Milwaukee is actually the largest city in Wisconsin, and the 28th most populated city in the U.S., with nearly 600,000 residents made up of Germans, Polish, Italians, Irish, French, Russians, English, Swedish, African Americans, and Mexican Americans. It was originally settled by French Canadian fur traders in the early 17th century (Score!!! The nerdy French geek in me is dancing for joy! Eeeee!!) There is some speculation as to where the word Milwaukee originated from. Wikipedia says it comes from the Ojibwe word ominowakiing, or the Potawatomi word minwaking, meaning, "gathering place by the water." But hey, you didn't have to read this post to know that. You could catch that tidbit on Wayne's World!
Some famous celebrities born here in the dairyland include: Heather Graham (actress/model), Jane Kaczmarek (actress), Willem Dafoe (actor), Gene Wilder (actor), Gena Rowlands (actress), Chris Farley (comedian), Danica Patrick (racecar driver), Les Paul (musician), Steve Miller (musician), Harry Houdini (magician), Georgia O'Keeffe (artist), Frank Lloyd Wright (architect) and Charles and John Ringling (circus entrepreneurs). We also have some famous serial killers--Ed Gein and Jeffrey Dahmer...
I have to share my absolute favorite Milwaukee food place in the world with you, hands down: Kopp's Frozen Custard. I take everyone there, local or not. I can't believe for as often as I go there, I don't weigh 400lbs. Seriously, I pay their electric bill easily in burgers, fries, and custard. A Milwaukee staple, Kopp's is known for its delectable frozen custard and tasty jumbo burgers. Founded in 1950 by Elsa Kopp, the frozen custard stand has 3 locations. Every day there are 2 unique flavors of the day. In fact, you can even get a calendar for your flavor forecasts! They always have the traditional chocolate and vanilla custard, if one of the daily flavors doesn't strike your fancy. I am on their tweet list, and receive text messages every day about their flavors of the day!
Now, onto some fun. I have to admit, I saw this little checklist on Facebook and stole it, so it's not a Sam original. It's actually a really fun list of things to do in Milwaukee. Being the good little tour guide I am for those out-of-state friends that visit, I have also added a few of my own that I was actually kinda shocked didn't even make the list. So if you are living in or visiting Milwaukee, here are some activities to keep you busy this summer. Be advised, some cannot be done over summer, like ice skating or Candy Cane Lane, but most can. Print this list off, hang it up, and check it off! Oh, and if you have any suggestions for more things to add, feel free to add on!
1.
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Walk the Riverwalk
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2.
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Drink from a bubbler
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3.
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See the lakefront fireworks
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4.
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Watch the Great Circus Parade
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5.
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Lawn bowl at Lake Park
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6.
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Enjoy frozen custard at Kopp's
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7.
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Take a picture with the bronze Fonz
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8.
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Close Wolski's
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9.
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Attend a Milwaukee Admirals game
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10.
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Take the Polar Bear Plunge on New Year's Day
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11.
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Visit the Mitchell Park Domes
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12.
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Tour Miller Brewery
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13.
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Go fly a kite at Veteran's Park
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14.
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Ride a Harley
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15.
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Run Al's Run
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16.
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Ride the skyglider at Summerfest
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17.
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Tailgate at a Brewers game
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18.
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Bet on the racing sausages
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19.
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Use a Tyme machine
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20.
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Spot the Milverine
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21.
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Eat something fried on a stick at the Wisconsin State Fair
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22.
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Watch the Brise Soleil open or close at the Milwaukee Art Museum
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23.
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See a movie at the Oriental Theater
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24.
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Take a ride on the Milwaukee County Zoo train
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25.
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Make a mold-a-rama animal at the Milwaukee County Zoo
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26.
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Press the secret rattlesnake button at the Milwaukee Public Museum
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27.
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Let a butterfly land on you at the Milwaukee Public Museum
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28.
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Order from the "brat guy" on Water and Wisconsin
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29.
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Eat some fromage at Bastille Days
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30.
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Drive past the witch's house on north shore
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31.
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Play bingo at Potawatomi
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32.
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Take a boat cruise down the Milwaukee River
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33.
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Eat a State Fair cream puff
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34.
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Stand in the old County Stadium chalet at the Lakefront Brewery
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35.
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Walk through the aquarium tunnel at Discovery World
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36.
