It was a nice day in early fall when my brother and I headed out to explore Milwaukee’s riverwalk. Our goals were two-fold: 1) To get some exercise while enjoying the scenery and, 2) To see the Bronze Fonz (pictured above). We were successful on both counts.
The Milwaukee RiverWalk was established in 1993 and winds through the heart of the city. It takes you through picturesque neighborhoods and is a pleasant stroll stretching about 20 blocks along the Milwaukee River. The walk coverss both sides of the river for most of the way and is ADA accessible.. We started our walk near the HIstoric Third Ward and headed north.
The walk offers great views of the city’s skyline and historic buildings and has contributed to the revitalization of this area. We enjoyed views like this:
(Photo courtesy Pixabay/Skalstad)
You’ll see boat tours on the Milwaukee River. There are a variety of cruses, like historical and architectural tours, and sunset cruises. You might spot a kayaker or paddleboarder.
(Many of the bridges along the riverwalk have very low clearances; some can be elevated to allow taller boats to pass)
There is art scattered along the riverwalk known as RiverSculpture, including the Bronze Fonz flashing his trademark double thumbs-up! For the younger generation who might not be familiar with the character, “Fonzie “, (played by actor Henry Winkler) was a character on the TV show “Happy Days’, which was set in 1950s Milwaukee. His character was tough, but cool and likeable. The statue was installed in 2008 and is very popular with tourists.
(The Bronze Fonz)
You’ll find lots of restaurants and pubs along the way which we passed by, our heart set on eating in the Milwaukee Public Market.
We returned to the Third Ward by walking east a little bit, then south. Here was some some of the historic downtown, including the Pabst Theater and the Historic City Hall….
Rather life-like but gigantic ladybugs on the side of one building….
The Riverwalk was a pleasant way to explore part of the city. The architecture around this walk is not as amazing as what you’d see in Chicago’s riverwalk, but overall it was a less crowded and more relaxed place to visit
