Best of Milwaukee with Brew City Kayak

Milwaukee is a place worth exploring. I got to experience a new side of my city through The Best of Milwaukee tour by Brew City Kayak—a half-day adventure on the Milwaukee River.

This kayak tour is a must-do activity for anyone looking to get to know Milwaukee in the summer months. It combined my favorite things MKE has to offer: water, history, beer, and local institutions.

Here’s how my Brew City Kayak tour went.

Quick details

Duration: 4 hours
Offered: daily, starting at 11:15 a.m.
Price: $145
Website: brewcitykayak.com

The tour is beginner-friendly – kayaking experience is not necessary.

What to bring

• Bag to hold your things in the kayak (I used a wet bag and a wet case for my phone, but a drawstring bag is helpful!). Brew City Kayak can also hold onto your valuables/keys while you go out on the water
• Sunscreen
• Water (though we were given a bottle of water before the trip!)
• Light layers – I wore my swimsuit, shorts, and had a jacket in my bag for when we walked around Milwaukee
• Shoes that can get wet

Best of Milwaukee tour

I got to see Milwaukee like I never have before—via kayak, on the Milwaukee River!

My four-hour Best of Milwaukee tour began at the Cooperage, in the Harbor View neighborhood, where Brew City Kayak keeps their inventory of colorful kayaks. We had a small group—I was joined by a couple visiting from New Jersey. We were led by the enthusiastic and knowledgeable guide Chris, who gave lots of special insight only a longtime local could know.

After getting situated with sunscreen, complimentary bottled water for the road, and lifejackets, we got right to it! We easily got into the water through a Yak Port (a very smooth get in, get situated, get pushed out). It was a treat to see the Hoan Bridge from our starting point.

From there, we paddled north up the Milwaukee River, staying close as a group. Chris was helpful to keep the pace and to give us the basics for staying safe—keeping to the right side of the water, showing us how to cross carefully, being aware of other watercrafts. We went through the Historic Third Ward and into downtown, and briefly in the Menomonee River, near the Harley Davidson Museum. As we went, Chris pointed out features and buildings, and their interesting histories and stories.

In addition to kayaking (which was overall fun, approachable, and a great workout), the tour also involved stopping, docking, and walking around Milwaukee. We stopped at some favorite MKE institutions, where we enjoyed a complimentary appetizer and drink at each.

The stops

We stopped at some classic Milwaukee places to eat and drink as a group, where we spent some time getting to know each other. Our Brew City Kayak guide Chris had some favorite appetizers in mind, and we were free to order a beverage of our choice.

Each Brew City Kayak Best of Milwaukee tour varies. Sometimes it stops at Lakefront Brewery for a tour, other times the Bronze Fonz, sometimes the Harley Davidson museum.

Here’s where we stopped after docking our kayaks downtown at the Riverwalk Commons.

Swingin’ Door Exchange

At Swingin’ Door Exchange, located right in downtown Milwaukee, we sat outside. Chris ordered us delicious beets and feta with some brussels sprouts, and I drank a Miller High Life. The food was exceptional, and the service was excellent! Everyone seemed to know our guide, which added to getting the full local experience.

swingindoorexchange.com
219 E Michigan St, Milwaukee, WI 53202

Explorium Brewpub

After finishing at the Swinging Door Exchange, our group walked through downtown to the Explorium Brewpub. This was a great walk, where Chris was able to point out a few iconic MKE views, like the giant lady bugs, the Gaslight Building, and the Riverwalk. We also walked through the Milwaukee Public Market, giving our out-of-town guests a quick sample of the market.

At Explorium, we sat in the back patio—perfect for a sunny day. We ordered a giant pretzel that came hanging from its display (it was as delicious as it looked), and I enjoyed a sour strawberry cheesecake beer that our waitress recommended (it was a great choice).

exploriumbrew.com
143 W St Paul Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53203

Barnacle Buds

Our last stop was at Barnacle Buds, one of my favorite spots in Milwaukee. It’s a riverside dock restaurant and bar that feels straight from Key West. Here, I grabbed a boozy punch and we got some cheese curds, which were absolutely delicious.

barnaclebuds.com
1955 S Hilbert St, Milwaukee, WI 53207

Quick thinking

Our Brew City Kayak guide Chris was extremely flexible when it came to suggestions and detours. First, we walked through the Milwaukee Public Market, giving our out of town guests a peek into a must-visit attraction for later.

Then, when our plans to visit the Harley Davidson Museum were foiled (there was a baby seagull and her mom using the dock as a nest, and we didn’t want to disturb them), Chris was able to come up with a plan so as not to short-change our experience. He was able to borrow us a boat and take us over to Barnacle Buds, and it was a great accommodation.

Overall

I highly recommend this tour and recommend Brew City Kayak as a must-do Milwaukee experience. It was so incredibly fun to spend time on the water, and to paddle through my city. This would be a great choice to bring out of town guests, though I also enjoyed it as a local.

Check out Brew City Kayak’s Best of Milwaukee Tour to experience the best that the city has to offer, from a vantage point that truly can’t be beat.

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