Milwaukee https://www.visitmilwaukee.org] is the largest city in the state of Wisconsin, United States. The city’s population is 594,833 with an estimated total of 1,572,245 in the Milwaukee metropolitan area (2010). It is the 31st largest city in the U.S. and is in the southeastern portion of the state on the western shore of Lake Michigan.Milwaukee’s human history begins with American Indian people who lived near the confluence of Milwaukee’s three rivers into Lake Michigan for centuries. Tribes who inhabited the area that is now Milwaukee included Menominee, Fox, Mascouten, Sauk, and Potawatomi. With the arrival of Europeans and an increasing population, large and often violent divides become more prominent. These settlers built three dueling settlements (Juneautown, Kilbourntown, and Walker’s Point) around what is now Downtown. The two former communities were extremely competitive and created two non-aligning street grids. This is why 1st Street is west of the Milwaukee River and the reason that many of the city’s bridges cross the river diagonally (connecting the two grids). Milwaukee has historically been a major immigrant city. During the early 20th Century, German and Polish immigrants tended to dominate, and the city still strongly identifies with its German and, to a slightly lesser extent, Polish heritage. For part of the early 20th century German was even the main language of the city, and German names are still very common. As waves of immigrants arrived in Milwaukee they tended (and tend) to form communities in specific areas. The different areas of the city are still identified with the ethnic groups that originally populated them. The Near North and Northwest sides were originally German, but are now mainly African American with Hmong enclaves. The Near South side was originally Polish but is now mainly Hispanic. Juneautown was originally mainly populated by English immigrants as well as people from the eastern United States.The city experienced ‘white flight’ during the 1960’s and 70’s, creating a large socio-economic divide between the inner city and suburbs. Today the city remains highly segregated with low rates of social and economic mobility within the inner city.Milwaukee is home to some instantly recognized corporations such as Miller Brewing and Harley Davidson. Harley holds an enormous celebration on every fifth anniversary during Labor Day weekend attracting riders (and celebrity riders such as Jay Leno) by the millions to Milwaukee each time. The 115th anniversary was held in 2018. Milwaukee was once the home to four of the world’s largest breweries (Schlitz, Blatz, Pabst, and Miller), making it the number one beer producing city in the world for many years. Despite the decline in its position as the world’s leading beer producer through the loss of three of those breweries, its one remaining major brewery, Miller Brewing Company is a key employer. Miller employs over 2,200 people on Milwaukee’s west side. All this beer brewing has earned the city the nickname “Brew City” and its identification with and fondness for beer remains strong as ever. In 2017, Pabst (now headquartered in Los Angeles) opened a brewpub on the original Pabst campus.Milwaukee has advertised itself as the “City of Festivals,” especially emphasizing an annual summer party along the lakefront called Summerfest [93]. Listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as “the largest music festival in the world”, Summerfest attracts about a million visitors a year to its twelve stages. Smaller ethnic festivals throughout the summer celebrate many of Milwaukee’s ethnic groups.Milwaukee is in the northern Midwest, along the shores of Lake Michigan. It is approximately 90 mi (145 km) north of Chicago, and 330 mi (530 km) southeast of Minneapolis/Saint Paul.Milwaukee is probably best known from TV as the settings of the 1970’s sitcoms “Laverne and Shirley” and “Happy Days”. It has also served as the backdrop for numerous Hollywood films. The recent films Bridesmaids, Transformers 3, Mr. 3000 and Milwaukee, Minnesota are both set in the area. Milwaukee, Minnesota gives a good winter portrait of the city and was largely filmed in the Bay View neighborhood.Weather patterns in Milwaukee can fluctuate daily, often with little consistency in temperature or conditions. In general six months of the year are cold, overcast, and wet. Winter is very long and cold! Spring is often very wet and sometimes cold and miserable. It is not unheard of to get snowfall in April. Winter visitors may quickly get an idea why there are so many bars, bowling alleys and festivals in Milwaukee. The best time to visit is by far in the summer or the early fall during Indian Summer when the whole place comes to life and everybody is outside.There is an array of almost every transportation mode thinkable to get to Milwaukee. The cheapest way is by bus, but many travelers prefer the comfort and convenience of air, boat, car, or train travel. Chicago, a massive transportation hub, is less than 100 miles (161 km) away.Milwaukee is served by General Mitchell International Airport (IATA: MKE), . Southeast of the city.Direct international flights are offered a few times daily from Canada, Mexico, and seasonally from the Dominican Republic and Jamaica. Other international travelers will have to connect