100 things for kids to do in Milwaukee, 2010

Published March 29, 2010 at 3:14 p.m.

Every kid loves to bounce at Monkey Joe's in Waukesha!  


Last updated March 29, 2010 at 3:14 p.m.


Note: The contents of this guide were checked for accuracy when this article was updated on March 29, 2010 at 3:14 p.m. We continually update the thousands of articles on OnMilwaukee.com, but it's possible some details, specials and offers may have changed. As always, we recommend you call first if you have specific questions for the businesses mentioned in the guide.

Accept no substitutes, this list -- updated for 2010 -- has fun stuff in and around Milwaukee for kids of all ages. From smelling the roses at Boerner Botanical Gardens to visiting Old World Wisconsin, this list is chock full of suggestions to keep your little ones entertained all summer long.

Read on and have a blast. If you have more suggestions, share them with us and your fellow readers by using the Talkback feature at the bottom. (Note: the list is not in any special order. There is no implication that No. 1 is better or more fun than No. 100.)

  1. Visit the Domes
  2. Make friends with the animals at the Milwaukee County Zoo
  3. See a big movie at the IMAX Theater
  4. Make the rattlesnake rattle at Milwaukee Public Museum (snake button!)
  5. Discover art at the Milwaukee Art Museum
  6. Smell the roses at the Boerner Botanical Gardens
  7. Pedal a Juneau Park paddleboat on the Veteran's Park lagoon
  8. Learn something new at Discovery World
  9. Explore the Betty Brinn Children's Museum
  10. Explore the Safe House
  11. Enjoy a play at First Stage Milwaukee
  12. Find something unusual at American Science and Surplus
  13. Get the perfect yo-yo at Art Smart's Dart Mart & Juggling Emporium
  14. Watch the roasters at Alterra on Humboldt
  15. Fly a kite at the lakefront
  16. Learn about African-American history at America's Black Holocaust Museum
  17. Strap on skates and take to the ice at the Pettit National Ice Center
  18. Crawl through the play tubes at Miller Park
  19. Slide into the water at your neighborhood pool
  20. Drive your parents crazy by taking them to Chuck E. Cheese
  21. Feed fish and other aquarium life at the Urban Ecology Center (1 p.m. on Saturdays)
  22. Eat a slice of apple pie or pick a pumpkin in autumn at the Elegant Farmer in Mukwonago
  23. Marvel at dinosaurs at Milwaukee Public Museum
  24. Go to story time at one of the public libraries
  25. Go rollerskating at Skateland
  26. Take a walk on the Milwaukee River Trails
  27. Ride the East Troy Electric Railroad
  28. Tour the Milwaukee Police Academy
  29. Write a fan letter to your favorite Brewer, Buck or Packer
  30. Watch the planes take off at Timmerman Field
  31. Cruise Lake Michigan on the Iroquois
  32. Skip rocks on Pewaukee Lake
  33. See how the other half lived at The Pabst Mansion
  34. Visit Villa Terrace and pretend you're in Italy
  35. Wait for a train at the Cudahy Depot
  36. Check out the library for books and DVDs
  37. Get a taste of farm life at Green Meadows Farm
  38. Ride the bumper cars at StoneFire Pizza Co.
  39. Bounce around at Monkey Joe's
  40. Check out how Wisconsin residents lived in the 1800s at Pioneer Village
  41. See how root beer is made at Sprecher Brewery
  42. Rent skates at McKinley Marina's High Roller Bike & Skate Rental and tour the lakefront at warp speed
  43. Take a tour of the Denis Sullivan lake schooner at Discovery World
  44. Feed the geese at the Veteran's Park lagoon (but no bread, please)
  45. Hike on the wooded paths at Lake Park
  46. Learn about nature at the Schlitz Audubon Nature Center
  47. See what frontier life was like at Old World Wisconsin in Eagle
  48. Take the bus Downtown
  49. Bike the Hank Aaron State Trail
  50. Hit golf balls at a driving range
  51. Bowl a few games at Bay View Bowl or Koz's Mini Bowl
  52. Jump in the lake at Atwater Beach
  53. Grab a bucket and go fishing with dad
  54. Go sledding on St. Mary's hill
  55. Play the video games in the Landmark Lanes arcade
  56. Take a trip to the Wisconsin Dells for a weekend of fun
  57. Stroll along the Riverwalk and see the big neon fish
  58. Try out Adventure Rock's climbing wall
  59. Savor the flavor of the day at Kopp's
  60. Go miniature golfing
  61. Watch a Wave game at the Bradley Center
  62. Play a game of HORSE at your local playground
  63. Go shopping for everything you need to start a garden
  64. Visit the cool Old World sausage shop at Usinger's
  65. Buy a model airplane at Cudahy or Greenfield News & Hobby
  66. Play bocce at the Italian Community Center
  67. Chase butterflies at the Wehr Nature Center
  68. Connect with a curveball at batting cages
  69. Drive up to Leon's for a burger and fries, '50s style!
  70. Stop in at the COA Family Center
  71. Cheer for the Bucks at the Bradley Center
  72. Sample step dancing at the Irish Cultural & Heritage Center
  73. Check out the new Betty Brinn exhibit, "It's Your Move"
  74. Find a treasure at the Mars Cheese Castle
  75. Experience the down-home fun of minor league baseball in Beloit
  76. Tour the Jelly Belly factory
  77. Take part in a nature program at Havenwoods Environmental Awareness Center
  78. Check out the Harley-Davidson Museum
  79. Brush up on Milwaukee's story at the Milwaukee County Historical Society
  80. Take a class ay Danceworks
  81. Try a new craft
  82. Eat a pizza while you see at movie at Fox Bay Cinema
  83. Request your favorite song at Organ Piper Pizza
  84. See a movie at the Hi-Way 18 drive-in theater
  85. Explore Cudahy Nature Center
  86. Climb to the top of Holy Hill
  87. Marvel at the Menomonee Falls
  88. Go horseback riding in Ozaukee County
  89. Have lunch at Red Robin
  90. Convince mom and dad to drive you down to Great America
  91. East at Friday's Front Row Sports Grill at Miller Park
  92. Watch Packers training camp at the Don Hutson Center in Green Bay
  93. See stars at the planetarium
  94. Eat Kettle Korn
  95. Take music lessons at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music
  96. Join the Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra
  97. Eat something on a stick at the Wisconsin State Fair
  98. Go back in time at Old Falls Village Museum
  99. See how candy is made at Quality Candy and savor some free samples
  100. Go to open gym time at Swiss Turners



Back | Read more at OnMilwaukee.com

Tagthis You must log in to tag articles
Separate tags with commas
Rate this now!
  • Average rating: 3.1
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
Number of ratings: 23 - Average rating: 3.1

Posted by: ilovekids on Milwaukee Dad on May 3, 2010 at 2:53 p.m.
Free daughter nail painting! Daddy daughter dance? Quality time w/ your daughter? Spend some girly girl time together with your daughter by treating her to a day of pampering at A Hair For Kids Salon LLC where she can get her nails painted for FREE! By appt only, Sat-Sun limit 2 per family. Bring a camera for some pretend dress up time with access to our dress up trunk full of outfits and more


Featured Advertiser: