Key Milwaukee

May 2014

An A-Z visitors guide to Milwaukee Wisconsin. Sponsored by Key Magazine Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/298767

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Water makes Milwaukee fun VISITORS TO MILWAUKEE may think they are entering a 21st century "Waterworld," as would be expected in a city located on Lake Michigan, the fifth-largest lake on earth. Community leaders are striving to make Milwaukee the "water technology capitol of the U.S.," but in the meantime, visitors from throughout the world savor amenities provided by outstanding lakefront and river settings. Milwaukee's outstanding feature is the lakefront. It's home to the only high-speed ferry of its kind in the continental U.S., Henry Maier Festival Park (site of the world's largest outdoor music festival and outstanding ethnic festivals) and the architecturally renowned Milwaukee Art Museum – the 21st century symbol of Milwaukee. Recreational opportunities abound. They include the Milwaukee Sailing Center, Milwaukee Yacht Club and public beaches enjoyed by sun worshippers as well as amateur and professional volleyball players. Cyclists, joggers and walkers head for the lakefront year-round. Beyond the lakeshore, water continues to be a theme. Two of three major rivers flowing into the lake are prime visitor destinations. Flowing through downtown, the Milwaukee River was once vital to the brewing and tanning industries. Today, it offers a lovely RiverWalk as well as a range of boat tours. The RiverWalk extends three miles through the city's downtown, connecting the Historic Third Ward on the south to Brady Street on the north. During summer, the riverside patios of the Milwaukee Ale House, Molly Cool's and The Harp are great spots to people (and boat) watch. At the center of the RiverWalk is a stop linking visitors to Arthur Fonzarelli, the fictional Milwaukeean in the "Happy Days" television series. The "Bronze Fonz" statute is one of the city's leading photo ops. ON the river, Milwaukee Boat Tours conducts narrated tours of the river, harbor and even ventures into the lake for panoramic views of the city. The city's history, including past and present architectural changes, is chronicled in conjunction with Historic Milwaukee, Inc. Another river touring company, RiverWalk Boat Tours, operates large pontoon boat excursion tours that would make Jimmy Buffett smile. It's the only service to venture up another major Milwaukee waterway, the Menomonee River, which flows through a valley that extends from Miller Park, home of the Milwaukee Brewers, past Potawatomi Bingo Casino and the Harley-Davidson Museum before flowing into the Milwaukee River. Milwaukee is becoming a major destination for the study of water, especially freshwater. Milwaukee's Water Council, the only organization of its kind in the U.S., gives the city recognition as a world hub for water research, education and economic development. International programs are held frequently at Discovery World Museum on the city's lakefront. And a vital part of the council is the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee's School of Freshwater Sciences, the first in the nation.

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