Like it says on the tin (and the signs at every intersection for miles around) it is a park…read moreoverflowing with spectacular sculptures. Nice and shady on those hot summer days, but bug spray is advised. We just parked off the side near the entrance and walked around. You can spend a lot of time wandering around metal sculptures large and small. Has a little of the outsider artist aesthetic due to many of the materials being found objects, but these are a good professional quality. Free admission, but donations are accepted. There isn't a map or guide for the park, but all paths eventually circle back out to the entrance. The brochure said you can call if you want to talk to the artist, but we were socially distancing so just self-guided. Definitely worth a trip out here. Support your local artists!

The setting for this gallery - in an old brick mill alongside the Milwaukee river is as spectacular…read moreas the art. Almost a dozen painters and sculptors are represented here.

Kids had a random day off, and that means museums! But it's a pandemic and in winter and this was…read moreseriously the only museum I could find that was open. But we like small museums too, so off we go. There is free street parking, but it's hard to figure out where the entrance is. It's off Main Street on the little drop-off loop, up a few stairs and under the "WAUKESHA COUNTY" sign. Inside there's a desk with a volunteer selling admission, except we were lucky and it was a free day! We still donated some money though. Part of the museum was closed for renovations. They're planning a big birthday exhibition soon. Most of the museum is the typical stuff you'd get at a historical society (including a research library), but the standout here is the Les Paul room. I thought it was very well done; the kids and I all liked it and learned a lot about out local guitar engineer. Definitely worth a trip out here atleast once. Plus it's a cute little town and even an after-museum walk along the Fox in winter is enjoyable.

Somewhere there's music How faint the tune…read moreSomewhere there's heaven How high the moon At the Waukesha County Museum, the music can be found high up on the 3rd floor, for this is the permanent home and exhibit of Waukesha's most famous son: Les Paul, aka, The Wizard of Waukesha. It's hard for me to put in words how much I respect Les Paul. He was a genius on so many fronts: guitarist extraordinaire, singer, songwriter, comedian, inventor, innovator and all around good guy. Not a day goes by in our lives where something we see or hear was not influenced by his technical advancements. Did you hear recorded music today? Les pioneered multi-track recording. How about Led Zeppelin? Jimmy Page's preferred electric guitar was a Gibson Les Paul. For that matter, if you heard rock and roll today, somewhere, somehow, Les's influence was there. So to be able to fork over only $7 to see some of Les's personal artifacts and mementos is a great deal to me. The museum has some other interesting artifacts too. In the Winter of 2014, the first floor exhibited items from the American Civil War. A few of the items were downright harrowing: whips, ball and chain, shackles--how could humans have done this to one another? And while it's not a huge museum--you can see the entire thing, thoroughly, in about 3 hours--it's a great way to while away a Saturday or Sunday winter afternoon. It's also in a building which is an interesting artifact itself--the former Waukesha County Courthouse built in 1893. My suggestion: start at the bottom and work your way up. You'll be saving the best part--the Les Paul exhibit--for last. The Waukesha County Museum. The best reason to visit Waukesha since spring water. Note: Waukesha was known as Spring City. People traveled from around the world to sip its water with "miraculous healing powers." Today that water has, for the most part, been replaced by Miller Lite.

This is such an incredible park! They have a parking lot, picnic tables in shade, walking trails…read morearound the water, views of the Wehr nature Center, a golf course clubhouse, and even some seasonal things like sledding, Halloween decorations, etc. Expect to see a lot of hikers or bird watchers when it's nice!

Whitnall Park- the Crown Jewel of the MKE County Park system? Perhaps! We've hiked here often, come…read moreto the seasonal Sprecher beer garden, brought the kids to the Wehr Nature Center and Boerner Botanical Garden. This place really has something for everyone. Frisbee golf? You got it. Golf golf? You got it. Sledding? You got it. XX Skiiing. BYO, but got that too! Hiking here is a pleasure, and there are so many trails and different types of landscapes. Blue Loop is a wooded wonderland. But is there a way around the Yellow Loop without having to walk on water? LMK! Can't wait to get back to Whitnall Park.

Milwaukee has some nice little galleries and this one is excellent. It's two rooms with a little…read morehallway and perfect for a one artist show. The location is a little tricky, the address is listed on South 5th Street but the actual entrance is off Walker (west side).

What a nice local art gallery situated in an interesting old but renovated downtown shopping area…read more The art here is moderately expensive, commensurate with the high quality and originality. 17 wide ranging artists have their work here, there's clothing, paintings, ceramics, jewelry, sculpture and photography. The artist in residence has fascinating ceramics and canvas mounted prints from his grandfather's slides and negatives (primitive PICs for you Millennials). If you're redecorating or looking for a memorable original special gift, I'd make a stop here.

We recently were introduced to Mary Merrill and her husband during Milwaukee's Gallery Night/Day…read morethat Milwaukee runs quarterly. Located in the LL of the century old warehouse The Marshall building in the Historic Third Ward, they share space with many amazing galleries. We recently found out about Crystalline Glaze pottery from an Artist out of Sedona, AZ. Mary is only one of a few that produces this pottery in Wisconsin. While Mary was working, her husband gave us a tour of the space, and explained the different kilns used, and anything and everything we wanted to know about pottery. We chatted with them both, as we looked through the many beautiful pieces that had in their gallery. We decided to purchase a lovely blue cobalt crystalline glaze vase as a gift for one of our friends. She absolutely adores it! We'll be back!

No urban spelunking adventure in Walker's Point is complete without a visit to the Lamer's…read moreBuilding. Located just down the street from Botanas on 5th and National, this 1880 building has been lovingly restored by its owner, artist and sculptor Celine Farrell. It houses her studio, Grove Galleries, as well as rotating exhibits in Comb Gallery and N. Adam Beadel's studio honoring the lost art of Linotype, Team Nerd. The space is beautiful with features including cast iron window frames, high ceilings, exposed beams and hardwood floors. The hand tile work evokes the period and pays homage to its former use as a shoe store. In Team Nerd's space, Beadel has a working letter press from circa 1917 as well as an extensive collection of Linotype letters. He spins the wheel, and one by one his pieces are created, in the same fashion of the period. Next to the press is a vintage paper cutter, circa 1909, that is operated by throwing a large switch with the arms. A bevy of examples of pressed art adorn the walls. On a particular visit to Comb Gallery, owner Khine Cho Hline displays examples of Farrell's cast iron sculptures and prints in the adjoining gallery which features a generous loft space. Behind the gallery is Farrell's studio and the second floor is living space. Farrell is proud to provide tours of the space she elegantly transformed into a showcase of creativity for artists in the area. Her finished result is a treasure in the up-and-coming neighborhood. Comb Gallery is open Thursday and Friday evenings from 5 to 9 p.m. and Saturdays from noon to 4 p.m. Team Nerd and Grove Galleries are also open by appointment.