Detroit, MI

The Motor City has continued to grow as a tourist destination, I’m biased because I grew up in metro-Detroit, but it’s an amazing city!

Motown Tips: 

• Don’t go anytime from November-April. Winters in Michigan are BRUTAL unless you love cold and snow

• Be mindful where you choose to stay, especially if you’re doing Airbnb or some sort of rental. Most of the city is fantastic and has come a long way, other parts still have room to improve.

Adventures & Ales Top Detroit Recommendations: ​​​

• Eastern Market Brewing Co.: A cute little brewery right off of Eastern Market with delicious beers! Specifically their IPAs are amazing.

• 8 Degrees Plato: A fantastic bottle shop and beer bar! They have a great selection of beers both on tap and in cans/bottles and chill vibes.

• Brewery Faisan: A great spot with delicious and unique beers. They are located near Belle Isle and have a nice patio as well.

• Batch Brewing: A great brewery with an extensive tap list and delicious food. If you’re there in the summer get the beer-slushie.

• The Heidelberg Project: A creative twist on art and awareness. Walk through the neighborhood and see old houses and debris turned into works of art.

• Bobcat Bonnie’s: My favorite brunch spot in Detroit! $3 mimosa bar, Bloody Mary bar, and build your own coffee bar. The food is incredibly delicious too!

• Collect Beer Bar: A fun beer bar with 9 rotating taps along with cans and bottles onsite. They also have a rooftop and are dog-friendly.

Detroit Tourist Spots Actually Worth Visiting: ​

• Eastern Market: Food, flowers, trinkets—what more could you ask for? A giant farmer’s market in the heart of downtown!

• Detroit Institute of Arts: Now I’m not an art person if you haven’t noticed from my lack of art museum recommendations for other cities, but the DIA is amazing. They have an extensive collection of fantastic pieces, highly recommend!

• Belle Isle: A cute little island on the Detroit River. It is basically one large park where you can gaze at Canada and the United States at the same time. You need to have the Michigan Recreation Passport to enter or it is $11 for non-Michigan residents.

• Campus Martius Park: Transformed into a winter wonderland in the colder months and a fake beach escape during the warmer months, full of bars, ice skating (when appropriate), shops, and music.

• Fox Theater: The original of the Fox Theaters around the country, absolutely stunning.

• Greektown: Greek bars, restaurants, casinos. A fun part of town to hop around.

Eastern Market Brewing

Other Detroit Things To Do:​​

• Jolly Pumpkin Brewing Co.: Large beer selection, better pizza selection!

• Nain Rouge Brewery: A solid brewery with a nice patio and tasty brews. Their team is super nice and I love that they are working to increase diversity in the beer industry. Their beer is also exclusively served at Vigilante Kitchen + Bar right next door.

• Condado Tacos: Delicious tacos and margaritas in Midtown, right by Nain Rouge. They have a small patio and beautifully painted interior.

• HopCat: Beer cheese everything. Also 130 beers on tap. Crack fries are real crack [the name has changed but the fries have not]

• Atwater Brewing: One of the biggest breweries in the area—Vanilla Java Porter is my favorite! Also if you have a car while visiting go check out Atwater in the Park, in Grosse Point Park.

• Motor City Brewing Works: A smaller brewery with pizzas, an outdoor space, and a large tap list.

• Motown Museum: Learn about the history of the Detroit music scene in an engaging old recording studio.

• The Belt: An alley full of street art and a couple of fun bars.

Chicago, IL

Chicago is one of the biggest cities in the country and home to several unique neighborhoods. Take your time exploring each one’s character.

The Windy City Tips: 

• Mmmm it’s windy. Really though. The winters can be insanely brutal, pack appropriately.

• Chicago is pretty huge, so be sure to plan ahead so you’re not driving/Lyfting all over the place

Adventures & Ales Top Chicago Recommendations: ​​​

• Phase Three Brewing: A fantastic brewery in an industrial park in Lake Zurich. They have incredible beers of all styles, an outside space and frequent food trucks.

• Maplewood Brewery and Distillery: Absolutely delightful spot with amazing beers and a fun lounge atmosphere.

