Best Arts and Culture Places in Waukesha

"The previous day was largely car-based, so we chose to leave the car at the hotel and explore on foot instead. Our first stop: the Milwaukee Art Museum, maybe 15 minutes from the hotel. I’m not someone to make kids spend hours in a museum, especially when the weather outside is nice, but I wanted to see the rooftop of the museum (large wings designed by Santiago Calatrava that open a couple of times a day), and I always like exposing the kids to art."

"One of the largest museums globally, the Milwaukee Art Museum has over 25,000 works in its collection. It first opened in 1882."

"Villa Terrace Decorative Arts Museum is an awesome mansion on a bluff overlooking Lake Michigan. When the person died who built it, he dedicated the mansion to the city. Since then, it has served as a decorative arts museum with fantastic gardens leading down toward the lake, in addition to being a popular spot for weddings."

"Overlooking Lake Michigan, the Villa Terrace Decorative Arts Museum is a popular Milwaukee arts destination housed in an Italian Renaissance-style villa. Designed and built by architect David Adler in 1923, the villa originally served as the residence of Lloyd Smith of the A.O. Smith Corporation and his family."

"The Villa Terrace Decorative Arts Museum creates opportunities for residents and visitors to experience history, culture and the arts, by offering vibrant exhibitions and performances in the grand yet intimate setting of the Lloyd Smith family’s lakefront Renaissance villa and garden."

"In the Grohmann’s primary exhibit, The Man at Work, find an extensive collection of paintings and sculptures – billed as “the world’s most comprehensive” – showcasing the evolution of human work over time. If you visit, be sure to check out the rooftop sculpture garden as well. Great for its views of that part of downtown, but even more spectacular for the workmanship atop the roof."

"Located right on Prospect Avenue on Milwaukee’s east side, the Charles Allis Art Museum is part of the broader museum row. The small art museum is inside a historic mansion, built by the prominent Allis family in Milwaukee specifically to hold their art collection. The mansion manages to hold quite a bit of art, including paintings and objectives from around the world."

"A lavish Tudor-style home that now displays a permanent art collection that spans more than 2,000 years as well as changing exhibitions and programs that celebrate Milwaukee’s diversity and Wisconsin art and artists. The Charles Allis Art Museum is a rich cultural institution that serves the entire Milwaukee community."

"Located in the Helfaer Community Service Building, a building intended by philantrhopists Marion and Evan Helfaer to “improve and enrich the lives of all members of the Milwaukee community, regardless of race or religion,” the Jewish Museum's mission is to enhance the public’s awareness and appreciation of Jewish life and culture. With a particular focus on preserving and presenting the history of the Jewish people in southeastern Wisconsin, the Jewish Museum has an extensive collection of oral histories, genealogy records and other archives."

"Celebrate the history and contributions of Southeastern Wisconsin’s Jewish community. Changing special exhibits like “Jews Who Rock” and “Stitching History from the Holocaust” explore the breadth of the Jewish experience alongside historic pieces in the permanent collection."

"215 N Broadway, Milwaukee, WI 53202-5805+1 414-509-5756[email protected]http://lilypadgallery.com. Lily Pad West is a contemporary art gallery found in the heart of Milwaukee's Historic Third Ward. The gallery features artworks of impressionist, realist, and abstract styles."

"This minimalist building on a street corner in downtown Milwaukee doesn’t look like much from the outside, but a step through its doors reveals some of the finest contemporary art in the state. The Green Gallery pushes the city’s art scene to its limits with innovative, experimental exhibits and shows featuring world-renowned artists. Artists who have exhibited at the Green Gallery in the past include multi-media artist and Milwaukee native David Robbins, who worked with Andy Warhol in the 1980s, and Margaret Lee, whose elegant drawings have been featured in New York Magazine, The New Yorker and The New York Times."

"Gallery Night MKE – Milwaukee’s original gallery hop event – unites the city through art. Experience the vast creative culture in MKE while you discover local galleries, art, and artists. This free, two-day quarterly event offers you the opportunity to buy original art, dine in outstanding restaurants, and shop in unique boutiques."

"194 S 2nd St, Milwaukee, WI 53204-1409+1 414-421-7700[email protected]http://www.rrartgalleries.com. Specializing in custom framing, large format printing and photo reproduction to enhance and beautify your home or business and to preserve precious memories. We also have work from several Milwaukee artists on display including: Photography by Robert Popp, Jewelry by Dagmara Costello, Woodwork by James Bednarski, Painting by Dan Duffy and Metal Work by Eduardo."

"Wisconsin is famous for its Friday fish fries, and those visiting Milwaukee will find one of the city’s favorites at Lakefront Brewery. Located in the Brewer’s Hill neighborhood on the Milwaukee River, the brewery was the first in the United States to make its beer from 100 percent in-state grown ingredients. With 80,000 people touring the brewery every year, it’s one of America’s most popular tours among those that include four six-ounce pours of delicious brews."

