Lakeshore State Park

Lakeshore State Park is Wisconsin's only urban state park, occupying a 22-acre man-made island in Milwaukee's harbor between the lakefront and the inner harbor. It is free to enter (no vehicle admission sticker required), easily accessible on foot from downtown, and provides a surprising pocket of nature within the city.

The park's 1.5-mile paved trail loop is flat and stroller-friendly, winding through wildflower meadows, native grass plantings, and along the waterfront. Views rotate between the Milwaukee skyline (including the iconic Calatrava wings of the Art Museum), the harbor (with sailboats and ship traffic), and open Lake Michigan. The combination of nature and urban landscape is distinctive.

Wildflower plantings attract butterflies and birds throughout spring and summer. During fall migration, the park's position on the Lake Michigan flyway brings interesting species through. A bird observation area with interpretive signs helps families identify common species.

Fishing is popular from the breakwater, with families casting for perch, bass, and panfish. A fishing license is required for adults (free for kids under 16 in Wisconsin).

The park is best experienced as a complement to adjacent attractions. Discovery World is next door. The Historic Third Ward is a 5-minute walk. The lakefront bike path passes through. On its own, the park fills 1-2 hours of pleasant walking and nature observation. Combined with the surrounding attractions, it contributes to a full day on the Milwaukee lakefront.

Lakeshore State Park is the kind of place that makes Milwaukee livable -- a free, accessible, natural space that reminds you the city is built on the shore of one of the world's great freshwater lakes.