The Most Unusual Experiences in Milwaukee

Safe House
Safe House | © Richie Diesterheft/Flickr
Kelsey Grace Pfeifer

Scenery and food are good for some people, but others want to experience something a little more unique. One of the best parts of visiting a new city is becoming a citizen of a new town, and to truly belong in Milwaukee, here are some unusual experiences to let you in on its secrets.

The Safe House

The first rule about Safe House? Tell people about Safe House, just don’t tell them too much. Anyone who has ever dreamed of being James Bond needs to make a stop at this spy-themed restaurant. While the food is great, the true experience lies within the actual venue. Guests must first figure out how to get in. If you don’t have a password, don’t worry, they’ll still let you in, but you might have to dance or recite weird poetry. Inside there is spy memorabilia as well as quick gags like hidden alarms and rigged barstools.

High School Theatre Scene

https://www.instagram.com/p/BRQyHGXjiRg/?taken-at=252385889

Frozen Custard

Italy has gelato, and Milwaukee has frozen custard. The delicacy tastes much like incredibly creamy ice cream, and leave it to Wisconsinites to come up with some truly bizarre flavors. While most people can grab a generic version at the chain restaurant, Culver’s, the best frozen custard is served at Milwaukee staple, Kopps. Kopps has unbeatable custard and boasts new flavors every day.

Festivals for Every Culture

While Summerfest is the most popular festival that Milwaukee has to offer, the Summerfest grounds are actually used for other festivals celebrating Milwaukee’s rich and diverse background. Irish Fest is a Gaelic party with classic corned beef and bagpipes. Festa Italiana ends in spectacular fireworks and shows off pop, opera, and traditional acts alongside some of the most delectable food in the area. These two join a larger lineup of amazing cultural celebration.

Non-traditional Sports Events

It’s true, Milwaukee is not really thought of as a traditional sports town. Sure, they have The Brewers and The Bucks, but the true sports excitement lies within some more non-traditional sports. Two of the biggest events in Milwaukee involve speed-skating and water skiing. The Petit Center is host to many speed-skating events and trials, including World Championships. Olympians are super accessible and incredibly nice—if they’re not trying to beat you in a race! As for water-skiing, the Malibu Open is always held right on the Milwaukee Lakefront trail, and there are few things more exciting than watching someone break a world slalom record or go off a waterski jump!

Mary Nohl House

To local Milwaukee citizens, the Mary Nohl House has always just been known as ‘The Witches House.’ This is a misnomer. The house isn’t creepy by any means, but inside magical and fantastical. The yard is covered in strange sculptures from artist Mary Nohl, the materials for which were paid for by a sizable inheritance left by her parents. It’s been a struggle to keep it in the Milwaukee area, and it is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.

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