Always lovely. Always I learn something new. Always a great affordable place to take out of town visitors. I always leave wishing I could work there every day. read more

The perfect place to come to cure the winter blues. 3 domes with 3 different environs. The show dome has the train exhibit each year- loved by young and old. Check out this events, too!! read more

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I had this on my list of places to see now that I moved to Milwaukee. I went alone since I was new and wanted to explore the area. I got a Wisconsin resident discount, which was perfect. I went into three domes, and all of them were so beautiful. I'm a quick get-in and get-out type of person, so it was nice to walk around, see the plants, and then leave. The day/time I went was particularly busy, but it didn't make the experience different. Next time, I'll go back with someone and take my time, maybe read a sign or two :) read more

We were looking for things to do around Milwaukee area and this came up in Yelp, Trip Advisor, and Atlas Obscura. Being a fan of architecture and photography I jumped at the opportunity to take a tour. I think it was $8 or $10 for a ticket for non WI residents. We went on a day where you got a special sticker too. There are 3 domes you can tour, each with a different theme. First dome that I went to was the Tropical dome, and it was my favorite. There were some interesting plants in there that I had never seen before like the lobster claw. There was also a Koi pond. Second dome that I went to was the Desert dome, it was ok but I grew up in the desert and moved away for a reason. They have some great plants and cacti, and some birds live in there too. I liked Steve the bearded dragon. Third dome that I went to was the Show dome, it was interesting. It seemed bigger but I don't think that it is. Probably just an illusion due to the layout and less stuff being in it. There were some colorful flowers and there was a pond/gazebo so I took the chance to get some reflection pics of the dome. Definitely a cool place to visit if you are in the area, and parking was free too. read more

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There are three different domes of 3 different biospheres. Student discount is $5. Plenty of free parking in 2 private lots. We had a blast. Went for a classmate's birthday on a rainy Sunday afternoon and it wasn't too crowded. Such a nice way to spend a couple hours. These domes are very well cared for. They have special events in the fall and winter and occasionally some live music in the domes. I would absolutely attend those special events. Grateful to have these unique bio domes in my city! read more

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Another beautiful place to visit in Milwaukee. As, we were driving into the parking lot. The 3 domes were eye catching. I couldn't wait to go inside and view what was inside this place. The desert dome was filled with dry heat just like the desert itself. I enjoyed the tropical dome you walk inside and see beautiful variety of plants. The Floral dome also has colorful plants and flowers. I heard that this place might be closing down due to lack of funds to keep the doors open. I really hope not because this place is amazing. read more

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Very beautiful and well maintained. Each of the domes had different themes. I love looking at different gardens when traveling and happy that I hit these up. read more

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Our party of 6 visited this place also known as the Mitchell Park Domes.  We came on a Sunday afternoon.  It's a nice conservatory to visit whether you're an in-towner like my son or out-of-towners like the other visiting 5 of us.  We had the two kiddos with us, so it was also a semi-educational field trip for them as well.  There are 3 domes, namely Show, Desert, and Tropical, and the Show dome had more of a dinosaur theme which made it a little more entertaining for the kiddos, but they would have been fine without them as well.  A highlight in the Tropical dome was seeing, though not yet smelling, the corpse flower which I learned later was within just a couple of days of doing it's once-in-8-years blooming and smelling like a corpse for a day or so.  Just missed it!  I remember the big fuss that was made at Chicago's Botanical Garden with their corpse flower drawing massive crowds, but it was much lower key here. All 3 domes were on the warm side, though it was just 80F outside, but that's the way it is.  The connecting concourse and gift shop were nicely air conditioned for a little break.  It was an enjoyable weekend putzing-around visit but I knocked the rating back a star based on the relative value.  I paid $47 for our group of 6, and though it's not excessive or anything, I guess I was used to the free (but donations accepted) and bigger Garfield Park Conservatory in Chicago as well as Chicago's massive and diverse Botanical Garden in terms of relative value (it used to be $25 per carload, but I know it's gone up this year).  The resident savings here is only a dollar, and there's no senior discount for non-residents, oh well.  It's ironic that in most big categories like housing, food, sporting events, concerts, property taxes, etc the value is much better in Milwaukee than in Chicago, but I found the conservatory business doesn't follow, lol.  It is located in a prime area and in view of the Brewer's American Family Field, so maybe their prime location is a historic cost factor.  Parking is plentiful and free. read more

