Wisconsin Moms or Others Familiar with Milwaukee

The Safe House (spy-themed restaurant) in downtown - kinda a neat place, but would probably be more enjoyable with a group

downtown Milwaukee has a river with some really nice restaurants along it. I don't recall the name of it, but there is a British-themed restaurant with riverfront seating

You could hang out by the shore of Lake Michigan. Not sure if it is walking distance from your hotel--I used to ride my bike there from Marquette's campus.

The Milwaukee Art Museum

Marquette University has the oldest building in North America - the St. Joan of Arc chapel which is a tiny brick chapel in the middle of Marquette's campus. They also have an art museum on campus that is free to the public. Marquette is just a few blocks outside of downtown

There is a mall right on Wisconsin Avenue; Water Street has many restaurants and bars

Really, just walking around the downtown area is enjoyable. But, beware, there are MANY panhandlers, so don't be shocked by that.

ETA: If you're at all into architecture, there's a beautiful Orthodox church designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in Cudahy, which is the town due West of Milwaukee--you could catch a bus there. If I am recalling correctly it is Ascension.

I was going to say the Safe House also. So, you should definitely go there if nothing else than to say you have been there. It is within walking distance of your hotel.

I was also going to say the Joan of Arc chapel on Marquette's campus. If it isn't within walking, it is just up the street a few blocks. It is a medieval chapel that they took stone by stone and moved here. It is so neat to see the original doorways and see how short people really were.

You should also check out the Cathedral on campus! It is stylized after the Chartres Cathedral in France. I think it is beautiful and interesting because they put the moon and sun towers on the wrong sides and no one noticed for years and years.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gesu_Church_(Milwaukee,_Wisc...

Also, if you don't have them by where you live now, and you want a good, no I mean GREAT sandwich, go to Jimmy Johns. It was the only one I had ever seen until they came here last year. I have to recommend the turkey/bacon sub, but anything they have is good.

I didn't go to the mall downtown, so I can't tell you if its a good one or not, but hanging out on the shores of the lake is fun and good.

There are some neat museums around downtown that are pretty neat to look at. Also, Pabst Mansion is SO SO SO neat to see. You're not supposed to, but I got to sneak up to the top 3rd floor one day and it was fascinating. But the whole place is breathtaking! I highly recommend going here. Its only open in the day time if I remember right.

Finally, the Budweiser tour is so fun! you get to go into the caverns where they store and process the beer. It was interesting to get to go in there, and my dad loved the free beer at the end! (I personally thought it tasted like beer, but hey, I don't like beer.)

Have fun! and enjoy yourself.

Any interest in the Harley-Davidson museum?

Well, I've been there with kids, but we really enjoyed the Discovery Center, a combination science/technology museum and aquarium. It's on a beautiful setting right on the lake. We had fun at the Spy House with kids and a group, but I don't recommend it as a spot to hang out on your own. Hopefully our midwestern weather will warm up by the time you arrive and I would highly recommend doing something on the lakefront. I don't think we went into it, but I seem to recall there's an interesting museum near the Discovery Center. Maybe a contemporary art museum? If you like beer I would try a local brew.

You will be staying by Grand Ave mall but it's nothing much anymore. Head east on Wisconsin and you can see the Calatrava (art museum) http://www.gowherehiphop.com/blogs/making-buildings-move-... There is a restaurant in there that is good. Then you could take a walk along the lakefront which is nice but will prob be cold still in the next few weeks.

Otherwise, hmmm check out cathedral square to look at architecture, go to the Harley Davidson Museum, the Pabst theater is beautiful, the shops and the Milwaukee Public market in the Historic Third Ward are fun to visit and walk around. Google a map of that area first though as some shops are a block apart. The river runs through that area too. Eat at the Milwaukee Ale House or Water Buffalo which are on the river in the Third Ward.

I say skip the Safe House as I think it's a dive, but I've been there done that with the place so maybe I don't "get it" anymore. Maybe if your going out for drinks with others but not for lunch.

ETA Annunciation - is the Greek Orthodox church and it's North West from the city. Not a great area btw but the church is quite beautiful.