Milwaukee & Madison | 2-Day Travel Guide 🚗✨

Milwaukee is Wisconsin’s largest city, located on the shores of Lake Michigan 🌊, while Madison, the state capital, is also beautifully set by a lake. Though many travelers head straight to Chicago (just 1.5 hours away), this region is well worth a visit – especially for beer lovers 🍻! Milwaukee is packed with craft breweries, and if you’re an NBA fan, you can catch a Bucks game – check their website for schedules! Two days are perfect to explore both cities. Day 1: Milwaukee Harley-Davidson Museum 🏍️ – $24 (My favorite! Allow 2 hours) Milwaukee Art Museum 🖼️ – $27 (A must-see! Plan 3-4 hours) Milwaukee Public Market 🧀 – Local cheeses, sausages & more ⚠️ Fairly small – don’t expect too much. 30 mins is enough. 🐟 The seafood stall is highly rated. ☕ Try Benelux Coffee across the street for brunch! Brewery Tours 🍺 – Lakefront Brewery or Miller Brewery for beer enthusiasts Day 2: Madison (1.5-hour drive from Milwaukee) 🏛️ Wisconsin State Capitol 🎓 University of Wisconsin-Madison 🌳 Lake Mendota Loop Trail – 16 km lakeside hike (Download offline map via AllTrails: “Lake Mendota Loop”) 🍃 Saturday Public Market around the Capitol (if timed right!) 🍽️ Restaurant Recommendations Milwaukee: Mader’s Restaurant – Historic German spot (opened circa 1900). Great atmosphere, food was okay. Lake Park Bistro – French cuisine 🥖 Kopp’s Frozen Custard – Popular local ice cream 🍦 (Flavors change every 2 days – check ahead. Honestly, it was just fine.) Madison: The Old Fashioned 🧀 – Highly recommended! Try the fried cheese curds and fish fry. 🏖️ Nearby Attraction Chicago – Check out my other guides for more! 🏙️ #Milwaukee #Madison #Wisconsin #USRoadTrip #TravelUSA #ExploreAmerica #FoodieGuide #NBABasketball #CraftBeer #LakeLife