NATHALIE CLÉMENT BOUTEILLE, JOURNALIST AND BLOGGER, IN MILWAUKEE
Nathalie Clément Bouteille is a French mother of three who's just spent three years in Milwaukee, the biggest city in Wisconsin state. She decided to make the best of it and loved it. No sooner did she arrive that she decided to become a local influential travel blogger and journalist. She collaborated with French in Chicago network, and founded French in Milwaukee. Let's also mention that Nathalie was the first contributor to Little Voyageurs.
Nathalie couldn't leave Milwaukee without sharing a few tips and spots she would so like to go to with her family...
WITH NATHALIE CLÉMENT BOUTEILLE IN MILWAUKEE
Milwaukee is not just about Harley Davidson, cheese and beer! This is also a lovely city worth visiting with your family.
C for Culture. You can't miss it: The Milwaukee Art Museum (designed by the neofuturistic Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava) stands proudly in front of the water with its butterfly-like wings. Enjoy free Sundays with your family and try the Kohl's Studio workshops with your little ones.
Older children will love Discovery World, an interactive hands-on science museum. In Summer you can even access the deck of the three-mast Sullivan boat moored just in front!
Another great place is First Stage, Wisconsin's largest children's theatre and the nation's second largest theatre academy for children. Great shows and events are held all year long, accessible to young audiences. Check out their special 3-show family offer: Movie/concert, circus and dance, accompanied by the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra.
Our visit to the Old World Wisconsin, an outdoor history museum that depicts the lives and times of rural 19th-century pioneers and immigrants, remains our most memorable experience.
Eating out with the kids. For lunch, enjoy one of the best burgers in town on the rooftop of the Café Benelux in Third Ward, a trendy neighborhood with art galleries, pretty shops and sidewalks to stroll during nap time.
Otherwise you can sunbathe on the deck at Twisted Fisherman, feet in the sand, delighted by the very French combo of fries and mussels. They also bring crayons and drawings for the kids.
To grab a snack, the Little Sprouts Play Café.
For an unconventional experience with your family, try the Organ Piper Pizza.
The Fox Bay Cinema Grill: Eat while watching your favorite movie.
A drink at sunset. The outdoor patio or rooftop of the Iron Horse hôtel or of the Journey Man, two popular and comfy "boutique-hotels". Better to go without the kids! (We also recommend their renowned fancy restaurants).
Outdoor activity on a sunny day. Pick your activity for the afternoon: Lying on the beach at Bradford Beach or swimming in one of the several small lakes. Our favorite one is Pike Lake, the ideal spot for those with young children who can rest under the shelter of the trees.
Walk along the lakefront. Visit the tiny historical lighthouse overlooking the lake with a breathtaking view.
Our secret spot is the Shalom Wildlife Sanctuary where you can intimately interact with the animals. Golf carts are also available for renting.
At sundown, hop onto the Edelweiss boat for a Pirate's cruise. Your kids can dress up in costumes and join the crew in defending the ship from attacks, just like a Peter Pan movie… https://www.edelweissboats.com/public-cruises/kids-pirates-cruise
And last but not least, a 45 minute drive south from Milwaukee, the open-air Russell Military Museum. Situated on 8 acres, there are over 300 vehicles on display including tanks, jeeps, cannons, rifles, helicopters, jets and many unique vehicles that you won't see anywhere else.
An indoor activity on a rainy day. The Public Museum and its Planetarium to watch 3D movies and discover their large collection of dinosaur fossils.
The Betty Brinn Children's Museum is a must for the kids. It provides hands-on displays that teach science, business, and art, field trips and educational programs, parties, and a toddler section.
And of course, all Wisconsin moms know off by heart the list of indoor playgrounds and bouncing houses. For littles ones, Word of Wow du Jewish Center is a perfect spot. Just4Fun is also a great option. This is where we held all our birthday parties.
Winter activities. You might come back during Winter to experiment the many pleasures of Wisconsin; ice-fishing, ice-bowling, tubing or skiing along the hills and even walking on the frozen lake as if this was the Groenland…
How to go. Milwaukee is only an hour and thirty minutes by train from downtown Chicago and an hour and forty-five minutes by car. It also has an international airport connected via direct flights to many of the major cities in the US.