Milwaukee Magazine | Mini

Milmag Mini

Contents: welcome to

IS THERE ANYTHING BETTER THAN SUMMER?

If you ask us, the answer’s no. The weather is finally warm, the sun stays up super late, you have plenty of free time – and best of all, you’re here in Wisconsin where there are so many amazing places to explore. We have parks, playgrounds, beaches, forests, museums and, of course, big ol’ Lake Michigan. It’s almost too much fun stuff to fit into these few months before school starts again.

Well, that’s where we come in. Here at Milwaukee Magazine, we spend a lot of time finding the coolest things to do in the city and state we love, and we made this magazine just for YOU. Inside, you can discover candy stores, cooking classes, fireworks, camping spots, even ninja playgrounds and many more amazing places to go and things to do while the weather’s warm. Flip through the pages and plan your perfect summer! – ARCHER PARQUETTE

AMAZING ANIMALS Petting zoos, furry friends, events and more for animal-lovers 2

THE ADVENTUROUS EATER Pickle pizza?!? Try that, and these other funky foods. Plus, learn how to cook at classes around town. 4

CHICKEN TENDERS Five destinations for delicious fried tenders 6

INDOOR PLAYGROUNDS Don’t let a rainy day get you down – visit one of these indoor play destinations. 8

ROAD TRIPS From a wacky museum to an awesome underground cave, these spots are worth the drive. 10

FOURTH OF JULY Celebrate with fireworks, glow sticks and parades! 11

CAMPING Pack up the tent and explore Wisconsin’s great outdoors. 12

CANDY AND TREATS These stores are a wonderland of sugary goodness. 14

BASEBALL Play ball with the Brewers, DockHounds, Milkmen and more. 18

LIBRARY The Milwaukee Public Library has tons of fun planned for this summer. 20

BUGS Learn more about the creepy crawlies that live in our state. 21

PARKS AND PLAYGROUNDS Cool spots to swing, jump and climb around 22

KIDS CALENDAR The best stuff happening around Milwaukee this summer 26

WORD SEARCH Can you find all the Wisconsin words? 32

Amazing

Stare down a snake, bunk up with a bear, and cuddle cute creatures of all shapes and sizes at these events for animal lovers.

Fromm Petfest

Every September, the Summerfest grounds are transformed into a pet paradise, with agility courses, dock diving and even a costume contest (the cuteness levels, as you can see, are off the charts). Over 4,000 dogs are brought to the animal amusement park every year, but it’s also cat-friendly, with a “Kitty City” set up just for felines. You can bring your pet to enjoy the fun, or just come and watch all the others. This year’s Petfest is on Sept. 21. petfestmke.com

Animals

Wisconsin Humane Society Camps

The Humane Society is an awesome group – they help animals find new homes all over the state. Plus, the society offers fun summer camps for kids in grades 1-9. Younger kids have Camp Critter and Camp Unleashed, where they do crafts, learn about animals, and of course meet some of the four-legged friends who live at the Humane Society. Older kids can try Junior Veterinary Camp, where they learn more about what it takes to care for animals. wihumane.org

Animal Encounters at Discovery World

Discovery World is way more than just a museum – besides all the cool activities and exhibits, it also has an aquarium with underwater creatures like stingrays, jellyfish and even these funny little salamanders called axolotls. And every month, it hosts Animal Encounters, where animal experts show kids the different amphibians and reptiles that live there – you might even get to hold one! discoveryworld.org

Snooze at the Zoo at the Milwaukee County Zoo

Bring a tent for this special event, which lets you sleep over at the Zoo. This year, the Zoo is hosting Snooze nights Aug. 8-10. You get dinner, s’mores around a campfire, breakfast and, of course, the chance to hang out with the animals after hours! zoosociety.org

Petting Zoos

Green Meadows Petting Farm

At this Easy Troy farm, you’ll find plenty of animals, and not just the usual ones you see at petting zoos. There are llamas, turkeys, pigs, goats, cows, donkeys, ducks and even alpacas and emus. 33603 High Dr., East Troy; greenmeadowsfarmwi.com

Bear Den Zoo & Petting Farm

This petting farm has a kangaroo! As if that’s not enough, you can also find lemurs, bunnies, kittens and more here. (You can’t pet the zoo’s bear though ... because that would be crazy.) 6831 Big Bend Rd., Waterford; beardenzoo.com

Havens Petting Farm

Did you know that mini pot-belly pigs are a thing? So are miniature donkeys. And pygmy goats. They’re like the normal version of those animals, but tinier. They’re amazing. You can pet all those (and also a zebra) at this farm. 2894 N. Erbe Rd., Blue Mounds; havenspettingfarm.com

Wisconsin Deer Park

You can probably guess from the name that this park is all about deer. The animals roam free over 40 acres here, and you can pet them, too. Plus, the park has bison, goats, llamas and more. 2183 Wisconsin Dells Pkwy., Wisconsin Dells; wisdeerpark.com

Aloo Chaat Pierogi

So pierogi is a Polish dumpling, and aloo chaat is a potato dish from India – and this is a wacky mashup of the two that turns out to be scrumptious. Find it at: Hot Dish Pantry, 4125 S. Howell Ave., hotdishpantry.com

eater theadventurous

Areyouanexplorerofeats?Ayoungchef? Trythesefunandfunky(anddelicious) mealsyoucangetaroundMilwaukeeto expand your taste. And then take a shot at makingsomethingcoolyourselfatoneof ourcity’scookingclassesforkids.