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Such an awesome place to visit, especially when it's too cold out to do anything else! We visited with some friends that live in the area (we're out of staters). When he first described it, I was 100% in. Driving up on it, I was happy with our decision. The admission is affordable. $9 for non-residents and $8 for residents with proof of ID. We visited on a Sunday afternoon and while it was busy, we got around just fine and were able to see everything up close without issue. We spent a good 90 minutes exploring the three domes, took our time in each one. We visited early December, so the holiday display was up. Each dome has their own feel and climate. When you're in the dome, you definitely feel like you're in a different place. My favorite was the tropical dome because it was very lush, beautiful, and warm. We were visiting from AZ, so the desert dome felt just like home. Some of the cacti were quite impressive! So glad we were able to visit the Domes during our short visit to MKE. Would highly recommend to anyone looking for something to do! read more

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A stroll through the Domes is well worth the price of admission! We enjoyed checking out the Tropical, Desert and Show domes recently over Christmas break. The gift shop has some great local items, and plants of course! read more

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Our 1st visit on a very very windy day. Such an economical place to explore! And they sell canned beverages! Well done and each of the 3 domes are very different. Our friends who are local bought an annual pass and plan to check out the changing exhibits with the seasons. read more

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This was such an amazing and fun time The domes are so cool and we really enjoyed seeing all the amazing and beautiful flowers and plants As an added bonus it was kind of like being in Minecraft where you just walk from one eco dome to the next Very fun very cool Staff was very nice and very friendly Not a bad price for all you get to see IMO read more

Great place! Not as big as I expected and I feel like more than an hour here is the time limit of things to do but a fun quick experience and beautiful gardens and plants. read more

The Milwaukee Domes are a peaceful escape right in the heart of the city. Each dome has its own vibe--from tropical warmth to desert calm--and walking through them feels like a mini vacation any time of year. read more

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Well this is my first time coming here to this greenhouse in Milwaukee Wisconsin. It was awesome if you are one looking at all the different gardens Nationwide this was an underrated one despite only three greenhouse domes the way it was designed. It's divided into 3 greenhouse domes. The first one that you should start off with is the tropical dome. It houses all the humid tropical plants that live in rainforest jungles and islands close to the equator since it's warm and humid and you really feel it there in the tropical dome. It's interesting to see koi fish and goldfish in the tropical dome as well. The next dome is the arid dome which is like a desert with cactuses and succulents as well as Jade plants. They are supposed to have dove birds that walk across the pathway and one aquarium or terrarium with a bearded dragon to represent animal or fauna life in arid climates. Similar to Arizona and New Mexico. The last dome which I forgot was called was more of a dome that showed how a backyard would look like with a gazebo and some fountains in a miniature Statue of Liberty. It was very patriotic to USA. Overall just to see this and stick around is worth the $9 admission as an adult less for the children. And residents get more of a discount from Milwaukee. If you are one to explore botanical gardens arboretums and greenhouses this is another good one when passing by Milwaukee Wisconsin read more

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This place rocks! I wish I could shrink myself into a miniature size just to live there and ride the trains in that humid paradise. The 3 distinct temperate zones each more magnificent than the last. An impressive array of flora-- great spot for families and warming up in winter. read more

I have driven past this place hundreds and hundreds of times over the years and drove through the lot hundreds of times to watch the railroad yard behind it and I have never stopped so today I did. The place is three domes open to the public with the floral dome, desert dome and tropical dome. The greenhouse next to it is only for renting out for your wedding etc so I didn't get a look at that. The one tropical dome has a water fall with a pond that has Koi fish. It's a horticulturalconservatory so it's all plants and trees from around the world in a nut shell. It's and easy walk through but you could spend hours looking at everything. read more

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This was our second time here, it's such a magical place! 3 separate geodesic domes full of amazing plants. Each dome is a different ecosystem with different things growing. I guarantee you will learn and see something new! They have reciprocal benefits with other horticultural organizations across the country, so check, you may even get in free. They have rotating displays in one of the domes, today it was fairy gardens. Very cute! I was very impressed face masks are still required. I also saw you could buy alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages for your drinking pleasure, but we did not partake. Definitely a nice way to spend an hour or two if you're in the area! read more

