strategical help for italian invasion of MKE!

[kalle8]

this summer my dream will finally come true: i'll come to miller park.

in this topic i seek your help for any suggestion i may need, such as

1) best way to get to MIL from abroad

2) where to sleep

3) things to do

4) how to explain to my wife i'll attend 7 games in 7 days (PHI e CHC series in the middle of August) during our honeymoon

5) seats to buy (i'd'like to have every day a "different experience" in MP)

6) things to eat at MP

7) places to visit in the MIL area (especially woman-oriented, i need to use diplomacy, you sure understand)

8) any other suggestion you may give

thank you!

[jjkoestler]

Is this your first trip to the US?

[kalle8]

this would be my 3rd time: i ve been in NYC, florida and three days in los angeles.

[jjkoestler]

I'll probably get flamed for saying this, but visit another city. Milwaukee is a nice place, but there are cities with a lot more to offer. If you are set on visiting Milwaukee I would spend a couple days in Milwaukee and spend the rest of your time in Chicago.

[RightFieldCoder]

1) O'Hare (Chicago) is not far away. Getting to O'Hare from anywhere in the world shouldn't be too hard. You can book a new flight from O'Hare to Mitchell Field (sometimes called Miller Field by Presidential staff). Or there are plenty of buses, trains, and rental cars that will help you with the rest of the way.

2) There are 3 main "hubs" of hotels. One near the airport (ok area, but nothing interesting close), downtown, and Waukesha-ish (just west of Milwaukee). It really depends on what experience you want, how close you intend on staying near the hotel (if you don't mind spending 30 minutes driving, the whole city is available from all of them), and what your pricing concerns are.

3) 7) Milwaukee County Zoo, Milwaukee Art Museum, Meier Festival Grounds

4) Baseball is America's sport. You want to study and enjoy American culture.

5) It should be easy enough though Brewers.com or StubHub.com to buy tickets in different sections. The pre-game and post game shows are broadcast from section 105 if you wanted to see those people do their job.

6) With seven different days, I'd try to get everything at least once. At minimum, a sausage of some type is required. [self advertisement] Buy lots of nachos and/or pretzels with cheese[/self advertisement]

8) Tailgate at least once. Also budget enough time one day to walk around the stadium and take in all of the sites. Outside they have statues in front of home plate and honor plaques on the ground surrounding the stadium. Inside they have various stations celebrating various groups (African Americans, Latinos, Wisconsin ballplayers, Milwaukee Braves, etc).

[Baldkin]

Milwaukee is a wonderful city, especially in the summertime.

 

The Art Museum could take up a full day of your time, as could any of the festivals which run every weekend down at the Summerfest grounds on the lake.

 

Also, Discovery World can be a real hoot.

 

If you're planning to rent a car, there are also some very nice hiking options about 45 minutes to an hour away in Kettle Moraine State Park.

 

The Milwaukee County Zoo is pretty amazing, as well. There are the Mitchell Domes, which have different events throughout the year.

 

If you're into biking, there are shops where you can rent bicycles for the day, and take a trip around on the Oak Leaf Trail and see a bit of Milwaukee that way.

 

Also, if you're looking for interesting places to have a drink, there are tons of good bars in Milwaukee, for a tourist, I'd reccommend Bryant's cocktail lounge or At Random (two bars I love to take friends to).

 

As for seat locations, if you're going to 7 games, be aware that if you're going to a day game, you'll probably want first base side seats (otherwise you'll bake in the sun).

 

Sit in the bleachers, sit as close to behind homeplate as you can in the terrace box (really awesome view of the action from up there), sit in the club level once, and be sure to walk around and check out all the pictures and artwork.

[ilovebeer]

Don't sit in the bleachers when Chicago is in town.

[homer]

As an Italian, you might enjoy going to Festa Italiana.

 

http://www.festaitaliana.com/main.html

[trwi7]

As an Italian, you might enjoy going to Festa Italiana.

 

http://www.festaitaliana.com/main.html

 

Problem is Festa takes place a month before he gets here.

[BrewersSuperCollector]

You have to tour the Miller Brewery.

 

Depending on how much you want to spend I believe the visiting teams stay at the Pfister hotel who some believe is haunted.

[homer]

As an Italian, you might enjoy going to Festa Italiana.

 

http://www.festaitaliana.com/main.html

 

Problem is Festa takes place a month before he gets here.

 

 

Man, I read his post three times and never saw that.

 

OK, ignore my suggestion.

[trwi7]

I wouldn't waste money staying at the Pfister. Nice hotel but if you're visiting and don't plan on being at the hotel for much more than sleeping it's way overpriced.

[SenatorShriv]

I also think that tailgaiting will be an important experiance. I bet that if you post someplace on this forum that you are looking for a tailgate party to crash within a couple weeks of your visit that some generous Brewerfan member will open up their cooler and grill for you.

 

There are lots of great things to do in Milwaukee and lots of smaller local gems that haven't been mentioned yet that you'll discover as you explore the city. I would recommend trying to get out of the city to Madison or Chicago just to break it up a little bit.

[RobDeer 45]

I too was going to say that you have to experience tailgating. I think you also should do some sort of day trip to experience lake Michigan. I'm not an expert on this but maybe heading north to Door County would be the best option. Maybe some others can chime in on this but since it is your honeymoon, a night or two up there would be a good move.