Pickle Pizza

OK,thistoppingsoundsalittleweird,weknow,butit’s actually pretty tasty! Find it at: Alphonso’s, 9130 W. GreenfieldAve.,alphonsostheoriginal.com

Samosas

ThesestuffedtrianglesarepopularbothinSomalia andIndia.Youcangetthemwithvegetablesordifferent meats. Find them at: Immy’sAfricanCuisine, 2847N.OaklandAve.,immysafricancuisine.com

Pho

This is a savory kind of Vietnamese soup. It usually has beef, thin noodles, and then herbs like Thai basil and scallions, some hoisin sauce and a spritz of fresh lime. Find it at: VientianeNoodleShop, 3422 W. National Ave., vientianenoodleshop.com

Boricua Box

Thisboxletsyousamplecuisinefromtheislandof PuertoRico,withroastpork,friedplantains(kindoflike bananas), rice and salad. Find it at: Las Virellas, 636 S. Sixth St., facebook.com/lasvirellasfoodtruck

Buttered Corn Ramen

Youmighthavetriedramenfromthoseplasticpacks before–thisisawhole’notherthing.Yougetnoodles, anegg,herbedtofu,compoundbutterandcharred corn. Find it at: EasyTyger, 1230E.BradySt., easytyger.info

Chef Pam’s Kitchen

Chef Pam offers year-round classes for kids as young as 2 – cooking camps, cookie decorating and more. 280 W. Main St., Waukesha, chefpamskitchen.com

Tabal Chocolate

Open to kids ages 7-12, these classes teach the art of making your own scrumptious chocolate. 7515 Harwood Ave., Wauwatosa, tabalchocolate.com

The Petite Chef

Head west and you’ll find this unique cooking school offering classes, birthday parties and more for young chefs. 119 N. Main St., Dousman, petitechefs.com

The Secret Oven

This local cooking school hosts classes all over southeastern Wisconsin for kids ages 8-17. Subjects include dessert, pasta and much more. facebook.com/thesecretovenmke

PHOTO

chicken

Is there anything better than a good chicken tender? Well, skydiving, sunsets, doing a cannonball in a pool on a sunny day, etc. But when it comes to food, tenders are pretty dang good! Here are some of the best places around here to get them.

Dairyland

This place has some of the most delicious tenders in town – plus chicken sandwiches and fried cheese curds. And it’s at 3rd Street Market Hall, an awesome food hall where you can play bags, video games, giant Jenga and way more fun stuff.

275 W. Wisconsin Ave.; 3rdstmarkethall.com

The Cluckery

Are you a Bucks fan? Even if you aren’t, you can get some of the best chicken in Milwaukee right next to Fiserv Forum, where Giannis and Dame play. Grab some before a game – or sit out on the big patio during the sunny off-season. Within Mecca Sports Bar, 1134 Vel R. Phillips Ave.; cluckery.com

Crafty Cow

The tenders here are crispy and simple in the best way. Grab some waffle or sweet potato fries to go with ’em. 2675 S. Kinnickinnic Ave.; 6519 W. North Ave., Wauwatosa; craftycowwi.com

Go chicken-crazy at this spot – there are two locations in the area, both specializing in the delicious tenders. 2045 E. North Ave.; 2735 W. Oklahoma Ave.; madchickenusa.com

Dugout 54

Give some of the sauces at this restaurant a try. They have bourbon BBQ (don’t worry, it’s OK for kids!), Thai chili, serrano, garlic Parmesan and more tasty ones. If you really love heat, you might even want to brave the “inferno” sauce. 5328 W. Bluemound Rd.; dugout54.com

$3 ADMISSION

JUNE 9 - AUGUST 29

the

Rain Stop You! Don’t Let

Just because it’s a bleh kind of day outside doesn’t mean you can’t have fun. Check out some of these indoor parks – we’ve broken them down for younger and older kids.

under 6

Nugget Nation

After swinging on a plush wrecking ball, you can bike around the playhouse village full of toys like cooking sets, beauty salon supplies and building tools. 12501 W. Bluemound Rd., Brookfield, nuggetnationmke.com

We Rock the Spectrum Kids Gym

Explore a zip line, slide, jump on a trampoline and climb at this awesome gym. It has inclusive equipment for neurodiverse kids, and there’s an arts and crafts area, too! 140 E. Rawson Ave., Oak Creek, werockthespectrummilwaukee.com

The Big Backyard

This spot is the next best thing to playing outside – it’s ginormous! The indoor playground has bikes, basketball hoops, a bouncy house, rock wall and more. 2857 S. 160th St., New Berlin, thebigbackyardwi.com

Bug & Goose Play Cafe

Bring your imagination to this wide open space stocked with toys. You’ll find dolls, trains, puzzles, costumes and more, all for you to have an adventure! 13448 Watertown Plank Rd., Elm Grove; 2850 Heritage Dr., Delafield; bugandgoose.com

Little Village Play Cafe

Besides the fun play equipment, you can also learn to make art here – plus grab a slice of delicious pizza, cookies, muffins and treats at the on-site cafe. 6505 W. North Ave., Wauwatosa; thelittlevillageplaycafe.com

Rockin’ Jump

It’s in the name – jump! The trampolines at this park let you flip, fly and perform crazy tricks. Plus, Rockin’ Jump has dodgeball, a slam dunk zone and a zip line to zoom around on. 9009 N. Deerbrook Tr., Brown Deer, rockinjump.com

Sky Zone Trampoline Park

Birthday parties are the name of the game here, but they also offer year-round memberships if you can’t get enough of all the climbing walls, obstacle courses, and trampolines. W229 N1420 Westwood Dr., Waukesha; 4940 S. 76th St., Greenfield; skyzone.com

Urban Air Adventure Park

This is a hot spot for Milwaukee kids, and it’s easy to see why. Rope climb, beam battle with your buds, play Wipeout, scale climbing walls, race go-karts, and that’s not even mentioning all the trampolines to bounce on. 2440 E. Moreland Blvd., Waukesha, urbanair.com

Ultimate Ninjas

Climb, jump and parkour your way through obstacles like the acrobats this indoor playground was named after. You can swing by for a quick class or a party, or go full ninja warrior at one of their multi-day camps. 400 Bell Ct., Oak Creek, ultimateninjas.com

fun in the sun

SPONSORED CONTENT FROM

Stay Safe in the Sun

We love long days outside, but we hate sunburn. We talked to our friends at Children’s Wisconsin about how to avoid that pesky burn and treat it. Here are a few tips and tricks:

1. Use SPF 30 sunscreen that blocks UVA and UVB rays (look for ones that contain zinc oxide or titanium dioxide). And be sure to put more on after two hours in the sun – or if you get wet.

