America's Most Affordable Lake Destination Is A Lively Midwestern Gem With Beaches, Breweries, And Bliss

Lake Michigan is truly one of the best features of the midwestern United States. Spanning four states, it's the second-largest of the five Great Lakes and brings many natural resources to the communities around it, including freshwater, natural ecosystems, and beaches with some of the clearest water in America. Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is one of those Lake Michigan communities that thrives on the culture the lake has fostered, appealing to locals and visitors alike. In 2025, Beach.com named Milwaukee the most affordable lake town beach vacation, citing the area's hotel costs, food expenses, and transportation. Still strongly tied to its immigrant heritage, the city prides itself on festivals, cultural events, art, food, beaches, cheese, and, of course, beer, making it a desirable lake destination with many city amenities.

Beer has truly built the city of Milwaukee. When European settlers landed on Lake Michigan's shores in the early-to-mid 1800s, they brought along their taste for kölsches, pilsners, lagers, and hefeweizens and started brewing beer. Pabst, Schlitz, and Miller launched their empires in Milwaukee, and, after the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 burned down most of Chicago's breweries, the region became even more dependent on Milwaukee for production. Once known as the Beer Capital of the World and still nicknamed "Brew City," Milwaukee is home to at least 27 breweries. You can't throw a bottle cap without hitting a bar, pub, taproom, or festival tent selling beer.

Of course, there are many other things to experience in Milwaukee year-round besides beaches and beer. Art galleries, Major League Baseball, and museums are all great reasons to plan a trip. You can fly directly into Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport, which is only about 10 miles from downtown, while both Madison and Chicago O'Hare are each about a 90-minute drive away.

There are so many beers and breweries in Milwaukee, you'll want to try them all, although you likely won't have time if you're just visiting. Some of the more popular ones include Lakefront Brewery, a German-inspired destination located right on the Milwaukee River; Third Space Brewing, which offers monthly beer classes; Central Waters Brewing Co., which emphasizes sustainability and eco-awareness; and Eagle Park Brewing, where they craft IPAs, among other things.

There are other fun ways to imbibe, however; Beerline Trail is a city-owned trail and community space development on the former railroad tracks that once transported Milwaukee's finest brews to various cities and states. Walk or ride the Trail from North Bremen Street to West Capitol Drive and pass through gardens, stop for snacks, see art, and connect with friends and fellow travelers. End with a 4-minute detour to Lakefront Brewery for a brewery tour. You can also tour the Miller Brewery with its historic buildings and sip ice-cold samples of the Champagne of Beers. Get a PubPass, a Milwaukee passport that costs about $25 and gets you 25 different beers at various craft breweries around the city, which will stamp your passport each time you try one.

Milwaukee is also known as the "City of Festivals," and its fierce cultural diversity promotes community. Summerfest is one of the largest annual Milwaukee music festivals, touting itself as "the biggest music festival in the world," and the Wisconsin State Fair attracts over a million people each August. With everything from the Ice Bear Fest to the Bikerfest Block Party to the Irish Fest to the Tattoo Festival to (of course) Brewfest and everything in between, Milwaukee truly hosts a jam-packed schedule of festivals, most of which feature food vendors (with lots of beer!), live music, and more.

Milwaukee boasts 1,400 acres of parks and beaches, nine of which are situated along the city's lakeshore border. "It's cooler near the lake!" is the unofficial mantra of summer, and a favorite escape is Bradford Beach, which has received Blue Wave Certification from the Clean Beaches Council and features sand volleyball courts and a tiki bar. Branford's a prime location for some of Milwaukee's many festivals, like the Bloom Beach EDM Festival and the Mi Gente Latin Beach Festival. Tucked up against Lake Michigan with natural acreage and trails, dog-friendly Doctors Park is a short hike over the bluff from the closest parking lot, but the seclusion you'll find is worth it. Grant Park Beach has been described as a "hidden gem," featuring a restaurant and volleyball courts. Lakeshore State Park is the gateway to them all; it has a small beach, boat slips, and multiple trails that link up with other Milwaukee parks and beaches. Boat life also reigns in the city, so rent a Duffy boat or a pontoon and pack the cooler for a day out on the water.

Of course, this is Wisconsin, so although Milwaukee's beaches are open in the winter, you may not want to swim unless you're really into polar plunges. At the north end of the city, Klode Park, which is a popular park and beach in the summer, generally hosts a wintertime ice skating rink. You can also go ice fishing from Milwaukee Harbor.

Although you could spend your entire vacation in Milwaukee, many people head north for even more scenic beauty and rustic adventures on Lake Michigan, like camping and hiking at Two Rivers, or enjoy a picturesque drive to Door County on Wisconsin's Coastal Byway.