• Whisk: A fantastic brunch option that is BYOB and cash-only. Get the biscuits and gravy—ya welcome.

• More Brewing: In the ‘burbs of Chicago, this brewery is cranking out fantastic beers of every style.

• Mikerphone Brewing: A fun music themed brewery with incredible beers. Close to O’Hare Airport as well!

• Forbidden Root Brewery: They have their own herbs and fruits they grow and infuse into their beers—get the Strawberry Basil Hefeweizen. Also cheese plates.

• Begyle Brewing: Great beers and a fun atmosphere!

• Dovetail Brewery: A Lager-focused brewery that is right around the corner from Begyle with solid beers. They also have a small food menu and an outdoor bar in the summer months.

• Half Acre Beer: A large taproom both inside and out with a plethora of beer options. They also have a small food menu. Keeping Together, a Mixed Culture project from Averie Swanson is housed here as well with draft and bottle options.

• Local Option: A super fun beer bar with a full food menu and frequent events. Their tap list is killer!

• Beermiscuous: A great beer bar and bottle shop with 16 taps and to-go cans and bottles. They offer single cans which is fantastic to get a variety of things.

• Parlor Pizza: Delicious pizzas and a great tap list.

Phase Three Brewing

Chicago Tourist Spots Actually Worth Visiting: ​

• The Bean: Obviously you can’t go to Chicago without a stop at The Bean! Expect hoards of tourists.

• Explore the Lakefront Trail! This 18 mile path runs along Lake Michigan through various parks and attractions.

• The Signature Room at the 96th: The views are stunning but the drinks are pricey, it’s worth checking out!

• Wander Logan Square: Get a bagel sandwich from Brobagel, pop into some shops!

• Take an architecture tour!

• Pequod’s Pizza: Fantastic deep dish (insert drool here)

• Ohio Street Beach: A popular sandy beach on the lake with skyline views downtown. Close to navy Pier.

• Montrose Beach: A popular area for walking, biking, dogs, volleyball, and a beach on Lake Michigan.

The Bean

Other Chicago Things To Do:​​

• Revolution Brewing: One of the most popular breweries in the city. They have a wide array of beers but their Stouts are particularly great.

• Old Irving Brewing: Great beers and a full food menu. More of a restaurant-style set-up than brewery.

• Pilot Project: A brewery incubator housing small, new breweries as they get their start. They have a great patio and a beautiful indoor space. Located in the Logan Square neighborhood.

• Marz Brewing: A cool spot not too far from Midway Airport with solid beers.

• Hubbard’s Cave/Une Année: This unique space started with Une Année producing Belgian beers and then expanded with Hubbard’s Cave specializing in Stouts and IPAs. They have BBQ onsite and a large outdoor space.

• Goose Island: Not my favorite because Anheuser Busch owns them, but they’ve got quite a few unique beers only at their Chicago brewery.

• Stan’s Donuts: I am a sucker for a good doughnut and Stan’s does not disappoint!

• Taste of New York Bagels and Deli: A pretty authentic NYC bagel spot near Wrigleyville.

• Corridor Brewery & Provisions: A restaurant-style brewery with average beers. The tap list is quite small. Located near Wrigleyville in a popular neighborhood.

• District Brew Yards: Around the Bend Beer Co., Bold Dog Beer Co., and Casa Humilde Cerveceria Artesanal all under one roof with food and games

Minneapolis and St. Paul, MN

Minneapolis and St. Paul are really cool cities full of great breweries & Beautiful NaturE.

Twin Cities Tips: 

• Definitely plan several days to explore—Minneapolis has several distinct neighborhoods to adventure around and then St. Paul is about 20 minutes east with its own downtown to meander.

• Visit between May-October unless you love brutal cold and heavy snow!

• Planning a Minnesota road trip? Check out my North Shore beer and travel guide here!

Adventures & Ales Top Twin Cities Recommendations: ​​​

• BlackStack Brewing: Killer beers and the nicest people! This is definitely the best brewery in the Twin Cities and a must visit. Located between Minneapolis and St. Paul.

• Chain of Lakes: Rent a bike and take a journey around the Grand Rounds Scenic Byway to see Lake Harriet, Lake Calhoun, Lake of the Isles, and Cedar Lake!

