I went to the Mitchell Park Conservatory, aka, "The Domes." I picked this location for a photography session with two children and their mother. It was absolutely amazing! While yes, some of the plants do look like they're dying, it's a bit of a gem. The three domes signify different areas. They have the Floral Show, Tropical, and Desert Dome. It was a nice surprise to see the Floral Show have a bit of a hippie theme. The Desert Dome was surprisingly cool; I thought it was going to be hot in there but it wasn't. My favorite part of the Domes was the Desert Dome because I'm fond of succulents and cacti. The Tropical Dome was indeed warm and humid, but the plants were stunning. There was a small waterfall and pond with large koi fish. If you are looking for a place to photograph families, I highly suggest the Domes! Be mindful that there is a high price for a photography permit if you're doing professional photos (60+). If you're doing wedding photography, it's even higher. In all, this place is truly a gem; you can learn a lot from just reading the different information. It's a fun place to go with family and is relatively cheap. Adults are $7 and Children/Seniors are $5. I believe infants are free. I heard some rumors that this place will no longer exist soon - I highly suggest everyone goes before the year ends! It was a wonderful experience. read more

Three mini worlds in three big domes, what's not to love? Check out their light show on youtube or in person if you're lucky enough. read more

Mitchell Park Domes - From Flickr - Parks Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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Everyone HAS to go see the Domes at some point in time--they're truly remarkable! There are three Domes: Tropical, Desert and a "show" dome that changes seasonally. Right now this Dome highlights purple flora and fauna! Each Dome boasts flora, fauna and birds that are from their respective climate. As you go thru the Domes, they feature plants from different tropics or deserts around the world! For example, in the Desert Dome you have plant life from North America, Madagascar and Australia--to name a few. Very interactive, you can touch just about everything and a guide on a crank in each Dome gives background of the Domes and climates. We love the Domes and can't wait to go back for an escape when it gets cold and wintry. read more

WOAAH! These domes are awesome. I recently moved up to Milwaukee from Indiana and I've been struggling through the oppressive WI winter. On a cold day, when I didn't think I could possibly go on living in this near-arctic climate, we took a trip to the magical domes. Each dome is like a little kiss of summer! With the sun shining outside, it really feels like you are taking a trip through the Amazon and the Mojave. My daughter loved watching the train exhibit in the third dome. Forget starbucks, next time I need to get reading done, I'm going to find a nice quiet spot in the jungle dome. A coworker told me the domes were located in a bad neighborhood, but that wasn't the case at all. I felt very safe during my stay. $6.50 is well worth this bewitching journey!! Edit: When illuminated at night, the domes look a little bit like breasts. This makes me uncomfortable. That's really the only negative thing I can say about the domes and it's not that big of a deal. read more

Funny that I would write a review for the Domes in spring when it's all springing and sprung and whatnot... I digress. The Domes -- or, as they/it is technically named -- the Mitchell Park Conservatory, is/are lovely and a complete and total asset to Milwaukee and the metro area. (I'm struggling here. Are the Domes singular or plural in nature? Please advise.) Entrance fee: six dollars and fifty cents Host to special events, but also, wonderful in and of itself. A great winter reprieve, and an awesome place to simply chill out, relax, and get your nature on indoors. It's been a hot minute, but I do know that they have an arid/desert dome, an ever-changing/seasonal dome, and a... tropical dome? Is that right? I think it's easy to take this spot for granted if you're a native (Cassie D mentioned this). Lovely lovely love. Go, if you have not been. Total MKE oasis. read more