or fly to Chicago and take ground transportation.Ground Transportation:Chicago’s main airports O’Hare International Airport (IATA: ORD) or Midway Airport (IATA: MDW) can be cheaper or easier alternatives, especially for destinations not served from Milwaukee. There is an hourly direct shuttle from Chicago O’Hare Airport to Milwaukee Intermodal Station run by Wisconsin Coach Lines [106]. $26.It is possible take a CTA ‘L’ train from either of the Chicago airports to Chicago Union Station ($5) and then go on to Milwaukee with either bus or Amtrak saving time or money in some cases. With ideal timing you can make it from Midway to Downtown Milwaukee via rail in under 3 hours from landing. However, many flights arrive at Chicago after or near the time that shuttle or rail service end for the day. Greyhound does offer late runs to Milwaukee from their Downtown depot, in case of a late arrival in Chicago, but is not for the faint of heart. Greyhound also has a few buses each day from the Cumberland CTA Blue Line station, just two stops outside of O’Hare on the CTA blue line ‘L’.Amtrak [107] serves downtown and an airport station. The newly remodeled Milwaukee Intermodal station offers connectivity to inter-city bus services and is located downtown a short distance from many attractions and hotels.The Hiawatha [108] has 7 daily round trips to Chicago. It offers the quickest travel time to Chicago, power outlets at your seat, a quiet car, and snack & beverage service. It runs between Milwaukee Downtown Intermodal Station, stops at Milwaukee Mitchell Airport, Sturtevant(Racine) WI, Glenview IL, and arrives downtown Chicago Union Station. $23.The Empire Builder [109] has 1 daily round trip from Chicago through Milwaukee to Seattle/Portland, via Central Wisconsin, Minneapolis, Fargo, Spokane and many other smaller cities. The Empire Builder only stops at the Milwaukee Intermodal Station. Passengers wishing to reach Mitchell Airport must change trains to the Hiawatha at Milwaukee Intermodal Station. ‘Weekly Special’ Internet fares can be found for $120 to Portland and $40 from the Twin Cities.I-94 comes in from Madison to the west, and continues to Chicago to the south. I-43 will get you to the city from Green Bay from the north, and continues south-west to Rockford.Starting service at May 1st, and ending service at November 1st, it is possible to take the ferry from Muskegon, MI to Milwaukee Harbor.The trip takes 2 1/2 hours and takes you over majestic Lake Michigan.The price for an adult one-way ticket is $93.50, but students, elderly and children ride at a reduced rate.You can board the ferry in Muskegon, MI at 1918 Lakeshore Dr and you arrive in Milwaukee at 2330 S Lincoln Memorial Dr.For more info check here: [110]Milwaukee is served by several interstate bus lines daily, there is competition on most routes as well as onward connections. Book a few weeks ahead online for the best prices. Most buses stop at or across the street from the Milwaukee Intermodal Station (where all trains stop as well) on St Paul Street on the south edge of Downtown Milwaukee. Chartered tours of Milwaukee are also arranged from cities in the region, and there are casino charters from across the Midwest.A summary of bus fares, frequencies and services including the lowest internet fare, the walk-up ticket price and how often the buses run:º²Train. AAA, ISIC, SA, Senior discounts: Chicago $18, Minneapolis from $44.º³Tickets must be purchased via internet or telephone ($3 fee).Getting around in Milwaukee is easy. Block numbers are consistent across the city, including most of the suburbs, starting roughly where the Milwaukee and Menominee rivers meet. All numbered streets run north-south, increasing in number as you head west from 1st Street. Most named streets go east-west, with the notable exception of streets east of 1st St. Standard blocks are 1/8th of a mile long north to south, and 1/16th of a mile east to west. The larger metropolitan grid numbering extends to the equivalent of 250 St. West and 275 St. North/South. (Although many of the suburbs rename their streets to something else). This grid addressing (at least in the more remote suburbs) is usually expressed as WxxxNxxxxx SomeStreetName, WxxxSxxxxx SomeStreetName, SxxxWxxxxx SomeStreetName or NxxxWxxxxx SomeStreetName (i.e. numerical grid addresses with the SomeStreetName corresponding to the second grid coordinate address). WN & WS addresses imply a north/south street (more or less, they often are curved) and SW & NW addresses imply an east/west street.Milwaukee’s bus system, MCTS [111], has an extensive coverage area (85% of Milwaukee County) and core routes with very frequent service. Outlying suburbs have shorter hours, slower and less-frequent service. Express buses called “Freeway Flyers” provide excellent service from park and ride lots across the county to Downtown as well as to Brewers games and festivals saving you the hassle of traffic, parking and worries of drunk driving. Express buses called “UBuses” offer service to the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee Area Technical College, and other area colleges. MCTS also serves Mitchell International Airport with both a local bus and a new, more express route

Airport: MKE General Mitchell International Airport Cities in United States

Country: United States