While I have long proclaimed MKE a summer-time destination, there’s something to be said about winter activities in Milwaukee.
There’s a mix of traditional outdoor adventures with cozy indoor pursuits; even in the cold, the Cream City knows how to have fun.
Here’s a guide to the best winter activities in Milwaukee.
Bucks game
Go Bucks! One of my favorite activities winter activities in Milwaukee is catching a Bucks game at the Fiserv Forum, located in the city’s vibrant and fun Deer District. Watching a game—and cheering for greats like Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis—is a fun bucket list item in MKE.
Milwaukee Public Market, 3rd Street Market Hall, and Crossroads Collective
Milwaukee’s market halls are such a fun way to get out and about (while staying indoors), experience so many local businesses and activities, and get a taste of Milwaukee’s unique flavors in one spot.
Options include Milwaukee Public Market in the Third Ward or 3rd Street Market Hall downtown. Each spot gives the ability to sample diverse cuisines, shop for local goods, and enjoy a lively atmosphere. They’re also great for groups eating together, or visitors coming to visit MKE.
Glassnote Candle Bar
Warm up your creativity with a visit to Glassnote Candle Bar, located in Walker’s Point. This is a hands-on experience where you get to design your own custom candle! The process involves trying and picking out scents, in a cozy and charming setting. Plus, the cocktails are delicious!
Glassnote is one of my favorite date activities in Milwaukee.
Mitchell Park Domes
When you need a break from the chill, head to the Mitchell Park Domes. These iconic glass structures house a tropical dome, desert dome, and a show dome with rotating seasonal displays. It’s a perfect spot to escape to a lush getaway without leaving the city.
Glorioso’s Italian Market
Located on Brady Street, Glorioso’s Italian Market is a great spot to explore. It’s a bustling and charming spot for authentic Italian ingredients, deli items, and baked goods. From fresh pasta and sauces to charcuterie ingredients and wine, Glorioso’s is worth a visit.
Ice skating
For a true winter activity, head to Red Arrow Park in downtown Milwaukee for some ice skating fun! The small rink is open daily in January and February. Skate rentals are available on-site for a fee. Otherwise, skating is free at this “slice of ice.”
The Pettit National Ice Center is another popular spot for those who’d prefer skating indoors instead.
Wiffle ball field rental
For a quirky group activity, rent the wiffle ball field at Broken Bat Brewery. It’s a playful way to stay active and shake off cabin fever. Speaking from personal experience (I play in a league at Broken Bat), it’s a ton of fun!
Concerts
Milwaukee’s live music scene thrives in winter. Check out venues like Turner Hall Ballroom, The Rave / Eagles Club, The Pabst Theater, Miller High Life Theatre, Cactus Club, Fiserv Forum, or Shank Hall for a variety of shows. From indie bands to big-name headliners, there’s always something happening.
There are also live events, plays, and shows at the Milwaukee Symphony and the Marcus Performing Arts Center.
Admirals game
Cheer on the Milwaukee Admirals, the city’s AHL hockey team, at the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena. The high-energy games are a great way to embrace Wisconsin’s love for sports, while staying warm indoors.
Bowling
Embrace Wisconsin’s love for classic leisure sports! Head to Milwaukee staples like Holler House or Landmark Lanes for retro bowling experiences.
Shuffleboard
For another fun, leisure, and indoor activity, head to NorthSouth Club for full-sized shuffleboard experience. Book a court and play! The club also has a league, if you’d like to play on a weekly basis (we have played, and it was a blast!).
Axe throwing
Milwaukee spots like NorthSouth Club and AXE MKE also have axe-throwing available as an indoor activity. It’s surprisingly fun, stress-relieving, and great for groups.
Brewery hopping
Milwaukee has a thriving brewery scene worth checking out! There are several local favorites to explore (Lakefront Brewery, Central Waters, Third Space, and Indeed among them). Cozy up with a board game, order food, or just enjoy locally sourced beer.
Pro-tip: if you want to try several different breweries and bars, look into getting an MKE PubPass! PubPass partners with local breweries and provides customers with a beer passport program—participating businesses give you a free drink and a stamp! It’s a heck of a deal for only $25 and 25 participating spots. We love ours!
