Chicago to Milwaukee

We%26#39;ll be in Chicago for a week in July. What about day trips to Milwaukee? Is it doable by train? bus? or would we need to rent a car? We%26#39;ve not been to the area and we%26#39;d like to see as much as possible during the week. We%26#39;ll be staying at a hotel in Chicago the entire week but we%26#39;re wondering if it%26#39;s possible to travel to Wisconsin, Michigan or Indiana on day trips. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Thanks.

Chicago to Milwaukee

A day trip to Milwaukee is certainly feasible. Amtrak runs several trains each day, check their website for exact times - the Hiawatha is the train that runs between Chicago and Milwaukee. If you go on a weekend in July there will almost certainly be a festival going on - early in July it is Summerfest. Suggest posting in Milwaukee forum to find out schedule. Milwaukee is a fine place to visit, it has some wonderful restaurants and brewpubs, the Art Museum is in a very cool building, and the Harley-Davidson Museum recently opened.

Chicago to Milwaukee

You could go to Milwaukee but I would ask why? As the above poster mentioned, it has it%26#39;s merits like an Art Museum. But it%26#39;s a smaller version of Chicago except has more of a German/Beer flair to it. What I would do if you want to see some part of the midwest is go to more of a resort area like Harbor Country in Michigan, Lake Geneva in Wisconsin, Galena in Western Illinois. My personal favorite is Harbor Country because I like country antiquing and I like the lakefront and it%26#39;s less than 2 hours from Chicago. Another nice trip is MakinawIsland. But it%26#39;s far. Or Door County in Wisconsin is amazing.

You can also go to Milwaukee by bus. http://www.megabus.com/us/

I live right in the middle of the two cities, and the only reason I would leave Chicago to visit Milwaukee would be Summerfest.Everything else (museums,restaurants,shopping,sights)is better in Chicago.

Harbor Country and Lake Geneva are great - you would need to rent a car for those trips. If you are interested in Abraham Lincoln stuff, a trip to Springfield to see the Lincoln Museum, which is fabulous, and the Lincoln home might be nice - it%26#39;s a little long for a day trip but is doable. Amtrak goes there, or it%26#39;s probably about a 3-4 hour drive - nothing scenic about the drive, however. Also in Wisconsin, a bit farther away than Lake Geneva, is Taliesin, a mecca for Frank Lloyd Wright enthusiasts. Again, car is necessary for that.

Thank you for the helpful information!

Thanks for the advice and good tips!

Thanks for the bus information. Sounds great!

Appreciate your input, thanks.

Though it looks as if the general concensus is no Milwaukee, if you really are trying to see as much as possible in the time you%26#39;re here, I would recommend a day trip. Milwaukee does have it%26#39;s similarities to Chicago, but it is a different city in it%26#39;s own right. Like one of the other posters said, depending on which weekend you come, there will definitely be some festival going on (Irish Fest, Festa Italiana, Bastille Days, Mexican Fiesta-- just to name a few). The city is in general a bit quieter and cheaper than Chicago, so I say it would be worth your while. Check in the Milwaukee forum for additional information on transportation, as well as various other activities.

Though I do love Chicago, I just thought I%26#39;d put in my two cents about Milwaukee... :)