Milwaukee has been named one of the best travel destinations by National Geographic, one of only 25 such destinations worldwide and among just five in the United States to receive the recognition.
National Geographic released its annual “Best of the World” list on Wednesday and named Milwaukee as one of the top destinations for travel in 2023.
“Milwaukee has every reason to be proud of this designation,” Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson said. “It is particularly gratifying because of the global perspective Nat Geo provides. There is a lot to love in our city and we should never lose sight of the fact that Milwaukee is a truly great place.”
National Geographic mentioned Milwaukee’s support for the local arts community and highlights the Riverwalk, Deer District, Harley-Davidson Museum and the forthcoming Bronzeville Center for the Arts, among other city attractions.
It’s time to pick your Milwaukee favorites for the year!
Selected and written by National Geographic Traveler editors from around the world, in collaboration with National Geographic experts and expedition leaders, the annual list features travel destinations and experiences grouped by category: family, adventure, culture, nature and community.
Milwaukee is noted in the article as a community filled with “back-thumping energy with a close-knit creative community that’s turning heads beyond the Great Lakes.”
The article also encourages visitors to follow locals and kayak on the rivers that traverse the city before disembarking to explore the Historic Third Ward and the Milwaukee Public Market. The Milwaukee Art Museum’s Quadracci Pavilion, designed by famed Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava, also gets a mention, as it should.
It also goes without saying that the city’s ties to beer brewing would be noted.
“Beer was the drink that made Milwaukee famous. Hit up a brewery—the city has dozens—to see how they’ve evolved,” the article states. “The stylish taprooms pouring crafted IPAs and porters are light years removed from the clinky-clanky bottling plants where TV characters Laverne and Shirley toiled.”
Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley said Milwaukee has many “hidden gems.”
“Whether it is our museums, sports teams, breweries, restaurants, summer festivals, beaches or Milwaukee County Parks System, we truly have something for everyone,” Crowley said. “In the last few years, these amenities have made our region a destination for large-scale events like the U.S. Triathlon, Red Bull Flugtag, and national political conventions. This prestigious designation will draw even more events and more travelers to explore our world-class city.”
Eve Hall, chairwoman of Visit Milwaukee’s board of directors and president and CEO of the Greater Milwaukee Urban League described Milwaukee as a “dynamic melting pot of culture full of world-class amenities, stunning natural beauty and even better people.”
“Whether in our personal or professional lives, we should be shouting this from the rooftops every day and inviting others to experience what makes our community so wonderful,” Hall said.
