MILWAUKEE: The Midwest's Coolest City 

Milwaukee is one of those places that has a lot of hidden gems if you know where to go, especially between May and October. I moved for work, but like bringing friends there for a Friday/Saturday in the summer and showing them around. The usual reaction is “we have to do more Milwaukee trips”

If you like rotundas, you should've visited the Basilica of St. Josaphat on the south side of Milwaukee, just off the interstate. It was built by Polish immigrants in the late 1890s, of salvaged material from a demolished post office in Chicago, and is one of the most beautiful churches in the Midwest, if not the whole country.

Getting mugged downtown? I see you talked to some people from the suburbs at the bar.

Milwaukee is a city with so much culture, going to school at Madison I miss this. Idk I get a better vibe from Milwaukee. it's a city and people that have been through it, which makes it unique and each visit special.

If you ever make your way back to Wisconsin you HAVE to visit door county (fish creek, sister bay, baileys harbor, egg harbor, etc) so so beautiful and so much todo!

Born and raised in Milwaukee, since lived much further north snd south in the state. The downtown is the shining star, there are a lot of surrounding ghettos unfortunately. But also a lot of great smaller cities in Milwaukee County. WI in general if you can get over the long, cold winter is a fantastic place to live. The summer and fall months make it all worth it. Lol

Hometown, lived on and off my most of my life. Had enough and never going back.

Great video. Love your and your wife's chill energy mixed with brutal honesty! Milwaukee is a cool city and I think you pretty much nailed it. We live 20 minutes from downtown and take advantage of all the restaurants and microbreweries frequently. Your prediction about the city staying economically stable is spot-on, at least for the forseeable future; we may see the return of historic cities on strategic waterways. If so, Milwaukee has a lot to commend it.

Thanks for sharing.

We had some excitement here in Milwaukee last night after the Bucks game. We could hear the sirens from our room.

A few decades back, I taught at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and we made many junkets to the city and its area. South of the cit was at one time heavy manufacturing areas. Just north of the downtown were hippie enclaves, where many avant-garde cartoonists hung out. Just to the north-west of the downtown was where the Harley-Davidson bikes were born and most are still made there. And then there's Mayor Maier park named after Milwaukee's mayor for 26 years. The park was made famous in 1972 when George Carlin was arrested for saying "7 words you could not say on TV".

Awesome adventure! Thank you

Nice city with a pleasant climate.

Glad to see you in my home town. We love Milwaukee and agree that it has it’s flaws too.

Madison, my home town. Thanks for visiting!

I think you're a little misled on the weather, it's not that cold, July and August the average high in Milwaukee is over 80F. Mid to high 70s in June and September, and upper 60s in May. The lake itself is fairly cold, but it's definitely enjoyable for boating and things. Even in the cold seasons, there is plenty to do outdoors that doesn't require mountains to be around. Ice fishing is very popular throughout the state, as is cross country skiing, snowshoeing, ice skating, hunting, etc.

I grew up in Racine , Wisconsin. It’s about 30 mins from Milwaukee. I enjoyed watching this video. Milwaukee downtown is a fun place to visit.

I love the circular door, beautiful rotunda

dang. Awesome Capital building.

I recently discovered you guys. Really really great content concerning cities which very much interests me a lot. Thanks for bringing your journeys to us!! Both of you stay well and can’t wait to see the next stop!😀🔥👍

Very nice..

I’m hooked on your vlogs . I was over there on a big road trip in 2016 plus two shorter trips since and I’m reliving vicariously somewhat 😂 Especially since I wasn’t so brave as to drive through all those hoods around major cities .

Milwaukee is my adopted city. Glad you enjoyed it. I’m originally from Chicago. Everything you said about MLKE is true. Madtown is nice too. I love cheese curds. We are also known for our supper clubs. Great video.

Proud Wisconsinite here, and I went to college in Milwaukee! You are right, the beer and cheese curds are a right of passage in our state. I like going to other states and finding "Wisconsin cheese curds" on the menu. I then proceed to order and judge them haha. But yeah, my car got broken into multiple times in Milwaukee. I don't live there anymore and I would not recommend it. It's good for visiting though. There are plenty of much safer areas to live in Wisconsin.

Great video! I’m getting homesick all the way down here in Houston.

My two favorite things, beer and cheese!

I was hoping you’d visit the Harley Davidson museum while up there 😁. Good video! You and your wife seem like the nicest people.

I fully anticipate accompanying you and yours vicariously in Minneapolis.

