Create unforgettable memories with these fall activities near Milwaukee!
Fall is gently seeping in, and lucky for you, you’ll be spending this season in one of the most beautiful places in North America during autumn—Milwaukee.
You made a good choice to travel Wisconsin during this season.
From fall festivals to pumpkin patches, museums, and haunted houses, Milwaukee offers plenty of attractions and activities just when the leaves are about to change colors!
Wanna make the most of your fall season in Milwaukee?
Thought so. Hence, I scrambled through my travel journal and shortlisted my go-to fall activities near Milwaukee for you to also enjoy!
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Table of Contents
Overview: Top Fall Activities Near Milwaukee
- Explore Lakefront Brewer with a brewery tour
- Visit a Haunted House through a ghost walk
- Join a Fall Food Tour
1. Explore the Milwaukee County Zoo
If I only have enough time to visit one landmark in Milwaukee in the fall, that would easily be the Milwaukee County Zoo.
Exploring this zoo is certainly one of the best family activities in Milwaukee.
Apart from letting you see over 340 species of mammals, reptiles, birds, and other animals up close, it also offers fun rides like the Safari Train and Sky Safari, as well as up-close animal feeding experiences.
There are also interactive and innovative activities like the Gorilla Trek VR, where you’ll be virtually transported in the middle of the jungle, and entertainment shows like dinosaur exhibits and theatres!
Curious about my favorite aspect of this zoo?
The foodie in me shouts: its abundance in concessionaire stands!
So, although picnics are a popular activity in the zoo, you can totally crave your hunger without packing food prior to visiting this lovely landmark!
2. Visit a Pumpkin Patch
One of the most classic fall activities that pretty much every local does in Milwaukee is to visit a pumpkin patch.
If you know, you know—there’s just something very cozy, nostalgic, and satisfying about finding the perfect pumpkin for Halloween decorations straight from its patch.
One of my go-to pumpkin patches in Milwaukee is the Basse’s farm, which is less than half an hour away from downtown Milwaukee.
This farm prepares some of the most special and entertaining fall activities near Milwaukee, including pig races, candy canons, trivia corn mazes, and rat racers.
The Swan’s Pumpkin Farm is also an amazing option. Its corn maze is on a whole other scale (5-acres wide). Plus, I love the diverse treat options at its Country Market!
3. Attend a Fall Festival
Did you know that Milwaukee is known as the City of Festivals?
Of course, we can’t skip attending fall festivals when listing the best fall activities in Milwaukee, right?
Now, there are quite a lot of fall festivals near Milwaukee. But for convenience’s sake, I’ll mention the best 3 festivals I’ve attended.
To start, make sure to attend the Harvest Fair (AKA the Wisconsin State Fair Park).
It’s one of the biggest fall festivals in Milwaukee. Admission is completely free, and you can enjoy concerts by local artists and delicious food galore!
I also highly recommend attending the Wine & Harvest Festival held in Cedarburg to enjoy live music, pumpkin races, face painting and bumper boats.
Last but never least, check out The Hollows at Phantom Lake, where you can stroll through an outdoor Jack O’Lantern wonderland composed of over 3,000 illuminated pumpkins.
Visting it is easily one of the best date ideas in Milwaukee.
4. Go Apple Picking
Fall and apple picking simply go hand-in-hand, don’t they?
So, if you plan to enjoy fall in Milwaukee this year, I highly recommend visiting local apple orchards and participating in the seasonal fun.
You’ll be able to enjoy a diverse selection of apple varieties (my favorite is Honeycrisp, by the way).
Moreover, you’ll get to spend quality time away from the noise with your family and friends.
I recommend going to Pattersons in New Berlin to enjoy their delicious caramel apples and donuts after a day of apple picking.
Or the Apple Barn Orchard & Winery if you want to enjoy apples, wine, and live music simultaneously!
A friend also talked highly about Elegant Farmer in Mukwonago. I haven’t visited it myself, but I’m sure it’s worth the trip as my friend rarely ever compliments a place unless it’s truly special!
Apple picking is definitely one of the best things to do in Milwaukee in fall. Can’t talk about my love for this activity enough!
5. Take a Scenic Drive
One of my favorite free activities in Milwaukee is to take scenic drives in and around the city.
You can enjoy Milwaukee’s fall colors by popping on your favorite playlist, rolling down the window, and enjoying the scenic foliage.
Already sounds like the best unwinding experience, doesn’t it?
I personally think you should just drive to wherever your wheels lead you.
But, if you want some suggestions, some of my favorite day trips from Milwaukee include visiting Lake Geneva, Wisconsin Dells, and Green Bay.
Not a fan of long drives? You can try biking through the Milwaukee bike trails to enjoy the scenery while exercising instead.
Though a bit more tiring than driving, this activity deserves a spot as one of the most scenic fall activities near Milwaukee.
6. Explore Lakefront Brewery
It’s no secret that I’m an avid fan of Wisconsin’s breweries.
In fact, as surprising as it may be, I’ve visited well over thirty of them over the years.
Among the breweries I tried near Milwaukee, the Lakefront Brewery stood out the most.
Great vibe, high-quality beers, excellent outdoor seating—this brewery offers pretty much everything you can ever want from a relaxing brewery!
I highly recommend trying out its renowned brewery tour, which is both educational and entertaining (one of America’s best).
For less than $20, you’ll join an amazing 50-minute tour filled with jokes, brewery facts, refreshing pours of beer, and a souvenir pint of glass!
Make sure to try out the brewery’s seasonal pumpkin lager and its year-round ales.