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Hang out in the lobby of the Pfister Hotel
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37.
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Shop the Third Ward galleries
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38.
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Attend a Milwaukee Bucks game
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39.
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Polka at Polish Fest
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40.
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Eat some ribs at Speed Queen
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41.
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Tour the Sprecher Brewery
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42.
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Drink Guinness at Irish Fest
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43.
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Wear lederhosen at German Fest
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44.
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Listen to New York, New York at Festa Italiana
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45.
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See the orange steel art thingy at the end of Wisconsin Ave.
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46.
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Attend Jazz in the Park
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47.
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People watch at the Brady Street festival
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48.
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Late night snack from the Pepperoni Cannoli guy
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49.
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Have a cocktail at Bryant's Cocktail Lounge
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50.
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Try at least 3 different places for Friday night fish fry
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51.
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Rub Gertie the duck for good luck
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52.
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Tour the Pabst mansion
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53.
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Smell the roses at Whitnall Park (Boerner Botanical Gardens)
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54.
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Ice skate at the Petit National Ice Center
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55.
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Buy some sausage at the Usinger's deli
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56.
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See a Brew City Bruisers roller derby event
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57.
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See the Miller Park roof open or close
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58.
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Tour the Harley Davidson Museum
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59.
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Find homes designed by Frank Lloyd Wright
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60.
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Have a beer at Major Goolsbys
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61.
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Party and exercise on Milwaukee's Pedal Tavern
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62.
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See a show at the Pabst Theater
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63.
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Spin a penny on the spiral wishing well at General Mitchell Field
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64.
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Defy gravity at Turner Hall
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65.
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Sit in the Uecker seats
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66.
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Get some sun at Bradford Beach
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67.
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Take a tour at Great Lakes Distillery
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68.
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Mini bowl at Koz's Mini-Bowl
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69.
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Pound nails in the stump at the old German Beer Hall
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70.
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Pretend you are oceanside at Barnacle Buds
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71.
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Ride, run, or walk the Oak Leaf Trail
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72.
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Take in the view at Villa Terrace
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73.
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Play Atari at Koppa's Grocery
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74.
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Ride the Giant Slide at State Fair
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75.
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Visit the Basilica of St. Josaphat
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76.
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Take in some nature at the Urban Ecology Center
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77.
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Read something at the Milwaukee Public Library
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78.
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Visit the St. Joan of Arc Chapel on Marquette University's campus
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79.
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Visit the Lynden Sculpture Garden
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80.
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Take a tour on the Jingle bus
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81.
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Visit Candy Cane Lane
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82.
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Attend a Milwaukee Wave game
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83.
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Behold St. Sava's mosaics
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84.
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Visit the Grohmann Museum at MSOE
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85.
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Enjoy frozen custard at Leon's
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86.
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See a show at the Riverside Theater
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87.
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Catch a flick at the Milwaukee Film Festival
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88.
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Take in light opera at the Skylight
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89.
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Take in heavy opera at the Florentine
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90.
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Try a malt at Ted's
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91.
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Tour the homes via driving tour on Lake Drive
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92.
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Say hi to the rocking granny on the Streets of Old Milwaukee
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93.
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See the Pieta at the Italian Community Center
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94.
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Attend an opening at the Haggerty
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95.
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Hike the trails in Warnimont Park
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96.
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Visit Seven Bridges
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97.
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Move the sculptures at Discovery World
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98.
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Walk the Hank Aaron State Trail
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99.
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Visit Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church
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100.
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Visit your ancestors at Forest Home Cemetery
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101.
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Call an Illinois driver a FIB
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102.
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Take in the sounds of a mariachi band at Mexican Fiesta
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103.
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Go to the Safe House
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104.
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Have a tropical drink at Foundation Tiki Bar
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105.
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Visit one of the 3 bars at the Landmark
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106.
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Attend the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra
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107.
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Ride your bike at Ray's Indoor Mountain Bike Park
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108.
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Take the Lake Express ferry across Lake Michigan for the day
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109.
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Take a picture of the Allen-Bradley clock
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110.
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Try frozen custard at Oscar's
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111.
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Tour the Great Lakes Distillery
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112.
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Try some authentic Mexican food at Coneijito's Place
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113.
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114.
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115.
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116.
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117.
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118.
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119.
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120.
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121.
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122.
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123.
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124.
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125.
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