What an incredibly wonderful surprise. From the outside, it doesn't really look like there could possibly be that much on the inside. But all 3 domes are incredible. When we arrived, so did 3 school buses. Fortunately for us, there is a lot of room on the trails to accommodate large crowds. We were greeted advised what the 3 domes had to offer. We started with the Tropical Dome which features more than 1,000 species of plants, including fruit bearing plants such as banana, papaya, guava, and avocado. Most of the plants are labeled. I saw lots of plants that I recognized because my mother had them as house plants. A couple of my favorites were the shrimp plant and the gold fish plants. I also loved the bird of paradise plant. We were shocked to see a chocolate pudding tree. Who doesn't want to have that tree at home? In the Arid Dome, we loved the rock formations and all the different variety of cactus. Some of the cactus was flowering. One of the sections included flora from Madagascar. The third dome is called the show domes and the display is changed with the seasons. For our May visit, it was packed full of flower bulbs, hydrangeas, magnolias and lots of other wonderful flowering plants. There was also a huge windmill on display. The gift store has a lot of beautiful items for sale, my favorite was the hand painted glasses. Unfortunately, none went home with me. This place is really amazing. I must have taken over 50 photos with my iphone. All of the plants are so beautiful, healthy and well cared for. We really enjoyed our visit. read more

So......Why hadn't I been to the Domes in ages??? Their Music Under Glass series is amazing. Heard great local music (The Whiskeybelles), drank beer, saw a light show, and checked out the plants. All on a random Thursday with an entrance fee of $6.50. For all of you hometown peeps, you need to revisit this whole Domes situation. Another one of those things that we take for granted. Perfect for those, "What the heck should we do?" moments or on a rainy day. Why not support the County Parks? It's like a mini-vacation... read more

In serious need of a break from the dry/cold winter weather? Head over to the Domes! I think that winter is probably the best possibly season to visit to add a little greenery to your life. I last went here when I was 4 years old and had almost no memory of what the Domes were like. My father-in-law was in town and we needed something touristy to do, so we decided to head here. Wise choice! Each of the three domes was great for different reasons. I'd recommend going in the following order your first time: desert, tropical, then temperate. For those interested in botany, there were signs explaining about each plant and codes to scan for more information, if you have a smartphone. My 18-month old daughter was scooting around in each dome, loving the plants and unexpected weather. The flower-filled deciduous/coniferous dome was everyone in my group's favorite. They had about 5 different model trains traveling around the setting, orchestrated by a conductor (how can I get that job?!). There were plaques around the dome with a storyline about fairies for elementary-school kids to get excited about. Visit the Domes- they host special events, its relatively cheap and most importantly, its awesome! read more

Come on Milwaukee, show the Domes some love! I love the Domes, and I visit regularly, especially in the depths of winter. So many of my fellow Milwaukeeans that I talk to haven't been to the Domes since they were kids. This is a shame, because the Domes is always a pleasent, even theraputic experience. I make a point to go several times over the long Milwaukee winter, just to take off the coat, hat and gloves and walk around a little while in the fresh, green foliage. Listen to the birds chirp in the trees. It's wonderful. I'm no botanist (I can't even keep a house plant alive) but I've actually learned quite a bit about ecosystems and plants at the Domes. They have nice interpretive displays and a great variety of plants from tropical and arid climates. The show dome is always fun for the kids. read more

A friend of mine got married at the domes, and I got to reap the futuristic benefits. Since I was doing a reading in the wedding, I got to go twice. Score! I share a few other yelpers' opinions on the front desk and admission issues. I've clearly been spoiled by the free conservatories of Chicago. Also, when our party arrived for the rehearsal which was included in the event, one lady at the admission desk very brusquely tried to charge us anyway. Luckily another gal knew what was up. Other than that, I had a ball, and enjoyed the Swamp Thing (or Swamp Pug, in my dreams) sounds in the desert dome, the lushness of the sweaty tropical dome, and the funny fairy tale characters in the show dome. As a lover of places like Xanadu, house of the future, the domes were right up my alley and a great place for a wedding. Bonus for the light show which reminded me of that episode of Freaks and Geeks where they ended up at the country light show instead of The Wall. I'd come back to commune with Swamp Pug anytime. read more

