We loved to go to Klode Park when we were living in Whitefish Bay. I went there last month and saw…read morethey got new playground.

Klode Park has long since been a great green space with solid lake views, but it's recent…read moreplayground update makes it a five-star experience. We made our most recent visit during their annual 4th of July festival which is always a great time. They have a whole bunch of local food vendors, a few bars set up around the park, little activities for the kids, plenty of seating, and live music all day. So great! While here our kids of course wanted to make the trek across the park to the playground they saw in the distance. And boy were we so pleasantly surprised at the brand new set up! Previously, it was rickety, wooden and old. Now they're set up has the squishy flooring and all new play-spaces, slides, and swings. To kids, they might not care much either way, but to parents, it's a luxury to have a playground that's update because it means it's safer. In any case, we'll certainly return for this, if not the beautiful beach area too.

Beautiful small park in Whitefish Bay! I love the wild flowers, pollinators, blue skies, and the…read morewater. This park is next to a busy road but you wouldn't know it. It's a great place to relax and take nature photos!

This is a nice little spot that I don't think many people know about. We came here on the 4th of…read moreJuly because all of the well know beaches were packed. It was a quiet spot and a decent beach. Couple issues the parking at the top of the hill is only 1 hour so we had to park a street over. Also there is a lot of horseflies so that kind of sucks and the beach is super rocky so not the most fun to walk. Overall if you just want to read and lay out this is the prefect place but maybe bring a fly swatter.

Just a nice park at end of Capital Drive with steps or ramp for going to Lake Michigan beach,…read moreplayground, and an impressive sculpture.

In my opinion, this is the best beach in Milwaukee. It's always extremely clean, well maintained,…read moreand best of all - it is insanely beautiful with scenic views. The water here is clean and fit for swimming, and tgere is usually always a lifeguard in the summer which is great! You can get down to the beach by either using the stairs or the trails to the side. The only negative part about this park is that it is currently undergoing construction which limits parking. Other than that, it is a place I would highly recommend everyone to visit in Milwaukee.

Doc Park is beautiful! While visiting friends in Milwaukee, we came to Doc Park to let the kids…read moreburn some energy. The park is BEAUTIFUL and right along the lake. We loved playing on the playground located on the park too. The only downside of the playground is that it's sandy, which can get a little messy, but our boys loved playing in the sand! Outside of the playground, the park is made up of large green fields to explore and run around. We wandered all around until we found a set of stairs leading down to the lake and takes you right to the beach. The path was so pretty! The lakefront in Chicago is always so busy, it was nice to be right along the water and it be so quiet. Doc Park is a gem!

I went to Doctors Park on a Sunday afternoon in November with two small dogs. The park is dog…read morefriendly as long as dogs remain on a leash and they cannot go in the beach area. The park is absolutely beautiful in fall with so many bright colors! Very picturesque! There is a large parking lot, the park is well-maintained, and there are picnic areas. The beach house looked a little rundown and I saw signs around the park that said "SOS- save the beach house". I haven't looked into what that means yet.

This magical, somewhat hidden spot has been a longtime favorite. I started coming here as a kid and…read morenow bring my two kids here for some oneness with nature. It's small and there are only a few short trails, but it's as serene and lovely as can be. Fall is a perfect time to check it out, but wear shoes that can handle mud and slippery leaves. Be sure to head all the way down to the water. The beach is minimal, but the kids will entertain themselves for hours climbing on fallen trees, looking for the perfect rock and perhaps building a shelter out of branches. One last tip: On your way down the steep hill, borrow a walking stick that you'll find on the left hand side near the entrance. Just be sure to return it for the next explorer to use.

I came here all the time when I was a kid and had the pleasure of returning recently. There are…read moreseveral short hiking loops through the woods and a steep entry trail that goes straight down to the water. There is less beach than there used to be; perhaps it's an erosion issue. If you hike along the water, the beach opens up in a few places. It's very secluded! If you take the trails off to the north of the main one, you should stumble upon a bunch of old wooden benches, which are remnants of a long-gone outdoor church. High schoolers frequent this place to, well, do the things that high schoolers do. Don't worry though, they're more scared of you than you are of them. This is a wonderful place to get close to nature. It's generally very quiet. I've seen deer, bats, lots of interesting mushrooms, and many varieties of wildflower. The trail can be overgrown, but it is still quite clear. It's not possible to get lost, as the park is rather small, and all the trails are loops. Just be careful about wandering onto private property. No one seems to care too much, but there are "no trespassing" signs by the fences. If you want better beach, you might have to ignore the warnings, but you didn't hear it from me. Also, be careful along the shore here-- it can be tricky to traverse.

