This Wisconsin winter has felt a little unusual for its lack of snow. But while you’re waiting for Mother Nature, we found some wintry activities that don’t require snow!
1. Grab a cup of cocoa
Snow or not, it’s still cold in Milwaukee. And hot cocoa can help with that.
There’s liquid chocolate at Goddess and the Baker in Brookfield, chocolate caliente at Dia Cafe in Greendale, and hand-ground European style cocoa at La Reve in Wauwatosa.
We found the 14 best spots around town for a comforting cup of hot cocoa.
2. Ice Skating
Even if the outdoor skating rinks are closed due to warmer weather, the indoor rinks are up and running as usual.
No roundup of ice rinks for Milwaukee is complete without mentioning the Pettit Center, home to two international-size ice rinks and a 400-meter speed skating oval.
It’s one of only 30 indoor 400-meter Speed Skating Ovals in the world and it’s the sixth oldest. It’s also an ifficial training site for US Speed Skating.
Public skating times, rental skate fees, and occasional promotions are listed on their website. They also offer ice skating classes for all ages throughout the year.
The Wilson Ice Arena also offers public skate times, skating lessons, and occasional glow nights.
Here’s the full list of the 10 best places to ice skate around Milwaukee.
3. Tubing
Local tubing destinations got a good base of snow earlier in the season, and have made their own snow to make up for the lack of precipitation.
Sunburst was named one of the top 10 tubing parks in the entire country by USA today, with 45 lanes of tubing chutes with a quarter-mile run and 90 foot drop. You can reach speeds of up to 30 miles per hour.
Crystal Ridge is another local favorite, and they offer glow tubing on select Saturday nights!
See all of the tubing, skiing and snowboarding destinations around Milwaukee.
4. Visit the Museum
The Milwaukee area is chock full of kid-friendly museums to explore on a cold day.
For science and technology fun, head to Discovery World on the lake.
Looking for hands-on art projects and world-class galleries? The Milwaukee Art Museum is your ticket.
And for a dash of history, take a family-friendly tour through the magnificent Pabst Mansion.
Want an off-the-beaten-path option? The Bobblehead Museum might be just the thing for you, home to the world’s largest collection of bobbleheads.
Want more ideas? Check out these 20 Milwaukee museums your kids will love.
5. Play at an Indoor Playground
Winter is the right time to explore the area’s vast array of indoor playgrounds.
Our favorite play cafes include Little Village Play Cafe in Wauwatosa, Little Sprouts Play Cafe (Shorewood and Mequon) and Bug & Goose Play Cafe (Elm Brook and Delafield). Their thoughtful play spaces are intimate and cozy, and they offer hot drinks for the parents.
Your kids will love burning off their energy at trampoline parts like Rockin’ Jump, Sky Zone Greenfield, and Urban Air.
New indoor playgrounds in the area include the New Berlin Activity and Recreation Center, Nugget Nation MKE in Brookfield (opening soon), and Kids Empire, opening in the Summer of 2023 at Bayshore.
See the full list of 25 Indoor Playgrounds around Milwaukee.
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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.