It's for shame that I had never been to the Domes. People would casually say in random conversations over the years, "Don't you just LOVE the Domes?!" and I would nod sheepishly in agreement, too ashamed to admit that as a born-and-bred Southeastern Wisconsinite and for the last few years, an actual Milwaukeean, I had never been there - not even on an elementary school field trip. Even my parents, who live an hour away, go to their concerts on a regular basis - so what is my issue? It was always a thought as I was driving around that general area that we should make vague plans to someday maybe possibly go there. Well, I decided to change that this week on my pathetic staycation and I practically dragged T there, fighting downtown Summerfest traffic on a rainy, Friday afternoon at 4:00. I had declared that TODAY WAS THE DAY; GET IN THE CAR WE ARE GOING RIGHT NOW. No room for negotiation. It is remarkable. The fact that this even exists in our city is a total wonderment and such a treasure. It's one of the cheapest things to do in the city ($6.50 c'mon) and so worth the money. I feel like we could have spent way more time there (we spent just shy of an hour), but it was also perfect to just casually stroll through. I absolutely cannot wait to go back in the dead of winter when it feels like it will never be spring again. read more

The other reviewer already nailed it with her review of this place. It was cheap to get in, I think around $5 if I remember right. It is a simple place. It is three relatively small (less than 100 ft diameter) greenhouse domes that each have a different theme to them. One shows an arid environment, one a tropical environment, and another that they change depending on the season. All three are attached by a building in the middle. Bring your camera if you like still life, as you can get some great photos in here. They also have butterflies and various things to that nature in each dome, so you'll see some basic wildlife too. Nothing too fancy. 5 stars. read more

If you like nature and shit, or if you just like to hang out in buildings that look like Mariah Carey's titties, this place will tear you a new one. I unfortunately could not get past all of the plants that look like penises (penii? penasia?), and laughed myself silly all the way through. Which was really impolite in the Show Dome. From the name, you'd think there would be people trotting fancy dogs around in there, but that did not happen. Instead there were some ladies playing flutes and singing and swooshing around in their frilly pink poly-blend dresses before an audience of the elderly, who could not have been more thrilled. There was also a fountain burping up mossy, stinky water, and a whole hell of a lot of flowers you'd see in your grandma's backyard. That was the weird dome. The other domes were pretty cool, I think they were desert and tropical themed. That's where all the penis plants were. read more

Classic Milwaukee landmark. I think they get neglected a bit just because residents are familiar with them and may not want to make the trip to check them out regularly. I have great memories of coming here as a kid with my family. It was a good spot to move around and do some walking (and probably running) during the winter months, I suppose. As a native Milwaukeean I totally take the Domes for granted but I've been there with non-natives and they seem to like it. I was here most recently for some holiday event or something a year or two ago where they had a live reggae band and the place was gussied up and looked pretty fantastic. It's still interesting to roam about and take in the sights and learn about some of the stuff they have growing in there. Some of the textures on the plants, trees and things are really amazing (not sure if you're supposed to touch them but you can get away with it). It's like being in a zoo at times but there aren't any animal attractions; you're in the exhibit. There are cool little sitting spots in places and it's just a fun place to spend an hour or two. For the holiday bash it was more lively in there than I'd ever seen, with serious crowds and music filling the empty air above the foliage. Plus, in true Milwaukee style they were serving beer, which was awesome, because I felt like I'd truly grown up whilst strolling the Domes with a High Life. read more

Nice place to visit on a cold February day. The tropical garden was my favorite. There was a garden train exhibit which was pretty cool. Lots of tots, moms and grandparents. The $5.50 per person entry fee was reasonable and we took about an hour to visit all three domes. read more

The Domes are a wonderful way to spend an hour or so on a cool Milwaukee afternoon. There tropical and desert domes have some amazing specimens, and there's so much to see that you really need to take your time to appreciate it all. The show dome just opened their holiday show, and it was a beautiful start to the holiday season to wander around in there. They also host events throughout the year, such as an orchid show, so even if you've already seen what there is to see in the domes, there's still opportunity to experience something new there. read more

This is a great diversion if you're looking for something quick to do before a flight. I have been here a few times and the last time I took my 4 year old son and he loved it. There are 3 domes, each with a unique theme. There is an arid climate dome with desert plants, a tropical dome filled with tropical plants and even birds and a waterfall, and a showcase dome with beautiful garden settings. read more

