Baseball, Kayak & River Walk: Milwaukee Shines in the Summertime
American Family Field: Home of the Milwaukee Brewers
Play Ball!
As we continued our tour of Major League Baseball Stadiums, #7 took us to the land of the Cheeseheads - Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Yes, I know, talk of cheeseheads brings to mind the hearty fans of the Green Bay Packers, but while in Wisconsin, it seems to fit, even if we are talking baseball.
While the catalyst for this trip was to catch a game at American Family Field and cheer on the Milwaukee Brewers in their hometown, we got out and explored this northern Midwest town, too. We stayed at the Tru by Hilton Milwaukee Downtown location and it proved to be a great location for exploring on foot. We were just a few blocks from the Milwaukee Public Market, a short walk to the Riverwalk Trail, and less than 10 minutes driving to the ballpark. If you prefer something more homey, check out a VRBO for something close to the river.
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American Family Field | Milwaukee Brewers
Both of us grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area, so our teams will always be the Giants and the A’s. But now that we live in the Midwest, we’ve been exploring the different stadiums and cheering for the home team (unless they happen to be playing “our team”). To show my fan support, I’ve been collecting baseball hats along the way.
I often buy our game tickets through StubHub and, since we find joy in just being at the game, I look for the best seat at the best deal, usually sitting somewhere in the upper decks - the penthouse as I like to call it - or the outfield. This particular night, what we thought were “penthouse” seats actually turned out to be “Club Level” tickets which - at American Family Field - meant we were in a section with padded seats and exclusive access to the carpeted, air-conditioned corridor with NO LINES in the fancy bathrooms and concession stands. So cool!
Of course, we enjoyed a ballpark hot dog, beer and peanuts (a classic stadium meal) while we cheered for the home team. Not much better than that on a warm summer night.
Our top pick in Milwaukee
A lazy day on the river
A hot Midwest summer day is the perfect day for getting out on the water. So, our top pick for exploring the city when you visit Milwaukee for a Brewer’s game is to go kayaking on the Milwaukee River.
There are several places to rent kayaks, including Brew City Kayak on S. Water Street. They offer several tours - including the Best of Milwaukee, Sunset and Cheese Curd tours - but we opted for a half-day rental that let us go our own way. Before starting out, we were warned that one wrong turn and we would end up out on Lake Michigan, but thankfully we stayed the course (a safety rule you must agree to before heading out on the river).
The 4-hour span was the perfect amount of time to paddle up and down the Milwaukee River (yep - the current is gentle enough to both ways!), plus stop for lunch along the way. We floated under 14 bridges (each way!) and marveled as they raised in different ways to let the big boats pass.
There are several docks you can stop at along the river. We paddled all the way to dock #7 at the turnaround point and stopped for lunch at the Bel Air Cantina. The outdoor, covered patio was the perfect spot to enjoy some tacos, queso and margaritas. It didn’t matter that we were a little wet from our river adventure.
Also worth a visit
The Riverwalk Trail
Half the fun of heading to a new stadium is getting the chance to explore the surrounding city. Along the Milwaukee River is the Riverwalk Trail, a 3-mile paved path that lets you walk through the heart of the city.
Our walk took us to Lakefront Brewing at the northern end of the trail. It happened to be open mic comedy night, so we grabbed a local beer and enjoyed a good laugh. Heading back along the trail to our hotel, we found some random things with the help of our Roadside America app, including a bronze statue of Arthur Fonzarelli (“The Fonz”) from the classic American sitcom, Happy Days, and some really cool murals - including one at Schlitz Park (site of the historic Schlitz Brewing Company).
Milwaukee Public Market
The Milwaukee Public Market is a food lover’s dream. Located in downtown Milwaukee, the Public Market is housed in a two-story warehouse, filled with local food and beverage vendors.
Wandering through the ground floor, it’s hard to decide what to buy. There are options for fresh food to enjoy for breakfast, lunch or dinner; as well as unique food options to purchase and take home.
The second story Palm Garden is open seating where visitors can enjoy their freshly-prepared meal from the market below. During the summer, sit and enjoy a craft beer or cocktail on the outside Draft Patio.
If you have time, consider taking a tour of the Market or participating in one of their unique cooking classes, led by local chefs.
Where to stay:
Tru by Hilton Milwaukee Downtown
Baseball Tickets & Brewers Gear:
Get your favorite Brewers gear early and avoid missing the game while in line at the ballpark store
Things to do:
Take a cooking class at the Milwaukee Public Market
Restaurants & Breweries:
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