Nice to see you in my neck of the woods. Glad you enjoyed your stay and yeah......you literally could spend almost a month exploring all the different breweries in the area. And just like you said- Brew City is not growing, the streets are in terrible shape and the winters are just as bad. No body likes freezing and driving on cow pastures, other than that- there def some positives. Next time you guys are up this way, you should check out Lake Geneva and the Dells.

That's home. I sure miss it.

Just finished watching Indianapolis, great job! I live in Hartford city Indiana, I don't go to indy, too busy for me to drive in. I'm 75 & a little leary, don't like interstates, so I don't drive too far 😊

I am loving this episode! Growing up in Minnesota, I have been to Wisconsin often. Did you get a chance to try Sprecher during your visit? The beer they offer is good, but their Root beer is amazing!

"So, do you come to Milwaukee often?" "Well, I'm a regular visitor here, but Milwaukee has certainly had its share of visitors. The French missionaries and explorers were coming here as early as the late 1600s to trade with the Native Americans." "In fact, isn't "Milwaukee" an Indian name?" "Yes, Pete, it is. Actually, it's pronounced "mill-e-wah-que" which is Algonquin for 'the good land.'" "I was not aware of that."

They do have ski areas between Milwaukee and the fox river valley. Some parts of the city are really nice. They have a pretty nice zoo.

Definitely the coolest city in the Midwest 👍❤ luv milwaukee 414

Senior citizen here-- born and raised in Milwaukee. There's enough to do if you look for it. Your wife by the way looks like actress Mare Winningham.

My Daughter is an attorney for the state of Wisconsin and works in that beautiful capital every day. Milwaukee has an awesome theater groups and many indoor activities along with a championship NBA team There is much to do during the winter

Maeders German restaurant is a must in Milwaukee

Fresh cheese curds "squeak" when you eat them. Glad you enjoyed yourself. Wish you'd at least seen/shown, the exteriors of famous buildings like the Pabst Mansion, St. Josephat's Basilica, The Domes (Mitchell Park Conservatory), the North Point Water Tower (a castle-like standpipe that is the architectural cousin of the famous Chicago one), Central (Milwaukee Public) Library, etc. You barely even scratched the surface.

Beautiful Capital building in Madison! That was a great cheese store. I was wondering if Milwaukee' s idea of 'sharp' cheddar may have been different than yours Joe lol. Back in the 50's or so I think Milw may gave been in the top 15 or so in population

You missed the opportunity of a lifetime not having a good German meal at Mader's, the German "bar" across the street from the cheese store. That area is called Old World 3rd Street.

Moved to MPLS in ‘77… from da soth side. Have not enjoyed a good pizza since then. I miss the food the people the job opportunities and George Webb after an all-nighter. Back when we had a good time growing up till the corporate sold all the manufacturing operations. Beer capital of the world, machine shop of world! All for pieces of paper corporate bled the city into the shell of what it once was. Still some of the best parking for a Brewers game. In Mpls it’s $50 to park and watch the home town team consistently not win. I really miss THE LAKE

Milwaukee 👍

Greetings Lord Spoda hope u r well n Happy Saturday 💜

The fair grounds with the race track. I use to race there

I've always liked Milwaukee, mainly cos it's a blue collar town and love their Brewers baseball team.. You would think it would be still growing and thriving just like it's big brother Chicago to the south, but it lacks diversity economically wise... 🚸 Chicago is both a blue collar and white collar town and has a huge airport all the ingredients necessary for future growth and development... Living in Milwaukee gives you the best of both worlds, most of the big city attractions like Chicago but at a smaller scale and you can always drive to Chicago to see a major concert or event that would skip Milwaukee...

You would love LaCrosse Wi.

Lived in Milwaukee quite a few years. Moved to Fond du Lac about an hour up the road in 1997. Never looked back. The smaller Wisconsin cities (less than 100K population) are much friendlier and more inviting. The difference is in law enforcement. Crime is less tolerated and people look out for each other. The smaller cities have entertainment , food, festivals and music, just on a smaller scale. If you join a few groups, you are likely to see the same person around more than once. Great living!

A friend had a football scholarship to the University of Wisconsin. I met him through other friends. Unfortunately, on the way back to school he was killed while changing a flat tire. What a tragic loss to the world. RIP Tim

I like Mad City myself

I am from the Detroit area, and I lived there briefly, and all I've got to say is that there really is a place that sucks more than southeast Michigan, and it's called metro Milwaukee. Yeah, there might be a small area of the central city that's kinda cool...but kinda is the word. I had thought previously that Wisconsites were nice but they're just as screwed up as people from Michigan. The midwest nice is really just passive aggressiveness bottled up inside, and a defeated outlook on life. People from the Great Plains states, however, are genuinely kind and open people. People from the upper midwest tend to be rather toxic. The only 3 cities in the upper midwest that I would say have real quality of life are Ann Arbor, Traverse City, and Madison. And maybe I'd add Marquette in the U.P. to that list...but from my experience, that's it. Living in this part of the country will destroy your will to live.