Free to Milwaukee County residents on Mondays as long as you get there before noon. As a lady with a baby, this is a god-send, especially when everyone's going stir-crazy in the winter. Do you miss summer? Are your bones chilly? Is the skin around your nails getting chapped?? Soak up some heat and humidity in the tropical dome (my favorite). I love that they also have an ever-changing show dome that has interesting themes every time we go. Also free parking? You can bring your own food and drinks? You can buy wine there??? Yes, yes, yes. read more

The domes bring families together. I was worried that a 3+ hour car ride from O'Hare would put a damper on the parental reunion (mine and my husbands). I mean they haven't been all together since wedding 1.0 in December 2007; what would they talk about? even if they did talk--would they understand each other? My parents are originally from the Philippines and the husband's parents are from England. I was a bit anxious by the reunification of these couples. I need not fret. Moms had brought snacks to save us from starvation on the I-94 and exotic plants and foliage brought the 3 (including me and husband) couples together. I was the driver for the stay and I was not a happy camper in all that traffic. The moms oooh'ed and aw'ed their way through the 3 domes and the dads had picture taking duels. The entrance fees have increased; adults are now $6.50 but still a cheap date and free parking to boot and it won't take you very long to go through it (an hour TOPS). Thank you domes for kicking off our family reunion! read more

We went to the domes and we were in and out in like 30minutes. 1 of the domes was completely empty. The only nice thing is that we didn't pay today it was free, due to the fact, that their where vendors there trying to sell stuff. However, the two domes we did see where actually nice. Such as, the desert and the tropics. I still and always will recommend the Domes it is a Milwaukee icon. read more

Mitchell Park Domes - Parks Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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Interesting building and totally worth a visit. Not just for plant buffs and a great escape when the weather is not so nice. Go to the tropical dome last because it's the best dome! read more

This is one of my favorite spots in the winter. I wish my apt. felt like the Tropical dome. There are new flashing LED lights on the top the domes which brightened the gloomy day. So many fascinating plants! Even if you do not have a greet thumb the architecture is awesome. A must see for out of towners; an inexpensive and unique Milwaukee experience. read more

It was one of those typical 4F winter weather, and it was natural we are trying to find warmth before heading home. We came across this interesting domes, and gave it a go even though it was 20 minutes before closing. The place was just ok. The domes are very small. They do exhibit diverse plants of their respective ecosystems (tropics and desert), but only few are truly fascinating to see. The third dome (flowers) was closed as they are preparing for their next exhibit. I have to admit though that the tropical dome well designed, and the lush greeneries and Koi fish pond made a great spot just to chill with your date (probably don't do it for your first date, might turn off your significant others...) read more

The domes are open on Memorial Day. When I went, two of the three domes were closed and so the discounted price was $3. The one dome was still pretty interesting and is great for photo ops. I was surprised by how loud it was inside the dome. The surrounding grounds were just ok. But nice for a picnic. Everyone MUST go to the little shop inside. There are some precious finds in the store. The shop works w several area artists read more

I give Mitchell Park Conservatory (aka as "the domes") five starts because for the money, it is a great Milwaukee attraction. The fees are very reasonable. $6 for an adult. They have weekly, monthly and special event activities. Recently my daughter and I were at the domes for St Patrick's day. There were Irish dancers, Irish food, and Irish shopping. It was a great after noon that included walking through the domes. A friend of mine goes to the domes on a regular basis in the winter to sit in a warm climate. She says it does wonders for SAD. There are three domes - a tropical dome, dessert dome, and seasonal dome. My favorite is the tropical dome. My daughter and I like to play a game called "find the fruit". We see how many different fruits we can spot that day. There are oranges, bananas, and others. I don't want to give them away in case you want to play the "find the fruit" game. Its a blast! read more

