There’s something about fall in the Midwest that just feels different, in the best way. Coming from Florida, where seasons don’t quite happen, this felt like stepping into a whole new world. The crisp air, the leaves turning shades of gold and red, the excuse to layer up, it all felt like a cozy little dream.
The original plan was to go to a book con event, but that got cancelled. Thankfully, The Well Red Damsel, a romance bookstore, had recently opened and filled the void to create the cutest book crawl!
The trip to Wauwatosa is worth it just to stop in and see the aesthetics: 6429 W North Ave, Wauwatosa (women owned & LGBTQ+)
Milwaukee is known for their beer, so for science we had to explore the local breweries and try all the styles!
Lakefront Brewing 1872 N Commerce St, Milwaukee: top choice they have such a fun brewery tour and cheese curd of the month flavors. My favorite was the Hazy Rabbit, flaked oats give a creamy mouthfeel, while heaps of Mosaic, El Dorado, Azacca, and Cashmere dry hops saturate every juicy swig with ripe citrus and tropical fruit flavors.
Eagle Park Brewing there is an MKE location but we went to S64 W15640 Commerce Center Pkwy in Muskego: cool vibe inside, you order from QR codes on the table. Try a flight.they have fun flavors like Goon Juice: this beer is loaded with aromas of bubble gum, tangerine, papaya, and a touch of pine.
Explorium Brew Pub 143 W St Paul Ave, Milwaukee: connected to a mall, both indoor and outdoor seating. Blueberry and Strawberry cheesecake sour beers were my top choice. If you are adventurous, try the hot dog beer, it’s an American Lager.
The art scene is thriving in Milwaukee and such a variety for all pallets:
Milwaukee Museum of Art 700 N Art Museum Dr, Milwaukee: $30 but on Thursdays from 4p - 8p it’s donation based. Nearly 35,000 pieces on display.
Black Cat Alley E Ivanhoe Pl, Milwaukee: alley way filled with murals up and down multiple building
David Barnett Gallery 1024 E State St, Milwaukee: Nationally recognized and featured over 600 different artists
Bronze Fonz Statue on N riverwalk way: Public artwork by Gerald P. Sawyer, located on the Milwaukee Riverwalk. The Bronze Fonz depicts Henry Winkler as "The Fonz," a character in the 1970s television series Happy Days, which was set in Milwaukee.
And for the first time ever, I got to go apple picking…a true bucket list moment I didn’t realize I’d love so much. There’s just something special about slowing down, being in the moment, and experiencing a season you don’t get back home.
