The Pabst Mansion certainly comes alive during Christmas time with whimsy and play amidst history…read moreand class. It's my favorite time to visit since each room is activated with holiday decor, festive cheer, and pops of color! Year after year, a team of volunteers help staff transform the Pabst Mansion into this whimsical exhibition adding to the MKE beer baron's living experience. Each year, the colors and decor changes adding a unique experience every holiday season! Times entry and same day tickets are available in advance or at the door, though "at the door" occurs at street level in an adjacent building. A very small free parking lot is up the hill onsite next to the mansion but additional free parking is available across the street and is labeled with signage. If you haven't had the chance to visit during the holiday season, I do recommend it as something different to do during the colder months!

It's an old restored house if that is what you enjoy. Well done inside and you get a small taste…read moreof PBR! Parking and traffic is an issue. Gift store and more restrooms next door.

I love how easy the skywalk system makes getting around Milwaukee. Each skywalk is a little…read moredifferent, some including an insight into some of the history of Milwaukee or the different neighborhoods. I used to live and work downtown and the skywalks were great for getting around in the winter or inclement weather. Now, only working downtown I find it a great place to go for a walk at lunch or get somewhere.

This is one fun tour. I guess I get a little geeked out when walking around and learning about the…read morehistory of things. For Milwaukee it is no less different. I also did not realize how many Skywalks Milwaukee has. They are scattered throughout and show different views of this great city. The lady who gave the tour was awesome and she really is up on the history of the city. It was an informative tour and we also got a little cardio in to boot. Good stuff!

Jordyn did a great job! She was very knowledgeable and had lots of great facts about the city…read more Highly recommend!

This place is a scam. I booked a tour the day after the Republican Convention. I get a text on the…read moreday saying they had to reschedule due to street closures because of the Republican National Convention (it was over and the RNC was announced months ago, don't book for that week). I rescheduled for the next day. I arrived at the place and searched for the group. I get a text about 10 minutes before start time that the guide had an "emergency" and they would be happy to reschedule me. This place looks legitimate but with the unprofessionalism and the last minute cancelations I think it is a scam.

AHOY THERE! Where do I even begin?!? First, RUN don't walk to book a trip with Shelly and the S.S…read more MKE! She knows the ropes and is ready to chart the course to good times and a boatload of laughs on the streets of Milwaukee. This little bus is packed with so many joyful things to look at, I almost felt like I should have donned a Patrick Starfish costume. Next time! The boat theme was spot on, down to portholes and seasick bags! We were taking on the city Laverne and Shirley style plus 6 girls to get out of town and have some fun. I think I may have sprouted some abs, all be them well hidden from view, from the amount of laughter that ensued on our travels. We used our local beer pass as a starting point and we had Shelly's guidance to take us to the best destinations. She knew all the hidden treasure locations, pointed out so much about the city and made us feel like we were her new best friends. Logistically, the "boat" is set up with two bench seats facing each other, you can have great conversations with friends as well as face forward to see what is up and coming on your excursion. There is forward facing seating in the far back. The aisle was big enough to bring a cooler on board with plenty of room to get around. The windows were quite large to take in all the sights and of course to shout a hearty "Happy Saturday" to all we passed. If you are reading this and heard the shouts from a weekend in October 2021, yep, that was me! Really, who doesn't love compliments and 90's music floating on the wind on a sunny fall day?!? Really, the only thing I wish for would be that the S.S. MKE was in my town that I could book something with them more often. While this trip was my first adventure, it undoubtedly will not be my last! Shelly is absolutely worth her salt and then some! If nautical nonsense be something you wish...set sail with the S.S. MKE!

Terrible experience with an unreliable service. They cancelled on me last minute for a concert…read morebecause they decided they wanted to go to the concert too. The owner became argumentative with me when I expressed frustration, and she blamed me for it. It was extremely unprofessional and very childish the way she spoke down to me. She said I never confirmed booking. I've attached my email showing proof of my confirmation. I was trying to organize the event with 13 other people at three different pickup locations. So, it took me a while to get back to them with all the exact details. But when I did, she said we were still good; until about a week later when I got the email saying they had to cancel because they wanted to go to the concert instead of fulfilling their commitment to us. So, if you need a reliable service, this is not it.

Happy Birthday to a Milwaukee Landmark... the Allen Bradley Clock! Unveiled on Halloween Night in…read more1962. Nicknamed the Polish Moon Was the worlds largest 4-sided clock for many years (yes bigger than Big Ben!) until those damn Saudi's put an end to its reign. (Not just by a little).