What a neat place. I went there on a recent visit to Milwaukee, and I was so surprised to find this little gem. The domes are surrounded by a neat little park, and the architecture of the buildings and its grounds are super cool. The line of fountains in the front are worth a trip to the park alone. I was surprised to find that at the admissions counter they also sold beer along side of soda. I'm not sure if this is a Wisconsin thing, but the domes are definitely making an effort to appeal to both single adults and families with children. There are three separate domes, each representing a different climate. All of the domes clearly mark what plant/tree/whatever you're looking at, and there are some really neat inclusions. Huge banana trees, Macadamias, date palms, you name it! They also have a limited selection of placards which mention what particular plants are used for. In the tropic dome, they also have tropical (I hope!) birds flying around. The domes are also perfect for a date. I went with my boyfriend, and there were plenty of benches and ponds so we could just sit and bask in "nature". The conservatory was almost almost empty, and we went at 1:00 on Sunday afternoon. This was awesome, because there weren't 8 million screaming children. The front desk attendant also gave me the student rate, although I attend college out of state (many museums in my area will only give student rates for those attending area colleges). read more

I can't believe I have lived here my whole life and don't remember ever going to the Domes. I was told I was there when I was little but I guess it doesn't count because I don't remember it. What brought me to the Domes this time was a concert my son was in for chorus. It was a beautiful setting having the chorus sing holiday music in the poinsettia decorated dome. After the concert we got to tour all the domes. Win, win for us. Free concert and free admission to the Domes. Lots to see and learn and the kids loved it. Beautiful exhibits. Can't imagine the upkeep it must take. Kudos Domes workers, you do a great job! read more

Mitchell Park Conservatory is a pretty cool spot in Milwaukee, but I felt it was a little lackluster especially after all the good things I had heard. The domes are pretty small and one of them was completely set for Christmas. Still, I really value our parks and had a fun time!! read more

The domes here used to be fantastic but sadly is no longer true. Plants with dead leaves all over them, plants that have insect damage, plants that are falling over without the proper braces. Of the three , the one that is like the desert ,is the best, probably because it takes the least care. The other two are in bad shape. There is a free tropical dome in Madison that makes this one look like amateur hour. Sure it's good to get out of the Wisconsin weather and walk around inside but really?? It needs some help and probably lots of money to get back to the way it was. read more

Very interesting having 3 very different gardens in the same general area under 3 different domes. Worth the trip.

Who wouldn't love the Domes? There's not much I can say that hasn't been said. I'm a geek for all things biological, and the Domes are a gateway to some biomes that we here in Milwaukee wouldn't get to experience at home otherwise. Some serious manpower has gone into making these what they are (especially the one that cycles between things over the year). Be sure to ask about entrance discounts, because many people are eligible for reduced admittance based on something or another. It's worth every penny at full price too, though. read more

This beautiful attraction could really use some updating. The wear really shows. I find myself looking up frequently, fearing falling debris (kind of like at Turner Hall). But, despite this, I still love the Domes. I have fond memories of visiting with my parents and grandparents. I also remember field trips there. I have been to a wedding and also a few special events there. I just love the different climates in each dome. The plants, flowers, succulents and trees are just beautiful. It is worth at least one visit. Kids and older folks seem to love it. If you're looking for a great winter activity, this could be it. Milwaukee county residents are free Mondays from 9am until noon. read more

Nice place for kids in the winter. Membership for a year of entrances for the family is very affordable ($50). Free parking. There is a lot of chatter about the bones of the place being neglected. Do things look dated, sure, but I didn't feel like the place was going to collapse on us, and I was looking at the exhibits, not the structure itself, after about 5 minutes. I don't think you could spend more than a couple of hours here, but it is definitely a place to check out. read more

Very beautiful and a great stop on a cold winter day. 4 stars because I thought $7 was a bit much, especially considering how many similar things are free. Currently in the show dome is a train exhibit. read more

