20 things to do in Milwaukee for under $20: A budget friendly guide to tours, museums, and more
Looking for something fun to do in or around Milwaukee without breaking the bank?
We asked Milwaukee Journal Sentinel staffers for their recommendations on the best Milwaukee activities under $20. Here are 20 of their suggestions ― including indoor, outdoor and free activities.
Visit the Milwaukee County Zoo
The Milwaukee County Zoo, 10001 West Bluemound Road, Milwaukee, is home to more than 2,100 mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians. Visitors can also enjoy a variety of free, educational talks and activities. The zoo has a carousel, train and other rides as well, but ride tickets cost extra.
Adult admission to the zoo (ages 13 and older) is $16 for Milwaukee County residents and $17.75 for non-residents. Children's tickets (ages 3 to 12) are $13 for residents and $14.75 for non-residents. Tickets for seniors (ages 60 and older) are $15 for residents and $16.75 for non-residents. You can purchase tickets online here.
Experience biodiversity all year long at the Mitchell Park Domes
The Mitchell Park Horticultural Conservatory, better known as the Domes, is an indoor botanical garden with three domes, each displaying plant, tree and flower species from a different environment. You can take in the colorful Floral Dome, check out cacti and succulents in the Desert Dome or experience a walk through the rainforest in the Tropical Dome. (If you time your visit well, you will also have a chance to see — and smell — the corpse flower.)
Mitchell Park Domes tickets are $8 for Milwaukee County residents ages 13 and older and $9 for non-residents. Children's tickets (ages 3 to 12) are $6 for residents and non-residents alike. A list of senior, student and group discounts can be found here. Tickets are available at the door.
Go to the beach
With its setting on the coast of Lake Michigan, Milwaukee is home to 1,400 acres of beaches and parkland adjacent to the water, according to Visit Milwaukee. Downtown Bradford Beach on North Lincoln Memorial Drive is easily one of the most popular, but Milwaukee, Ozaukee and Waukesha counties each have numerous other beaches as well.
It's free to spend time at most beaches. Fun, free beach activities include swimming, beach volleyball and more. For a cost, Milwaukee-area companies also offer boat tours, freshwater surfing, kayaking, jet skis and a floating tavern. Information about beaches and companies offering beach activities can be found here.
Take a walking historical tour with Historic Milwaukee, Inc.
Historic Milwaukee, Inc., offers a variety of walking historical and architectural tours of the city, led by volunteer tour guides. Regular offerings include tours of Bay View, Downtown, the Historic Third Ward, the North Point mansions and the River Walk. The company also offers themed "special tours" and private tours by request. You can find a complete schedule of upcoming tours here.
Tickets prices for all regular Historic Milwaukee walking tours are $15 for adults and $7.50 for kids ages 6 to 11. Kids under 6 are free.
Watch a Milwaukee Milkmen baseball game
Most people know the Brewers, but Milwaukee also has its own minor league baseball team, the Milwaukee Milkmen. Milkmen tickets start at only $9, and there are games throughout the summer from May to September at Franklin Field, 7035 South Ballpark Drive, Franklin.
There's free parking close to the ballpark and plenty of entertainment during the game from the team's mascot Bo Vine the cow, fun stunts and games between innings, and Friday night fireworks. Concessions, including beer and liquor, are available for purchase. Find out more at milwaukeemilkmen.com.
Practice your swing at the batting cages
If you're feeling inspired after watching the Milkmen, you can hit the batting cages in Milwaukee's suburbs. Waukesha's Prairieville Park, at 2507 Plaza Court, which offers multiple outdoor batting cages. Prairieville Park has pitching machines set at variety of speeds ― from 35 mph to 80 mph ― accommodating baseball and softball batters of nearly all ages and abilities.
It's $1 for 12 pitches, and $10 for 11 rounds or 132 pitches, allowing you to get in a lot of practice for a low price.
Bike the Oak Leaf Trail
The Oak Leaf Trail is Milwaukee County's multi-use trail system, made up of over 135 miles of smooth asphalt trails for cycling, walking, running and other activities. According to Milwaukee County Parks, nearly a quarter of the trail travels along the shores of Lake Michigan.