2. Wear a hat and long sleeves. And remember – the sun is at its hottest between 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

3. Stay hydrated! Did you know sunburn draws fluid up to your skin and out of your body?

4. If you get burned, don’t use ice on your skin. Instead, take a cool shower and moisturize with lotion.

5. Slather on some soothing aloe vera if you’re burned, and of course, see a doctor if there’s serious blistering.

Northwestern Mutual Community Park

Summerfest recently re-did this big, colorful lakefront park – it has a giant structure, musical toys and it’s accessible, with wheelchair access. 200 N. Harbor Dr.

Summer means finally getting outside again! Here are a few of the best parks and playgrounds to check out.

Fox River Park

Besides the spiral sandbox and playground with sections for kids of all ages, you’ll also find a rain garden and a butterfly garden. W264 S4500 River Rd., Waukesha

Cathedral Square Park

This is one of the only playgrounds in Downtown Milwaukee – and it has a couple nice play set-ups, climbing structures and even a xylophone and drums you can play. It’s perfect for a stop in the middle of a day exploring Milwaukee. 520 E. Wells St.

Gas Light Park

This park is in Milwaukee’s Third Ward, one of the coolest neighborhoods. Swing by before a trip to the Public Market or Discovery 111 N. Jefferson St.

Harbor View Plaza

This waterfront park has a water play area, a big lookout tower and other playground equipment, all right on the harbor. 600 E. Greenfield Ave.

Discovery Trail

Head into nature at this park, which combines long, beautiful trails through the woods with fun climbing boulders and playgrounds you can swing and jump all over. S14 W28167 Madison St., Waukesha

The Grove at Village Park

This one’s a bit of a drive – about 30 minutes from the city – but it’s worth it for the zipline, climbing towers, splash pad and more. W244 N6260 Weaver Dr., Sussex

camp up it

One of the many amazing things about Wisconsin is that it’s full of beautiful places to have fun in the great outdoors. Here are just a few kid-friendly camping spots to try.

Stoney Creek

This place is more like a giant outdoor festival for kids than a normal campground, and honestly that’s kind of awesome. You can rent cabins, cottages, tent sites or park an RV. The woodland location has mini-golf, laser tag, basketball and volleyball. 50483 Oak Grove Rd., Osseo; stoneycreekrvresort.com

Wisconsin Riverside Resort

On the banks of the (huge!) Wisconsin River, this kid-friendly camping spot is the place to go for fun on the water. The camp has Liza’s Lagoon, a pond with a floating inflatable park for kids to climb, jump and swim. Plus, you can venture out in canoes, tubes and kayaks. S13220 Shifflet Rd., Spring Green; wiriverside.com

Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park

Want to enjoy camping without the long drive? Pack a “pic-a-nic” basket (as Yogi would say) and head just 15 minutes south of Milwaukee to Caledonia, where this wooded park on the water offers tons to do for kids, including obstacle courses, laser tag, climbing towers, an outdoor theater, fishing pond and visits from Yogi, Boo-Boo and their other cartoon friends. 8425 Hwy. 38, Caledonia; jellystone-caledonia.com

Hayward KOA

Head way up north for this woodland escape. There are cool log cabins, plus places to park an RV or set up a tent. The site also has a pool with a water slide. They do wagon rides and s’more-making, too! 11544 Hwy. 63, Hayward; koa.com/campgrounds/hayward

Rock Island State Park

SPONSORED CONTENT FROM

Camping Tips and Tricks!

We talked to Children’s Wisconsin about the best ways to have a fun, safe camping trip. Here’s what they let us know.

1. Tuck your pants into your socks in tall grass – it blocks ticks.

2. Take lots of water breaks if you’re running around in the sun.

3. Pack plenty of snacks to fuel the fun!

4. If you feel dizzy, have a headache or an upset stomach, take a break and talk to an adult – you might be overheated.

5. If you have long hair, pull it into a ponytail so ticks can’t hide in it.

6. Have your parent or adult search you for ticks after you go outside. If you find one attached, don’t just grab and pull it with your fingers – that might make it worse. Tweezers are much better.

At the very end of Door County’s peninsula out in Lake Michigan, this island has one of the most beautiful campgrounds in Wisconsin, with amazing views of the water and lots of hiking trails. There’s a beach for swimming and 40 sites where you can pitch a tent. But be warned – you have to take two ferry rides and carry in your supplies! 1924 Indian Pt. Rd., Washington Island; dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/parks/rockisland

Sweet

Willy Wonka would love Milwaukee – we have all kinds of candy, chocolate, ice cream and more to enjoy. Try these spots for a delicious dessert.

Carrie’s Crispies

These aren’t your average Rice Krispie treats – Carrie makes scrumptious, sticky sweets of all flavors. We’re partial to the peanut butter cup treat. 7133 W. Becher St., West Allis, carriescrispies.com

Half Nuts

This store is packed to the rafters with candy of all kinds – and you can buy it by the pound! You’ll find rare and weird candies, like a Ziegler Giant Bar, gummy hot dogs and Freeze Dried Atomic Bites. 9617 W. Greenfield Ave., West Allis, halfnuts.net

Freese’s Candy Shoppe

This shop’s main location is in West Allis, but they just opened a new spot in the Milwaukee Public Market. They make their own delicious treats like chocolatecovered pretzels and caramels. 7312 W. Greenfield Ave., West Allis; 400 N. Water St. freesescandy.com

Amy’s Candy Kitchen

This Cedarburg spot specializes in gourmet caramel apples – try the “Kowabunga Crunch” one. W62 N579 Washington Ave., Cedarburg, amyscandykitchen.com

Lolli and Pops

Next time you’re at Mayfair Mall, stop at this candy shop to find gummies, chocolate, and of course, many, many types of sweet lollipops! 2500 N. Mayfair Rd., Wauwatosa, lolliandpops.com.