Extra pro-tip: if you’re not a drinker, or are sober-curious, Zero-Proof Pass is another option that works with local businesses to promote NA options, while still getting you out and about MKE.
Brewery tour
While you’re at it, many breweries offer a tour. Lakefront Brewery is renowned for their hour-long tour, and is considered a must-do Milwaukee activity. Sprecher Brewery also has a great tour that’s kid-friendly, as they produce sodas on-site as well as beer.
Fun Beer Tours offers an incredibly fun mobile tour that mixes history and beer, with fun and stops along the way. We loved their “Beer is Famous, Milwaukee Made it So!” tour.
Lake Michigan walk
Even in winter, a walk along Lake Michigan is refreshing and scenic. Bundle up and enjoy the serenity of the snow-covered shoreline at spots like Lakeshore State Park or Veteran’s Park.
Novelty bar
Milwaukee has several fun, novelty bars that come embedded with that Wisconsin charm we know and love. Check out Camp Bar (with locations in the Third Ward, Deer District, and Wauwatosa)—a local favorite spot decked out in holiday lights. Don’s TV and Repair and the Safehouse are fun, themed spots to enjoy year-round. We also love going to Finks, Jamo’s, and The Standard on our annual Holiday Bar Crawl, as they combine character and charm on the East side.
Similarly, it’s easy to embrace nostalgia with a visit to one of Milwaukee’s arcade bars like Up-Down, Landmark Lanes, or X-Ray Arcade. These venues combine craft drinks with classic games like Pac-Man, pinball, and skee ball, offering a great night out and about.
Coffee shops
Milwaukee’s coffee culture shines year-round. Cozy up with a cup of expertly brewed coffee or tea at local gems like Colectivo, Anodyne Coffee, or Stone Creek Coffee.
Check out a list of my favorite Milwaukee coffee shops here.
Movie theaters
Sometimes, there’s nothing better than escaping the cold with a cozy movie night. Favorite movie theaters include Milwaukee’s Oriental Theatre for a vintage and historic feel, the Avalon Theater in Bay View for quirky and fun shows and pop-up events, or Brookfield’s Marcus or Movie Tavern theaters for comfortable, dinner-and-a-movie vibes.
Take a class
There are a ton of fun ways to learn and support local businesses during the wintertime. Some options include:
- Taking a barre class from Barre3 Milwaukee
- A coffee roasting class
- A tour of the Milwaukee Public Library
- Pasta classes from Semolina
- Cooking classes from the Milwaukee Public Market
- Pottery classes from Cream City Clay or Murray Hill Pottery
- Wine classes from MKE Wine Academy
Supper club
Warm up with a traditional Wisconsin supper club experience. Nearby Milwaukee, there are a few classic spots to enjoy a classic meal, including: Five O’Clock Steakhouse, Buckatabon Tavern & Supper Club, The Packing House, and The Jackson Grill.
Zoo
If you bundle up, the zoo is still a great winter activity! The Milwaukee County Zoo offers a peaceful, less-crowded experience in winter.
Museums
Milwaukee is home to so much culture and history, preserved by its local museums! Dive into Milwaukee’s diverse museums for an educational and entertaining escape from the cold. Options include:
- Milwaukee Art Museum: Admire stunning collections of multi-style artwork, inside an Iconic Milwaukee landmark.
- Milwaukee Public Museum: Explore fascinating history exhibits, from the Streets of Old Milwaukee to natural history, like a butterfly atrium.
- Discovery World: Hands-on fun and science exhibits for all ages.
- Betty Brinn Children’s Museum: A must for families with little ones, with fun, hands-on displays.
Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing
Fresh air is sometimes the best solution to winter’s cabin fever! According to Milwaukee Parks and Rec, all Milwaukee County Parks allow cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Groomed cross-country trails are available at:
- Brown Deer, 7835 N. Green Bay Road
- Whitnall Park Golf Course, 6751 S. 92nd St.
Trails through the Nature Center (Wehr Nature Center, 9701 W. College Ave) are ideal for snowshoeing.
Sledding
Additionally, a dozen Milwaukee County Parks have hills ideal for sledding, when conditions allow.
