The Pabst Brewery Tour at the Best Place offers a treat for both beer lovers and lovers of history and historic architecture.

Lets face it. Milwaukee is probably most famous for beer. At one time, nearly all the major beer producers were in Milwaukee. That included the largest, Pabst.

The Pabst brewery in Milwaukee closed in 1996.

I watched a window just above this streetlamp shatter on the street

For years, the brewery buildings lay abandoned, vacant, and deteriorating. I have spent a lot of time parked in front of some of these buildings and they are impressive. In fact, I watched during a wind storm as a window was blown out of one of the buildings and the glass shattered on the road just across from where I was parked. I kind of thought that if I ever wanted to get photos of these old buildings I better start soon or they would not be around too long. However, something interesting happened to that particular building within a month. More about that a bit later.

Brewery tours.

The Best Place Pabst Brewery Tours start here

I noticed a sign that said that on the window of one of the more interesting buildings in the Pabst brewery area a couple years ago. Did I mention old buildings fascinate me? I know beer interests a lot of other people and so I decided that this was something that needed to be covered here on Eyes On Wisconsin.

The Best Place

The Pabst Brewery has the look of a castle

The Best Place originally was the Pabst Corporate Office and Visitor’s Center. It is an historic structure and on the National Register of Historic Places. Jim, the current owner gave the tour I had and I believe he gives nearly all the tours. You enter the tour at the gift shop. The gift shop has some memorabilia that was left in the brewery when it closed as well as new merchandise.

Free beer.

Well maybe not really free beer as it’s part of the tour fee but your tour gets you a glass of beer. I don’t drink, so I had a Coke. The drinks are served after you leave the gift shop in the Blue Ribbon Hall. The Blue Ribbon Hall is where we waited for the tour to get started.

The tour is very casual.

The Pabst Brewery Tour is a step into the past

Our tour had only 4 people including me. It was the afternoon before Christmas Eve so I’m not surprised. We started by sitting around a table and Jim asked everyone to introduce themselves. He does this to some extent every time (a bit harder to do when the tour has a large number of people). Jim then went into the history of the Pabst Brewing Company which covers part the history of Milwaukee and the a good part of the history of beer in America too. Everyone was encouraged to take their beer with them on the tour.

You can tell the owner Jim is passionate about the subject.

The owner of the Best Place with Captain Pabst

He really made the history come alive. It is also well illustrated on the fresco in the Blue Ribbon Hall. Also, the historic building you are in adds a lot to the story.

After most of the history, there were some old beer commercials (and some new ones) to watch. It was interesting to see one Old Milwaukee Beer commercial with Will Ferrell on top of that very building were I saw the window blow out.

Next we went out to the Captain’s Courtyard.

The Captain’s Courtyard features a statue of Captain Pabst. It also features a large Pabst logo which has a “B” in it. The “B” is for Best and Pabst Brewing was started by Jacob Best. Captain Pabst married his daughter and eventually took over the family business. I’ll leave the rest of that history for Jim to tell you on your tour.

Next on the Pabst Tour is the original Guest center.

This is where the tours started when the brewery was open. There is a section of stained glass window with Benjamin Franklin in it. Benjamin Franklin is featured for his quote:

Ben Franklin has a famous quote on beer

Beer is proof God loves us and wants us to be happy.

There is also the guest book with some famous names it in. Jim asked a few trivia questions here and one of the other guests in our tour won a free beer for getting it right. The old guest center is an interesting room. The stained glass windows and the fireplace provide a lot of atmosphere to the small room. Jim even has an interesting personal story he added about the guest center from his college days.

The King’s Courtyard is next on the tour.

The King’s Courtyard is named for the King of Beers, King Gambrinus. A statue of the King of Beers is currently on a semi-permanent loan and is prominently displayed in the center. Visitors are encouraged to get their photo taken with the King (and encouraged to copy his pose – right hand up in the air with a beer and left hand at the waist). Later, you can upload your photo to the Best Place website to be displayed. Photos are also encouraged with the statue of Captain Pabst.

The rest of the tour includes the old Pabst corporate offices.

You’ll see where potential employees of the Pabst Brewing Company slide their applications though a window. You’ll see Captain Pabst’s original desk and office. Most of this space is slowly undergoing restoration and is still in the condition it was after being abandoned for years. It’s a great chance to see what happens to a once great building once it has been abandoned. It is easy to imagine how this might have looked 75 – 100 years ago with the people working there. What an amazing chance to step into the past.

There are some great thing planned at the Best Place.

