101 Family Day Trips and Staycations around Milwaukee
**Follow each link to get details about your visit directly from your destination, since some places operate seasonally or by reservation, as well as to check each venue's COVID requirements (masks, limits, social distancing).
Free activities and splurges that are worth it. The coolest stuff for a staycation in town and road trips for less than a tank of gas from Milwaukee. Kids Out And About has tons of ideas for family travel, with places to explore, learn, and have fun!
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Take A Deep Breath In the Garden
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Rowley Creek Lavender |
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Sanger House Garden |
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Boerner Botanical Gardens |
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The Gardens at Villa Terrace |
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Olbrich Botanical Gardens |
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Rotary Botanical Gardens |
Get Wild on a Hike
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Richard Bong State Recreation Area |
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Havenwoods State Forest |
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Ice Age Trail |
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Kettle Moraine State Forest |
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Lac Lawrann Conservancy |
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Lion's Den Gorge Nature Preserve |
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Nashotah Park |
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Devil's Lake State Park |
Time Travel Today
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Milwaukee County War Memorial Center |
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North Point Lighthouse |
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Old World Wisconsin |
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Pabst Mansion |
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The Civil War Museum |
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Milwaukee County Historical Society |
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North Point Tower |
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Wisconsin Historical Museum |
Make Life a Beach
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Tietjen Beach |
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Atwater Beach |
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Bradford Beach |
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Grant Park Beach |
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South Shore Park Beach |
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Klode Park Beach |
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McKinley Beach |
Splash into Some Water Fun
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David F. Schulz Aquatic Center |
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The Springs Water Park |
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Cool Waters Family Aquatic Park |
Spend the Day at a Museum
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Betty Brinn Children's Museum |
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Charles Allis Art Museum |
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Grohman Museum |
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Haggerty Museum of Art |
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Harley Davidson Museum |
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Milwaukee Art Museum |
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Milwaukee Public Museum |
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UMW Manfred Olson Planetarium |
Explore These Cities
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Madison, Wisconsin |
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Rockford, Illinois |
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Greenbay, Wisconsin |
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Chicago, Illinois |
All Aboard Planes, Trains, and Automobiles (and Boats!)
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Edelweiss Boat Tours |
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Riverwalk Boat Tours |
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Milwaukee Boat Line |
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East Troy Electric Railroad |
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Mid-Contienent Railway Museum |
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Gypsy Air Tours |
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Fly High Wisconsin |
Grow Some Fun at the Farm
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Schuett Farms |
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Cedarburg Creek Farm |
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Creekside Valley Farm |
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Brynteg Farm |
Play Ball!
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Milwaukee Admirals |
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Milwaukee Brewers |
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Milwaukee Bucks |
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Milwaukee Wave |
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Kenosha Kingfish |
Treat Yo' Self
Connect with Nature
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Wehr Nature Center |
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Schlitz Audobon Nature Center |
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Urban Ecology Center |
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Mequon Nature Preserve |
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Riveredge Nature Center |
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Hawthorn Glen |
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Havenwoods State Forest |
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River Trail Nature Center |
Amuse Yourself at These Amusement Parks
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America's Action Territory |
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Little Amerricka Amusement Park |
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Kalahari Resorts |
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Bay Beach Amusement Park |
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Chula Vista Resort |
Talk to the Animals
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Cedarburg Creek Farm |
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Milwaukee County Zoo |
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Oceans of Fun |
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Bear Den Zoo and Petting Farm |
Explore the Globe Close to Home
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Polish Center of Wisconsin |
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Italian Community Center of Milwaukee |
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Jewish Museum of Milwaukee |
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Grohmann Museum |
Let's Go Chasing Waterfalls
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Lake Park |
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Kletzsch Park |
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Whitnall Park |
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Grant Park |
Get Active Indoors
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Bounce Milwaukee |
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Adventure Rock |
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Sky Zone Milwaukee |
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JB's On 41 |
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Ozaukee Skateland |
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America's Action Territory |
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Little Sprouts Play Cafe |
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Landmark Lanes |
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The Big Backyard |
Challenge Yourself
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Arts @ Large |
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Otto's Art Academy |
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Creative Fire |
Shop Your Heart Out
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Mayfair Mall |
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Pleasant Prairie Premium Outlets® |
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Bayshore Town Center |
Limiting our list to 101 ideas meant some great destinations may have been left off the list - if there is something you’d like to see added, share it with us on Facebook!
Most of these destinations are within an hour from downtown Milwaukee. For those that are a bit farther away:
= Less than 1 hour away
= 1 to 2 hours away
= 2 to 3 hours away
= Just over 3 hours away