Milwaukee is more spread out than Madison, obviously, but a weekend in the Beer City is still a nice mix of lovely walking and relatively pain-free driving.

Day 1

First stop for any visitor is the city’s Historic Third Ward and Riverwalk for lots of shopping and noshing.

For lunch, try the Riverwalk Bistro which has a splendid patio.

In the afternoon, Drink in the exteriors of the Milwaukee Art Museum and then go in for its fine holdings; if time, bop over down the, er, lakepath to the Discovery World at Pier Wisconsin.

After a rest, you’ll head for Milwaukee Historic Turner’s for fish fry or any of their other wonderful eclectic dishes. After dinner take in a show at the Pabst Theater or Marcus Center for Performing Arts (MCPA).

The classic Milwaukee hotel is the Pfister; if you have the dough, it’s worth the splurge.

Day 2

You’ve got to be up to see the sunrise over Lake Michigan; it’s spectacular, anywhere along the lake. You’ll be hungry afterwards, so head for a healthy breakfast thereafter at Beans and Barley.

Then head for the worth-a-whole-day Milwaukee Public Museum/IMAX and, if you have time, the Harley-Davidson Museum. Lunch along the lake again at Bartolotta’s Lake Park Bistro.

In the afternoon, after a rest up, take in a tour of what made Milwaukee famous at Miller Brewing. Throw in a coffee along Brady Street before dining at Karl Ratzsch’s Old World Restaurant, for a taste of what German food can be at its best.

For a bit of nightlife, head to Jefferson Street for a quiet evening drink, or, for a bit more fervor, concentrate on Water Street.