The owner is considering turning the second floor into a bed and breakfast (or a beer, bed and breakfast). I think this would be a very cool place to stay. Some areas still need restoration work before they are safe for the tour.

Would I recommend the Pabst Brewery Tour?

The Best Place Gift Shop has old and new memorabilia

Defiantly, yes. In fact, one of the other three guests was a return visitor bringing a couple of his friends to see the tour. For anyone interested in history, the tour is an amazing look into life and business early in Milwaukee’s history. I don’t drink and really had a great time learning about the history of the beer industry in Milwaukee. For those that like beer, this is the real history of beer in the United States. Plus, two words should really get their attention:

Free beer.

The Best Place Pabst Tour is a great story of historic preservation.

I think it’s going to get even better. Remember that building where I watched the window get blown out? Just a few weeks later a sign appeared on the building. It is becoming The Brewhouse. It will be an extended stay hotel. I learned that it will also have a museum featuring some of the equipment from the Pabst Brewery and the famous stained glass window of King Gambrinus. Much of these historic old buildings would have been lost if not for the owner of the Best Place. His action and passion has made the preservation of the historic buildings possible. It’s a story you can hear for yourself during the tour.

I personally plan to take the tour again some time in the future.

The Pabst Brewery area is full of historic architecture

As of this article, walk-up tours are given on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Special tours can also be hosted. The Best Place is also available to rent for weddings and other special events (it books up very quickly so if you are interested you need to call well in advance). I would suggest calling or checking the website to check on tour times and days.

Phone for the Best Place Milwaukee:

414-630-1609

The address for the Best Place and Pabst Brewery Tour:

• 901 W. Juneau Avenue
• Milwaukee, WI 53233

Website for the Best Place Milwaukee:

www.bestplacemilwaukee.com

Google Map of the Pabst Brewery area and Best Place:

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Robert’s European Imports has changed to Esther’s European Imports and moved down the street.

One of the stores that I always liked to visit in New Glarus was Robert’s European Imports. I was shocked to find the store closed but relieved to find the same store down the street using the new name: Esther’s European Imports. My first though is that it wouldn’t be quite the same, but it turned out to be just like the old gift shop. It has the same imported gifts and the same feeling.

Esther’s European Imports reminds me of the Swiss shop at the beginning of “Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon.”

Esther's European Imports has a fun mix of Swiss products

I can’t explain why. Esther’s is a gift shop not a restaurant. It could be all the authentic Swiss folk wear that is for sale there. Maybe they were playing some Swiss music (they have traditional Swiss music for sale on CD’s).

Why do I like Esther’s European Imports?

My wife and the Swiss Cow outside Esther's European Imports

Because all my life I wanted a Victorinox Swiss Champ Swiss Army Knife and they have a large selection of them. The also have the little parts like the toothpicks and tweezers to replace the ones in your knife that get lost. I can’t think of a better, more Swiss place to buy a Swiss Army knife. I just haven’t been able to justify the money yet to myself (or my wife).

There are lots of genuine Swiss gifts to buy.

There are several Fondue sets (I never knew there were different types). They have some Swiss designed kitchen utensils. Glassware, wood carvings, and plenty of smaller gifts with Swiss logos. There are Swiss cow bells of all different sizes.

Swiss watches.

Esther’s also has a few Swiss watches. They also have Swiss pocket watches and cuckoo clocks.

I mentioned the Swiss folk wear and there is other Swiss apparel too. There is also lots of T-shirts, sweatshirts, and caps with Swiss logos. There is some embroidery and lacework too.

Esther is an immigrant from Switzerland. Her husband is also from Switzerland and owns the Alp and Dell cheese store in Monroe, WI. It’s nice to know the feeling I got entering Robert’s European Imports will always be kept in Esther’s European Imports. It may even get stronger.

The new location is in the Anderson Mall.

The Anderson Mall holds several small businesses. Like many of the New Glarus buildings it has a Swiss style to it. This location puts Esther’s Imports just across from the New Glarus Bakery.

Address for Esther’s European Imports:

Phone:

608-527-2417

Website for Esther’s European Imports:

www.shopswiss.com

Google Map:

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The Maple Leaf Cheese and Chocolate House in New Glarus, WI

The smell of chocolate.

That intoxicating, sweet aroma that you smell if you sniff a fresh chocolate bar up close. That is what thinking about the Maple Leaf Cheese and Chocolate Haus brings to my mind. That wonderful smell of chocolate sugar is the first thing that I became aware of when I stepped inside. That smell alone is worth a trip to New Glarus, Wisconsin.