Candyman on Main

The Candyman has popcorn, candy, bear claws, truffles and more, and in the summer, the store adds an ice cream shop, too! 121 N. Main St., West Bend

Treats

Grape

Soda

Jumping for Joy

LAST YEAR, THIS AWESOME NEW ICE CREAM SHOP opened in Wauwatosa. Joy Ice Cream Social has everything you’d want – delicious scoops in awesome flavors, snacks, a fun outdoor space to run around – but it also hosts cool events for kids all summer long. One of our favorites was the “ice cream detective,” where you get to taste-test dozens of different flavors and have to figure out which is which. 8334 W. North Ave., Wauwatosa, joyicecreamsocial.com

Sprecher Soda Taste Test

We assembled a team of kids to figure out which of Sprecher’s many sodas – made right here in Milwaukee! – are the best.

Root Beer

Root beer is Sprecher’s most popular soda, but it was a bit “spicy” for our team of kid tasters. But if you like a tingly soda, this one might be for you!

Puma Kola

The kids thought this one was a little “weird.” Better than Pepsi, but not quite as good as Coke.

Orange Dream

Do you like Fanta? Our panel thought this was an even better orange soda that tasted like a Dreamsicle.

Cream Soda

The kids thought this one was sour-sweet and had a really strong, grape flavor that would be great to drink on a hot summer day. THE WINNER!

Sprecher’s classic, good old fashioned cream soda was a hit. Our judges said it tasted like honey and smelled like cheesecake.

This sweet, reddishbrown soda got the most votes from our panel, who thought it was better than Cherry Coke and smelled like a lollipop.

blues summertime

We all know the summer can be tons of fun – but it can also be kind of a weird time. You might miss your friends from school, or maybe feel a little sad sometimes. That’s totally normal. Here are a few tips we got from Children’s Wisconsin to help deal with those feelings in healthy ways.

THE RIGHT ROUTINE

One great thing about school is that it sets a routine – that means you get out of bed at the same time, go to school at the same time, have the same recess, and all that through the entire day. Now, maybe that sounds boring, but it’s actually super important. Having a routine schedule makes it easy to know what your day’s going to look like, and when you suddenly don’t have one in the summer, you might feel a little lost or even sad. Lots of kids do! So one thing that’s really important to do this summer is to keep a regular routine. That doesn’t mean you can’t stay up late or have breakfast for dinner every once in a while – just that your adults should help you keep some regular activities and routine going.

FRIENDS FOREVER

The end of the school year doesn’t just mean no more homework – it means you probably won’t see your friends as often. And that stinks. Some of your friends go off to camp, others are on vacation, maybe some just can’t hang out that much, and you might find that you’re missing them. That happens to everyone, especially during the summer, and it might make you lonely or a little annoyed. The best way to deal with that is to spend time with other kids. Talk to your parents or caregivers about joining activities that seem cool to you, or ask them to set up time to hang out with friends, or even just go to a playground or another spot with your parents and meet some new people.

CHATTING IT UP

It’s important to talk regularly with your parents or caregivers. When they ask how your day was, they really want to know! It doesn’t all have to be serious – just chatting about cool things you saw that day, stuff you want to do or your friend’s new toy is great.

TOSS THE TABLET

We love technology – there’s so much amazing, fun stuff you can do online – but it’s not always good for us. Spending a little time on a phone or tablet can be just fine, but spending a lot of time can actually make you feel worse. You might feel worried, sad or angry when you have to put it down, and that’s a sign that you’ve been using it for too long. This isn’t just a problem for kids – adults have to limit their technology use, too, because it can have that same effect on them. So when adults try to set time limits on your tech use, it’s for a good reason.

SOAK UP SOME SUN

Sometimes moving around outside can be just the right cure for the blues. Did you know that both exercise and sunshine help people feel better and improve their mood? It might seem simple, but they really make a difference. Whether you’re just having fun in your yard or visiting an awesome park or playground, getting out of the house can sometimes be the difference between a good day and a crummy one. (But always be sure to wear sunscreen!)

FOR PARENTS: Getting Help

If you’re worried about your child’s mental or behavioral health, you can turn to Children’s Wisconsin. Every Children’s Wisconsin primary care office has a behavioral health consultant on staff who works alongside your child’s pediatrician and can help with your concerns. Children’s Wisconsin also offers therapy services with master’s-level therapists. And if you have an immediate concern about your child’s mental health, Children’s Wisconsin offers mental health walk-in clinics in both Milwaukee and Kenosha where you can take your child for help right away, no appointment needed. For more parent tips and resources on mental health, visit childrenswi.org/mentalhealth.

Ball Play

Wisconsin has plenty of baseball on deck. From our smaller teams to our big-league Brewers, here’s a guide to fun at our ballparks.

Bernie and the Boys

The Brewers need no introduction. They’re our hometown Major League Brew Crew, and we love ’em, whether they’re winning or, uh, not. Join the Kids Crew to get six tickets, a bunch of cool merch like bucket hats and sunglasses, a tour of the ballpark and more. mlb.com/brewers/fans/kids/kids-crew

Play With the Pros

The Brewers Baseball Academy is one of the most popular summer camps in Milwaukee (so your adults will have to sign you up as early as they can). The camps are for kids ages 6-14, and the coaches teach practical baseball and softball skills – plus, you get to meet one of the Brewers! Sign up at mlb.com/brewers/fans/camps.

