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A Day in Milwaukee with Boys

We are going to a family wedding in Indiana in July. On the way home, we are stopping in the Milwaukee area. I have two boys who will be just turned 14 and almost 11 at that point. If we have one (just one) free day in the Milwaukee area, what do you suggest we do? We already have plans for one day at Six Flags and a Brewers game. This would be in addition to that. Doing a brief online search, some possibilities I considered are the Boerner Botanical Gardens, a tour of the Jelly Belly factory or just hanging out by the waterfront. Ideas? Thoughts? Thanks! Oh, my younger son saw of photo of Monkey Joe's (inflatable bouncers) in Waukesha and thought that looked awesome, but that looks like something we could do here at home.

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Thanks everyone! It's great to get advice from people with first hand experience. After reviewing these responses and talking to my boys, we are leaning towards Discovery World, maybe some time on the lakefront and eating at the Safe House on our extra day. The Zoo sounds like something we might like, but we won't have time and we might visit a Zoo during the Indiana part of the trip. I appreciate everyone pointing me in the right direction and steering me away from the red herrings! It's hard to know for sure when you are just surfing the web.

We went on our trip and are home now. We had fun in Milwaukee. We went to Discovery World, which my younger son really enjoyed, especially the aquarium part. The views of the lake are beautiful. We had dinner at the Safe House with some friends, and my younger son LOVED it. We went to a Brewer's game and although it was a bad game, we really enjoyed seeing Miller Park. The baseball game was for my older son and husband. Thanks for all of the tips!!

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Discovery World is pretty cool! Here's the site... http://www.discoveryworld.org/
Have fun here in Milwaukee!

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Someone probably already said this but there is a wonderful childrens museum called "betty brinn" right by the lake- it is so windy by the lake there is a kite shop there- it's a good place to eat lunch. Also near the childrens museum is an art museum and a discovery museum.

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I live in Waukesha/Milwaukee area here are things my family and I enjoy:

A Brewers game is great... just not a day they play the cubs (but those games are usually sold out anyway). Great baseball park and a baseball game is good family time in my mind.
http://milwaukee.brewers.mlb.com/mil/ballpark/index.jsp

Monkey Joes has a age limit, I believe it is 12 yrs old and younger can play, so your 11 year old would be able to have fun but not your older one. My 3 year old daughter loves it... it can be very busy depending on when you go. I would find something like it around you if possible in stead of here, because your son may only enjoy it for an hour or two (there are about 4 inflatable things he could go on, mainly slides).
http://www.monkeyjoes.com/Waukesha/WalkIns

The Harley Davidson Museum is awesome, if you like motorcycles and even if you do not great history! I just visited it for the the first time last week and LOVED it. They have two floors of various motor cycles from old to new, police cycles to creative cycles. When you are here they may even have the special exhibit of Evel Knievel open which should be very interesting (opens July 10).
http://www.harley-davidson.com/wcm/Content/Pages/HD_Museu...

Boerner Botanical Gardens are nice, I have only been there once but enjoyed it. Teen boys may not like it as much.
http://www.boernerbotanicalgardens.org/

The Domes are also a fun place to explore. 3 indoor climate/gardens. I usually go 3-4 times a year. Once again your teens might not has as much fun as you do.
http://www.milwaukeedomes.org/

--Note the Domes and Boerner Botanical Gardens are different places (even locals get them mixed up or think they are the same... make sure you get the correct address if you decide to go to one from their sites I have above).

Discovery World, also located along the lakefront, is fun to visit. I usually go once a twice a year.
http://www.discoveryworld.org/

The Milwaukee Public Museum... easy to spend a few hours going around it. Great if your kids are into history, science, nature and so on. They have a indoor butterfly garden, old streets of Milwaukee w/candy store, various world scenes. I usually go 1-2 times a year.
http://www.mpm.edu/

I personally have not been on the Jelly Belly Tour but my hubby and daughter have been on it and it really is just riding a "train" car around the factory as they show what they do. You do get a small bag of jelly bellys and then they do have a fun gift shop. They enjoyed it but basically a factory/warehouse tour.
http://www.jellybelly.com/visit_jelly_belly/wisconsin_fac...

If your family likes art the Milwaukee Art Museum is great, plus it is on the lake front so you can also walk along the lake front while there.
http://www.mam.org/

There are some great beaches along the lakefront like Bradford Beach but it does get very busy and crowded when the weather is nice. (still fun).
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g60097-d5322...

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Someone probably already said this but there is a wonderful childrens museum called "betty brinn" right by the lake- it is so windy by the lake there is a kite shop there- it's a good place to eat lunch. Also near the childrens museum is an art museum and a discovery museum.

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Lunch at The Safe House is a MUST! It's downtown Milwaukee and has a spy theme. But what makes it cool is it is in a very non-descript building and you need to know the "code" to get in. Once you get in there is a ton of movie memorabilia and other things to look at. There is also a "secret" exit.

I could tell you the code to get in and the secret exit but. . . . :)

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The Milwaukee County Zoo is FANTASTIC and they just opened a new dinosaur exhibit.

There is also Discovery World which is amazing!

I think both of these would be more fun than Boerner or Jelly Belly (the tour is very lame).

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I lived in the Milwaukee area for about 12 years. Those ages are a little tough. The gardens are interesting, they have a desert, tropical and then a seasonal garden. I would say it is ok, and I love gardens. I'm not sure preteen/teen boys would think it is ok.

Skip Jelly Belly, it is just a tram ride through a warehouse, I wouldn't even take my 6yo son there.
Definately a Brewers game, the stadium is worth going too.

You didn't indicate which week in July you will be there, but usually there is a festival going on at the lakefront. Summerfest being the biggest (late June-through July4th). Just be aware all of the festivals are very beer oriented. I have also been to Italian Fest, Irish Fest and German Fest. All ok, ethnic food and lots of beer. Some of them could get kind of trashy, mostly at night, you should be ok during the day (Sorry Milwaukee). I wouldn't take my son to any of them at 6yo. Would maybe consider your sons age.

Bastille Days happens mid July in downtown Milwaukee, mostly just food/drinks, it gets very crowded.

The art musuem is worth a look (on the lakefront) only for the Calatrava addition, the rest is ok, not earth shattering, but they have a decent art collection.
How about the Harley Davison Museum? I have not been, but heard its pretty interesting. The public Milwaukee Museum is interesting as well, (downtown) and they have an IMAX there.

Sprecher Brewery has a tour, they also brew sodas plus beers and the boys can go. It is a small brewery just north of Milwaukee. If you go you HAVE to go to Solly's (hamburgers) just up the road. I still get cravings for that burger! Both of those are very family friendly and very affordable. That would be my vote! and it is very Milwaukee.

Another alternative is to head out of Milwaukee and stop in Wisconsin Dells, the mecca of waterparks and everything hokey, summer vacation commercial. We stopped there last year on our way back from Walker, MN and had a blast at the waterpark (only 1 day overnight). It will set you back some $$$ at that time of year. They have a lot more than just waterparks.
Hope this helps!!!

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I grew up in the Milwaukee area and have been away about 32 years. Haven't been to the botanical gardens in years, but they were always awesome. If your family like museums, I would also highly suggest the Milwaukee Museum. Very cool!

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I would suggest the Milwaukee Zoo. They have a life-size dinosaur exhibit going on there right now. It does cost extra to go into the dinosaur exhibit, but it's not that much (I think like $2.50) to get into it.

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Try Discovery World. I think your kids would love it. I have not been there myself because my son is only 4 but have heard great things about it.

http://www.discoveryworld.org/experiences.php

Have fun!

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