The trail has seven main "branch lines," two scenic loops and two east-west connectors, allowing you to access numerous parks, places and landmarks in the county. Best of all, the trail is free to use. You can find maps, suggested routes and more information about the trail here.
Stroll the Milwaukee Riverwalk
The Milwaukee Riverwalk is free and open to the public, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. According to the Department of City Development, once complete, the Riverwalk will extend 3.1 miles along both sides of the Milwaukee River, from the site of the former North Avenue Dam, through Downtown and the Historic Third Ward to Lake Michigan. Multiple access points, residences, and shopping and recreational opportunities are located along the Riverwalk. Maps of the Riverwalk and more information can be found here.
Take a hike
For those looking to take a break from busy city life, Milwaukee County is home to over 20 nature trails perfect for hiking. The diverse selection of trails gives you the option to explore a variety of environments from the wildflowers of Cudahy Park to the grasslands of Warnimont Park to a number of lakes and beaches.
One recommended hike is Grant Park's Seven Bridges trail, a two-mile stretch with lake views, featuring 10 bridges and many stairways on the way to a secluded beach area.
Most parks are free to enter, though some require small fees to park in their parking lots. More information and a list of Milwaukee County Parks hiking trails can be found here.
Bask in nostalgia at the Up-Down Arcade Bar
If you're 21 or older, you can enjoy more than 60 '80s and '90s arcade games, drinks and pizza at Milwaukee's Up-Down Arcade Bar, 615 E. Brady St. All arcade games are just 25 cents to play. Up-Down also has pinball machines, classic Skee-Ball alleys and Nintendo 64 consoles available for play and "an array of patio activities" on its two floors of outdoor patios.
For up-to-date hours, daily drink and token specials, a complete list of arcade games and more, visit updownarcadebar.com/milwaukee.
Tour the Milwaukee Public Library
The ornately decorated Milwaukee Public Library Central Library, 814 W. Wisconsin Ave., first opened its doors in October 1898. Designed by Milwaukee architects Ferry and Clas in a combination of French and Italian Renaissance styles, the library reflects Paris' Louvre Museum, according to the Milwaukee Public Library Foundation. Thanks to multiple renovations over the years, the building also features a grand staircase, observation deck, native landscaping, solar panels and a "spectacular view" of downtown.
Free, docent-led tours of the library occur Saturday mornings, beginning at 11 a.m. in the rotunda. Learn more at supportmpl.org/tours or by calling (414) 286-TOUR (8687).
Tour Milwaukee City Hall
Milwaukee City Hall also offers free, scheduled tours. City Hall, 200 E. Wells St., Milwaukee, holds tours in the spring, summer and fall every second and fourth Wednesday of the month at noon. Tour space is limited, so attendees must sign up by emailing Gloria Ware at gware@milwaukee.gov or calling 414-286-2221.
City Hall has stood in downtown Milwaukee since 1895 and features numerous terra cotta sculptures of cherubs, faces and animals. The building was extensively and recently renovated to heal weather deterioration and improve its energy efficiency. Tours of City Hall include a climb up the building's bell tower.
Bowl at Holler House
Holler House old-fashioned mini bowl, 2042 W. Lincoln Ave. on Milwaukee's south side, is the oldest certified bowling alley in the United States and offers the "same bowling experience as a century ago."
According to the website, pins are still set by human pinsetters; the planks in each of the two bowling lanes are made from real wood ― rather than synthetic material ― and oiled with a spray can, and you keep score by hand. Holler House was founded by the Skowronski family in 1908, and today, generations three, four and five of the family run the business.
Due to pinsetter schedules, open bowling is available by reservation only. The cost of bowling is $5 per game, per bowler. Visit geneandmarcyhollerhouse.com or call (414) 647-9284 for more information.