"After the big boys that made Milwaukee famous and before the craft-beer boom that has seen dozens of third-wave options sprout in just the past few years, Lakefront became the most ubiquitous local beer of area bars and liquor stores. Rent one of its mini riverfront “hop houses” — private dining spaces complete with heating, wood floors, and white tablecloths — to sample the beer-battered cod at a Friday fish fry. Indoor dining, outdoor dining, takeout, delivery."

"Lakefront Brewery is located on the edge of the Milwaukee River and features an array of beers, bar bites and the best brewery tour in Milwaukee, according to OnMilwaukee readers."

"Driving into downtown from the west, you’ll notice the City Lights Brewery building overlooking the city. As the name suggests, this historic building once supplied the power to light the city, and today people can tour the building and see the classic design by Alexander Eschweiler, steel exported by Andrew Carnegie and brickwork hand-glazed by Tiffany. That’s just one of the many opportunities to tour and taste breweries in Milwaukee, from up-and-coming craft brewers and classics like Miller Brewing, Milwaukee Brewing Company, Sprecher Brewery and more."

"Menomonee River Valley The two owners of Third Space met at summer camp, and maybe that's why one of their flagship beers is called Happy Place. That may also be why their outdoor beer garden welcomes pets, kids, food trucks, and general al fresco merriment. There are only two tours offered most weeks, but up to 25 people are allowed on each tour -- and if you're lucky, one of the owners will be your tour guide."

"Located in the undeveloped industrial park in Milwaukee’s Menomonee River Valley (not too far from the Third Ward), Third Space Brewing has an undeniably cool space in an old warehouse building with exposed brick and infrastructure. They have a large taproom as well as an outdoor beer garden to enjoy those coveted Wisconsin summers. It’s an awesome place to hang out & enjoy high quality, delicious beer."

"Also in the neighborhood are two craft breweries: MobCraft and Milwaukee Brewing Co. Both offer tours and tastings. Satisfy your sweet tooth with a cone of Purple Door Ice Cream (its unique flavors include Whiskey) at its lone retail space or pick up Indulgence Chocolatier’s bars of chocolate as souvenirs."

"Miller Brewing Tour – Alternatively Lakefront or MKE Brewing Tour Milwaukee is the city that beer built. At one point in time, Milwaukee produced more beer than any other city in the world. Dubbed ‘Brew City’, Milwaukee was once home to several of the major beer brands in the United States."

"Bluemound HeightsWhat you’re getting: Those Things, grasshopper piesGilles is the oldest custard stand in Milwaukee, having opened in 1938. You can get the usual flavors of the day, but if you want something different, you can ask for one of Those Things. It’s a chocolate-covered cookie and vanilla custard pop on a stick, and it’ll make you feel like one of the cool kids."

"Milwaukee’s oldest operating stand, Gilles Frozen Custard has been open since 1938. That’s almost 80 years of custard!. In addition to serving delicious frozen custard, shakes, malts, sundaes, and floats year round, Gilles offers a full menu of casual American eats from burgers to fish fry."

"Frozen Yogurt & Goodies1349 Wauwatosa Ave., Wauwatosa, 414-988-5365; 2205 N. Calhoun Rd., Brookfield, 262-649-3128Specialty: Weigh and pay. You choose from three cup sizes and top your froyo with more than 35 toppings."

"The Milwaukee Public Market, located in the Historic Third Ward neighborhood, is one of the prime attractions of the area, and it serves as the location where the locals, farmers, artisans, and tourists all get together to get some delicious fresh local food, load up on supplies, do some people-watching, or just stroll around. The choice of goodies is huge: baked goods, meats, soups, produce, seafood, cheese, wine, spices, coffee, and candies. If you’re interested in non-edible items, you can find flowers, clothes, and other trinkets."

"It’s not quite a shopping mall and not quite a farmer’s market; it’s not really an outdoor complex, but with its high, open-air ceilings, it doesn’t feel like an indoor venue, either. Like many other Milwaukee attractions, it straddles the line between fun and pragmatic, and it’ll offer a memorable experience for anyone looking for cool and offbeat stuff to do in the city. The biggest attraction of the Milwaukee Public Market is the food."

"Modeled after Seattle’s Public Market, the Milwaukee Public Market boasts a number of locally owned food and merchant vendors plus a second floor eating area. Masks are now required for building entrance. Outdoor seating: Yes"

"Source: Photo by Flickr user Michael Steeber used under CC BY-SA 2.0. This shopping center, which has Pick ‘n Save—one if the biggest supermarket chains in the area—as its main tenant, is located between Loomis Road and 27th Street. Some other national merchants include Chase Bank and Kohl’s."

"Wauwatosa’s newest shopping center, The Mayfair Collection is a fast-growing hub for fashion retail. Check out popular shops like Nordstrom Rack, J. Crew Mercantile, Old Navy, Ulta, and more."