Milwaukee, WI Area: Cheese, Brews, & Views
- The Wandering Warmacks
- Jul 29, 2021
- 4 min read
Updated: Aug 27, 2024
Back in 2019, I was itching to go on a vacation since I hadn't left Missouri in a couple years. Hunter and I also hadn't been on a trip together yet, aside from our little getaway to Branson when we were 18. One night, I hopped on Google Maps and started looking for nearby destinations within reach of St. Louis.
My eyes were drawn to the Great Lakes and randomly landed on Racine, WI. I did a quick distance calculation and noticed it also happened to be within reach of Milwaukee. It was perfect for our long Fourth of July weekend - sun, water, and city.
DAY 1: RACINE
We left pretty early on the morning of 4th of July, probably around 6 am. We wanted to get there by lunchtime so we could enjoy the holiday.
Beach
After a quick lunch at the park, we set up for an afternoon of relaxation at North & Zoo beaches. The weather was super warm, but the water was shockingly cold. This was our first trip to the Great Lakes, so it took a while to get used to simply wading out in the water. But personally, I was perfectly satisfied with sun-tanning and enjoying an ocean-like view. These beaches were clean and uncrowded, and were conveniently located within a short distance from the town center. Plus, free street parking was available.
Fireworks
After checking into our hotel & grabbing some dinner, we headed out to find a spot for the fireworks display. We went back to downtown Racine near the beaches we went to. Cars lined the public and residential streets, and we just followed the locals' lead. Beach chairs and snacks/drinks in hand, we walked down to the sand in prayed that the huge rain prediction for that night would subside. To our surprise, not a sprinkle in the sky! Watching fireworks over Lake Michigan was truly magical, and became one of our core 4th of July memories.
DAY 2: KENOSHA & RACINE
We spent the second day exploring Racine and another lake-side town about 20 minutes south, called Kenosha. We enjoyed walking around both of these charming and well-kept towns.
Lighthouses
Kenosha North Pier Lighthouse (Kenosha)
One of my favorite parts about visiting Wisconsin was seeing all of the lighthouses! I loved this one so much. It was incredibly photogenic, and you could actually walk out to the pier and get right up next to it.
Windpoint Lighthouses (Racine)
We ended up visiting this lighthouse twice. On the morning we left, we were actually able to book a tour! They only offer tower climbs one day a month, and we were figured we should seize the opportunity since it was special to this town. We got some really cool views even though the water was unfortunately pretty muddy.
Lake + Food
Kennedy Park made for a great walking area and place to stand on big lake rocks. We enjoyed lunch at Mike’s Chicken & Donuts and still managed to save room for ice cream at Sweet Corner Ice Cream afterwards. Note: sadly, Mike's closed in 2020. They had awesome chicken and waffles, burgers, and the fanciest donuts!
Day 3: Milwaukee (Last Full Day)
For our last day, we took an easy 45 minute drive up to Milwaukee. This lake-side city was beautiful and packed with so much to do.
This still ranks as the coolest brewery tour we've ever went on. For $15 each (in 2019), we got a souvenir beer glass, a token for a free beer at other participating restaurants, and a beer to drink during the guided tour. Refill stations were available throughout, so you could truly drink to your heart's content. Although I’m not a beer drinker, it was still a cool experience and Hunter surely got his money’s worth.
Wisconsin really does live up to the cheese hype. It was a small store, but it was packed with so many varieties. Pre-COVID, the shelves were lined with bins of free pre-sliced samples. This made trying them all insanely irresistible. The most unique cheeses we remember trying were Jalapeño and Mango Fire - combinations I never knew existed before coming here. Although I'm not sure what the experience would be like now, it's still definitely a good-to stop in Milwaukee for all cheese lovers!
Walking + Beach
Lake Park was one of my favorite spots to walk around Milwaukee. It featured luscious green paved paths, some outdoor fitness equipment, and the North Point Lighthouse. We loved that Milwaukee didn't always feel like a "hustle and bustle" city. Just steps away, you could stroll back into peaceful nature. We ended the afternoon by walking around the perimeter of the Bucks Arena and sitting on Bradford Beach.
Our first vacation taught us that we really didn’t have to go too far from home or spend much money to have the best time. Wisconsin was truly a gem we didn’t know existed in the Midwest.
Comments