Go mini golfing
If the weather is cooperating, you could play a game of mini golf at one of the many courses in Milwaukee's suburbs. Here are a few:
Gastrau's Golf Center at 1300 E. Rawson Ave., Oak Creek, offers mini golf daily from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. The cost to play is $8 for adults (ages 16 to 62), $7 for seniors (ages 63 and up) and $6 for children (ages 15 and under).
In addition to the batting cages, Prairieville Park at 2507 Plaza Court, Waukesha, has an 18-hole mini golf course with numerous water features and obstacles. Play is $9.50 per game Monday through Thursday and $10 per game Friday, Saturday and holidays for adults. A list of prices for seniors, children and military service members can be found here.
Tee-Aire Golf at 21700 Gumina Road, Brookfield, has an 18-hole miniature golf course and refreshments available. Mini golf is $6 per player, per game.
Go disc golfing in Milwaukee County Parks
If mini golf is not your style, perhaps give disc golf a try. Milwaukee County Parks manages 11 disc golf courses ― six full courses and five short practice courses. Most courses are open from May 1 through October, though the Dineen course is open year-round, and a winter course is available at Dretzka Park, 12020 W. Bradley Road, Milwaukee.
The five practice courses ― which have two, three or nine holes each ― are free to play. For $5 plus tax, you can purchase a single-day permit to use at any of the six full-length, 18-to-21-hole courses online or using the QR code on-site at the self-pay station.
A complete list of course locations, hours and other disc golf information can be found here.
Play shuffleboard at 3rd St. Market Hall
In addition to a bar and plenty of unique restaurants, downtown Milwaukee's 3rd St. Market Hall offers free, first-come, first-served indoor yard games ― including shuffleboard on its two custom shuffleboard courts. The market hall's 50 x 50 astroturf space also has giant Jenga, cornhole and other yard and board games available to play. 3rd St. Market Hall is at 275 W. Wisconsin Ave.
Explore St. Josaphat Basilica
St. Josaphat Basilica, at 620 W. Lincoln Ave., was founded by Polish immigrants to Milwaukee's southside in 1896. According to the basilica website, when it was dedicated in 1901, the only larger steel dome in the country belonged to the U.S. Capitol. The basilica is home to interior dome paintings and one of the largest displays of religious relics in North America.
Free guided tours are available Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. through 3 p.m., but must be scheduled in advance online or by calling (414) 902-3523. Regular, docent-led tours are also available on Sunday, after the 10 a.m. mass.
Visit Milwaukee School of Engineering's Grohmann Museum
The Milwaukee School of Engineering's Grohmann Museum is home to the world's "most comprehensive art collection" dedicated to the evolution of human work ― more than 1,700 paintings, sculptures and other works. Exhibit themes have ranged from "The Architecture of Agriculture" to "The Art and Mechanics of Animation" to a scavenger hunt-style exhibition.
The museum is at 1000 N. Broadway, Milwaukee. General admission is $5, admission for students and seniors is $3, and children under 12 are free. Tickets can be purchased online or at the museum's admissions desk. Learn more about the Grohmann Museum here.
Check out Marquette's Haggerty Museum of Art
Marquette University's Haggerty Museum of Art usually features eight to nine exhibitions each year, meaning there's always something new to see. Regular admission to the museum is $5, and admission is free for students from any college or university with a valid I.D., Active Military members, children 17 and under, K-12 educators and homeschoolers.
The museum has featured work from the Italian Renaissance, American self-taught artists, works addressing social change and contemporary art from every continent. Find out what's currently on display at the museum here.
The Haggerty Museum of Art is at 1234 W. Tory Hill St., and it's open daily from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Practice yoga at the Villa Terrace
For a free summer activity, try yoga at the Villa Terrace Decorative Arts Museum. From June through September, a free hour of guided "Yoga at the Terrace" is offered every Sunday morning by a rotating line up of local instructors. Participants get to enjoy early-morning views of Lake Michigan as they practice.
Yoga participants must bring their own mat. A $10 donation is recommended to support Yoga at the Terrace and other museum programs. For a current schedule of yoga classes, to RSVP for a class and for more information, click here.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: 20 free or cheap budget friendly things to do in or near Milwaukee