Don’t be too worried about drinking to your heart’s fill, as Lakefront Brewery is very close to some of the most romantic hotels in Milwaukee!
7. Hike in Kettle Moraine State Forest
When in Wisconsin, you should try hiking at least once during your stay.
And if you happen to be in Milwaukee, the good news is you’ll just be minutes away from the Kettle Moraine State Forest, one of the best spots to enjoy fall hikes near Milwaukee.
This forest transforms into a golden wonderland packed with yellows and reds during the fall.
The perfect scenery to appreciate nature’s charm and escape the city’s hustle and bustle.
Which Milwaukee hiking trails in the forest are the best?
If you’re a seasoned hiker, I recommend the Ice Age Trail’s Blue Spring Lake Segment, which took us nearly 6 hours to complete.
On the other hand, if you just want a short yet scenic hike, check out the Scuppernong Trail System, which will take you less than two hours to complete.
Hiking is one of the best outdoor activities near Milwaukee, and the Kettle Moraine State Forest won’t disappoint you in this aspect.
8. Visit a Haunted House
Love getting spooked out?
Then, why not take your Milwaukee trip as an opportunity to visit one of the city’s haunted houses?
When I say house, I’m not just talking about a regular-sized building filled with spooky decorations and creepy sound effects.
The haunted house we visited, called the Hill Has Eyes, for example, covers over 45 acres of land.
Within an hour, you’ll experience a series of terrors while running from one horror set to another.
Be prepared to face mutants affected by hunger and the Demon’s realm’s carnival.
After all the scary thrills in this haunted house, you will surely be hungry. But don’t worry—you can wrap up this scary landmark’s scary yet fun activities in Milwaukee with lovely bonfires, nightly music, and food.
The Spooky Stalks Haunted Cornfield and Novak Manor are also must-visit haunted places.
You can also join a Milwaukee Ghost Walk in Milwaukee’s third ward, as it was also known as “Bloody Third.”
9. Tour the Milwaukee Art Museum
Anytime you want to take a break from the outdoor fall activities in Milwaukee, feel free to visit the Milwaukee Art Museum.
Trust me, this museum is beautiful inside out.
Outside the building, you’ll be welcomed by the gorgeous front view of the lake.
Once you’re inside, you’ll realize that the museum is a work of art! It’s like an intricately crafted pottery piece, if you ask me.
The Milwaukee Art Museum is easily one of the most impressive museums I’ve visited, as it always has the most diverse collections and exhibits showcasing unique styles.
It owns over 32,000 pieces of various mediums and continues to grow.
Apart from its fascinating exhibits and collections, you may also want to participate in events held by the museum for the local community.
Sometimes, artists are invited as guest speakers; other times, party-like events that mix art and music are held for free!
You can definitely pass by this as you join a sightseeing tour!
10. Attend a Football Game
According to a friend who lives in Wisconsin, one of the best things to do in Milwaukee with kids is to attend a football game.
I tagged along when she took her nephews to a match of the Milwaukee Badgers.
But guess what—I probably enjoyed the game way more than the kids did!
The adrenaline rush when the team you’re rooting for scores just hits differently when you’re watching the game in person.
And when the entire stadium shouts simultaneously? Straight-up goosebumps!
Now, it may not always be possible to attend professional games when you’re in Milwaukee.
But there’s a very high chance you’ll still catch football matches played by high school and college teams. Based on experience, amateur-level games are still often exciting and full of energy!
11. Explore the Boerner Botanical Gardens
Nope—Milwaukee’s Boerner Botanical Gardens isn’t only worth the visit during spring or summer when most of the flowers are in full bloom.
Believe it or not, this garden is still a spectacle to see during fall!
Some of the plants, such as roses, chrysanthemums, and perennials, are in peak season during this time. The lush trees of the gardens showcase colorful fall foliage.
I love exploring the Boerner Botanical Gardens in the mornings or afternoons.
There’s literally no better place to take a leisurely stroll in Milwaukee than this lovely place!
After visiting this garden, we always drop by the nearby cafes in Milwaukee, as there’s nothing more comforting than a warm cup of coffee during the fall, right?
12. Join a Fall Food Tour
Throughout your Milwaukee adventures, don’t forget to treat yourself to fall food tours throughout the city.
Milwaukee is literally perfect for foodies like me.
On top of having local specialties like cheese curds and bratwurst, it also has restaurants for virtually every kind of cuisine possible!
The best part about Milwaukee’s food?
A significant part of its culture incorporates the farm-to-table model. So, you’ll be enjoying fresh ingredients and supporting local farmers!
My go-to places for food are Three Brothers for authentic Serbian fare, Goodkind for innovative American dishes, and Giles Frozen Custard for dessert! If you want more options…
Life hack: Ask the locals to find the best restaurants in a new city! I found some vegan restaurants in Milwaukee in just several minutes this way.
My thoughts on fall activities near Milwaukee
As this post proves, the fun in Wisconsin doesn’t end in summer.
You can still enjoy tons of fall activities near Milwaukee or in it.
All you gotta do is know which ones suit or don’t suit you and your thrill tolerance!
I’m excited for you to truly enjoy the fall experience in Wisconsin. I’m sure you’ll have many unforgettable memories waiting to be made!
Hola! I’m Paulina, a seasoned travelette who crossed the Atlantic Ocean by Boat HitchHiking. On my blog, find expert insights for an extraordinary holiday through outdoor and sustainable travel like hiking, cycling, and sailing. Let’s embark on unforgettable journeys together! 🌍🚀