First to review? How is that ??? OK. 5 stars! Done. Yes…read moreSir! It is the best clock I have ever seen in my life. In my opinion. Another bonus is the Thermometer Tower, extra double rainbow! Another iconic sight to see in Milwaukee is the Allen Bradley clock. It's considered the largest 4 sided clock in the western hemisphere by Guinness book of world records. A great landmark for Walker's point. It accurate let's the employees know they are running late or early. It's also used as a navigational aid to boaters of Lake Michigan. It's dedication was Oct 31, 1962. I'm sure they will celebrate it's 50th birthday this year, I guess. I could have scampered in from the street. They don't let people just wander on in, you may have to do a drive by check in. BTW. Rockwell automation purchased the name and is a leader in automation systems, sensors and programming. I'm sure we all know someone that works @ the worlds headquarters in Milwaukee. Come on Milwaukee Yelpers this should be Slightly more popular than an old water tower on St. Mary Hill or Bronze Fonze, Henry Winkler? (I'm ready to catch Hell for that.)

I have never been to old world Wisconsin before. This was our first visit…read more I had no idea what to expect, and I was pleasantly surprised at all the different villages, and the workers they had there in period clothing, explaining to the visitors what they were doing. It was lovely to me and through all the different villages, and take in the history of it all. I would love to see it in fall. I'm sure it is absolutely as beautiful as in every season. Highly recommend for all age groups.

Loved our recent stop here. Got some free passes at the local library so that helped save some…read moremoney. I came here as a kid on a field trip but I forgot how big the whole compound was. Thankfully, they offer trams to bring you between the villages. We opted to walk and it was quite the work out on a late July day. But, loved the experience to help bring us back in time a bit. They do have a few treats along the way like ice cream, food and beer/canned adult beverages/soda, but I definitely recommend you bring water or snacks. It can be a long day if you take your time and check out all the buildings, which I highly recommend. The staff are so friendly and informative and answer questions patiently. Very impressed with all of the staff!!

We did a ghost tour around Halloween. It was such a fun and entertaining experience. The group size…read morewas large, and it was fun walking around and learning all the ghost stories

Tonight, I went on a walking tour in Milwaukee titled "Ghosts of Christmas Past". The tour started…read moreout at the Pabst Theater on Wells and Water and crossed the street to Milwaukee City Hall where we learned about the suicide problem in which 7 people jumped to their death from higher floors into the open lobby below. Horrifying but also fascinating! From there we visited the Pfister Hotel where we learned about Charles Pfister who watches out for his guests and less-nice ghosts who have scared the bejesus out of Major League Baseball players, leaving some unwilling to stay at the hotel again. We walked past the old Newhall Hotel where 70 guests perished in a fire on our way back to the Pabst Theater where we learned about Captain Frederick Pabst who remains present at the theater that bears his name, the mansion he built on Wisconsin Avenue and his brewery village in the city. Our tour guide, Tea, was very knowledgeable and entertaining. There are other local tours in the Third Ward and Brady Street that I look forward to joining this summer. The price was very reasonable. When you go, tip your guide!

I had a blast on this tour! The cycling itself wasn't very intense, and there was just one slow…read moreincline hill. Heidi was an absolutely great guide. Very friendly and informed. I've been on bike tours where you bike a bit, stop, get information. Then you're silently on the move again. This stop was non-stop information. She was great a giving you a heads up on any directional information nestle in with Milwaukee exciting and fun facts. Felt very safe and thoroughly enjoyed all of the stops. My tour was a smaller group so we didn't use the headset and I could hear everything -- but it's an excellent idea for a larger group. Highly recommend!

From the owner: We believe the best way to see a city is by bike. We specialize in guided tours and local biking…read moreadventures. Enjoy navigating the city's bike paths and bike lanes on relaxed 3-speed beach cruisers.  The urban adventures are designed as a unique and personalized experience showcasing the growing landscape and new businesses that continue to make Milwaukee great. All tours include bike, helmet, and 2-way radio. In addition to the traditional sightseeing bike tours custom packages are available to suit the interests and size of various groups.

named in honor of Daniel Webster Hoan (a socialist before the cool kids wrecked socializing)…read moreun-originally dubbed the Harbor Bridge it was finished in 1972 but only opened to traffic five years later - but still not completely connected up until 1998 because, well, you know... Milwaukee!! clocking in at just over 10,000 feet long the Hoan Bridge carries six lanes of I-794 some 120' above the Milwaukee River. the crazy yellow arch dominates the view eastward during the day and multi-color LEDs create a spectacle after sunset. one more thing: contrary to local rumor the Blue Brothers' car chase was NOT filmed here (M. J. Prigge, Sheppard Express, 12-Sep-2016)

