Roadtrip Southeastern

Lulu Lake is about a 35-minute drive from Milwaukee. Osprey, sandhill cranes, great horned owls, common yellowthroats, ovenbirds and yellow warblers can be found there. Two miles of hiking trails cross rolling hills with mostly gravel and sections of grass.

A 20-minute drive outside Milwaukee, the Milwaukee Astronomical Society Observatory in New Berlin offers free public observing nights throughout the summer. The society’s astronomers use telescopes in the 3-acre site’s nine observatories to capture photos of everything from planets to nebulas.

Located in Milwaukee’s historic Bronzeville neighborhood, Niche Book Bar is committed to celebrating books by Black authors and with Black characters from every genre. Customers can enjoy their next read along with a variety of cafe and wine selections.

This cash-only establishment is near the Historic Mitchell Street neighborhood on Milwaukee’s south side. Along with Mexican candies and savory snacks, it offers an array of frozen treats. If you’re visiting on a hot day, we suggest picking a frozen fruit popsicle called a paleta or a sweet raspado made with fruit and shaved ice.

Located off a small country road near Fond du Lac, the Kelley Country Creamery bills itself as the “best ice cream in the middle of nowhere.” The ice cream is made on-site, and you can take a peek at the process through the parlor’s viewing window. The best way to enjoy your cone is on the shady porch while watching farm animals graze. Season-permitting, you’ll also get a view of blooming sunflowers.

The hotel that has hosted dignitaries, including presidents, has gained a reputation for being haunted. Several players in Major League Baseball have reported hearing footsteps in their rooms, having furniture move on its own, feeling chills and seeing lights.

Catch a Milwaukee Brewers game at American Family Field, formerly Miller Park. Before the game, you can go to the National Bobblehead Museum in Milwaukee or check out the 4th Base restaurant, which was featured in the 1989 movie “Major League.” If you want the full experience, be sure to tailgate in the parking lot before the first pitch. Inside the park, try all the different types of food at the stadium and pay tribute to the late player and broadcaster Bob Uecker by searching for his statue in section 422.

It wouldn’t be summer without a day lying out on a sandy shore, and this park in Ozaukee County offers a mile of Lake Michigan shoreline. If the sun gets to be too much, hike under white cedar trees or jump onto the intra-urban bike trail to nearby towns for treats.

A summer staple for Milwaukeeans, this beach is a great place for a walk, swim or game of beach volleyball. There’s a restaurant and a custard stand, too. Bradford Beach calls itself “America’s most accessible beach” and offers rollout mats and free checkout of beach wheelchairs.