Meet the Milkmen

This local American Association team says that it’s “pro baseball that’s udderly different.” Get it? Udder? Like a cow? While the slogan might be a little cheesy, watching a game is tons of fun. They play teams from around the country all summer long – and they’re really good. Check out a game and hang out with their fun-loving mascot Bo Vine (yes, another cow pun)." milwaukeemilkmen.com

Ain’t Nothin’ But a DockHound

A couple of years ago, southeastern Wisco got a new American Association team – the Lake Country DockHounds – and an awesome new stadium for them to play in. The team’s Kids Club membership includes dugout seat vouchers, baseball cards, kids batting practice with the players, and a plush of Louie, the lovable mascot. dockhounds.com/kids-club

The ABCs of Sunshine

Whether you’re on the ballfield or in the stands, here’s how to stay healthy in the bright sun.

A = Avoid.

If it’s a sunny day out, try to step into the shade for a little while every half hour or so.

B = Block.

Slather on some sunscreen before you head out – make sure it says SPF 30 or a higher number. And make sure to use plenty of it!

C = Cover.

Pop on that baseball cap and slide on some sunglasses – they go a long way to keeping your face and eyes safe from the sun.

Having Fun Isn’t Hard… When You’ve Got Your

Library Card

T

he Milwaukee Public Library’s central branch is one of the coolest spots in the city. The kids section has a big lighthouse you can climb around inside, not to mention so many books you could spend a whole year in there and not read them all. In the summer, the librarians put on activities that’ll have you turning pages faster than ever:

The Summer Reading Challenge

It’s a reading race! Sign up at mpl.beanstack.org or at an MPL branch for this challenge to read as many books as you can over the summer. If you finish the challenge, you’re entered to win grand prizes like family passes to Betty Brinn Children’s Museum or Discovery World, or even a tablet!

Summer Kickoff

The season really gets going on June 8 at MPL’s Downtown library. From 10 a.m.-1 p.m., the library is hosting a bunch of other local museums for a massive showcase of fun activities. Besides MPL, you’ll also see Betty Brinn Children’s Museum, Discovery World, the Milwaukee Art Museum and the Public Museum at the event.

Story Time

All summer long, the central library is putting on a weekly story time for kids! Besides the stories themselves, each event also includes hands-on activities inspired by the books. Toddlers and older kids also have their own weekly story times.

Makerspaces

The library isn’t only about books – it also hosts these awesome science and tech-focused events at its Good Hope, Mitchell Street and Washington Park branches. They bring out tons of equipment, like coding kits, 3-D sensors, green screens and way more to show off, and you’ll get to try out some of your own.

The Best Books

We talked to the librarians from MPL about their favorite books for kids.

Age 3-5

Summer Is Here by Renée Watson

“Soak up all the best parts of summer, from swimming and jumping rope to chasing the ice cream truck.”

Ages 4-6

The Book That Almost Rhymed by Omar Abed

“Using wordplay and wit, this comical picture book follows a brother and sister as they try to outsmart and outrhyme each other.”

Age 5-8

The Great Lakes: Our Freshwater Treasure by Barb Rosenstock

“Follow a drop of water from Lake Superior all the way to the Atlantic Ocean in this informational picture book about our beloved Great Lakes.”

Ages 9-12

Hip-Hop: The Beat of America by Jarrett Williams

“In this engaging nonfiction graphic novel, readers will travel to the Bronx and get a lesson in the origins of one of the world’s most popular music genres – hip-hop.”

Ages 10-12

The Secret Library by Kekla Magoon

“After her beloved grandfather passes, Dally is given a map that leads her to a mysterious library filled with portals to the past. Exploring inside, her true destiny is revealed.”

Over 12

Ghost Roast by Shawnelle and Shawneé Gibbs

“As a punishment, Chelsea is spending the summer working for her father’s ghost hunting business. When she discovers she can see and get to know the ghosts, it may make it harder to destroy them.”

a

snug bug as

Creepy crawlies, many-legged critters, flying lights in the night and more fun with bugs in our state!

Build Your OwnBugBox

WhatIsIt?

Learn more about interesting critters with an easy-to-make bug box. All you need is a clean, clear container (like a glass or plastic jar), wax paper and a thumb tack. If you want, you can add some leaves or sticks to the inside of the container so your bug buddy will have stuff to play around on. When you gently catch a bug (make sure it’s a safe one to grab – if you’re not sure, ask an adult), place it in the jar and cover the top with the paper. Poke some holes in it with the tack for air. Then observe the bug. Can it fly? How many legs does it have? Can you see its face? When you’re done, gently release the critter in the same place you found it.

Are you an ant adopter? An earwig enthusiast? A caterpillar comrade? Next time you’re out in one of Wisconsin’s awesome parks or camping spots (Check out page 12 and 22 to find some suggestions.), and you want to learn more about the bugs you spot, the University of Wisconsin has a cool tool to help you out. Visit insectid.wisc.edu to see over 200 of the bugs you can find in our state. Try to match the ones you see to the photos on the site – then learn more about them!

Safety Tips and Tricks!

No one likes a bug bite. Here are a few ways to avoid them, and make them feel better, from the folks at Children’s Wisconsin.

1. Wear long sleeves, pants and sneakers.

2. Pick darker colored clothes. Bugs are attracted to bright colors.

3. Don’t use smelly soaps or lotions. You might like the smell, but so do bugs!

4. Use picaridin bug repellent – it’s healthier than DEET, and it really works.

5. If you get bit, don’t scratch it. Try an anti-itch spray like Eucerin or Sarna instead.

6. If a bug bite hurts, use a cold, wet washcloth or ice wrapped in a towel on it.

7. If itching or swelling lasts longer than three or four days, it’s time to talk to your doctor.

Finding Fireflies

Did you know there are over 2,000 species of firefly in the world? Crazy, right? In Wisconsin, we have about two dozen, and when they flash those pretty yellow lights in the dark, we know summer has really arrived. Here are a few of the best spots around Milwaukee to catch some (but be sure to be gentle and release them right away).

