2026 IFWTWA Conference
Experience Milwaukee Day
October 21, 2026
Experience Milwaukee Day
Milwaukee Day is a celebration of the city’s deep roots and bold creativity. Known as Brew City, Milwaukee’s beer legacy helped shape neighborhoods and gathering spaces that still define the city today. The story continues through the warm glow of Cream City brick, the distinctive pale brick that built much of Milwaukee’s historic architecture, and the design influence of Frank Lloyd Wright, whose Wisconsin legacy helped shape the region’s architectural identity It’s a place where history, craftsmanship, and culture come together, best experienced the Milwaukee way.
Half-Day Trips
Milwaukee Art Museum Deep Dive
- Participants: Minimum 4 | Maximum 20
- Time: 9 AM – Noon
- Go beyond the galleries on the Milwaukee Art Museum Deep Dive, an insider’s look at the remarkable Milwaukee Art Museum and its world-class collections featuring works by Jules Chéret and Georgia O’Keeffe, along with American folk art, Haitian art, early photography, and more. The experience may also include a visit to the stunning Villa Terrace Decorative Arts Museum, which overlooks Lake Michigan.
- Activity Level: A lot of walking in the museum, but there are benches throughout the museum.
Harley-Davidson Museum Deep Dive
- Participants: Minimum 4 | Maximum 20
- Time: 1 to 4 PM
- Rev up your Milwaukee experience with the Harley-Davidson Museum Deep Dive. Enjoy a VIP experience at the legendary Harley-Davidson Museum, including access to the exclusive Motorcycle Vault, conversations with a curator or archivist, time to explore the sprawling museum campus, and lunch at Motor Bar & Restaurant — plus even more stories from the history of America’s most iconic motorcycle brand.
- Activity Level: A lot of walking throughout the museum
Taste of Maker Milwaukee
- Participants: Minimum 4 | Maximum 12 for each tour (1 morning and 1 afternoon)
- Time: 9 AM to Noon OR 1 to 4 PM
- Savor the flavors of Brew City on Taste of Maker Milwaukee, a delicious foodie adventure through some of Milwaukee’s most iconic local eats. From warm pretzels and savory sausages to pizza, frozen custard, and globally inspired favorites, this tour serves up the diverse tastes that make Milwaukee a true culinary destination.
- Stops:
- Activity Level: This is NOT a walking tour. You will be going by bus between locations. Very little walking involved.
Milwaukee Theater District Tour
- Participants: Minimum 4 | Maximum 20
- Time: 9 AM to 12:30 PM
Go behind the curtain and experience Milwaukee’s thriving performing arts scene through the venues and people that bring it to life.
The morning begins at Skylight Music Theatre, where guests will enjoy coffee from local roaster Valentine Coffee before setting off to explore Milwaukee’s celebrated theater district.
Continue to the Bradley Symphony Center, home of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, followed by a visit to the Associated Bank Theater Center, the state-of-the-art home of Milwaukee Repertory Theater.
The tour concludes with an exclusive behind-the-scenes experience at the Riverside Theater, where guests will receive the same artist-style welcome extended to touring performers. Enjoy a private meal prepared by an executive chef inside a green room typically reserved for artists and production teams. This rare experience offers an insider’s look at the hospitality that touring performers receive while visiting Milwaukee, providing a memorable finale to the tour.- Stops:
- Activity Level: There is some walking involved in this trip.
Dairyland Delights (Old World 3rd Street Tour)
- Participants: Minimum 4 | Maximum 18
- Time: 1 PM to 4 PM
- Milwaukee Food City Tours presents Welcome to Wisconsin, the Dairy State, where Old World German traditions have carried through generations and produced the culture and cuisine that’s woven into the fabric of every Wisconsinite. Our walking food tour of Milwaukee’s Deer District brings to life the stories of the first waves of European immigrants. Experience history through the foods we’re most famous for, including the squeakiest cheese curds, savory butter burgers, hot grilled bratwurst, and locally brewed beer. And of course, we’ll end the tour with a Milwaukee favorite dessert.
- Stops:
- Visit a cheese store and dive into samples, including cheese curds
- Tour the Milwaukee County Historical Society and stroll down Old World 3rd Street
- Enjoy a hot bratwurst straight off the grill
- Visit a dynamic brewing-duo in the heart of the Deer District and taste a Butter Burger
- Say “cheese” with a photo stop at Fiserv Forum, home to the World Champion Milwaukee Bucks
- Wind through the Deer District for a sweet ending to the tour
- Activity Level: This is a walking tour, so you will be walking between stops for the 3-hour tour.
Full-Day Trips
The Original Brew City: History Brewing Tour
- Participants: Minimum 4 | Maximum 12
- Time: 9 AM to 4 PM
- Step into Milwaukee’s legendary brewing past on The Original Brew City: History Brewing Tour. Explore the grandeur of the Pabst Mansion, venture into the fascinating Miller Caves, and uncover stories of brewing pioneers at Forest Home Cemetery—plus additional historic stops that bring Brew City’s rich beer heritage to life.
- Stops:
- Activity Level: While you will be driving between locations, you will be on your feet for extended periods. The Pabst Mansion tour is about one hour, for example. Other tours also require standing and walking. You will have time to sit and relax between tours.
From Cream City to Frank Lloyd Wright: Historic Adventure
- Participants: Minimum 4 | Maximum 12
- Time: 9 AM to 4 PM
- Discover the stories behind Milwaukee’s iconic architecture on From Cream City to Frank Lloyd Wright: A Historic Adventure. Tour the remarkable Burnham Block designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, visit the scenic North Point Lighthouse, explore the historic Old Soldiers Home, and experience even more of the city’s rich architectural heritage along the way.
- Stops:
- Activity Level: You will be riding between sites, but there will be some walking involved. There are stairs inside some buildings. If you go inside the Burnham Block homes, they are not ADA-compliant.
Milwaukee's Hidden Gems
- Participants: Minimum 4 | Maximum 12
- Time: 9 AM to 4 PM
- Go beyond the guidebooks on Milwaukee’s Hidden Gems, a fun-filled adventure uncovering some of the city’s most unexpected treasures. Enjoy lunch at a classic Milwaukee gem, explore the quirky National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum, step inside historic Holler House—home to the nation’s oldest sanctioned bowling alley—and discover even more hidden corners and local favorites across the city.
- Stops:
- Activity Level: You will be riding between sites. There is some walking involved at each location, but nothing strenuous. There is ample opportunity to sit and relax.
African-American History Tour
- Participants: Minimum 4 | Maximum 12
- Time: 9 AM to 4 PM
- Explore the powerful stories and lasting cultural impact of Milwaukee’s Black community on the African-American History Tour. Visit America’s Black Holocaust Museum, discover the revitalization efforts at ThriveOn King, explore the Wisconsin Black Historical Society Museum, enjoy a meal at Sherman Phoenix, and tour the historic Bronzeville neighborhood as you learn about the people and stories that shaped Milwaukee’s cultural landscape.
- Stops:
- Activity Level: This does include a walking tour and you will be walking to some of the sites. Although not strenuous, you will be on your feet during much of this trip.
