Share The Article

Locals have long claimed “Midwest is best”, but the truth is when it comes time to book a vacation, many of us opt for swaying palms and vibrant coastline.

While there's obviously nothing wrong with taking a beach vacation, what's missed is overlooking the Midwest as Snoozeville, USA.

Many might think Chicago is the exception to the rule, but guess what — those rules are made up.

The Midwest is teeming with amazing cities to visit — it's not all desolate cornfields and flatlands with nothing to do.

Sure, there are some places not often deemed a vacation destination, but this underrated city hugging Lake Michigan's gorgeous shoreline and split by the Menomonee River isn't one of them.

A fun destination with historic flair and beer galore, Wisconsin's most populous destination still has plenty of room for tourists to discover unexpected delights in the shadow of Chicago.

Milwaukee: Far More Than A Sports Town

Milwaukee is only an hour and a half away from Chicago by train. Despite being rivals in the sports world, players often joke that if they're traded, they prefer to swap teams to avoid a dreadful move.

While there may be no more loyal fans than nearby Green Bay, Milwaukee isn't far behind — but honestly, Milwaukeeans will find any excuse for a good time to crack open a beer.

This city is truly underrated across the board, whether it's its storied aesthetics, waterfront views, European flair, or, of course, its beer scene.

Their MLB team is named the Brewers after all…

But there's far more to do in this city than catch a game as enticing as it may be to bear witness to the “Greek Freak” in person.

As I said earlier, the Menomonee River splits Milwaukee's towering skyline, but there are ample ways to enjoy the much prettier waters of Lake Michigan (specifically Milwaukee Bay).

With lush parks offering sweeping bay views and the Historic Third Ward that oozes European-esque charm with rows of buildings dating back to the 1800s, there's no shortage of ways to experience Milwaukee's charm.

But the most common way? Beer.

America's Best Beer Town

Every city has a claim to fame. Milwaukee's is undoubtedly beer.

Ironically, Milwaukee's Best is not really Milwaukee's best. There are far better options than that cheap, watered-down concoction they dare to label “beer”.

While still on the cheaper end, Miller, Pabst, and Schlitz are far more respectable names that won't get you laughed out of a dive bar. All of those originate right here in Milwaukee, too.

You'll find historic breweries and classic beer halls sitting alongside buzzing craft taprooms, microbreweries, and experimental brewers pushing experimental boundaries, which can't be any worse than a Snickerdoodle-flavored beer I once shamefully downed…

Just as places like Kentucky cling to bourbon as their identity, the same goes for Milwaukee with beer, as this city was largely built on the backs of German immigrants.

Need I say more? 🍻

Milwaukee has been dubbed “The Original Brew City” and even has an official Miller High Life Trail to bar-hop the best of the best for beer lovers.

Milwaukee Won't Bust Your Budget

Hey, we get it. Times are tough. That's why we at Travel Off Path try to find the best budget-friendly destinations.

Milwaukee certainly fits the bill as an affordable escape.

Whether it's behind-the-scenes brewery tours running under $20, browsing the Milwaukee Art Museum (free for kids), Haggerty Museum of Art (free for all), or scoring great value deals on waterfront hotels like Knickerbocker on the Lake under $100, the options are seemingly endless to get the best bang for your travel buck.

Best of all, as hordes of tourists visit Chicago's waterfront, you don't have to fight for space here since Brew City flies under the radar — and beaches are both highly under-hyped and just as pretty as Chicago's lakefront.

While Milwaukee is close enough to share Chicago's frigid winters, spring and summer are glorious times to visit.

Find a brewery patio, take in the views from a lakefront park, and see where both the Riverwalk and shoreline take you.

Sam Sears

Sam, our Senior Lead Writer & Journalist based in San Diego has visited 44 countries and written over 1500 articles with a focus on sharing his own travel experiences and shining a light on lesser-known gems.