1. Riverside Park

This park is prime firefly territory, with dense plants and moist land from the river. On a good night, there might be thousands flying around. 1500 E. Riverside Pl.

2. Hart Park

The Menomonee River that runs alongside the park makes for an ideal environment for the floating, flickering little creatures. 7300 W. Chestnut St., Wauwatosa

3. Humboldt Park

The big lagoon at this hilly Bay View park attracts hundreds of fireflies in bright swarms every year. 3000 S. Howell Ave.

4. Lakeshore State Park

During the summer months, this park – with an amazing view of Milwaukee – comes alive with lightning bugs attracted to the water. 500 N. Harbor Dr.

hit road the

Grab a snack and hop in the car – these destinations around Wisconsin are worth the trip.

Old World Wisconsin

A visit here is like stepping into a time machine. See what life was like for the first immigrants to come to Wisconsin hundreds of years ago. Visit the farm animals, try on wooden shoes and fancy, old-fashioned clothes, sip soda water, help the blacksmith forge metal and don’t forget to take a ride on the giant tricycles. W372 S9727 Hwy. 67, Eagle; bit.ly/oldworldw

Above and Beyond Children’s Museum

You can spot this Sheboygan museum from far off – it has a ship sticking out of the building and a whale painted on the side. Inside, you’ll find interactive exhibits, including a pipe organ you can make music with and netted tunnels that criss-cross the ceiling so you can sneak above everyone! 902 N. Eighth St., Sheboygan; abkids.org

Circus World

Have you ever seen a poodle doing tricks? What about a human cannonball? Circus World is the place to go for wacky big-top adventures, from animal acts to captivating clowns. The museum has seven buildings full of exhibits and colorful costumes, and the performers put on high-flying shows the entire summer. 550 Water St., Baraboo; bit.ly/circusw

History Museum at the Castle

Have you heard of Harry Houdini? He was one of the world’s greatest magicians, and he was from right here in Wisconsin. This museum (which looks like a giant castle!) is a tribute to Houdini, who was best known for escape tricks. Most fun of all, you can try out some of his tricks yourself at the interactive displays, including a jail escape. 330 E. College Ave., Appleton; myhistorymuseum.org

Cave of the Mounds

Head deep underground at this awesome, monumental cave. Forty feet under the earth, you’ll find colorful walls and stalactites and stalagmites that look like melting frosting, dangling fangs and rippling coral. 2975 Cave of the Mounds Rd., Blue Mounds; caveofthemounds.com

Bay Beach Amusement Park

Ride the Ferris wheel, fly down the giant slide, spin on the Tilt-A-Whirl, or zoom on the Zippin’ Pippin’ roller coaster. This Green Bay amusement park has both thrilling and tame rides – and your parents will love the super-low prices. During the summer, it hosts dances, movie screenings and more. 1313 Bay Beach Rd., Green Bay; bit.ly/baybeach

on the fun fourth

Independence Day is pure summer – delicious hot dogs, parades, fireworks and just hanging out in the beautiful sunshine. Make the most of it at these events.

Milwaukee’s Lakefront Extravaganza

Ooh and ahh at our big annual fireworks show, July 3 over Lake Michigan. You can see it from all across the city, but some prime spots are Veterans Park, Kadish Park, South Shore Park and Juneau Park (where some people even camp out the night before the show to stake out a good spot).

The Big Bang

Summerfest is one of the biggest music festivals in the world, and it kicks off on June 20 with a bang! The opening night fireworks start at 9:30 p.m. from Henry Maier Festival Park – it’s like a teaser for the Fourth.

SPONSORED CONTENT FROM

Safe and Sparkly

Instead of sparklers at the Fourth this year, try glowsticks! They last longer, glow different colors, and are safer than sparklers, which are actually a big cause of injuries, especially for little kids. Here are a few fun glowstick ideas to try instead of sparklers:

Bowling

Drop glow sticks in empty water bottles to make pins. Then set them up, grab a bouncy ball, and see how many you can knock down!

Ring Toss

For this, you’ll need both larger glow sticks and bracelet glow sticks. Jam the larger ones into soft grass so they’re sticking out of the ground and then try tossing the bracelets onto them – see who can land the most!

Glow Balloons

If you push a glowstick into a balloon before you blow it up, you can create a bouncy, bright balloon that’s tons of fun to toss around.

Tic-Tac-Glow

Use a bunch of glow sticks to create the coolest game of tic-tac-toe ever on the lawn!

Booms in the Burbs

There’s plenty going on outside Milwaukee on July 4. Cedarburg hosts its annual Hometown Celebration, the downtown turning into a parade route during the day, and fireworks going off at sunset. That same night, Oak Creek sets off its fireworks at Lake Vista Park.

Late, But Still Great

Wauwatosa won’t be hosting its Fourth of July fireworks show until … August. Which feels a little weird, but hey, we like to think that means the Fourth fun lasts a little longer. Head to Tosa’s Hart Park Aug. 7 to see the show.

THE GUIDE PARENTS

Your handbook for places to go, things to do and services to make life with the kids a little easier.