Daytime-only designated sledding hills
- Brown Deer Park, 7835 N. Green Bay Road
- Indigenous Peoples’ Park, 7301 W. Courtland Ave.
- Greene Park, 4235 S. Lipton Ave.
- Hales Corners Park, 5765 S. New Berlin Road
- Kletzsch Park, 6560 N Milw. River Pkwy.
- LaFollette Park,9418 W. Washington St.
- McCarty Park, 8214 W. Cleveland Ave.
- McGovern Park, 5400 N. 51 St.
- Wilson Recreation Center, 4001 S. 20 St.
All-day designated sledding hills
Lit from 4:30 – 8:30 p.m.
- Whitnall Park (near the clubhouse) 6751 S. 92nd St.
- Currie Park, 3535 N. Mayfair Road (Lit until 10 p.m.)
- Humboldt Park, 3000 S. Howell Ave.
Treat yourself
Whenever I get the seasonal blues (which is often), I love to “treat myself” to something special in Milwaukee. Some suggestions include:
- A blowout from Drybar
- A beauty treatment or service from providers like Retrograde Aesthetics, Magnolia Aesthetics, Sweet Tox, Rose Aesthetics, or Face Foundrie
- A visit to a sauna! Hot Spell Sauna has a seasonal, public pop-up at McKinley Marina, along with a cold plunge in Lake Michigan. Chad just went and loved it!
Winter fun
This winter, Milwaukee proves there’s no need to hibernate. Whether you’re venturing outdoors, exploring cultural gems, or indulging in food and drink, the city offers countless ways to stay entertained all season long.
Established in 2018, Sunshine with Savannah is a catch-all blog with an emphasis on weekend travel, millennial-style marriage and fun, reflection-based musings, outdoor adventure, home design, and all things lifestyle.
Though the content is diverse and varied, the heart of this space stays true to a single, guiding principle: a simple pursuit to find sunshine, wherever I go.
Hey love your post . I never thought that they would be so much things to do in that area. I am from the Caribbean so you know I had no idea.
Talk about opposite climates! Surprisingly, lots of things to do even in the cold. Thanks for reading!
Oh, a city full of much fun for everyone!
It really is! Thank you so much for reading.
Ah, memories. I had a long-time relationship with a girl from Milwaukee some years ago, and visited her family there with her several.
How nice to revisit some pleasant memories! It’s always nice to hear the ways Milwaukee memories have been made. Thank you for reading!
It looks like there are a lot of great things to do in Milwaukee during the winter! Even though it would be a bit cold, the zoo sounds nice. The public market sounds great too!
As long as you’re bundled up, the zoo is a ton of fun! And I always recommend the public market for any out of town guests. Thank you for reading!
I love the look of the market halls, and I’d never turn down a walk around beautiful Lake Michigan – thank you for sharing!
You can’t go wrong either way! Thank you for reading!
I have never been to Milwaukee, but I like the variety of activities that are on offer during the winter season! I would love to try some of these things out, the novelty bars sound fun!
One of the novelty bars is a TV repair shop speakeasy, involving a password and a 7up machine door. It’s SO fun! Thanks for reading!
What a great list! I’d enjoy every single activity on here, especially the food and museums. I love that it can cater to everyone. Thanks for sharing!
It’s a great place to visit, if you ever get the chance! Thank you for reading!
My pleasure!
I’ve never been to Milwaukee, but then I’ve only been to the US once. It sounds like it does have a lot of cool things to do. One thing I like to do when visiting somewhere is to check out the small local art galleries for local talent. What are the local art galleries like in Milwaukee?
Oooh, where did you get to visit in the US? And that’s a fantastic idea—so fun to get to know the local art. There are several smaller galleries throughout town, with some great exhibits!
Not a fan of the cold weather, but Milwuakee seems to have many fun activities to engage in. I love to visit brewery and will be on my top of the list of things to do when I do visit , Milwaukee. Thanks for sharing.
The cold weather can be tough! Thankfully, so many fantastic breweries and indoor activities to enjoy. Thank you for reading!
That’s a comprehensive detail to the inside out fun of Milwaukee. I believe beer bars are always full of life and experience. And loved the Italian market idea as well. Xx
There’s so much vibrancy here, year-round! And the Italian market is absolutely a favorite. Thank you very much for reading!