  • Nice Ride is the name of the city’s public bike share system, they are super convenient and reasonably priced!

• Barrel Theory Beer Company: A fantastic brewery in downtown St. Paul making killer beers. The space is small but the vibes are great.

• Fair State Brewing Coop: This employee-owned brewery has fantastic beers, particularly their Lagers. They also have pretzels from the bakery next door and a beer garden in the back.

• Modist Brewing: This brewery has delicious beers and great vibes. They are located in downtown Minneapolis.

• Falling Knife Brewing Company: A fantastic brewery with an IPA-heavy tap list, a small patio and good vibes. Don’t let their industrial strip mall location fool you!

• Boom Island Park: Great views of the Minneapolis skyline, especially at sunset!

• Fulton Beer: A cool spot to sit outside and enjoy your drink taking in the sights and sounds of the city.

• Rise Bagel Co.: I’m a sucker for a good bagel and Rise does not disappoint!

• Stay at Hyatt Centric Downtown Minneapolis: This beautiful hotel is right in the heart of the city! Their restaurant is Six 15 and they have great breakfast, dinner and drink options including six local craft beers on tap. They are also dog friendly!

BlackStack Brewing

Minneapolis and St. Paul Tourist Spots Actually Worth Visiting: ​

• Minnehaha Falls: A nice waterfall and park. It’s not exactly “hiking” it’s more like urban-hiking, but still nice to get into nature. They have a brewery pop-up here sometimes as well.

• Minneapolis Sculpture Garden: Home to the famous Spoonbridge and Cherry Sculpture, this is a cool place to meander around and check out some art.

• Bell Museum: An awesome museum in St. Paul focused on natural history with a planetarium. Highly recommend!

• The Endless Bridge at Guthrie Theater: Touristy, but it’s free so why not? Go to the Guthrie Theater, go up, go outside, take in the views. It is just a quick stop while you’re exploring.

• The Bakken Museum: A museum of innovation right off the Chain of Lakes. This is more kid focused than adult, but it is in a cool historic building.

Minnehaha Falls

Other things to do in the Twin Cities:​​

• Dangerous Man Brewing: Solid beer and friendly staff! A bit off the beaten path but worth it.

• Waldmann Brewery: A German brewery in St. Paul with restaurant vibes in a converted old house. They have a nice front patio space and good beers and food.

• Bad Weather Brewing Company: Solid beers at this popular brewery in St. Paul. Located right next to Waldmann.

• Day Block Brewing: Good beer, good food, friendly staff!

• Utepils Brewing: Solid beers and you can sit by the river to drink it! Not the best view, but still enjoyable.

• Surly Brewing Co.: A massive brewery in Minneapolis. There is a huge outdoor space, an extensive tap list, and food as well.

• Dual Citizen Brewing Co.: Good beers, chill warehouse-y vibes.

• Inbound BrewCo: Military themed brewery with solid pours.

• Pyres Brewing: A nice outdoor patio not far from the river. Large menu of beer & food!

• Urban Growler Brewing: All female-owned brewery and restaurant! They are not too far from BlackStack between Minneapolis and St. Paul.

• Sociable Cider Werks: Good ciders and usually a food truck onsite as well.

• Indeed Brewing Company: Right around the corner from Able, this place has a cool outdoor patio and solid beers.

• Bauhaus Brew Labs: A trendy brewery with a large outdoor space and games.

• Glam Doll Donuts: Super delicious! Fancy donuts and yummy coffee.

• The Freehouse: Restaurant-style brewery with average beers in downtown Minneapolis. Great brunch!

• 56 Brewing: A solid brewery with a nice outdoor patio and frequent food trucks.

• Broken Clock Brewing Cooperative: Just a 5 minute walk from 56 Brewing, this coop has unique beer styles and lots of games.

• Clockwerks Brewing: A pretty mediocre brewery in the heart of downtown.

Minnesota North Shore

The North Shore of Minnesota is a Stunning area along Lake Superior with great hiking and viewpoints!

North Shore Tips: 

• Expect solitude, beautiful views, mediocre food and coffee, and chill vibes.