DANCE/MUSIC INSTRUCTION

Danceworks 1661 N. Water St., 414-277-8480, danceworksmke.org

Fresh Coast Dance

121 E. Silver Spring Dr., Whitefish Bay, 414-485-5530, freshcoastdance.com

Milwaukee Irish Dance Studio

3555 N. Oakland Ave., Shorewood, 414-441-4459, milwaukeeirishdance.com

Wauwatosa School of Music

10862 W. Wisconsin Ave., 414-813-1744, wauwatosaschoolof music.com

Wisconsin Conservatory of Music

1584 N. Prospect Ave., 414276-5760, wcmusic.org

Casa Corazón

4114 N. Oakland Ave., Shorewood, 414-436-9227, casaearlylearning.com

Ebenezer

340 W. St. Paul Ave., 414-224-0990, ebenezerchildcare.com

KinderCare

1801 E. College Ave., South

Milwaukee, 414-762-0045, kindercare.com (Multiple other Milwaukee locations)

LifeWays Early Childhood Center

3224 N. Gordon Pl., 414-562-0818, lifewaysmilwaukee.com

Nurturing Nook

2330 N. Prospect Ave., 414-220-8494, thenurturingnook.com (Other locations in Glendale and Fox Point)

UW-Milwaukee Children’s Learning Center

2025 E. Newport Ave., 414-229-5384, uwm.edu/children

3rd Street Market Hall

275 W. Wisconsin Ave., 414-249-5062, 3rdstmarkethall.com

AJ Bombers 1247 N. Water St., Milwaukee, WI 53202, 414-221-9999, ajbombers.com

Bavarian Bierhouse

700 W. Lexington Blvd., Glendale, 414-236-7000, thebavarianbierhaus.com

The Bay

342 E. Silver Spring Dr., Whitefish Bay, 414-455-3045, thebayrestaurant.com

BelAir Cantina

Five locations in the Milwaukee area, belaircantina.com

Benji’s

4156 N. Oakland Ave., Shorewood, 414-332-7777, benjisdeliand restaurant.com (Second location in Fox Point)

Cafe Hollander

2608 N. Downer Ave., cafehollander.com, 414-963-6366 (Other locations in Wauwatosa, Brookfield and Mequon)

Hubbard Park Lodge 3565 N. Morris Blvd., Shorewood, 414-332-4207, hubbardparklodge.com

Kopp’s

18880 W. Bluemound Rd., Brookfield, kopps.com (Other locations in Glendale and Greenfield)

Milwaukee Public Market

400 N. Water St., 414-336-1111, milwaukeepublic market.com

Organ Piper Pizza 4353 S. 108th St., Greenfield, 414-529-1177, organpiperpizza.com

Original Pancake House 16460 W. Bluemound Rd., Brookfield, 262-797-0800 originalpancakehouse.com

SafeHouse

779 N. Front St., 414-271-2007, safe-house.com

Transfer Pizzeria Café

101 W. Mitchell St., 414-763-0438, transfermke.com

Gary’s Pet Jungle

2857 S. Howell Ave., 414-744-3338, facebook.com/ garyspetjungle

Humane Animal Welfare Society of Waukesha County

701 Northview Rd., Waukesha, 262-542-8851, hawspets.org

Lucky Mutts Rescue 9225 W. Beloit Rd., luckymuttsrescue.org

Marineland Pets

311 W. Silver Spring Dr., Glendale, 414-249-4110, marineland-pets.business.site

Wisconsin Humane Society

4500 W. Wisconsin Ave., 414-264-6257, wihumane.org

Betty Brinn Children’s Museum

929 E. Wisconsin Ave., 414-390-5437, bbcmkids.org

Dave & Buster’s

2201 N. Mayfair Rd., Wauwatosa, 414-454-0100, daveandbusters.com

Discovery World

500 N. Harbor Dr., 414-765-9966, discoveryworld.org

EAA AirVenture

3000 Poberenzy Rd., Oshkosh, 920-426-4800, eaa.org

Girls on the Run

Southeastern Wisconsin

5775 N. Glen Park Rd., 414367-8171, girlsontherun southeasternwi.org

Harley-Davidson Museum

400 W. Canal St., 414-2872789, harley-davidson. com/us/en/museum

Little Village Play Cafe

6505 W. North Ave., Wauwatosa, 414-309-5700, thelittlevillageplaycafe.com

Milwaukee County Zoo

10001 W. Bluemound Rd., 414-771-3040, milwaukeezoo.org

Milwaukee Public Museum

800 W. Wells St., 414-278-2728, mpm.edu

Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra

212 W. Wisconsin Ave., 414-291-7605, mso.org

Wehr Nature Center 9701 W. College Ave., Franklin, 414-425-8550, friendsofwehr.org

TOY STORES

American Science and Surplus 6901 W. Oklahoma Ave., 414-541-7777, sciplus.com

Art Smart’s Dart Mart 1695 N. Humboldt Ave., 414-273-3278, jugglingsupplies.org

Cedarburg Toy Company W62 N583 Washington Ave., Cedarburg, 262-377-7224, cedarburgtoyco.com

Fischberger’s Variety 2445 N. Holton St., 414-263-1991, facebook.com/ fischbergersvariety

Gift of Wings

1010 N. Lincoln Memorial Dr., 414-283-5483, giftofwings.com

Ruckus & Glee

800 N. 68th St., Wauwatosa, 414-395-3201, ruckusandglee.com

Winkie’s Toys & Variety 629 E. Silver Spring Dr., Whitefish Bay, 414-964-2130, winkiesgifts.com

Calendar MilMag Kids the

11 awesome events to enjoy this summer!

Family Days at Up-Down

June 2, July 7, Aug. 4, Sept. 1, Up-Down

One Sunday every month, this arcade bar – which is normally only open to adults – hosts a special day for kids of all ages to come and play all the cool machines. They have over 60 of them, including pinball, skee-ball and free Nintendo 64 games! updownarcadebar.com

Wacky First Wednesdays at The Domes

June 5, July 3, Aug. 7, Mitchell Park Domes

The Domes are one of the coolest places to visit in Milwaukee – they’re like giant glass spaceships. When you walk inside, it’s as if you stepped into a tropical rainforest overgrown with vegetation or a dry desert full of exotic plants. And the first Wednesday of every month, the Domes hosts this fun storytime with funny puppets telling tall tales. milwaukeedomes.org

Bayshore Family Flicks

Wednesdays, June 12-Aug. 28, Bayshore

Grab some popcorn, stretch out and watch a movie on Bayshore’s spacious green space at this weekly family-friendly screening. They serve pizza and treats, and the lineup of movies has plenty of favorites, new and old. thebayshorelife.com