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Great family friendly activity to do. Not the biggest botanical gardens I've ever been to but my friend and I had a fun time exploring the 3 different domes each containing varied climate and plants. Someone has a sense of humor when designing the plaques and plant exhibits. Very reasonably priced as well! read more

Mitchell Park Domes - Agave plant in the dessert dome - Parks Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Beautiful place to walk around and take photos! Loved every moment, learning names of exotic plants, and seeing all the greenery. It made my heart warm. What's not to love! read more

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Family vacation 2021...bringing the California variant of COVID-19 to your city. Mitchell Park Horticultural Conservatory...otherwise known as "The Domes". The Domes was a good place to visit. It was almost like being at home in California during my visit in June. They had a mask requirement. The path through the domes was one way so that you could stay away from others. They had a desert dome that looked like parts of California or Arizona complete with cactus and succulents. The tropical dome was nice with its tropical plants. I even saw a tiny pineapple. The show dome was nice with it picturesque landscaping. Everything about the domes was nice. They must have a crew of landscapers, designers and staff to create what they've done in the domes. Everything was climate controlled. Even in the desert, it was not too hot. They have a gift shop in the main building with plants and books. I'm still not sure why my daughter bought a cactus from Milwaukee as a souvenir. The domes is a great way to spend a couple of hours when in Milwaukee. read more

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Yes I know it's an obvious tourist destination which is why you should go. It's $8 to get in and this is $ well spent compared to say the movies where you sit the whole time and clog your veins with the extra butter in the pop corn. Call me superficial but it's beautiful here(see pics). Very instagramable, at the show dome, it's as if they planted and selected the flowers for your pics as opposed to say it's organic arrangement in nature. The 2 other domes are the desert and tropical. The tropical dome which is hot and humid have some really gorgeous orchids. This domes allow you to escape the winters in Milwaukee without having to leave town. read more

I visited the Domes with my mom recently after not having gone in more than 30 years. Well, the more things change the more they stay the same. We visited with passes from the library which made it free. Pro tip - many local libraries have these passes available, although the Domes could certainly use the income from paid admissions. When you enter now you can buy beverages to take inside with you, including beers, seltzers and tiny bottles of wine. There is still a desert dome, a tropical dome and a show dome. Apparently there are night hours in the winter with light shows, too. Many of the original plants are here from the mid-60s and touching the tops of the structures. Best see them soon. They eventually have to cut some of these out to avoid more structural damage. The show dome theme when we visited was fairies. The plantings were gorgeous - the fairies were fine for children, but it's not about them. Do visit before we lose this state landmark attraction. The funding war isn't going well for them and it's so worth a visit. read more

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Wow! I've wanted to visit the domes for forever and they delivered! In the middle of Milwaukee you can be transported to the tropics or the desert! The plants are well taken care of and there are no dead plants or weeds. The walk ways were well paved and clean. I imagine it would be extra rad to visit in the middle Of winter when it's really cold outside. Definitely with the visit!!! read more

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

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Nice place To visit. Lovely plants. There areas to explore. They are doing one way only due to COVID-19 and required masks. Worth an hour. read more

Mitchell Park Domes - Parks Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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12 years in Milwaukee and I just made my first visit to the domes. What a missed opportunity to tap into nature and be at one with myself in such a beautiful place. The domes currently require reservations prior to attending so be sure to check out this or website for details. This is a wonderful place to go solo, on a date, with friends, and little ones. Their educational resource center is always changing themes as they have story time on Wednesday's at 2:00! Be sure to grab a mindfulness card in there to discover new ways to learn how to be present and in the moment. Also, keep an eye out for the fairy garden in the tropical dome read more

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Fun place to spend an hour in Milwaukee. Saw the tops of the domes when driving out of a brewery the day before and went to find them the next day. Saw some nice flowers and other vegetation. Got a little crowded and the cost was a hair high for how much you see, but since it goes directly to keeping the park operating, I could get over it. If you're looking for a family friendly place that won't eat up your whole day, this is a great find. read more