[kalle8]

thank you guys, my head is spinning now!

i know it's a 7months away but by now i am excited like i have the plane within an hour!

i will collect all suggestion and sure i will write in this post to beg a tailgate invitation. that will be truly-truly brewers fan!

[patrickgpe]

all those suggestions are great.

 

another famous tourist bar is http://www.safe-house.com/

 

the miller brewery tour is OK, but i'd recommend the http://www.lakefrontbrewery.com/lakefront-brewery-home-page.html

 

also not sure how much fun an Italian would have, but that weekend is irish fest. the summerfest grounds is a very unique experience on the lake and it is very enjoyable just walking around.

 

there are a couple of cheaper hotels downtown like the ramada, plus you would be right by most tourist attractions. It is a easy commute to miller park from downtown. Staying in the waukesha area is kind of hairy because the highway gets jammed before games since everyone enters the stadium from the freeway. Staying downtown makes it very easy to access the stadium from the city streets

[TooLiveBrew]

- Yeah, definitely go to Irish Fest for at least a little bit. It's a good way to experience the Summerfest grounds & the cool atmosphere, live music, etc.

 

- I'll second the Door County idea (link for a location; it's the whole peninsula, basically), but it's about a 2.5 hour drive from Milwaukee, if that matters. Like RD45 suggested, getting a room at one of the many B&B's up there and spending a night would be a good honeymoon activity. And swinging through Green Bay to at least take a look at Lambeau Field on the way back to Milwaukee wouldn't be much of a detour at all.

 

- And even though I'm suggesting this to a native Italian, I think you'd have fun in trying one of Milwaukee's famous German restaurants. Either Mader's or Karl Ratzsch's would be the places to go.

 

i will collect all suggestion and sure i will write in this post to beg a tailgate invitation. that will be truly-truly brewers fan!

It's awesome that you're going to make sure to experience some tailgating... it really is a great time. And I'm guessing you'll get multiple offers to join up with people in this thread!

[Menotti80]

If Zoo A La Carte is during that same time period, a visit to the Zoo that weekend is a MUST. It usually is during the same weekend as Irish Fest, so I would recommend both.

 

If you do go to door county, I spent my 1 year anniversary there last summer and we could dig up the 2 Door County threads that are out there somewhere.

 

Also make sure after one of the weekend games to hit up some of the Bluemound Rd Bars after the game. Perhaps take the shuttle to the game a few times from one of those places.

[1992casey]

If you're going to seven games in seven days, they have to be the priority. I don't see how it'd be very practical to go out of town unless you have extra days before or after that time.

 

Do you plan on renting a car, or will you be relying on other transportation?

[RobertR]

Just to be different, Wisconsin is the birthplace and home of Frank Lloyd Wright. A Wright architectural tour is something to consider. Wingspread in Racine ( http://www.johnsonfdn.org/contact-us/tours-johnson-foundation-wingspread ) is probably the closest major Wright building. It's probably too far for a day trip, unless you're very ambitious, but Wright's home and studio Taliesin in Spring Green is about 2 hours from Milwaukee. Reserve a tour in advance ( http://www.taliesinpreservation.org/ ).

 

The Edelweiss boat tour ( https://www.edelweissboats.com/ ) is probably a good bet for a few hours.

 

For a rainy day excursion, if there's something of interest in the main house at the Oriental theater ( http://www.landmarktheatres.com/Market/Milwaukee/OrientalTheatre.htm )you'll get to see one of the nation's best examples of an old fashioned movie palace.

 

And, if the weather cooperates, there are many fine examples of parks and beaches in southeast Wisconsin. Consider packing a picnic and enjoying the outdoors.

 

If you're into motorcycles, the Harley Davidson museum is likely worth a visit.

 

Robert

[JimH5]

You're going to seven games on your honeymoon!? Is your wife fine with that?

 

I love baseball, but I would have a hard time going that often--and I know my wife would go crazy on about the 3rd day.

 

I would recommend flying into NYC and spend a weekend there checking out the city and broadway, then come to Wisconsin for a week of fun.

[jjkoestler]

I was thinking the same thing, Jim. I love baseball, but 7 games is a lot. Especially on your honeymoon.

 

A weekend in Wisconsin would be more than enough time to experience Miller Park and Milwaukee. Chicago simply has a lot more to offer as far as dining, attractions, nightlife, etc.

[kalle8]

ok, 7 games is a lot, but think it is once in a lifetime. think it as 7 games in a lifetime!

i know it's not that romantic, that you don't see Milwaukee depliant between aruba and hawaii when you go to the travel agency, but the week in milwaukee will be in the middle of a month spent in the US, and all the other places will be more "politically correct" for a honeymoon.

 

last year she made go to china for a month, so i think i deserve 7 Miller Park trips!

[kalle8]

If you're going to seven games in seven days, they have to be the priority. I don't see how it'd be very practical to go out of town unless you have extra days before or after that time.

 

Do you plan on renting a car, or will you be relying on other transportation?

 

i m not very much into renting a car, unless it is necessary (it is? - i've never driven a car without the stick btw)

i m planning to daytime visits when there are night games, and "nightlife" after the day games.

 

and of course the first couple of games i imagine i'll go to MP several horis before the start to capture the whole spectrum of sensations, like seeing BP, wanderig through MP etc...

[rwa12]

Sounds like you have some fantastic travel plans! I will also recommend a trip to Door County, it is probably the most beautiful area of Wisconsin. Where else are you visiting within the US?