The Maple Leaf Cheese and Chocolate Haus is also one of the more “Swiss looking” buildings in New Glarus.

The Maple Leaf is across the street from the New Glarus Hotel Restaurant which is another building in the Swiss style. They are two very photographic buildings that really bring that “Christmas around the year” feeling that exemplifies New Glarus so well. The Cheese and Chocolate Haus would look very much at home on a Swiss slope just like many New Glarus buildings.

Back to that wonderful smell of chocolate.

Not what I expected from a cheese and chocolate place. The Maple Leaf specialty is fudge. They make their own fudge and have 40 flavors to choose from. They even have some sugar free flavors so everyone can enjoy the visit even if you can’t have sugar.

There are also a large number of imported candies and chocolates. I personally enjoyed an ice cream on their homemade waffle cone on my last visit. Some places make great ice cream but the waffle cone from the Maple Leaf does taste amazing.

The Maple Leaf is a “cheese and chocolate haus.”

They have a lot more than chocolate fudge. They have many, many different cheeses. In fact, they have well over 80 different cheeses. Many are award winning Wisconsin cheeses. They also have imported cheeses from Europe and domestic and imported wines (to go with the cheese).

The Maple Leaf Cheese and Chocolate Haus does have some seasonal hours.

I suggest visiting their website or calling. They also have gift boxes that can be shipped if you can’t make it to New Glarus, although I recommend a trip to New Glarus for that wonderful chocolate smell.

Maple Leaf Cheese and Chocolate Haus address:

554 1st Street

New Glarus, WI 53574

Google Map to Maple Leaf Cheese and Chocolate Haus:

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Maple Leaf Website

www.mapleleafcheeseandchocolatehaus.com

Cheese and Chocolate Haus Phone:

(608) 527-2000

Every year, thousands make a trip to Holy Hill which is about 5 miles south of Hartford, Wisconsin.

About 35 miles north of Milwaukee on Highway 167, Holy Hill is well worth the trip. You do not need to be Catholic to appreciate making the trip.  Located in Wisconsin’s Kettle Moraine area, Holy Hill is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is also a Wisconsin State Landmark. For some, it is the southeastern Wisconsin scenery that brings them. Yet, Holy Hill is a place of worship for Catholics as well as a monastery.

First and formost, Holy Hill is a place of worship for Catholics.

It’s fitting to respect this no matter what your religious beliefs. There are daily and weekend Masses. There are often weddings in the cathedral as well as other special services. Be discreet.

The cathedral itself is beautiful!

Both the outside and the inside offer amazing views. I suggest picking up a self-guided tour map just outside the gift shop. It will highlight areas of interest.

Inside, there is the stained glass windows. There are the murals and artwork to enjoy also. There are both the main cathedral and the lower chapel.

Outside, there is the wonderful architecture of the church with the two towering spires. There is a half-mile walk with 14 sculptures representing the Passion of Jesus. Additionally, the 400 acre grounds is crossed by the Wisconsin Ice-Age Trail providing wonderful hiking. Being in the Wisconsin Kettle Moraine area, Holy Hill itself is a part of the scenery. It’s towers are visible for miles around much like a European castle.

There is plenty of parking. Some of the parking is located well down below the shrine and it will take a bit of an uphill walk. Of course, it’s all downhill when you leave then. There are some picnic tables provided in the area for picnics.

If you don’t care to bring your own picnic, you can get something at the Holy Hill Cafe.  There is a Sunday breakfast buffet also.

I was surprised to learn Holy Hill has a guest house. You can stay overnight at Holy Hill. You have a choice of staying at the Guest House (with separate bathrooms for each room) or in the Old Monastery originally built in 1919. The Old Monastery is said to have kept all its old character and quirks.

The Holy Hill Scenic Tower.

You can climb one of the towers nearly to it’s 192 foot top. It’s a 178 steps to a fantastic 360 degree view of the Kettle Moraine countryside. The steps start in the second level (outside the lower chapel). The stairs start normal enough. As you go higher and higher they get narrower and narrower. The narrowest sections also are open to the elements and can be a bit much if you have a problem with heights. It’s fine to avoid looking down on your way up but remember you’ll need to look down as you go down the stairs. I was in the tower on a very crowded day and a lady proudly announced that after trying for nearly 40 years, she was finally at the top.