Hey Joe and Nic you should check out Wausau Wisconsin

I live in Madison, brother is in Milwaukee. Insane a great city can be the most Diverse, a positive, and the most Segregated, not a positive, at the same time.

In Europe we would call this city a concrete jungle.

Interesting to not mention world headquarters of Harley-Davidson nor the new Harley-Davidson Museum, both right in the city. Next time!

Hi,,,,is there much work for welders in Milwaukee? It seems to me I've seen some metal industry from the train while going to Chicago.Visited Milwaukee in Dec.2021. I like it.,,,not Woooow but I felt very good there,and quiet, forgot about everything b.r. I come from Poland but I have lived in Belgium 10 years

Really the best parts of wisconsin are anywhere thats at least 10mi outside mke or madison.

My aunt lived in Milwaukee for 40 yrs. She worked in a hospital. Usingers sausage is great. The MKE beers I tried were in bottle and were not great. They may have been out of date.

Ah my city the brew

The winters are not bad in the Midwest compared to years ago. Milwaukee doesn’t have the energy of a bigger city. Different ethnic festivals in the summer.

No hotel review in Milwaukee?

That stretch a road you were on with the cheese shop is not MLK it is Old world third Street

"Greener pastures... Chicago, Atlanta..." Those pastures are crime-ridden pastures and they always come back to Wisconsin.

Its pro choice my friend. Anyways, like the channel, have you been to Upper Peninsula of Michigan? I have some suggestions if you haven't?

Yes , there’s an area is generally being refer to , as an retired cop mentioned to me as Combat-Zone . Milwaukee seems also famous for drunk drivers . Back 30 some years ago , I used driving a security patrol vehicle going from one facility to It’s second location and passing the bars area near Allen Bradley and quite often seeing the late serial killer Jeffery D. standing outside one of his favorite bar and he often waved at me and so I waved back . During summer in those days within that area would packed up with college students and locals alike and just like a huge block party for many people were holding their drinks standing outside and around the sidewalks . There were a few got so drunk and just leaning against cars parking on the road side . Cops were near by that areas to catch any drunk drivers .

Dont drive a Kia in that city

When you move towards downtown, it's no longer Martin Luther King, It's Old World 3rd.

"....a lot of German influence here... ...very German here... " Where's the Turnhall? (the Turnverein?)

Just speaking as a life-long Wisconsinite, Madison is EXPLODING in population as Milwaukee basically flat-lines; I think some of that "brain drain" is people leaving for Madison or other growing metros in the state such as the Fox Valley, La Crosse, or Eau Claire. I wouldn't be shocked to see Madison supercede Milwaukee as the state's largest city in my lifetime. Admittedly I'm biased, but I think our Capitol building is one of the best in the entire nation.

Being close to Chicago is a pro? 😅😂

Lived in Milwaukee my whole life basically. It is a great city in many ways but poor mgmt & high crime plus high property taxes. Police have been cut by 260 officers in 2 years so homocides doubled! Lots to do during summer, spring, fall= winter everyone does family, bars, & holidays. The homes here are incredible & beautiful. Lots of parks= award winning park system and zoo. Many Colleges and Universities, great for 20 somethings. The suburbs are very well planned & lovely. Pay for most jobs is lower in the milwaukee area which is sad. MPS sucks but city has school choice, where families have option of out of district and religious schools to send their children to. Very great beer & food here, plus summerfest music festival & ethnic fests all summer long. Oh and Harley Davidson is here so always biker nights & get togethers.

You need to go to Door County which is 3 hours north of Milwaukee and East of green bay.

High property taxes are a big deal..Nobody wants to pay 500.00 a month, and that goes for Texas too

Cool video He got the anyway, but anyway, speaking habit

no houses, show the old houses

Joe it would be great if you toured cities along the Mississippi river, such as La Crosse.

The rest of Wisconsin dunks on Milwaukee relentlessly but all things considered it's really not that bad of a place. I still wouldn't live there though. Next time you visit the state, you really have to see Door County.

Poor public transit?? It has been called one of the best in the country!!

