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Living in Milwaukee, Wisconsin:
Tips for Moving and Visiting

21 local experts
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If you've been wondering what it's like to live in or visit Milwaukee, the Crowdsourced Explorer community can help. We asked 21 people living in Milwaukee what someone who is considering moving to or visiting there should know. Here are their pros and cons, tips, and advice:

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21 comments on “Milwaukee”

Milwaukee was just voted “Culinary Capital of the Midwest.” We are home to Harley Davidson motorcycles. Milwaukee is also known for The World’s Largest Music Festival: “Summerfest” right on the shores of Lake Michigan. Milwaukee also offers World Class Musky and Lake Trout fishing.

If you move to Milwaukee there are a lot of shootings in ghetto places.

Betty Brinn Children’s Museum and Discovery World has many fun things to do that secretly involve learning. In summer, Milwaukee hosts many fests. Summerfest is probably the most known to people that live outside of Wisconsin; it’s a huge music fest held in the beginning of July where many famous music artists come and perform while the audiences can eat fair corn and cotton candy or drink some authentic Milwaukee brewed beer. On the same grounds as Summerfest, each weekend in August different European ethnicity fests are held such as German Fest and Irish Fest.

Jennifer, says: 2020

Milwaukee is a fabulous tourist destination, but it is also a great city in which to reside. Despite its state as a sprawling metropolis, it still has a small town feel. The nightlife and numerous community events leave little to be desired for entertainment. Seasonal changes and events are also a major draw to this fantastic city.

Milwaukee is home of famous festivals such as Summerfest, Pridefest, and Jazz in the Park. Milwaukee is also home to the Brewers and Bucks. Milwaukee is home of two famous drag queens, Jaida Essence Hall and Trixie Mattel. Are you planning on stopping by Milwaukee? Visit the famous apartment of Laverne and Shirley.

Tiffany, says: 2020

We have the best cheese choices and beer breweries in the country! If you’re a lover of both, you’ll feel right at home. We also have the best fall activities, such as Halloween traditions, Apple picking, hayrides and haunted houses. Our farm lands and beautiful autumn weather definitely makes it the best place that time of year.

Anjanette, says: 2020

Milwaukee is the most segregated city in the United States. It is home to one of the areas with the highest rates of incarcerated African American men. Due to redlining, the African American population was left with few jobs, few opportunities to break into the housing market, and poor education.

Sharon, says: 2020

If you are in downtown Milwaukee, know its new streetcars go to most major areas in the downtown. You can also rent a bicycle for only 25 cents a minute. If you get hungry, the Milwaukee Public Market is just a couple blocks from the train station and has small grocery stores, cooking supplies stores, a juice bar, and several wonderful local restaurants. And if you want to take a walk by the lakefront, you can cross the street to a gorgeous pedestrian path, which is mostly uninterrupted, and you can rent kites or small boats if you wish. Or, if you drive or take the bus to Wauwatosa, which is about 15 minutes from downtown, the Milwaukee County Zoo has a hippopotamus show.

Adriana, says: 2020

If you plan on moving to Milwaukee there are several things you need to know. First, you need to plan for the weather as it changes frequently. Next, you will need to consider the side of town you will want to live on. The northwest side of town isn’t the greatest and you will have greater peace if you chose the south side.

When moving to Milwaukee, the most important thing for a person to know is that it is impossible to not fall in love with Lake Michigan. There is nothing quite like walking on the shores of the lake with a coffee- or a beer- in hand, admiring the boats and watching the waves roll in. Despite being in a city, being on Lake Michigan give Milwaukee residents an easy place to escape the noise and reconnect with nature.

Janissa, says: 2020

Milwaukee is the biggest city in Wisconsin. Milwaukee is known for a lot of large production franchises including the Miller Brewery, Harley Davidson motorcycles and cheese. The downtown area is full of beautiful architecture, for example Gesu the Gothic-style Catholic church in the center of Marquette University’s campus or the Milwaukee Art Museum designed by Santiago Calatrava to look and move like the wings of a bird.

Shelby, says: 2020

Milwaukee is on the large lake known as Lake Michigan with many lakeside attractions, including beaches, parks, pathways for biking and rollerblading and cycling. We also have Summerfest every July, which is a large music festival. We have a wide range of affordable housing from which to choose. We also have a wide variety of industries for employment.

Caitlin, says: 2020

Milwaukee is an incredibly diverse, multicultural, multilingual city. It is also an extremely segregated city. Something that I was not prepared for in moving to Milwaukee was the reality that in this city, race and poverty are synonymous. There is great racial disparity and blatant racism prevalent in almost every neighborhood. It seems the city hasn’t progressed socially since the 1950’s.

Milwaukee is a vibrant city that relies heavily on cultural diversity to create its lively atmosphere. However, Milwaukee also has the highest segregation rate in the country. Because of this, there is often a large amount of racial tension between the inhabitants, including the police.

Melissa, says: 2020

Milwaukee has a handful of unique qualities that set it apart from other cities its size. First, it is sprawling compared to other cities its size. While the majority of people live in the urban areas, many do live in the suburbs. Milwaukee is known for its beer, food and friendly people.

Krishnan, says: 2020

Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is a lovely city on the western shore of Lake Michigan. Bradford Beach attracts many people for recreation. There are kites to rent, an ice cream stand, and a shallow place for wading. People enjoy the beach even in winter. On January 1st, people participate in the “Polar Bear Plunge”. I have never jumped into Lake Michigan in January, but those who do find it to be a life-changing experience!

Cynthia, says: 2020

Milwaukee is a mid-sized city, and one of the biggest in the state. There are a lot activities to keep visitors and city dwellers busy. Each summer, there are festivals and fairs celebrating the many heritages of city inhabitants. The lake is also a popular destination, and popular for families to rent boats and bikes to enjoy a nice day.

Devorah, says: 2020

Milwaukee is a wonderful place to move. The view is amazing and there are also different things to do in Milwaukee. There are a bunch of stores and malls to shop from and so much restaurants to choose from. Parks are wondrous to walk with groups of people. Downtown Milwaukee is an exquisite place.

Beverly, says: 2020

Bradford beach is another popular spot to go on hot summer days. There are always sand volleyball courts open, tiki shacks to get food and drinks, kayaks, canoes and boats to rent and plenty of open beach space to set down towels and have picnics before jumping in the cold but refreshing lake water. If you go more inland there are many hiking and biking trails that are great exercise because of how hilly they are, which keeps the ride challenging and interesting.

Taylor, says: 2020

Milwaukee is a fast growing city on the shores of Lake Michigan. Not far from Chicago, the city has a lovely laid back vibe and a thriving culture. Loads of artists and musicians and a rich food and drink scene make for plenty of options for a day or night out on the town. Winter weather is dismal but worth it to persevere for the amazing summer filled with festivals of every variety.

Caroline, says: 2020

Before moving to Milwaukee, it is important to understand the culture. The culture is heavily Polish, German, and Irish, with traces of this found throughout our city specific traditions. One example of this is the annual German Fest, Polish Fest, and Irish Fest. These traces can also be found in the weekly Friday Fish Fry, which comes from the Irish Catholic tradition of only consuming fish on Fridays. We also pride ourselves in our beer brewing culture, started by Miller. Be prepared for a brewery tour or two!

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