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Cure for the Summertime Blues

Posted by Jenny Warren on July 2, 2011

Summertime blues, Milwaukee county activities, Jenny Warren, Slice of Life blog, South Milwaukee activities, children

     As I was in line at the checkout at my neighborhood Pick & Save store I couldn’t help but over hear a Mothers plea for her two children to stop complaining. The conversation was how bored they were, and there’s nothing to do. One child even said he was so bored he thought he would die. Ok not really sure if you can die from boredom, however it sure can make each day of your summer vacation go by slow.   

   With summer still owning another 2 months of time on the calendar, Parents and caregivers are left looking for things to keep their little ones occupied this summer. We are all concerned with our children’s activities being ones that also educate as well as entertain and we don’t want them living on the sofa watching TV or playing video games all day . With the price of everyday needs on the rise, it leaves the dilemma of what kind of family friendly activities are out there that won’t break the bank? There are many activities for our children and families to plan and participate in and around Milwaukee. Listed below are the 100 things to do this summer as compiled by the On Milwaukee.com staff writers. There is no special order here, and number 1 is no better than number 100, it’s a random list of activities in our area. Double click on underlined links to be directed to the website for more information on selected activity.  Some of these suggestions are no cost or low cost activities. Sometimes we need to reflect back on what it was to be young and remember what summer time was to us as children. It was a time to learn, play and relax. It doesn’t last long enough when you’re a child and before we realize it they are grown and moving away from home. Take every opportunity to make each day special in every way.

 Enjoy your summer!

  100 things for kids to do in Milwaukee, 2011

By OnMilwaukee.com Staff Writers

1. Visit the Domes
2. Make friends with the animals at the Milwaukee County Zoo and check out the new exhibit this summer, "Butterflies in Living Color"
3. See a big movie at the IMAX Theater
4. Make the rattlesnake rattle at Milwaukee Public Museum (snake button!)
5. Discover art at the Milwaukee Art Museum -- particularly the latest Kohl's Art Generation exhibit called "Just the WRIGHT Size: Designing and Building Small Houses"
6. Smell the roses at the Boerner Botanical Gardens
7. Pedal a Juneau Park paddleboat on the Veteran's Park lagoon
8. Learn something new at Discovery World
9. Explore the Betty Brinn Children's Museum
10. Explore the Safe House
11. Enjoy a play from First Stage Milwaukee
12. Find something unusual at American Science and Surplus
13. Get the perfect yo-yo at Art Smart's Dart Mart & Juggling Emporium
14. Watch the roasters at Alterra on Humboldt
15. Fly a kite at the lakefront
16. Play laser tag at Kids In Motion
17. Strap on skates and take to the ice at the Pettit National Ice Center
18. Crawl through the play tubes at Miller Park
19. Slide into the water at your neighborhood pool
20. Drive your parents crazy by taking them to Chuck E. Cheese's
21. Feed fish and other aquarium life at the Urban Ecology Center (1 p.m. on Saturdays)
22. Eat a slice of apple pie or pick a pumpkin in autumn at the Elegant Farmer in Mukwonago
23. Marvel at dinosaurs at Milwaukee Public Museum
24. Go to story time at one of the Milwaukee Public Libraries
25. Go rollerskating at Skateland
26. Take a walk on the Milwaukee River Trails
27. Ride the East Troy Electric Railroad
28. Tour the Milwaukee Police Academy
29. Write a fan letter to your favorite Brewer, Buck or Packer
30. Watch the planes take off at Timmerman Field
31. Cruise Lake Michigan on The Denis Sullivan, the world's only recreation of a 19th century sailing vessel
32. Skip rocks on Pewaukee Lake
33. See how the other half lived at The Pabst Mansion
34. Visit Villa Terrace and pretend you're in Italy
35. Wait for a train at the Cudahy Depot
36. get your parents to take you to a Brew City Bruisers' bout
37. Get a taste of farm life at Green Meadows Farm
38. Ride the bumper cars at StoneFire Pizza Co.
39. Bounce around at Monkey Joe's
40. Check out how Wisconsin residents lived in the 1800s at Pioneer Village
41. See how root beer is made at Sprecher Brewery
42. Rent skates at McKinley Marina's High Roller Bike & Skate Rental and tour the lakefront at warp speed
43. Volunteer at the Wisconsin Humane Society or simply visit to check out the cute, fluffy, four-legged creatures
44. Feed the geese at the Veteran's Park lagoon (but no bread, please)
45. Hike on the wooded paths at Lake Park
46. Learn about nature at the Schlitz Audubon Nature Center
47. See what frontier life was like at Old World Wisconsin in Eagle (opens May 1)
48. Ride the bus Downtown
49. Bike the Hank Aaron State Trail
50. Hit golf balls at a driving range
51. Bowl a few games at Bay View Bowl or Koz's Mini Bowl
52. Jump in the lake at Atwater Beach
53. Grab a bucket and go fishing with dad
54. Go sledding on St. Mary's hill
55. Play pinball in the Landmark Lanes arcade
56. Take a trip to the Wisconsin Dells for a weekend of fun
57. Stroll along the Riverwalk and see the big neon fish
58. Try out Adventure Rock's climbing wall
59. Savor the flavor of the day at Kopp's
60. Go miniature golfing
61. Watch a Wave game at the U.S. Cellular Arena
62. Play a game of HORSE at your local playground
63. Go shopping for everything you need to start a garden
64. Visit the cool Old World sausage shop at Usinger's
65. Buy a model airplane at Cudahy or Greenfield News & Hobby
66. Play bocce at the Italian Community Center
67. Chase butterflies at the Wehr Nature Center
68. Connect with a curveball at batting cages
69. Drive up to Leon's for a burger and fries, '50s style!
70. Stop in at the COA Family Center
71. Cheer for the Bucks at the Bradley Center
72. Sample step dancing at the Irish Cultural & Heritage Center
73. Check out the new Betty Brinn exhibit, "Smokey Bear & Woodsy Owl"
74. Find a treasure at the (new!) Mars Cheese Castle
75. Experience the down-home fun of minor league baseball in Beloit
76. Tour the Jelly Belly factory
77. Take part in a nature program at Havenwoods Environmental Awareness Center
78. Check out the Harley-Davidson Museum
79. Brush up on Milwaukee's story at the Milwaukee County Historical Society
80. Take a class ay Danceworks
81. Try a new craft
82. Eat a pizza while you see at movie at Fox Bay Cinema
83. Request your favorite song at Organ Piper Pizza
84. See a movie at the Hi-Way 18 drive-in theater
85. Explore Cudahy Nature Center
86. Climb to the top of Holy Hill
87. Marvel at the Menomonee Falls
88. Go horseback riding in Ozaukee County
89. Have lunch at Red Robin
90. Convince mom and dad to drive you down to Great America
91. East at Friday's Front Row Sports Grill at Miller Park
92. Watch Packers training camp at the Don Hutson Center in Green Bay
93. See stars at the planetarium
94. Eat Kettle Korn
95. Take music lessons at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music
96. Join the Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra
97. Eat something on a stick at the Wisconsin State Fair
98. Go back in time at Old Falls Village Museum
99. See how candy is made at Quality Candy and savor some free samples
100. Go to open gym time at Swiss Turners