Wisconsin also has the 8/10 drunkest cities in America... So there is that...

I'm from Milwaukee. Milwaukee has BEEN a dangerous city. We've made the top ten most dangerous big cities list almost every year for like the last 40 years. Its hell. Crime, crime, crime. Thats why I left. For the record, the violent crime rate ranks literally 8th highest in America, not 26th. 26th is the entire metro.

ya Milwaukee use to be heavy industry we had a Allis Chalmers on the farm, sad when my uncle showed me the shuttered doors

With the political failures in Milwaukee plus they’ve just upped their sales tax to 8% crime completely out of control a couple people at least per day with a random or not are being shot. If you drive a Kia chances are someone else will be driving it as you’re thrown out at gunpoint. There is no good reason to go to Milwaukee.

go to maders for dinner

I got robbbed for my wallet there. Definitely not a cool city.

Madison, being the LA of the midwest in a lot of ways, no surprise about the protest. No surprise, either, seeing all of them wearing face masks. Certain types of minds think alike, as the saying goes...

With Nicole being a true crime buff, I'm surprised you didn't go to the site of the former apartment of Jeffrey Dahhmer in Milwaukee.

I’m surprised that you guys didn’t cover anything Jeffrey Dahmer related since Nicole is a true crime buff. Kind of like you did with BTK in Wichita/Park City.

Pro choice.

Milwaukee is a great city but I could not live there because of the politics.

Milwaukee is a safe city if you stay out of the bad neighborhoods. Reckless driving is a big problem. There are a lot of unregistered and/or uninsured cars. Seems to be little enforcement. If the unregistered/uninsured cars were removed from the road (my guess that would be 25% to 35%) there would be less traffic but car jackings might increase. Cost of living is high, high property tax is just one part. Cost of bars/restaurants is higher than it was in the past. Makes going out unaffordable for many. Milwaukee seems to be a welfare magnet. Hence high property taxes and crime. If you made people work for their welfare, probable 1/2 the people of the city would move out, many of those who are on welfare and many of those who make money off the people on welfare. Milwaukee has mass transit (buses and trolley) which can be seen every day running around virtually empty except the times when people are going or coming from work. Professional Baseball and Basketball get a lot of hype, but many people could care less. Maybe gets a lot of hype because there is not much else. Wisconsin weather is atrocious six months of the year.

You are Dead Wrong about Crime Downtown saying you can’t leave your car down there cause it’s almost guaranteed to get broken into WRONG!!! This not Chicago 💯💯💯

you guys seem conservative to me (im assuming based on being from texas and youve made jokes about gender identity and such) yet you still were kind and accepting of the protesters you may not agree with and even helped them make sure their sign was the right way. I could be totally off base here and you guys are some crazy liberals, but I got mad respect

I grew up in the Milwaukee area and here is a random fact. At one time, every nationality had its own neighborhood. The germans were in the downtown area, african americans on the northside, polish by the airport, the east side was spilt btwn the italian and jewish neighborhoods, etc etc. During the 70s, the neighborhoods diversified and has continued to do so ever since. Milwaukee drivers are notoriously bad. They don't use turn signals much nor check for traffic before switching lanes. They just go! So be on the lookout when driving thru the city! The biggest problem is the crime- the crime in the city itself is out of control! The police only ensure the areas in Downtown/Third Ward and by the airport are safe. The rest is pretty much run by gangs and violence. There is even a neighbirhood called the warzone. You enter at your own risk- if you stop, you are dead. The cops come in armored suvs with machine guns to collect the bodies. Even if you are on the interstate you aren't safe. It is not uncommon for gunfights to erupt in traffic jams or for people to fire guns into traffic from the overpasses. Thankfully the suburbs are generally safe.

Not really the coolest, maybe to those who are able to afford.. Lake Michigan come back in warm weather. CRIME WAVE really starts. Cars parked unsafe. Honk at the wrong person, can cause ***. Beer. ah, yes, UWM , east side full of Taverns, with a lot of drunk young under 26. Not much on your porch is safe. Many college age, can not put trash out properly. Party, party. taking almost every parking space, homeowner have no where to park much of the time. Crime easy picking a drunk, and white.

Drugs and related is killing a lot of cities. All druggies should be removed permanently. All countries need good hard working people and there is no room for drugs.

Dude, it’s pro choice not pro abortion. Every child should be wanted and no one should be forced to breed. Your wife knows and used the right terminology.

City with the worst roads in the USA.

Pro-choice, sir. No pro-abortion.

“Pro-abortion?”

People are still wearing those face diapers?