• The further down the shore you get the more crowded everything is because it is more easily accessible. I loved the Grand Marais area as a jumping off point midway up the shore.

• Everywhere you go in this area is a scenic drive! Highway 61 is the main road running up from Duluth to the Canadian border and is a beautiful road to drive along.

• Although Duluth is a larger city, it is technically part of the North Shore as well. Scroll all the down for my recommendations and thoughts on Duluth.

• On a Minnesota road trip? Check out my Twin Cities guide here!

• Head over to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula while you’re in the area for more spectacular views, cute towns and great hikes. Check out my beer and travel guide for the U.P. here!

Adventures & Ales Top North Shore Recommendations: 

• Mount Josephine Lookout Tower Trail: This trail leads to stunning views of Lake Superior, Isle Royale National Park, Canada, and the Minnesota shore. It is 2.8 miles long with 650ft of elevation gain and takes about an hour and a half to complete. The trail starts very flat and then it gets quite steep as you climb to the summit, but it is worth it for the views.

• Explore Grand Marais: This is a cute little town on the water with a nice downtown.

  • Voyageur Brewing Company: A solid brewery with a full kitchen downstairs and a rooftop deck with nice views. The beer exceeded my expectations but the food was a bit disappointing.

  • Artist’s Point: A little park with a rocky beach that is a great spot to catch the sunset. You can also walk out onto the point and explore that area.

  • World’s Best Donuts: I am not sure about world’s best, but these are some darn tasty donuts. Expect a lineup of folks but it moves quickly.

  • Java Moose: A cute coffee shop with pastries right across from the water.

• Canoe in the Boundary Waters! Most people choose to do an overnight canoe trip, but a day trip works too. You’ll need a permit that whoever you rent a canoe from can help you acquire. This is a must do while in Northern Minnesota.

  • I rented from Ely Outfitting Company in Ely, MN and canoed on Hegman Lake. I was the only person on the lake and it was a wonderful experience. If I were visiting again I would probably rent from an outfitter in Grand Marais and choose a lake off Gunflint Trail because it is closer to the North Shore.

• Middle Falls and High Falls Trail at Pigeon River Provincial Park: This trail is just across the border in Canada, so you will need to have proper identification and an ArriveCAN form completed to access it. The full trail is 5.3 miles long with 738ft of elevation gain and takes about 2.5 hours. The parking lot for the trailhead is the Ontario Visitor Center.

  • You’ll first come to High Falls and then walk through some buggy and muddy woods that are a bit overgrown to Middle Falls and then turn around and come back. I would recommend skipping Middle Falls and only doing High Falls and the Lookout Trail. Middle Falls is just a river view and the trail to get there was not great. Lookout Trail leads to a stunning viewpoint of Isle Royale National Park and the coast.

  • You can also see High Falls from the US side, but if you’re able to I’d recommend the Canadian view, especially for Lookout Trail.

• Oberg Mountain Loop via Superior Hiking Trail: A nice loop with lovely views of Lake Superior, the coast and Oberg Lake. The trail is 2.6 miles long with 500ft of elevation gain and took about an hour and 15 minutes to complete.

• Drive the Gunflint Trail: This scenic road heads west and leads to several trails and lakes. The Moose Viewing Trail is just shy of a mile long to an observation deck where you can frequently see moose.

• Cascade Falls: A quick 1 mile trail right off the main road with 6 waterfalls—the first you’ll come to is the largest. You can also add onto this trail and make a longer hike out of it. This is a nice and easy trail with great waterfall views.

• North Shore Winery: A winery and cidery under the same roof with a few different tasting options as well and cheese and crackers. The property is pretty and they frequently have live music as well. Tasty wine!

High Falls

Minnesota North Shore Tourist Spots Actually Worth Visiting: 

• Devil’s Kettle Trail at Judge CR Magney State Park: This is a popular trail so be sure to get an early start to avoid the crowds. It is 2.2 miles long with 400ft of elevation gain, mostly in two large chunks of stairs right before you get to the Devil’s Kettle itself. This is a pretty unique sight to see and a definite must while you are in the area. It is $7 to park in the state park and the trail took 50 minutes to complete.

