul streets. Free parking for one hour in adjacent lot, entered from Water St.

JUNEAU PARK PADDLEBOATS
Just north of the Veterans Park on the Lakefront. Paddleboats, Hydro-bikes and radio-controlled sailboats rented from 10 a.m. until sunset seven days a week, weather permitting, through October. 217-7235. Reservations not required.

THE GROHMANN MUSEUM
Milwaukee School of Engineering, 1000 N. Broadway 414-277-7501. The home of the world’s most comprehensive art collection dedicated to the evolution of human work, the museum features the Eckhart G. Grohmann Collection Man at Work, containing more than 400 years of artists’ depictions of organized work, from manpower and horsepower to water, steam and electrical power. Open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Fri., noon-6 p.m. Sat. 1-4 p.m. Sun. Monday-Saturday. Admission $5 for adults, $3 for students 11-18 and adults 65 and older.

LAKESHORE STATE PARK
273-1173. 17-acre park located on Lake Michigan and the shores of Summerfest and Discovery World at Pier Wisconsin. Surrounded by water and connected to Urban Park by the Lakeshore State Park bridge.

MARCUS CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS
929 N. Water St. 273- 7121. Home of the Milwaukee Symphony, Milwaukee Ballet, the Florentine Opera Company, First Stage Children’s Theater and host to touring Broadway shows and numerous special events, the Marcus Center is in the heart of the downtown theater district along the Milwaukee River. The center also houses the Morning Glory Art Gallery. www.marcuscenter.org.

FRONTIER AIRLINES CENTER
400 W. Wisconsin Ave. 908-6001. Milwaukee’s modern convention center is operated by the Wisconsin Center District. The district also operates THE MILWAUKEE THEATRE at 500 W. Kilbourn Ave. and the U.S. CELLULAR ARENA at 400 W. Kilbourn Ave.

MITCHELL GALLERY OF FLIGHT
Located the main concourse of Milwaukee’s General Mitchell International Airport, this aviation museum is named after Gen. “Billy” Mitchell, who grew up in Milwaukee and is widely regarded as the “Father of the U.S. Air Force." Permanent and changing exhibits on display.

LUXEMBOURG AMERICAN CULTURAL CENTER
Belgium, Wis., 40 minutes north of Milwaukee. Ph. 262-476-5086. This center was dedicated in August 2009 by Luxembourg’s Grand Duke Henri. Contains extensive genealogical records and gift shop. Open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Wed., Thurs. & Fri. and 1-4 p.m. the first and third Sat. of each month. Off I-43N at Exit 107, left to County LL and right to center. www.luxamculturalsociety.org

WISCONSIN MARITIME MUSEUM
75 Maritime Drive, Manitowoc, Wis. 920-684-0218 Visit the Wisconsin Maritime Museum where you can tour a fully restored World War II submarine, operate a steam engine, visit a 19th century shipbuilding town and sail a boat in the Children’s Waterways room – all at the region’s only Smithsonian affiliate and the largest maritime museum on the Great Lakes. Through interactive exhibits, learn about the schooners, sailors, shipbuilders and submariners of the region. Open 7 days a week, year-round. 79 miles north of Milwaukee on I-43.

LYNDEN SCULPTURE GARDEN
2145 W. Brown Deer Rd. 446-8794. The Lynden Sculpture Garden offers a unique experience of art in nature through its collection of more than 50 monumental sculptures sited across 40 acres of park, lake and woodland. 10 a.m.-dusk Wed., Noon-5 p.m. Sun. Docent-led tour Sun. at 2:30 p.m., reservations required.

TEN CHIMNEYS, The Tour of a Lifetime.
S43 W31575 Depot Road, Genesee Depot, Wis. 262-968-4110.
Just 40 minutes southwest of downtown Milwaukee, this National Historic Landmark was the estate of legendary 20th- century Broadway actors Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne. Amenities at the Lunt-Fontanne Program Center include free parking, restrooms, ample lobby seating, permanent interactive exhibition, temporary exhibition on the Lunts tea sets, nature trails, and a lovely museum store. Tours offered Tuesday-Saturday, April-October. Ages 12 and up. $28-$35. Reservations strongly recommended.

MILWAUKEE COUNTY HISTORICAL CENTER
910 N. 3rd Street. Ph. 273-8288. Closed for renovation.

