The country’s oldest bowling alley. A statue of the “King of Cool.” A giant cocktail that will make all of your dreams come true. What do they have in common? They’re all part of Milwaukee’s hidden treasures and local jewels attendees shouldn’t miss. And mingled with some city bests, they can enhance the visitor experience.
Milwaukee served as the setting for the popular Happy Days TV show. In 2008, its main character, Arthur Fonzarelli, came home to stay on Milwaukee’s RiverWalk with the unveiling of the Bronze Fonz. No trip to Milwaukee is complete without a commemorative, thumbs-up, “Aaay!” snapshot with the undisputed “King of Cool.” The statue is located just south of the Wells Street Bridge.
The oldest certified bowling alley in the country lies in the basement of Milwaukee’s Holler House (414.647.9284). Step downstairs and experience two lanes that pack in more than 100 years of bowling history—including personal “pin setters.” On most nights, visitors can find Holler House’s owner, Marcy, behind the bar. It’s hard to tell what’s more fun, this octogenarian’s “colorful” vocabulary or the hundreds of “donated” brassieres that pass for decor.
Common sense dictates a cocktail served in a glass with the circumference of a goldfish bowl is best when shared. A ritual for local lovers, the flaming Tiki Love Bowl is the claim to fame for At Random (414.481.8030). No beer, wine or credit cards in this bar left over from the Rat Pack era; just a menu of over-the-top frou-frou drinks and a playlist heavy on Sinatra.
And speaking of imbibing, Draft magazine recently cited six Milwaukee watering holes as among the “Best Beer Bars in America.” It was Schlitz and other legendary hometown brews that “made Milwaukee famous,” and a vast number of microbrew pubs, neighborhood taverns and bars specializing in German, Belgian and Irish beers have joined the scene. According to Draft, the winning lineup includes Fat Abbey Biercafe (414.755.0333; www.fatabbey.com), with its many Belgian brews; County Clare (414.272.5273), where live Irish music is complemented by pours of Guinness; Milwaukee Ale House (414.226.2336; www.alehouse.com), offering 10 house brews and six public boat slips on the Milwaukee River; Old German Beer Hall (414.226.2728; www.oldgermanbeerhall.com), a Munich-style hall featuring hofbrau and German festival foods; and Palm Tavern (www.palmtavern-n-sugarmaple.net), with its 200 Belgian beers on tap and in bottles, and sister pub Sugar Maple, with 50 Midwestern microbrews on tap.