What a gem! You have…read moreto be a Whitefish Bay resident to rent this facility. It's $20/hour, for a maximum of 3 hours, with an extra hour for set up and clean up (30 minutes before and after the rental). In the hall, there are 2 large wooden tables and 4 round tables big enough to sit 8-10 already set up. In the back room, there are plenty of chairs that you will need to set up and put back. There is also another round table in the back, but it's missing legs, and you could try to install the legs on (there are some spare legs back there as well) to use the table. We didn't have enough time or the tools to try, but if you really want 5 tables, you might want to be prepared to get this done in time. There are also 4 folding rectangular tables inside. There are electric outlets that will accommodate slow cookers and such, and a little microwave. But no oven or stove, so all cooking will need to be done ahead of time. The gas fireplace will turn on easily with the touch of a button and bring beautiful atmosphere. All the lights are in the office. Bathroom is well stocked and all the cleaning supplies are in the cleaning closet. We had a lovely gathering and very thankful for the venue. Wish the rental could be for 4 hours rather than 3, but it was still a good amount of time.

I'm hesitant to write this because I don't want the secret to get out... But Cahill Park has an…read moreamazing free ice skating rink! During the winter months Cahill Square Park offers free public skating on it's full size hockey rink. This isn't just some unkempt pond, it's a full on Zamboni maintained hockey rink. How it's worked the last few weeks (as you can see in the picture) is they place dividers down the center line and one side is free skate and the other side is pick-up hockey. But they recently added a mini rink right next to the full size one and last week free skate was there and the whole full rink was for pick-up hockey. If you are looking for a place to lace up the skates that doesn't require signing up weeks in advance, Cahill is the place to go. Masks are required for using their facilities, but at an outdoor rink in the winter, why would you not want to wear one anyways? It is only available for open skate a couple hours each day so be sure to check the parks website for times!

We attended the Wingspan and Wine event and it was a lovely evening in every way. Before entering…read morethe building, we were greeted with a bald eagle, his handler and another staff member introducing us with an abundance of interesting facts about the eagle. All of the staff was friendly, knowledgeable and clearly have a passion and love for their roles at the nature center. The Wingspan and Wine event had a variety of wines to try, along with charcuteries, veggies, fruit and some desserts to munch on throughout the evening. The stars of the evening were the many different raptors we got to see up close and hear all about, all of which are clearly cared for and loved by all of the staff. The property itself is gorgeous and spacious. Visiting the Schlitz Audubon Center has been on my list for years and I'm so glad I was finally able to visit - now I can't wait to go back for more exploring and to see more of what they have to offer!

The Schlitz Audubon is beyond impressive. It's in the north shore and so tucked away that I feel…read morelike it's unassuming, but boy is it lovely! We live in the area but regretfully don't visit enough. Recently though, my son and I went for a morning to explore my nephew's school there. He's apart of their "Nature School" program for young kiddos (essentially a pre-kindergarten class). The coolest part? Most all of the classrooms are outdoors! The trails are stunning, winding through well-kept nature preserves, into the woods, past small ponds, and over little bridges. It really is a beautiful and calming place to be. You'll discover all kinds of ecosystems and wildlife along the way. The main lodge is lovely as well. Vast in size, make to a modern day log cabin. It's very clean and welcoming, offering mini museum-like exhibits of animals, a coffee/tea section, and even a gift shop. The staff are sweet and helpful, offering maps and guidance about the property. Highly recommend a visit to this nature center! Whether it's a planned group visit, attending their planned events and camps, or just a simple excursion on your own, it's a wonderful place to explore.

My son and I love this park! Despite being close to the hustle and bustle of the lakefront, it is…read moreusually pretty quiet here. Lots of grass and trees which look pretty in the fall. Not far from Colectivo - perfect excuse to grab coffee before hitting the park for a play date! Wood chips, baby swings, monkey bars, multiple slides, small equipment for young ones, garbage cans, benches. Playground is suitable for younger & older kids. The park area is a great spot for anyone to relax or walk!

Back Bay Park is a great, quiet park. It feels tucked away even though it's not because it's not…read morecrowded. We found a great spot on the beach and hung our hammock. It feels like your outside of the city.

Havenwoods is truly a hidden gem on the north side of the city. There is a large parking lot at the…read moreentrance to the park, and a beautiful visitor center with an auditorium, classrooms, and some fun creatures. If you visit when the center is not open, there is a porta-potty adjacent to the parking log. Many free workshops for both kids and adults are offered on the weekends throughout the year. There are several walking trails throughout the park. It is easy to get disorientated and I highly recommend grabbing a map at the entrance. There were beautiful fields of wildflowers, a marsh area, and forest. The biodiversity is amazing - I counted 7 species of butterflies and moths! The trails are dog-friendly, just make sure you bring plenty of poop bags and pick up after your pup. We saw very few other visitors on the trails, and it was such a relaxing little hike. This would be a great place to bring visitors as you get the "outdoors Wisconsin" experience without having to drive far. Also, no park pass is required! :)

Finally made it back to this park twice over the holidays. Conditions were great, doggy bags were…read moreoffered, and it was lightly patrolled by the park service. The dogs loved it and it wasn't too busy. I still can't believe this park exists in the city. There's so much to explore! Thumbs down to the several people who left their dog poop on the trail. Thumbs up to the lady (who didn't even have a dog with her) picking up dog poop in the parking lot.