The view from the tower is worth the effort (it can be a lot of effort if you go fast so take your time) of climbing the stairs. On a clear day, you can easily see the City of Milwaukee skyline some 30 miles away. The colors in fall are fantastic in the area and you can see them for miles. The tower is open May through October. It may be closed due to bad weather as it is open to the elements (even if you are not afraid of heights you probably would not like being on some parts of the stairway in heavy wind). While there is an elevator for the church and chapel, the tower is simple not handicap accessible. There is a $.50 donation asked to climb the tower. I may skip the cathedral on a visit, but can’t imagine visiting Holy Hill without going up in the tower for the view. It’s a much better view than the Sears Tower in Chicago, IL., at least in my opinion.

Holy Hill’s history dates back to the mid to late 1850′s.

There is also some interesting Native American Indian history of a black robed chief that wore a crucifix and rosary who is believed to have been in the area in the late 1600′s. This is often combined with dates and  information from a map a man named Francois Soubrio possessed, indicting it could be the French expeditions in this area from 1673 to 1679.  Francois Soubrio himself, is a legendary figure from 1862 and is called the Hermit of Holy Hill.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers used the hill in 1873 and again a few years later . They used it while mapping out Lake Michigan, the Mississippi River, and Lake Superior for the Department of the Interior. Holy Hill also gained the name of Governement Hill because of these surveys and a survey by the Treasury Department.

By 1876 the property (originally 40 acres) was deeded to the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. Holy Hill was originally a log chapel just 16 feet square. In 1879 work began on a second shrine that would require 200000 bricks that would have taken 1000 trips by horse and wagon to the top of the hill. In 1885 a 1200 pound bell was added and this bell is the largest still used today. In 1919 construction on a monastery or friary was started. In 1926, construction on the third and present day shrine was started. Work on the present day friary finished in 1938 and was the last major construction. Other additions have been the elevators and gift shop.

A trip to Holy Hill is worth the 40 minute trip from Milwaukee.

Both the surrounding area and the church itself are a beautiful site nearly any time of year. Its rich history makes it a National Historic Site. It is a great way to spend an afternoon or do some hiking in the area and spend a whole day.

Google Map of Holy Hill, Wisconsin

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Holy Hill website:

holyhill.com

Called the “Hudson Bay of the Midwest” at least by locals, Door County Wisconsin is a favorite year round vacation spot in Wisconsin.

Fall in Door County is Beautiful

Head east from Green Bay (the home of the Green Bay Packers) for about 35 minutes along Wisconsin State Highway 57, and you’ll find yourself entering Door County. Door County occupies most of the peninsula that forms Green Bay itself. It’s the “thumb” of the Wisconsin map. The two main highways servicing Door County are Wisconsin State Highway 57 and Wisconsin State Highway 42. In fact, Hwy 57 and Hwy 42 twist around each other  and meet in a couple places in Door County. Door County is a wonderful place just to drive from town to town and village either using the state highways or the county roads. Most of the county iswooded or farmland. Door County is well know for it’s fall colors.

The Cities, Towns, and Villages of Door County.

Sturgeon Bay is the largest city in Door County. The rest of Door County is covered by small towns and villages. In fact, I have seen very few stoplights outside of Sturgeon Bay. Most of the towns and villages make do with just a few stop signs. This can make a few areas a bit busy on weekends when there is a lot of traffic (one particular corner of Fish Creek, Wisconsin comes to my mind). You may also need to walk a bit to park on busy weekends. This by no means is anything like a traffic jam even by Wisconsin standards, so don’t be afraid you will find heavy traffic like a big city.

Lodging in Door County.

Big name (or even small name) hotel chains are noticeably rare in Door County itself. We made the mistake of staying in a chain motel in Green Bay one year and driving to Door County during the day adding an extra hour or two of driving each day. There are large numbers of wonderful locally run motels, resorts, bed-and-breakfasts, and lodges in Door County. I would highly recommend picking one of them over a chain any day. I’ve found local service is exceptional.

Door County has activities that make it popular year round.

During the warmer months there is plenty to do.

There are several state parks and forests to visit. There are lots of bike trails to ride and many of them near on in the state parks and forests. You’ll find bike racks on a lot of the cars you see in Door County, WI. Hiking is another great way to spend time.

There are many public beaches. Many of the resorts also have a private beach too. You’ll want to make sure you have an indoor pool where you stay if you want to swim outside of summer though. Green Bay and Lake Michigan are a bit chilly most of the year.

Door County is a major boating and fishing destination. There are a large number of marinas throughout Door County and finding a public boat launch will not be difficult. You’ll find plenty of boating suppliers and dealers. Sturgeon Bay is filled with yachting services. Even if you don’t fish yourself, the local fishing boats are an icon themselves.

