tours

see and sample

BEST PLACE at the historic Pabst Brewery, 901 W. Juneau Ave. 630-1609. Experience Milwaukee brewinghistory by touring the former Pabst headquarters. Tavern open for business as well as Beer History Tours. Ask about schedule for signed tours for the deaf. www.bestplacemilwaukee.com

CEDAR CREEK WINERY, corner of Bridge and Washington Sts. in Cedarburg. 262-377-8020. Tour includes the limestone cellars where fermenting, aging and bottling occurs, and concludes with sampling of delicate whites to robust reds. Gift shop. www.cedarcreekwinery.com.

GREAT LAKES DISTILLERY, 616 W. Virginia St. 431-8683. Tasting Room with bar and signature drinks as well as tours. Locally distilled spirits include whiskey, gin, brandy, vodka, rum and absinthe. www.greatlakesdistillery.com.

HARLEY-DAVIDSON PILGRIM RD. POWERTRAIN OPERATIONS FACTORY TOUR, W156 N9000 Pilgrim Rd., Menomonee Falls. The Pilgrim Rd. Steel Toe Tour package includes a ticket to the Harley-Davidson Museum. A shuttle takes visitors from the museum to Pilgrim Rd. to see an up-close-and-personal view of the assembly line, powder coat process, cold testing and steel and aluminum machining. The Steel Toe Tour goes behind-the-scenes through areas previously unseen by the public. Free Pilgrim Rd. factory tours also are available. For tour times call 877-883-1450 or visit www.harley-davidson.com/experience

LAKEFRONT BREWERY, 1872 N. Commerce St. 372-8800. Raising a souvenir pint glass is just part of the fun on this tour.

MILWAUKEE BREWING COMPANY, 613 Second St. 226-2337; Small-scale craft brewery operated by Milwaukee Ale House. Regular tours. www.mkebrewing.com

MILLER BREWERY TOURS, 4251 W. State St. 931-BEER/2337 or www.millercoors.com. Experience brewing history since 1855. See production from brewing to bottling and distribution. Visit the Historic Caves where Fred Miller himself will invite you into Bavarian-Style Miller Inn for free samples (only for those 21 and older). Open Mon.-Sat. and open Sun. from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day.

MILLER PARK TOURS, One Brewers Way, 902-4000 and 902-4888 (group tours). Tours of one of the America’s most outstanding baseball stadiums.

THE PABST MANSION 2000 W. Wisconsin Avenue. 931-0808. Tour the Flemish Renaissance home of Captain Frederick Pabst, built in 1893, featuring unique Victorian craftsmanship and design. www.pabstmansion.com.

SPRECHER BREWING COMPANY, 701 W. Glendale Ave. 964-7837. Milwaukee’s original microbrewery, nationally known for fine European style beers and gourmet sodas. Only a few miles north of downtown. Call for tour info. Gift shop open every day, except major holidays. www.sprecherbrewery.com.

see the city

HISTORIC MILWAUKEE, “Skywaukee” tours at 1 p.m. Saturdays, through May 25. Daily 10 a.m. “Downtown through the Eras” tours begin June 1. Both tours start at Shops of Grand Avenue, 161 W. Wisconsin Ave., statue on ground floor atrium beside TJ MAXX. Special tours during summer. 277-7795.

KBC TOUR COMPANY, 800-704-9049. Custom tours by experienced tour director. www.kbctourcompany.com.

MILWAUKEE BOAT LINE, 101 W. Michigan St., downtown on the RiverWalk. 294-9450. Sightseeing tours of the Milwaukee River, harbor and Lake Michigan daily, narrated by Historic Milwaukee guides. May-Sept. Happy Hour and other cruises also available. www.mkeBOAT.com.

RIVERWALK BOAT TOURS & RENTALS, Pere Marquette Park, 3rd Street between State Street and Kilbourn Avenue. 283-9999. Public river cruises and ten-person, self-driven pontoon available. Also weekend brewery tours, private and corporate charters.

MILWAUKEE FOOD TOURS, 800-979-3370. Discover Milwaukee’s most delicious neighborhoods. Guided walking tours, tastings, plus stories of rich immigrant past. Custom group tour planning - factory tours, progressive dinners, cooking demonstrations and unique Pizza Bus Tours. www.MilwaukeeFoodTours.com.

take a sidetrip

S.C. JOHNSON TOURS, Golden Rondelle Theater, 1525 Howe St., Racine. 262-260-2154. Headquarters of one of the world’s leading manufacturers of household products is a showcase for work of famed Wisconsin architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Call for details of free tours.

TEN CHIMNEYS, Genesee Depot (exit I-94 at Hwy. 83 south, 30 minutes west of Milwaukee. 262-968-4110. Estate tours of the home of Broadway greats Alfred Lunt & Lynne Fontanne, a National Historic Landmark. Tour season runs May 7-Dec. 1. www.tenchimneys.org