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Boring is the first word that comes to mind when I think of Wisconsin but Mitchell Park Conservatory is far from boring. I'm so glad we decided to drive here from Chicago to visit the three domes. Admission is $8 per adult and $6 for students or those 17 and under so be sure to bring your student id or id of some sort! I first went into the show dome and was slightly disappointed that it didn't look as striking as the famous waterfall dome in singapore. But it was still gorgeous. And the greatest perk was how empty the whole place was - no tourists pushing and shoving, no photo-bombers, and empty bathrooms! My favorite dome was definitely the desert dome, the sand-colored rocks and all the crazy trees and cacti really set the scene. The tropical dome was the most surprising though because they were really able to retain a humid environment to let the plants thrive in. Also, there were a lot of cool fauna like banana trees and chili plants. Free parking lot outside and a small gift shop inside. I probably spent about 1.5 hours touring the three domes but if you're really into reading all the little info and amateur photo shoots, it might take you longer. read more

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I don't get here often enough because I think to myself, "I've already seen the domes." Rain Forest, Desert, yeah, I get it. But then I went on Saturday, and I noticed things that were new to me. Updates and enhancements that they've made since my last visit so many years ago, such as adding colorful signage to break down the vegetation by region of the world, or adding new species with small signs containing fun facts or tips when viewing. Then I remember that the "Show Dome" changes a few times per year, and that is where you can justify visiting the Domes more frequently. The Train Show is there every year, but this year they added a Japanese Zen Garden display. It wasn't as good as other Japanese Gardens I've visited, but those were permanent structures. The Domes version included some pieces that I really enjoyed, such as the sand art with garden rocks or the trickling water fall. I just wish they chose a more traditional Japanese structure for the gazebo. the next show scheduled is called Fathoms Below, which is an ocean-themed garden, from June until early September. I would definitely like to see that. Then it's the Welcome to 100 Acre Woods show followed by the Classical Christmas show. Special events at the Domes will include Rhythm & Brews in September, Dia de Los Muertos in October, and a New years Eve celebration. I really like the changes that have been made. Keeping the community engaged with great events like this will hopefully help revive this amazing Milwaukee landmark! read more

How to cure your seasonal affective disorder and pandemic depression: 1. Make a reservation to come to the domes 2. Let the sun shine on your face 3. Remember what humid air feels like in the middle of the winter It was easy to make online and we made it about a week in advance. In some ways, it is a blessing that there is a pandemic so none of the domes were too filled and all of the traffic is one-way. We came on a Saturday morning after going to the farmer's market next door, and it was so, so healing. If you're moving real fast, of course you could get through the domes in less than 30 minutes, but we took our time and meandered and read all of plaques, so it took us more like an hour and a half. For the boardgame enthusiast, the first dome is board-game themed and has an array of toy trains and beautiful floral arrangements as a tribute to some old and new board game classics - we enjoyed the ode to Catan and Ticket to Ride while also not forgetting the classics like Scrabble, Monopoly. Also, now that it's February, I want to give an extra shoutout to the people at the domes who made all of the corny little Valentine's scattered throughout each of the domes. Your work did not go unnoticed and I enjoyed every single one. I hope that the repairs come through and that the Domes are here to stay; I truly believe that they are a Milwaukee treasure. read more

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

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Granted, it's been decades since I've been to the Three Domes, glad to see these structures are still available to check out. The conservatory, are very easy to locate with plenty of parking. The foyer is open with various tables and chairs to rest and possibly eat at. The domes are very well labeled with each environment that you'll be walking into. One dome is for the Tropical Dome. This dome has beautiful plants and flowers form tropical parts of the world. Please note, of the humidity as soon as you walk into this dome. The second dome is set up as Desert Dome. As soon as you walk in, you'll notice the dryness of the air as the air would be in the desert. Again, beautiful plants and cacti from around the world. The Show Dome was being set up for the spring show so we were not able to walk around. However, we were able to walk into the area to watch the workers set up the dome. I'm sure this dome will be beautiful when completed. Great place to check out.. don't plan to spend a lot of time here. read more

I have been here many times, especially on field trips during elementary school. The horticulture students are usually the ones that are taking care of the property. Broken into three domes, tropical dome, desert dome, and show dome. This particular visit the show didn't really impress me, I definitely love the tropical dome. If you've never visited, it's a must in the Milwaukee area. Prices for admission are very reasonable active duty, Military and seniors get a three dollar discount. Regular admission price is $9 for adults. Free parking. read more

