110+ FUN THINGS TO DO WITH KIDS IN MILWAUKEE

Looking for fun things to do with kids in Milwaukee? Visiting Milwaukee for the weekend and want to know what the locals think are the best things to do around town? Need to mix it up and try something new? Whether you’ve been here 15 years or 15 minutes, there is always something fun and exciting to explore.

There are so many fun things to do with kids in Milwaukee and the surrounding areas – and we’ve rounded up more than 110 of our favorites! 

Check out our guide of 110+ fun activities for kids in the Milwaukee area, and be sure to check out our other local resources:

• EXPLORE LIKE A LOCAL
• GUIDES TO MILWAUKEE
• IN + AROUND MILWAUKEE

NATURE CENTERS

Yes, Milwaukee is the state’s largest city, but we are lucky enough to have some pretty amazing nature centers nearby – filled with kids’ play areas, hiking trails, scavenger hunts and more! These local favorites in the Milwaukee area a great option for your next outdoor adventure. 

• Aztalan State Park
• Boerner Botanical Gardens
• Bong State Recreation Area
• Havenwoods State Forest
• Hawthorn Glen Outdoor Education Center
• Lynden Sculpture Garden
• Mequon Nature Preserve 
• Retzer Nature Center
• Riveredge Nature Center
• Schlitz Audubon Nature Center
• Urban Ecology Center 
• Wehr Nature Center

MUSEUMS

Milwaukee is known for its vibrant culture and rich history and offers a treasure trove of educational and entertaining experiences for families. These 7 museums stand out as the best destinations for engaging, interactive, and downright fun experiences! 

• Milwaukee Public Museum
• Betty Brinn Children’s Museum
• Harley-Davidson Museum
• The Domes
• Milwaukee Art Museum – Kids 12 and under are now FREE
• Discovery World
• Old World Wisconsin

FUN WITH ANIMALS

In addition to having an incredible, world-class zoo right here in Milwaukee, we also have several other fun activities for kids who love animals.

• Milwaukee County Zoo – Going to visit often? Get the Zoo Pass!
• Farm Wisconsin Discovery Center – An interactive farm education facility for the whole family
• Old World Wisconsin – Say hi to the farm animals!
• Discovery World’s Reiman Aquarium
• Racine Zoo – Short drive south to Racine
   
   
• Henry Vilas Zoo – A FREE zoo about an hour west in Madison
• Safari Lake Geneva – A drive-thru safari adventure in Lake Geneva

PARKS AND PLAYGROUNDS

The metro Milwaukee area boasts some of the most awesome parks! You could almost hit a different park every week and not have the same experience anywhere. These are some of our favorite parks in the area to help a crew of kids blow off steam.

• Atwater Park — Capitol and Lake Dr, Shorewood (MAP)
• Back Bay Park — 2315 E. Back Bay, Milwaukee (MAP)
• Carver Park — 911 W. Brown, Milwaukee (MAP)
• Estabrook Park – 4400 N. Estabrook Dr, Shorewood (MAP)
• Fox River Park — W264 S4500 River Road, Waukesha (MAP)
• Grant Park — 100 E Hawthorne Ave, South Milwaukee (MAP)
• Hart Park — 7300 W Chestnut, Wauwatosa (MAP)
• Hartung Park — Corner of W. Keefe Ave and Menomonee River Parkway (MAP)
• Hawthorn Glen – 1130 North 60th Street, Milwaukee (MAP)
• Kayla’s Playground at Franklin Woods Nature Park — 3723 W. Puetz Road (MAP)
• Marcus DeBack Playground– 5500 W Wright St, Milwaukee (MAP)
• Northwestern Mutual Community Playground @ Summerfest — Henry Maier Festival Park, Milwaukee
• Playground at Malone — 3953 S Casper Drive, New Berlin (MAP)
• Possibility Playground– 498 N. Lake St, Port Washington (MAP)
   
• South Shore Park — 2900 S. Shore Dr, Milwaukee (MAP) 
• Washington Park — 1859 N. 40th St. (MAP) 
• Lake Vista Park— 4001 E Lakeside Ave, Oak Creek, WI 53154 (MAP)
• Southgate Playfield– 3300 S. 25th St, Milwaukee
• Willowbrooke Community Playground— N97 W6375 Lexington St, Cedarburg (MAP)

BEER GARDENS

Yes, we said Beer Gardens. Hear me out. A Milwaukee area beer garden is the perfect combination of outdoor fun, cold beverages, good food, and a great time for all ages. Many local beer gardens even have playground or parks onsite or nearby – heck, one is even AT the zoo! A must for summertime in Milwaukee.