The fun in Door County does not stop with the arrival of cooler weather.

Those bike trails turn into cross country ski trails during the winter. There is also snowshoeing to be done.

There are a large number of marked snowmobile trials. Wisconsin is one of the few places you’ll see marked snowmobile signs on roads.

Finally, there is deer hunting season. I’m not a deer hunter, but living in Wisconsin, I’ve known a lot of hunters that head up to Door County every year for deer season. I’ve seen several places offering hunting and fishing licenses along the highways. Deer season is probably not a good time to go to Door County and hike in the woods obviously.

Like I mentioned at the start, Door County is great place to just drive. Enjoy the beautiful Wisconsin sights. Drive to the next village or town. Do some shopping. It’s only a few minutes to the next town almost anywhere in Door County. At the very top of door county on Highway 42 between Gills Rock and Northpoint you’ll find one of the most twisting roads you’ll ever see.

Shopping and restaurants in Door County.

You won't find gas prices like this but you may find antiques like this in Door County

Again, outside of Sturgeon Bay, I’ve not seen a chain restaurant in Door County (well maybe a Subway at a gas station). Nearly all the restaurants are local. The good in Door County is very good. There are a large number of farmer’s markets featuring apples, cherries, and locally made breads and jams. You’ll find lots of homemade fudge featured at them too. Shopping in Door County is very different from many places. The shops are local. They often feature local crafts and arts. Something to definitely check out and take home is Door County Coffee.

There are large numbers of art stores and galleries. Photography, watercolors, and sculptures are featured. Mostly by local artists. A notable exception is the Asian gallery at the Linden Gallery just north of Sister Bay featuring a large amount of original work from Asia, especially China. It was a real surprise to find this gallery in Wisconsin during a drive. You will also find antique stores throughout the county.

Door County is a great place for a weekend getaway.

I recommend a finding a place to stay in Egg Harbor or Fish Creek. From there, most of the county is only about a half hour drive in any direction. You could spend a day taking the ferry to Washington Island (a trip I have yet to make myself). For the sports minded, Green Bay and Packerland are close enough for a day trip also. In fact, spending a game night in Door County instead of a long drive home might be one of the best ways to enjoy a game.

Need more information on Door County? Try the official Door County Website.

doorcounty.com

Google Map of Door County, WI

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The Jelly Belly Center tour and candy store Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin.

If you like candy and jelly beans in particular, the Jelly Belly tour is a fun tour for nearly any age.

That's 10100 Jelly Belly Lane

The Jelly Belly Center is just a few minutes east of the Prime Outlets Mall Pleasant Prairie. Just a bit north of the Wisconsin-Illinois border. It is a great option to give the kids a break from shopping at the mall. Or, you can do some jelly bean shopping in the store.

The Jelly Belly tour takes about 35 minutes.

The Entrance To The Jelly Belly Factory Tour

You ride a train for the entire tour so anyone can take the tour. The only hard part will be standing in line to get on the tour. Everyone is given a paper hat before taking the tour due to FDA regulations. The warehouse the tour takes place in contains over a billion jelly beans.

The tour is primarily a train ride around the huge jelly bean warehouse.

Driving this must be a great job!

The train driver gives a live commentary as you stop at various places along the tour. There are videos showing the different parts of jelly bean making. Making a jelly bean takes several days and the tour covers all the steps. There are also examples of older outdated equipment along the way showing how jelly beans have been made in the past.

It's a comfortable ride for nearly anyone.

The Jelly Belly Candy Company is has a long family history.

Started in 1869 by Gustav and Albert Goelitz, the Jelly Belly company still has family members in the corporation and the making of jelly beans. The Jelly Belly Center has many photographs showing the history of the company.

Don’t miss the jelly bean art.

There are many large images created entirely out of jelly beans. Some of them contain thousands of jelly beans. These huge images are along the tour and in the tour center.

There is a section about Ronald Reagan in the Jelly Belly store.

Ronald Reagan’s mention of jelly beans really helped the Jelly Belly company take off. While it had been doing good before, the introduction to the press by Ronald Reagan vastly increased exposure and the company has expanded greatly since.

Ronald Reagan memorabilia in the Jelly Belly Factory Store

The tour ends at the Jelly Belly Factory Store.

