The Harley-Davidson Museum displays over 400 classic motorcycles and memorabilia, including the original 1903 Serial No. 1 and Elvis Presley's orange-and-white 1956 motorcycle. Reconstructed board tracks and photo exhibits recall the lives of early Harley enthusiasts, and a park, cafe, restaurant, and retail shop complete the experience at 6th and Canal streets (tel. 414/343-4235; www.h-dmuseum.com). Tickets cost $16 for adults, $10 children, 4 and under free. Motorcycle lovers will also enjoy the Harley-Davidson Tour Center, 11700 W. Capitol Dr., Wauwatosa (tel. 877/883-1450 or 414/343-7850; www.harley-davidson.com), with free hour-long tours showcasing the plant's powertrain production. No children 11 and under.
Miller Brewing Company, 4251 W. State St. (tel. 800/944-LITE [944-5483] or 414/931-BEER [931-2337]; www.millerbrewing.com), operates one of the world's largest breweries. After a free 1-hour tour, visitors sample the product in the city's last remaining outdoor biergarten, weather permitting -- in the 19th-century Miller Inn the rest of the year.
Enjoy hands-on science-and-technology exhibits at Discovery World at Pier Wisconsin, 500 N. Harbor Dr. (tel. 414/765-9966; www.discoveryworld.org), reopened in 2006 in a new lakeshore location. Highlights include an aquarium and the tall ship S/V Denis Sullivan, a re-creation of a 19th-century Great Lakes schooner. Admission is $17 adults, $13 children, and free for children 2 and under. Ship tours cost $5; 2-hour public sails cost $50 for adults, $25 for children.
Downtown, the Milwaukee Public Museum, 800 W. Wells St. (tel. 888/700-9069 or 414/278-2702; www.mpm.edu), is home to a staggering array of re-created international villages, a live butterfly garden, dinosaur skeletons, a simulated rainforest, a planetarium, and an IMAX theater. Museum admission is $11 adults, $7 children 3 to 15, 2 and under free; planetarium and IMAX films each cost $8 adults, $6 children.
A favorite for the kids is the Milwaukee County Zoo, 10001 W. Blue Mound Rd. (tel. 414/256-5412; www.milwaukeezoo.org). All the favorites are on hand, including elephants, bears, zebras, gorillas, and the big cats, but you'll also see raptor and sea lion shows and you can take a ride on a camel. Admission fees vary seasonally but are generally $11 adults, $8 children 3 to 12.
Santiago Calatrava's redesign of the Milwaukee Art Museum, 700 N. Art Museum Dr. (at Michigan St. and Lincoln Memorial Dr.; tel. 414/224-3200; www.mam.org), renders the museum building as stunning as any of the works on display inside. The Burke Brise Soleil sunscreen on the roof opens and closes to resemble a large white gull. Inside, artworks range from ancient Greek to modern American, Asian, and African pieces, including Renoir, Monet, Kandinsky, and Miró. Admission is $8 for adults, $4 for students, and free for children 12 and under.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
