Around Chicago — Milwaukee 🚗💨

Just over an hour’s drive from Chicago, Milwaukee made for an easy day trip. Though we stayed downtown, and the city was decorated for Thanksgiving 🦃, my first impression was that of a fading industrial town. Our first stop was the highly recommended Public Market. Inside, you’ll find casual eats and desserts 🧁. The most famous item—the lobster roll from St. Paul Fish Company—gets a lot of hype, but I personally found the bread overly buttered 🧈, and the delicate sweetness of the lobster was overshadowed by too much mayo 😕. However, their appetizers are fantastic—especially the steamed mussels! 🍲 The rich broth of butter, cream, and wine paired with crispy bread was absolutely delicious 😋. Other snacks in the market are… very American (think: extremely sweet 🍬). Milwaukee’s museums and art galleries carry a strong industrial vibe 🏭. It helps to read up on the background beforehand—otherwise, you might just be glancing at paintings without much context. Several museums and galleries are located on university campuses 🎓, feeling more like gallery shops than tourist spots. We barely saw any other visitors. My friend and I wandered all around Milwaukee—through its streets and neighborhoods 👣. Overall, it’s a nice weekend gateway ⛲, but maybe not worth a special trip. Also a heads-up: there are quite a few unhoused people around, so if you’re traveling alone, it’s better not to dress too flashy. 👚 #ChicagoDayTrip #Milwaukee #TravelDiary #USATravel #PublicMarket #FoodReview