• BAVARIAN BIERHAUS
• BEAR GARDEN @ MILWAUKEE CO ZOO
• BEER GARDEN @ THE DEER DISTRICT
• EAGLE PARK BREWING
• ELM GROVE BEER GARDEN
• ESTABROOK PARK BEER GARDEN
• FRANKLIN BEER GARDEN AT CROATIAN PARK
• HARTLAND BEER GARDEN
• HUBBARD PARK BEER GARDEN
• HUMBOLDT PARK WINE & BEER GARDEN (THE VINE HUMBOLDT)
• THE LANDING AT HOYT PARK
• SOUTH SHORE TERRACE
• SCHWABENHOF BIERGARTEN
• THE TAP YARD @ BAYSHORE 
• THE TAP YARD @ WAUKESHA
• THE TAP YARD MKE
• THIRD SPACE BREWING BEER GARDEN
• WHITNALL PARK BEER GARDEN

INDOOR FUN

From play cafés to trampoline parks, library storytimes to bowling, there is a load of fun to be found indoors in the Milwaukee area!

FOR TODDLERS & LITTLES

• Library Story Times with Milwaukee Public Library
• Bay View Community Center – Family Resource Center
• COA – Sampson Family Resource Center
• Mitchell Park Domes
• Betty Brinn Children’s Museum – Tot Time
• Little Sprouts Play Café
• Nugget Nation MKE
• Kids in Motion
• Flips 4 All
• More Indoor Playgrounds

INDOOR FUN FOR ALL AGES

• Bounce and Arcade 
• Athletic Play
• Ice and Roller Rinks
• Gyms and Pools
• Bowling
• Libraries and Bookstores
• Shows and Movies

MINI GOLF

Here’s our favorite local miniature golf courses in the Milwaukee area for kids. Pack your patience and your sense of humor, and get ready to tee off for fun!

• Swing Time – Waukesha
• Prairieville Park – Waukesha
• Krazy Golf – Waukesha
• Stonewater Village Mini Golf – New Berlin
• Big Putts – Greenfield
• Holy Mackerel – Greenfield
• Tee Aire – Brookfield
• Swing Time – Germantown
• Gastrau’s Golf Center – Oak Creek

FUN WITH WATER

Milwaukee is lucky enough to be located on the shores of beautiful Lake Michigan, meaning we have access to lots of fantastic beaches that are so fun to enjoy with kids. Plus, there are lots of waterparks nearby for those who prefer to skip the sand.

LAKE MICHIGAN BEACHES

• Bradford Beach – 2400 N. Lincoln Memorial Drive, Milwauke
• McKinley Beach – 1750 N Lincoln Memorial Dr., Milwaukee
• Atwater Park and Beach– 4000 N Lake Drive, Shorewood
• Grant Park Beach– 100 E Hawthorne Ave., South Milwaukee
• South Shore Park– 2900 South Shore Drive, Milwaukee
• Klode Park – 5900 N. Lake Drive, Whitefish Bay
• Doctors Park – 1870 E Fox Lane, Fox Point

OUTDOOR WATERPARKS

• Timber Ridge Lodge – Lake Geneva
• Veterans Memorial Aquatic Center – Hartford
• Wiberg Aquatic Center – Brookfield
• Cool Waters Aquatic Park – West Allis
• Schulz Aquatic Park – Milwaukee
• Pelican Cove – Milwaukee
• Horeb Springs Aquatic Center – Waukesha

INDOOR WATERPARKS

• Springs Water Park at the Ingleside Hotel – Pewaukee
• Timber Ridge Lodge & Waterpark – Lake Geneva
• Breaker Bay at Blue Harbor Resort – Sheboygan

GET CREATIVE! ARTS, MUSIC, ETC.

Whether your child is a budding artist, a maestro musician, or an emerging theater enthusiast, the creative arts scene in Milwaukee is the perfect place to let that creativity bloom. Here’s just a few fun ideas around the city for fun with your creative-minded kiddo.

• Black Cat Alley – A not-so-secret alley of murals and street art
• Milwaukee Mural Map – Explore the many murals around the city
• Milwaukee Art Museum – Kids 12 and under are now FREE
• Marcus Performing Arts Center – Kid-friendly performances galore
• First Stage Theater – Nationally-known children’s theater
• Fox and Branch Concert – Local family folk performance duo