• Fifth Falls and Superior Hiking Loop at Gooseberry Falls State Park: Upper, Middle and Lower Falls can be reached with just a short walk from the parking area so this area is extremely popular. Once you venture beyond these there are very few people and you can get back to Fifth Falls following along the river with nice views. The overall trail is 3 miles long with 300ft of elevation gain, but you could also just do the first 3 waterfalls if you’d like.

• Palisade Head: A nice viewpoint overlooking the shoreline and Lake Superior. You can also see Shovel Point and Little Palisade from here.

• Brighton Beach: Rocky beach on Lake Superior just north of Duluth. Nice walking trail, picnic tables, benches.

Canoeing in the Boundary Waters

Other Minnesota North Shore Things To Do:​​​

• Pincushion Mountain Overlook Trail: This is a 4.2 mile long trail with 450ft of elevation gain. It is off the Gunflint Trail and takes about an hour and a half to complete. This was a pretty easy stroll through the woods and a bit boring of a trail. The views from the summit are nice but there are other trails with better views and more exciting trails.

• Castle Danger Brewery: A solid brewery in Two Harbors with a great patio space, frequent food trucks and a good variety of beers on tap.

• Stay at Cascade Lodge: Lutsen was a great base point for exploring the North Shore and I enjoyed renting a cabin here. It was well-priced, clean, and convenient. I would very much so NOT advise the restaurant here though.

• Split Rock Lighthouse: A popular destination with a $12 entrance fee to see the lighthouse.

• Hollow Rock: I am quite sure this is private property but there is a cool hollow rock in the water at a campground!

• Black Beach: A rocky beach that is not in fact black. It is a nice little beach but a bit overhyped.

Ursa Minor Brewing

Duluth Things To Do:

• Duluth was not my favorite. I’d recommend skipping it and driving further up the Minnesota North Shore or driving east to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Overall I found the city to have an unappealing mix of overly touristy and trashy. They also have a massive population of unhoused folks.

• There are lots of parks and seating along the waterfront which is nice. The Lakewalk is a paved trail that runs about 7 miles along the waterfront as well. Here you can see the lift bridge and lighthouse as well.

• Carry a rain jacket if you’re visiting in the summer months—there is a constant mix of rain-sun-rain-sun.

• Big Manitou Falls & Manitou Falls Trail at Pattinson State Park: The largest waterfall in Wisconsin! This state park was nearly empty when I visited and I enjoyed the 3.5 mile long trail with 209ft of elevation gain to Little Manitou Falls and Big Manitou Falls. You can also drive and walk just a short distance to either waterfall if that’s more your style. The park is 30 minutes from Duluth and there is an $11 entrance fee.

• Ursa Minor Brewing Company: The best brewery in Duluth, by far. They have great beers, delicious wood fired pizzas and a fantastic patio space.

• Bent Paddle Brewing Co: A solid brewery with a nice taproom and patio. They have a lovely fireplace, games and frequent food trucks.

• Earth Rider Brewery: A brewery in Superior with dive bar vibes. They have a small food menu and a large outdoor space.

• Enger Tower: A tower in a park with views of all of Duluth and Superior.

• Yellow Bike Coffee: A coffee shop with multiple locations in Duluth. The Fitgers location is on the river at the back of the large Fitgers complex. Heads up they do not have food although it is advertised that they do.

• Duluth Coffee Company: A small coffee shop in downtown Duluth with tasty beverages.

• Positively 3rd Street Bakery: A nice little organic bakery.

• Vikre Distillery: A cocktail bar crafting their own liquors.

• Blacklist Brewing Company: A mediocre brewery in the heart of Duluth with a nice, open taproom and a small tap list.

• Hoops Brewing Company: A mediocre brewery inside a hotel in downtown Duluth. They have a large open space with a huge tap list and a small seasonal biergarten in the back.

• Canal Park Brewing Company: A restaurant-style brewery with below average beers + food and terrible service. They have a nice outdoor patio.

Indianapolis, IN

Indianapolis is your classic Midwestern city with lots of space, old factories and chill vibes

Indy Tips:

• Overall Indy is pretty small—in a couple of days you can see a lot of the city and accomplish a lot.