An iconic Milwaukee landmark. You know those mesh rising monuments, looking like a certain body part plus one. Situated in the middle of the city, kind of between potowatomi and Miller park, they are a great way to spend a couple hours, for everyone but especially families. There's a small fee ($8) that's a $1 cheaper if you're a Milwaukee resident (with ID). So there's three domes: a tropical, a desert, and a rotating special exhibit dome. They are all enjoyable any time of the year, but given Wisconsin's unforgiving winters, they are especially nice in colder weather, with the heat and humidity in the tropical dome and an arrid dry climate in the desert dome. I'm not sure if it was the climate control or air quality or all those plants cleaning the air, but the air in the domes made it feel so relaxing. There's lots of nice touches and little learning stations - for example, a bearded lizard in the desert dome, a cocoa bean tree in the tropical dome and a pond with lots of koi in one of them- I forget which. Lastly, the day we went the place had a "Steampunk Faire" going on and the show dome had an Alice in Wonderland theme. As an adult now who remembers a childhood filled with field trips and family visits here, I thought that was especially apropos, as visiting now felt kind of like that moment after Alice drinks the "drink me" potion and winds up a giant in a tiny house, with her legs and arms sticking out windows Nx doors. Standing in the domes walkways the place seemed to have shrunk, but then I remembered most of my memories there were as a "little person". All that being said, this is still a great attraction for everyone, although especially kids, for a few hours visit. read more

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The holiday show is beautiful. We got to the domes around 3:45pm on a Friday, and I think the last admission is at 4pm M-F. There was a short line but it moved quickly enough. My husband pointed out that there's an area specifically set apart for pumping/nursing, which is very aware of them. We have a toddler and there were lots of babies and toddlers there so that space is very helpful. Anyway, of the three domes, the holiday one was by far our favorite. We got some amazing pictures, both of us and the plants. The tropical dome was also nice. I think the desert one was our least favorite and it was actually pretty cold in there, which was not a welcome surprise. An hour was enough time to make it through at a relaxed pace, though of course you could stay for longer. read more

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One more gem in Milwaukee that must be on your List.The Mitchell Park Horticultural Conservatory, or "The Domes" as they are referred to, is a Milwaukee County Park.The three domes display a large variety of plant life. There are 3 domes- Show Dome,Tropical Dome and Arid Dome.Each of the three domes maintains a distinct climate and setting for the exposition of its contents. Admission is only $7 for adult residents of Milwaukee County or $8 for non-residents with Children 5 & under are free. The domes providing amazing background for your pictures. Note :Mitchell Park Domes free day is moved to the first Thursday of the month. read more

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Was running late to our tour so we only had time to drop by and see the cool domes. Admission inside is $7. Parking is free. I loved the details of the three domes and even from the outside you can see how beautiful it works with the plants inside. Amazing glass domes, worth a visit if you are in the area. read more

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the worst park they close and do not post the hours or change of hours drove a long distance and they were closed https://county.milwaukee.gov/EN/Parks/Explore/The-Domes website is horrible as we were walking back to the car we were asked if it was closed a couple said they use to live here and went often and they always change their hours and you never know when they are open. they didnt know and they use to live here i give the dome 5 negative stars for being jerks about not up front about hours read more

I love conservatories!!! This one is nice. The domes are amazing. It costs $8 for adults to enter but worth it. There are 3 sections/domes to it. Really loved the setup. The Desert Dome was my fav. read more

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My review of the Domes (Mitchell Park Horticultural Conservatory) is due for a star bump update. I've been here many times in the last few years, and have always enjoyed myself. The entry fee is a small price to pay to keep the Domes (a Milwaukee treasure) operating. We always seem to come when the Show House has a model train display, but it's done really well. Mixing natural plants and a variety of trains and amusing miniature scenery, spending some time entranced by trains is never a bad time. I enjoyed the Steampunk Days they had here last year. People were dressed up in their Steampunk regalia, and there were vendors of all stripe throughout the Domes. It's events like these that make the Domes a relevant and vibrant public space. There's lots of learnin' to be had, too, and they do a great job at posting facts by the plants themselves, or at larger displays. I like the Desert House the best. There's a coat rack inside, but we usually just leave the coats in the car. And don't forget to check the "time" on the sidewalk sun dial outside the entrance! Support the Domes! read more

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You walk up buy a ticket and a beer. You walk around drink a cold one and explore while your eyes orgasm at the wonder that is nature. Take a million pictures! Give yourself one hour per dome. Soak it all in and enjoy yourself. read more

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