Summerfest Children’s Fest Day

June 21, Henry Maier Festival Park

Every year, Milwaukee puts on one of the biggest music festivals in the country. It lasts for three weekends, and there’s fun for kids every day, but this one is specially dedicated to you. Admission is free from noon to 3 p.m., and there will be kids’ entertainers performing on the stages. summerfest.com

Travel Smart with Art

Road trips are tons of fun ... but also, they can get kind of boring. We talked to the folks at Children’s Wisconsin about how to make those long hours in the car pass fast. One thing they recommend is building a travel art kit – then you can spend the time sketching, collaging and more. Here’s what you’ll need:

1. A plastic bin with a detachable lid – so your supplies don’t spill

2. A sketchbook or pad

3. Colored paper, tape and kid-friendly scissors to make collages

4. Washable markers and crayons

5. Stickers – you can buy a bunch and combine them

6. Colored pencils and a pencil sharpener

7. Washable paint sticks – Crayola makes ones that are easy to wash in case you drop them. SPONSORED

Cedarburg Strawberry Festival

June 22-23, Main Street, Cedarburg

This festival’s all about the berry that can’t be beat – and all the delicious treats you can make with it. That means strawberry cakes, candies, drinks and more. Plus, there’s tons of fun activities for kids. cedarburgfestival.org

WaterStone Bank Air and Water Show

July 27-28, McKinley Park

The Blue Angels are some of the best pilots in the world – they can perform the wildest tricks you’ve ever seen, zooming around at hundreds of miles per hour, spinning past each other. You have to see it to believe it. You can watch them and a bunch of other awesome planes flying above Milwaukee’s lakefront at this show. mkeairwatershow.com

Fox and Branch Concerts

June 30, July 28, Aug. 25, Anodyne Coffee (Walker’s Point)

Sing along with these two folk singers, who put on fun, foot-stomping concerts for kids. These three are happening in Milwaukee this summer, but you can find all their shows across Wisconsin on their website. foxandbranch.com

Wisconsin State Fair

Aug. 1-11, Wisconsin State Fair Park

The State Fair is pure Wisconsin fun – you have sweet cream puffs, cute farm animals, a huge swing flying over the park and tons of other rides, a massive slide, pig races and the weirdest, most delicious fried treats you’ll ever taste. wistatefair.com

Sprecher Root Beer Bash

Aug. 3, Bayshore

This is the world’s largest root beer float festival! There's a kids dance party, face-painting, balloon-artists, a petting zoo, and, of course, a free root beer float giveaway! bit.ly/rootbfestival

A La Carte at the Zoo

Aug. 15-18, Milwaukee County Zoo

This event at the zoo is about food, candy, live music, and of course lots of awesome animals. Wander the grounds for the day, snacking and relaxing, and saying hi to your favorite furry friends. zoosociety.org

Art and Chalk Fest

Aug. 17-18, Museum of Wisconsin Art

The artists at this outdoor festival make absolutely crazy chalk drawings – they're gigantic and the details are amazing. Plus, there’s a bunch of other fun stuff to do, like sculpting clay, having your caricature drawn, and making some chalk art of your own. wisconsinart.org

Learn, Create,Make,Together at Mini Fest

This year is the first ever Mini Fest in Milwaukee – an art-making party, taking place on June 30 from 11 a.m.3 p.m. at Zócalo Food Truck Park. Mini Fest was started five years ago in Chicago by arts educator Sydney Walters, who is now bringing the party northward! At the fest, you can make all kinds of cool things, learn new skills, eat fun food, and hang out with a bunch of other kids. Artists from around the city and state will be selling their handmade items, including some folks from the Milwaukee Makers Market.

You can take a break from art-making at Mini Fest and grab a bite to eat at any of the dozen food trucks at Zócalo – they have pizza, tacos, bagels, ice cream and much more.

HERE ARE JUST A FEW OF THE mini workshops – some free, and some ticketed.

Design Your Own Sunglasses. Bedazzle and charm your own special pair of shades!

Personalize a Bucket Hat. Using a marbling technique, design one of these floppy, fun hats.

Make Your Own Slime. Get goopy, mixing up your own special batch of colorful slime.

Claymation. Bring your creations to life with Stop Motion Animation with Kenzie in Motion. Design your own monster and make it move!

Create your own Pencil Pouch with JandoLand. Use fabric markers and stamps to personalize your own zipper pouch.

Get a Quirky Portrait. Artist Syd Veverka will be on site sketching funny portraits that let you show off your silly side!

Snap a Pic at the Milwaukee Magazine Booth and Design your own Mini Zine, with Artist Kimmy Tolbert. We’re going to be at Mini Fest, too! Stop by our booth, where we’ll have big balloons set up, perfect for a selfie.

Leave Your Mark on a Giant Coloring Book designed by Syd Veverka. Have you ever colored in a book bigger than you? Well, now you’ll have your chance at Mini Fest’s massive coloring book installation.

Word Search the milmag mini

We hope you had fun reading Mini Milwaukee Magazine! As the grand finale of this special issue, we put together this word search full of terms you should know from all the stories before this. See if you can find them all – forward, backward or diagonally!

at Children's Wisconsin

If your child needs care, don’t delay. Children’s Wisconsin offers several convenient same-day care options to treat everything from minor injuries and illnesses to emergencies. As the state’s only health care system 100% dedicated to kids, you can trust us to provide the best and safest care for your family.

Primary care

Same-day appointments including e-visits are available for existing patients.

Emergency care

Offering immediate access to pediatric experts in more than 70 specialties.

Mental health walk-in clinics

Providing same-day care for children and teens experiencing urgent mental health issues.

Scan to learn more or visit childrenswi.org/sameday

Urgent care video visits

Video chat with a Children’s Wisconsin doctor from the comfort of your home.

Walk-in urgent care

Available every day for children ages 0-18.

Fracture care

Same-day fracture care is available at our specialty clinics (by appointment) and most of our walk-in urgent care clinics.