Check in early and stay late during OnMilwaukee's "Hotel Week" sponsored by VISIT Milwaukee. These seven days will be packed with stories about historic area hotels, reviews, history, food and drink, staycations and more. Find out what it's like to be a tourist in this town. (Chocolate on your pillow not included.)
As we close out "Hotel Week" we bring you some of our favorite things, places and ideas for a Milwaukee staycation.
Visit it: The Domes
My favorite place to play hooky from responsibility is at the Mitchell Park Domes on a cold but sunny winter day. I love taking off my coat and wearing a shirt with short sleeves and walking around the Desert Dome, remembering what it feels like to be warm and summer-y. I really appreciate the appearance of cacti and succulents – they are so ugly and beautiful and prickly and soft at the same time. I hope I am able to spend time in the Domes for the rest of my life. – Molly Snyder
Stay there: Iron Horse Hotel
There are many great potential staycation venues in Milwaukee but perhaps the most alluring is The Iron Horse Hotel, which boasts beautiful rooms – many with fine views of the Downtown skyline – a great restaurant, a fun bar, a relaxing library, an active lobby vibe, the amazing Yard (in season), and proximity to Walker's Point dining and nightlife options, the Harley Museum and more. – Bobby Tanzilo
Do them: Veterans Park & Milwaukee Public Musuem
In nice weather: walk, run or bike through Veterans Park and then south through Lakeshore State Park. They offer some of the best views of the lake, the harbor, our natural and green space and the increasingly improving skyline – and they're becoming much better utilized and appreciated for recreation. So beautiful and accessible, those parks are real urban jewels that most other cities can't fathom having downtown.
In not-nice weather: visit the Milwaukee Public Museum. I love the nostalgia of seeing the same permanent collections that have been there for decades, and the thrill of experiencing the special and traveling exhibits when those are introduced. I always -- always -- notice something new, learn a fact I didn't know and am reminded of things I should have remembered. – Jimmy Carlton
Visit them: first night of Bastille Days and more
First, I need my typical disclaimer. Here it goes, it’s too hard to pick just one favorite Milwaukee staycation thing. It really is. My life is a Milwaukee staycation. Forced, though, to choose just one. Hmmm. Sorry, I can’t. I love the first night of Bastille Days. It’s seemingly always nice, nearly perfect weather and feels like a vacation in the middle of Downtown. I also enjoy walks around the Historic Third Ward. My wife and others have put massive amounts of energy into that neighborhood and there’s so much to see, eat, drink, buy and explore. Another great day "trip" is a tour of Milwaukee’s many old school bowling alleys and sports card stores. Too many of each to mention, but take an afternoon soon to explore both. – Jeff Sherman
Fun for all: Milwaukee County Zoo
My couch, Netflix, and a bottle of red wine. But, uh, that's probably not what you're looking for...
In nice weather, a trip to the Milwaukee County Zoo makes for a fun day. I love the big cats and could spend hours watching the tiger stalk around his cage, eyeing up all the people. My kids love feeding the giraffes, and of course riding the train or taking a spin on the carousel is always a hit. – Liz Lincoln
