14+ Free and Cheap Things to Do in Milwaukee WI with Kids
I’m not sure what people think of when they think of Milwaukee. Beer and cheese most likely? Milwaukee often gets overshadowed by Chicago just a short drive to the South, but it is a city in its own right. People, like me, who were born and raised there think of Milwaukee as a fun city with good restaurants, a stunning lake, and some of the best outdoor festivals in the world.
Whether you are visiting for a few days or looking for ways to keep your kids busy on a Tuesday, here are some awesome free and cheap things to do with kids in the Milwaukee Area.
this post is part of the free & cheap series on Stay at Home Mom Survival Guide
Free & Cheap Things to Do with Kids
Indoor Activities
1. Check out the free family events at the Milwaukee Art Museum.
2. Visit the Urban Ecology Center. Scope out the animals, read books, do a puzzle, slide down a river themed slide, or as a volunteer if you can try a musical instrument by the fire.
3. Go to the library. There are a lot, but the Central Library downtown has an especially impressive children’s section.
4. Visit one of the awesome area museums on their FREE days. These include the Milwaukee Public Museum and the Betty Brinn Children’s Museum.
Also Read: 10 Winter Activities do in Milwaukee with Kids
Outdoor Activities
5. Attend a festival down at the lake front. We loved the Dragon Boat Festival held in July.
6. Go paddle boating at Veteran’s Park.
7. Splash in the water at Atwater Beach.
8. Play at one of the many parks. We love Lake Park, Atwater Park, and Hart Park in Wauwatosa.
9. Listen to music outside at Jazz in the Park.
also read:Â 10+ Things to do with Kids on Milwaukee’s East Side
10. Go fly a kite. Veteran’s Park has a little kite store to pick one up if you don’t have one and a huge space for running.
11. Go on a hike. There are tons of kid friendly spots including; Schlitz Audubon Nature Center, Wehr Nature Center, Harrington Beach, and the Urban Ecology Center. Or go on a walk around interesting areas like Black Cat Alley or hunt for murals – here’s a list of some fun ones around Milwaukee.
12. Visit a U-pick farm. Pick apples, pumpkins, strawberries and more in the area.
13. Go to the Bookworm Gardens in Sheboygan.
14. Visit the Boerner Botanic Gardens in Hales Corners. This isn’t free – but at $7 per adult and $5 per kid it is inexpensive. The Education Center is open on week days.
