Milwaukee will soon be in full bloom, and it’s the perfect time to start planning outdoor adventures with your kids.
From late spring through summer, local gardens and flower farms come alive with color, offering wide-open spaces to roam, playful features for kids, and plenty of fresh air. These spots are designed with families in mind—where little ones can climb, dig, imagine, and explore the natural world up close. Bonus: they’re packed with beautiful photo ops, too.
Before heading out, check each location’s website or Facebook page for current hours, bloom updates, and admission details.
🌼 Whimsical Play Gardens Made Just for Kids
Margie’s Children’s Garden
📍 9400 Boerner Dr, Hales Corners, WI 53130 (Inside Boerner Botanical Gardens)
Step into a real-life storybook at Margie’s Children’s Garden, a whimsical new space tucked inside Boerner Botanical Gardens. Opened in 2022, this interactive garden was designed especially for kids, and it’s truly one of a kind in the Milwaukee area. It’s playful, beautiful, and filled with little surprises around every corner.
Domes Reimagined – Coming Soon to Mitchell Park
📍 524 S. Layton Blvd., Milwaukee, WI 53215
Big changes could be coming to Milwaukee’s iconic Mitchell Park Domes—and families are at the heart of the vision. The proposed Domes Reimagined project is a $107.4 million plan to restore the beloved horticultural domes and create all-new spaces designed with kids and families in mind. One of the most exciting features? A brand new Little Sprouts Dome, a dedicated children’s garden filled with plants, play zones, and hands-on nature activities.
Bookworm Gardens
📍 1415 Campus Dr., Sheboygan, WI 53081
This one’s absolutely worth the drive. Bookworm Gardens is a whimsical, two-acre children’s garden where beloved storybooks come to life. Each area of the garden is inspired by a different piece of children’s literature, with interactive features that encourage imagination, unstructured play, and curiosity. The entire garden is fenced in, so it feels safe and relaxed—and admission is free!
👉 Read our complete guide to Bookworm Gardens
Bell Children’s Garden – Green Bay
📍 2600 Larsen Rd, Green Bay, WI 54303 (Inside Green Bay Botanical Garden)
Located approximately 115 miles north of Milwaukee—a drive of about two hours—Bell Children’s Garden is a 2.5-acre interactive wonderland designed to connect kids with nature through play and exploration. Opened in May 2023, the garden features oversized mushroom trampolines, whimsical treehouses, a splash pad, and even a hobbit-style restroom that feels straight out of a storybook.
👉 Learn more about Bell Children’s Garden and what to do in Green Bay in our Milwaukee Day Trips Guide
The Morton Arboretum
📍 4100 IL-53, Lisle, IL 60532
Just about 100 miles south of Milwaukee (around a 1.5–2 hour drive), The Morton Arboretum is a massive outdoor nature destination with something for every age—but the Children’s Garden is the true standout for families. Spanning four acres, it’s filled with nature-themed play spaces where kids can climb giant acorns, splash in gentle streams, crawl through tunnels, and explore a kid-sized woodland world. There are separate areas designed for toddlers and older kids, along with shady spots for a snack or a break.
Play Garden at Maggie Daley Park – Chicago, IL
📍 337 E. Randolph St., Chicago, IL 60601
Situated in the heart of downtown Chicago, approximately 90 miles south of Milwaukee (a 1.5 to 2-hour drive), the Play Garden at Maggie Daley Park is a 3-acre wonderland Inspired by classic tales like Alice in Wonderland and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. There’s a large-scale play ship, viewing scopes, an Enchanted Forest and open-mirrored maze, a Play Pyramid, and more. Beyond the Play Garden, Maggie Daley Park offers amenities like a skating ribbon, climbing walls, and beautifully landscaped gardens.
👉 Discover more family-friendly activities in Chicago in our Fun Family Things to Do guide
🌸 Flower Farms with Family Events
Alice’s Garden Urban Farm
📍 2136 N. 21st St, Milwaukee, WI 53205
Alice’s Garden is a peaceful two-acre urban garden is rooted in community wellness—and history. (The land was once part of the Underground Railroad!) Families can stroll through the labyrinth, attend a free family movie night in summer, or join a special event like yoga or garden storytelling. Check their Facebook page or our Calendar for up-to-date events.
For The Love of Flowers Farm
📍 12114 W 5 Mile Rd, Franksville, WI 53126
The charming For the Love of Flowers Farm offers so much more than blooms. Kids will love visiting the friendly goats, and parents can relax in the shade or join a “Sip & Clip” bouquet-making event. Seasonal happenings like Muffins & Moms mornings make this a favorite summer spot.
