Car Hire Milwaukee - Mini guide to Milwaukee

Wisconsin's largest city, Milwaukee, with its small-town atmosphere, is known as a city of festivals. Modern steel-and-glass high-rises occupy much of the downtown area, but they share the skyline with restored and well-kept 19th century buildings from Milwaukee's early heritage.

The City of Milwaukee Public Library, near the business district, is an impressive example of Classical Revival style; it was built between 1893 and 1897 by the architectural firm Ferry & Clas. Additionally, strolling along the port of Milwaukee, not far from downtown, is delightful. The whole area has been recently renovated and Iroquois Boat Line Tours offers a close-up view of the lakefront, harbour, lighthouse and breakwater.

The SAB Miller Brewing Company operates one of the world's largest breweries, and visitors are able to sample the product outside in the city's last remaining beer garden during warm weather, or in the 19th century Miller Inn the rest of the year. Another favourite factory tour, just out of town, is at the Harley-Davidson Tour Center.

Two museums share space on the corner of West Wells and James Lovell streets. Milwaukee Public Museum is home to a staggering array of re-created villages from around the world, a permanent live butterfly garden, dinosaur skeletons, and a simulated rainforest. In the same complex is Discovery World, where visitors enjoy hands-on science and technology exhibits.

Santiago Calatrava's redesign of the Milwaukee Art Museum renders the museum itself as stunning as any of the works on display. Inside is artwork from ancient Greece, modern America, Asia and Africa, displayed in roughly chronological order.

Mitchell Park Conservatory, better known as ‘The Domes’, is a botanical garden housed in three seven-storey aluminium and glass domes. The gardens include an Arid Dome, featuring desert plants; a Tropical Dome, with rainforest plants and orchids; and a Show Dome, featuring seasonal plantings.

Milwaukee is renowned for its fine ethnic cuisine. There is something to tantalize any taste, from German, to Italian, French, Irish, Mexican, Indian, Greek and English. The nightlife is exciting and the city really comes alive during Summerfest (late June and early July) and the Great Circus Parade in July.

The major suburbs in Milwaukee are: Cudahy, Brookfield, Franklin, Greendale, New Berlin, Mequon, Oak Creek, Wauwatosa, West Allis and Whitefish Bay.