All the different flavors of gourmet jelly bean are available. You can also try samples. The Jelly Bell factory store also has candy that did not make standards in shape for sale at a discount. This is a Jelly Bean lovers heaven. You also get a free bag of Jelly Belly jelly beans for taking the tour.

Don’t forget to learn what the most favorite flavor of Jelly Belly jelly beans is.

It has changed over the years a bit. I was surprised.

The tour runs all seven days a week.

9am – 4pm. The tour and store are closed on some holidays. You can call the tour phone number to check if there are any changes.

Jelly Belly Center Tour Information Phone Number:

• 1-866-868-7522

The address for the Jelly Belly Center:

• 10100 Jelly Belly Lane
• Pleasant Prairie, WI 53158

To get to the Jelly Belly Center Tour and Store from I-94.

Get off I-94 at exit 347. Go east on State Route 165 (also called Lakeview Parkway). The Jelly Bell Center (Jelly Belly Lane) is at the intersection with State Route 31 (Green Bay Road).

Map to Jelly Belly Candy Company in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin

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The Jelly Belly Website:

• JellyBelly.com

Grant Park Beach in South Milwaukee, WI

Hidden deep along the along the shores of Lake Michigan, Grant Park Beach is a treasure that is nearly undiscovered.

Lake Michigan sunset at Grant Park Beach

Grant Park Beach in South Milwaukee is never crowded. Even if the parking lot were full, there is more than enough room for everyone. It is a large beach. You can walk north from Grant Park Beach and enjoy the shore nearly all the way to the Port of Milwaukee. It is easy to find a fairly secluded, yet sand spot to enjoy the lake.

The water temperature is usually too cold for much swimming.

While there is usually a few brave souls who will challenge the cold temperature and wade out a bit into Lake Michigan most come to enjoy the sun and sand. Swimming is best left for later in summer when Lake Michigan’s water temperature has had a chance to warm up a bit. Even then, it is usually very cold. An eastern wind can make the water much warmer and much more enjoyable to swim and play in.

Lifeguards are no longer on duty at Milwaukee County Beaches.

You swim at your own risk. Make sure you keep an eye on children playing near the water. At one time, there were lifeguards and Grant Park Beach resembled a scene from Baywatch on summer morning with Lifeguards practicing drills.

Grant Park in Spring

Sunrise on Lake Michigan at Grant Park Beach in South Milwaukee can be beautiful.

It is a great time to take a walk along the beach and enjoy the first light of day. Often, there is a fisherman on the jetty in the early morning. You may find yourself with the drive down to the beach closed if you come too early or during the winter months. You can still get access to the beach by parking at the South Milwaukee Yacht Club. There is a footbridge for pedestrian and bike traffic that will take you to the beach from there.

Occasionally, sunsets can be beautiful too.

While the sun setting in the west will be block by the high ridge that makes it a step hill down to the beach and shore along this section of Lake Michigan the Lake is still beautiful. After a storm near sunset cloud will often catch the orange glow of the sun and contrast with the blue of the water.

Grant Park Beach as several amenities.

There is a beach house for changing if you do not want to wear your swimsuit to the beach. There are usually concessions available during summer months. There is a full playground at the beach. There are some picnic tables available also. There is no longer boat ramp access at Grant Park Beach. The public boat launch was moved south to Bender Park in Oak Creek, leaving much more parking space for beach visitors.

Grant Park Beach is well hidden in Grant Park.

Grant Park itself can be hard to find as it is part of the Oak Creek Parkway and many signs refer to that instead of Grant Park. It is also surrounded by the City of South Milwaukee. Unlike much of the Lakefront to the north, no main roads are near the Lakefront at Grant Park Beach. Just park roads, although Lake Drive does boarder the northern part of Grant Park.

Grant Park Beach is a great place to take the kids on a hot afternoon.

No matter how hot, it is always more pleasant at the beach. The cool water usually provides just the right amount of cooling. If not a quick dip will rinse the sweat off for quite a while. You can enjoy the sun while the kids enjoy the water and sand.

Winter can also be an interesting time to visit.

A walk along Grant Park Beach in winter

The area is beautiful when there is a fresh snow. Ice along the lake can make it seem like a trip to the arctic.

Phone numbers for Grant Park Beach:

• For beach closings call the Pool Hotline 414-645-4806
• Milwaukee County Parks 414-257-7275

The address for Grant Park Beach is:

• 100 South Hawthorne Avenue
• South Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53172

Map to Grant Park Beach South Milwaukee, WI

View Grant park beach in a larger map

Grant Park Beach related Websites:

• Milwaukee County Parks
• Beach Health Website