IRISH CULTURAL AND HERITAGE CENTER OF WISCONSIN
2133 W. Wisconsin Ave. Ph. 345-8800
Located in the landmark Grand Avenue Congregational Church building just west of downtown, the center is the home of a wide range of cultural and educational programs and the site for concerts, lectures, art exhibits, dances, Irish music classes and a center for genealogical research.

MITCHELL PARK CONSERVATORY, THE DOMES
524 S. Layton Blvd. 649-9800. Only horticultural structure of its kind in the world, the geodesic domes let visitors experience nature from different regions of the world. In the Arid Dome, find one of the world’s finest collections of cacti, succulents and shrubs. The jungle-like trails of the Tropical Dome focus on plants from the rainforests of five continents. A multitude of orchids and bromeliads, plus a rushing waterfall, greet visitors. (Colorful birds also call the Tropical Dome their home.) The Floral Show Dome features five seasonal displays each year. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily.

BOERNER BOTANICAL GARDENS
5879 S. 92nd St. Ph. 425-1130. Located in Whitnall Park, this 40-acre formal garden is surrounded by a 1,000-acre arboretum. Garden house and gift shop open until 7 p.m. Garden hours 8 a.m. -sunset. Limited tours available.

MILWAUKEE RIVERWALK, six blocks on both sides of the river from Highland Avenue to the Historic Third Ward. Life-sized statue of actor Henry Winkler as “Fonzie” from the “Happy Days” television show on the east side of the Riverwalk, just south of Wells Street.

SCHLITZ AUDUBON CENTER, 1111 E. Brown Deer Rd. 352-2880. In suburban Bayside, this 225-acre nature center is open year round and includes walks along Lake Michigan shoreline.


PABST THEATER, 144 E. Wells Street. Ph. 286-3665. This National Landmark Theater, built in 1895 by Milwaukee brewing magnate Captain Frederick Pabst, was the first all-electric theater in the country. The Pabst hosts over 200 performances a year featuring the world’s great artists. Free, public tours Saturdays at 11:30 a.m. Tours at other times by arrangement.

PETTIT NATIONAL ICE CENTER
500 S. 84th St. Ph. 266-0100. Official U.S. Olympic Training Facility and home to the U.S. Speedskating Team. The Pettit National Ice Center offers world-class programming in figure skating, hockey and speed skating. Call for daily public skating, group discounts, tours, banquets and special events. Admission $5 adults; $4 children/seniors; $2.50 skate rental.

CEDAR CREEK WINERY
Corner of Bridge and Washington Sts., Cedarburg. Ph. 377-8020. With its Old World atmosphere and award-winning wines, Cedar Creek Winery appeals to connoisseur and novice alike. This working winery is located within the Cedar Creek Settlement, a 130-year-old woolen mill building that also features antique and specialty shops and a restaurant. Winery tours and tastings 10 a.m. -5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. -5 p.m. Sunday, year-round. Gift shop features wines and wine accessories.

HOLY HILL
Near Hartford, northwest of Milwaukee, this is the highest point in Southeastern Wisconsin and includes the Basilica of Holly Hill. Native Americans also considered the 435-acre site a sacred place. Offers beautiful view of Milwaukee and the surrounding countryside in all seasons.

EAA AIRVENTURE MUSEUM
In Oshkosh just off Highway 41 at the Highway 45 exit. Ph. (920) 426-4818 or visit www.eaa.org. One of the world's finest aviation museums, with more than 250 airplanes on display, the AirVenture Museum is open from 8:30 a.m.- 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday.

TALIESIN
Spring Green, Wis. 608-588-7900, 1877-588-7900
Located an hour west of Madison and 2.5 hours from Milwaukee is the 600-acre estate of America's greatest architect, Frank Lloyd Wright. Included on the estate is Taliesin, the architect's "work of a lifetime." The estate, which now includes an exceptional bookstore, offers a full complement of daily walking tours, house tours and four-hour estate tours. Reservations recommended.

SKY KNIGHTS SPORT PARACHUTE CLUB
East Troy, Wis., 30 minutes southwest of Milwaukee off I-43. 800-382-4883.
Southeastern Wisconsin's skydiving opportunity. Tandem jumps and solo lessons available. Visit www.SkyDiveMilwaukee.com for details.

CHARLES ALLIS ART MUSEUM, 1801 N. Prospect Ave. 278-8295. Elegant 1911 Tudor-style mansion museum with period rooms, original furnishings and worldwide art collection spanning 2,000 years. Changing exhibits, concerts, programs; Great Hall and English Garden. Sunday guided tours or by appointment. Tudor-style Holidays. Open 1-5 p.m., Wed. through Sun.