Mitchell Park Domes - Tropical dome - Parks Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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My husband and I were in Milwaukee for the weekend and were looking for something to do and this came up on Yelp! We really enjoyed all 3 domes but the desert dome really made me happy. It is really interesting to walk into this place and see all the different kinds of plants that grow in each climate and to learn about certain plants that need the shade from another plant to just bloom once in its entire cycle, which is fascinating. There was plenty of signs giving information about the plants. There was a great amount of diversity. Really fun. Really well done. I would recommend, especially on a cold day, some of those domes are warm and humid so they felt great! read more

A geodesic dome in the middle of Milwaukee? No, not one, but THREE! I had no idea what we were in for, I just knew I was going to a pre-wedding reception for out-of-towners at a place called "The Domes". On the way there, I'm informed that I'm going to be taking pictures. "At least it will be inside", they say. Oh, okay, that's not so bad. So we show up at the domes and now I'm freaking out a little. I just brought one shoe-mounted flash. These domes are glass and are lit by the sun. THE SUN. It's 6pm in winter and the sun is rising on my relatives in China right now. This is bad. Not only is there nothing to bounce a flash off of, there's no light period. So the first dome I go into is the tropical dome. For the nature lovers, it's pretty sweet. For those of you who get frizzy hair in humidity, it's a nightmare. It's like 90% humidity in there, if not more and it's probably a good 85 degrees. It's not hot if you're just standing there, but if you pick your nose, you're gonna start sweating. Please keep the door shut, to keep the birds in the dome! So I then go across the hall into the desert dome. SO much nicer and it has an artificial moon! Okay, so we've got maybe one more stop of light in here. It's better, but it's not great. Bounce flash and direct flash, if you want anything to come out even relatively blur free. Lastly the show dome. Sure, they cranked up the lights, but it's poorly lit still. The lights on the photo opportunities are from the wrong angle and arranging the family is difficult. You can manage, but it's far from ideal. We had all the domes to ourselves, so at least we could take our time. All-in-all, it was pretty cool. There are a bunch of useless QR codes that take you to descriptions of the plants. I think putting the text there would have been easier, but someone thought adding a bunch of useless/cumbersome technology would schnazz up the place. So yeah, it probably would have been better had there been some daylight, maybe around dawn. I would have paid the entrance fee, had I gone there on my own, now knowing what was inside. All-in-all the domes are a sight to see in Milwaukee, even though that was the only thing I saw while I was in town. It's worth seeing once. I might even go again so I can take in the whole thing without worrying about photo taking. read more

I love this place! I've been two times and if you live in the Milwaukee area, I think it's a spot you have to see. I've been able to see all three domes while visiting. This is the perfect place to go on a winter day because it takes you into WARM domes that take you into a different ecosystem. My favorite is the jungle one because I love seeing the koi fish and all of the palm trees. Here is the low down, Wisco residents get a discount, students get a discounts, kids under a certain age are free and other than that it is a whopping $8. Yes folks, $8 for something a little different from your daily routine of cheese and beer. Check it outtttttt read more

I came here a lot as a child but going back as an adult you realize how truly small the domes are, especially the show dome. It's still a fun experience but you can get through all three comes in 30 minutes at the most. The show dome was really unimpressive this time and they were doing gardening so there wasn't much to see. Would be a nice place to take the kids though! And the tropical dome is the best. read more

I'm surprised by the admission price seeing how both of Chicago's conservatories are free. Plus the one in Garfield Park is much larger than this one. That being said, $6.50 isn't too terribly expensive and the layout is done very nicely. The Show House in particular is very pretty with the gazebo. read more

Mitchell Park Domes - Parks Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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The desert dome alone is worth the trip. There are cactus/succulents everywhere. Some are the size of a silver dollar and others reach near the top of the dome. Most look like they're from another planet. All three domes are very well kept. Aside from being in a controlled environment, everything appears to be growing quite freely without manipulation. Kind of hard to complain about copious amounts of beautiful lush nature to be seen all year long. That would be like storming out of a library in a huff because you thought there were just too many books. You're going to the domes? Good for you. Be sure to buy a cool, cheap plant to take care of at home on your way out. read more