Boy oh boy do I love heading north on the Hoan Bridge....this beautiful and stinky bridge gets me…read morefrom Bay View to Downtown Milwaukee in 5 minutes! I love crossing over Lake Michigan and seeing the Downtown Milwaukee skyline. You have plenty of great views including Lake Michigan, Summerfest, Milwaukee Art Museum and so on. It truly makes Milwaukee look great! The only problem I have with Hoan Bridge is that smells terrible...some days are worse then others, but overall, it smells like poo. It's not the bridge's fault, of course. I love this bridge!

Want to cruise Lake Michigan affordably and have a boating experience that recreates history? By…read moreall means, get yourself down to Pier Wisconsin pronto and take a sail on the Denis Sullivan. In my mind, this is one of the most amazing experiences the city of Milwaukee offers. Hands down! The Denis Sullivan is a 140-foot sailing vessel that is a recreation of an 1890s cargo vessel. It has space for 50 on its upper deck, three full sails, and three jib sails on the mast. There's a lower compartment that has a head (bathroom), sleeping quarters, kitchen mess, and a gift shop. An exhibit that is part of Discovery World, your ticket buys you a two-hour tour during the summer. Truly, if boating is your thing, this is an amazing must-do. My family and I took the tour recently and we had a blast. The six of us spanned ages from 2 to 73. We all enjoyed it equally. My two year old great niece enjoyed the fact that she had room to roam around to her liking. She wandered everywhere happily. We got pictures of her steering the boat on the rear wheel that controlled the rudder. All of us enjoyed the performance by the ships cast of 8 crew members. They involved all 50 of us on board in a discussion about safety, then gave commands to hoist all of the sails once we had motored comfortably away from the pier and cut the engine. The ropes and sails were neatly and precisely tucked away in a manner any experienced sailor will tell you is proper. Along with other guests, my great niece and her dad helped hoist the sail, and my niece was fascinated with pulling rope for the rest of the trip, "helping" the crew in her own fashion. The crew was on hand to answer questions and quite hospitable with the guests. "This boat is a fiberglass magnet," one crew member told my family, pointing to the boats that pulled up alongside our vessel. They also noted that the boat was weighted in a manner that if it tipped, it would pop back up - a good feature to have on a sailboat that can lean in the wind. A wonderful bonus occurred when two of the crew pulled out a banjo and a fiddle and performed bluegrass music, singing and clapping. My great niece danced and the rest of us enjoyed the performance. The pristine view of Milwaukee's skyline and lakefront is unparalleled. The breeze is cooling and comfortable and the sail is a most enjoyable thing to do on a weekend. Take a trip on the Denis Sullivan. You won't regret it!

A few weeks ago a woman told me the new Pier Wisconsin building adjacent to the Art Museum on the…read morelakefront has the best view of Milwaukee's skyline available without a boat in the city. Intrigued by that and an indoor aquarium, I stopped by this weekend to check it out. Overall, this is a very cool place. The building is beautiful in a modern way that accentuates the Calatrava next door. The lines are clean and nautical and the slat wood floor in the main hallway/promenade was beautiful and different. In general, there is an unfinished feeling to the place despite its having been open more than a month. I can understand the desire to open to the public as soon as possible, but paying $16 for a lot of unfinished exhibits bothered me slightly. That said, there are some wonderful things in this building, which now houses Discovery World, as well as the Pier Wisconsin aquarium and a permanent home for the Denis Sullivan sailboat. The highlight of the aquarium is a tunnel where fish swim a few feet over your head. The glass is so smooth and clear that from certain angles it feels as if you are viewing the image of fish on a hi-definition screen, not actual fish swimming a few feet over your head in a spectacular mega-tank. There is also an open tank for petting small (barbless) stingrays and other fish. We didn't have tons of time to see Discovery World, but needless to say this place is an educational kids heaven. Everything is designed to be touched, felt and understood. In the new (unfinished) techno-jungle area, lots of hip 20-somethings in white lab coats helped kids play and understand a hovering people mover, an inra-red camera, a storm simulator, and best of all, a virtual reality control that led through the streets of Milwaukee. I unfortunately walked right off the bridge over Lincoln Memorial Drive to the Art Museum before surrendering the control to an actual child. Overall, I think Milwaukee has done very well for itself here. The location is amazing, parking easy (underground), the aquarium spectacular and views from the edge of the building are indeed among the best of Milwaukee's lakeside skyline.