💐 U-pick flowers | Events | Animals on site
Northwind Perennial Farm
📍 7047 Hospital Rd, Burlington, WI 53105
A true hidden gem, this scenic farm is filled with native plants, garden paths, artful touches, and even a magical tree in a silo. Kids can say hello to the goats and chickens while grownups browse the barn filled with garden gifts and antiques.
🛍️ Gift barn | Gardens | Animals | Peaceful setting
Happy Day Farmhaus – Tulip Fest & Harvest
📍 W188N13251 Maple Rd, Richfield, WI 53076
This 6-acre family farm hosts a beautiful Tulip Festival each spring with photo ops, U-pick blooms, and local vendors. Follow them on social for harvest events in the fall, too.
🌷 Tulip Fest in spring | Organic practices | Seasonal events
Rowley Creek Lavender Farm
📍 E13901 County Rd. W, Baraboo, WI 53913
Located about 2 hours from Milwaukee, families can iake in sweeping hillside views and stroll through rows of fragrant lavender at Rowley Creek Lavender Farm. Shop lavender goods in the Farm Cottage, and don’t miss the raw lavender honey. Appointments are required before your visit.
💜 Lavender fields | Farm shop | By appointment only
Richardson Adventure Farm
📍 909 English Prairie Rd, Spring Grove, IL 60081 (Just over the border!)
Each spring, this epic tulip farm plants 600,000 bulbs in colorful blocks near a lake—perfect for photos. There’s also a U-pick tulip area. Come summer and fall, Richardson Adventure Farm offers even more family activities.
🌷 Tulips | U-pick | Beautiful lake backdrop
Sunflower Farms
Sunflowers bloom in Southeastern Wisconsin from late July through August, and there’s no better photo op. Most farms let you clip a few to take home, and some offer wagon rides, animal encounters, or snack stands. Browse our favorite sunflower fields near Milwaukee
🏞 Sculpture Gardens to Explore
Lynden Sculpture Garden
📍 2145 W. Brown Deer Rd., Milwaukee, WI 53217
Lynden Sculpture Garden is a peaceful 40-acre outdoor art space is full of wide open lawns, magical hiding trees, and vibrant sculptures (including those unforgettable polka-dotted cows by the pond!). Kids can roam freely, spot frogs and turtles, and let their imaginations run wild.
👟 There are no paved paths—bring sturdy shoes!
🎟️ Admission is free; donations encouraged.
Grohmann Museum Rooftop Garden
📍 1000 N. Broadway, Milwaukee, WI 53202
Tucked atop MSOE’s Grohmann Museum is a unique rooftop garden featuring 12 larger-than-life bronze statues depicting workers in action—hauling, hammering, and forging. It’s a short and fascinating visit, with sweeping views of downtown Milwaukee and exhibits inside for older kids and grown-ups to explore.
🎟️ $5 for adults, free for kids under 12
🚋 Make a full day of it with our guide to kid-friendly destinations along The Hop streetcar route.
Notable Butterfly Gardens
Lapham Peak Butterfly Garden
📍 W329N846 County Hwy C, Delafield, WI 53018
Located in the Kettle Moraine State Forest, Lapham Peak is an ideal day trip for nature-loving families. After an easy, one-mile accessible hike along the scenic Plantation Path, head over to the Butterfly Garden, just east of the trail. It’s full of flowers, pollinators, and a sweet memorial brick pathway. You can also climb the nearby Observation Tower for a great view of Lake Country.
🚗 Vehicle admission sticker required
👉 Read our full post on visiting Lapham Peak with kids
🌟 Related Posts for Outdoor Fun
- Best Things to Do in Milwaukee With Kids
Your ultimate year-round bucket list for family fun around the city. - Best Playgrounds Around Milwaukee
Climb, swing, and slide your way through our favorite local playgrounds. - Family-Friendly Beer Gardens in Milwaukee
Yes, beer gardens can be family outings—many have playgrounds, live music, and plenty of space to play. - Fast-Growing Seeds for Kids to Plant Today
Easy gardening ideas to spark curiosity and get little hands in the dirt.
Calie Herbst, Editor-in-Chief of Milwaukee With Kids, has spent over a decade combining her experiences as a parent of three to create a hub for Milwaukee’s family adventures.
Her decade-long teaching career in Milwaukee Public Schools and academic background, including a Master’s in Teaching from Marquette University and dual B.A.s in Sociology and Spanish from the University of Wisconsin – Madison, fuel her passion for inclusive and engaging family content.
Calie is also a recognized voice in local media, contributing to WISN Channel 12 News, WTMJ Wisconsin Morning News, Fox 6’s Real Milwaukee, and B93.3.
Discover more about Calie’s journey and editorial approach on her About Page and Editorial Policy Page.