• Be sure to sign up for the Indy Craft Pass, a mobile passport that will take you to the best breweries, distilleries, and craft beverage producers in the area. Get a free Indy Craft Pass t-shirt for checking in at eight of participating locations or check in at 35 locations and receive a handmade Indy Craft Pass beer stein.

Adventures & Ales Top Indianapolis Recommendations: 

• Guggman Haus Brewing Co.: The best beer in Indy! Guggman Haus has a cute spot with a cozy indoor taproom and spacious patio. The tap list is IPA heavy and the beers were fantastic. They also have an onsite kitchen, The Cabin Kitchen.

• 18th Street Brewery: A great brewery based in Hammond with a taproom in East Indy. They have a small food menu and cocktails as well. They are mainly focused on IPAs and Stouts.

• Sun King Brewery: A distribution-focused brewery near Fountain Square. Their beers are good overall and their biggest seller is their Cream Ale. Their industrial taproom also has food available via the La Margarita outpost.

• Centerpoint Brewing Company: A solid brewery in the Circle City Industrial Complex. There is also a distillery, bar, fowling, chocolate shop, and other small businesses here.

• Bovaconti Coffee: A cute coffeeshop in Fountain Square with pastries and great drinks.

18th Street Brewery

Indy Tourist Spots Actually Worth Visiting: 

• Indy Cultural Trail: A fun greenway that runs throughout Indy! Walk past museums, memorials, the NCAA Hall of Champions, Monument Circle, and so much more! The Canal Walk at White River State Park is also part of this trail along the river. This is the perfect way to start your day.

• Wander the Fountain Square area—this area is really the heart of Indianapolis and full of shops, bars and restaurants.

• Milktooth: A super popular and delicious spot for breakfast, brunch and lunch! I’d recommend arriving before they open to get in line because it gets insanely busy. You can snag a coffee from the coffee bar while you wait.

Cultural Trail

Other Indianapolis Things To Do:​​​

• 450 North Brewing: A hype brewery in the middle of a corn field specializing in Fruited Sours. 450 North is about an hour south of Indy, but worth a visit while you’re in the area. They have a huge tap list and a cool farm set-up. They also have a full food menu and a winery.

• Daredevil Brewing Co.: A fun racing themed brewery in Speedway focused on IPAs and Lagers. They also have pizzas and a nice outdoor space.

• Scarlet Lane Brewing Gastropub: This brewery has four locations across the area. Their Bellefontaine Street is an interesting spot that is quiet. Their tap list is full of very unique beers that were surprisingly delicious.

Milwaukee, WI

Milwaukee is a small Midwestern city full of breweries and good vibes

MKE Tips: 

• Milwaukee has a ton of breweries so if you are visiting for a beer trip be sure to plan ahead so you’re not hopping back and forth between neighborhoods.

• Overall the city is pretty small so you could easily get by without a car.

• Summer is the ideal time to visit—the temperatures never get too high, there is relatively low humidity, there are pop-up beer gardens and events and the city is super bike friendly.

• A lot of places have weird hours or are closed during some weekdays, so be sure to triple check opening hours before visiting.

• Planning a Wisconsin road trip? Check out my Madison beer and travel guide here!

• Milwaukee is only 1.5 hours north of Chicago! Check out my Chicago beer and travel guide here!

Adventures & Ales Top Milwaukee Recommendations: 

• Lakefront Brewery: A very popular brewery on the river with waterfront seating and a large taproom. They have a full food menu and the cheese curds are superb. Inside it is a German bier hall style set-up with long tables and high ceilings. They also offer tours.

• Eagle Park Brewing: A fantastic brewery just across the river from Lakefront Brewery. These were the best beers in all of Milwaukee. They have a nice taproom and a small patio space along with a kitchen and distillery.

• Amorphic Beer: A great brewery a bit off the beaten path on the north side of the city. Their beers are fantastic and they have fun flight boards made at the shop next door. The tap list is mostly focused on IPAs but there is a good variety overall.

• Café Benelux: A popular Belgian restaurant known for their Bloody Mary’s and fun rooftop space. They are located directly across from the Public Market and have great food and drinks.

• Kinn Guesthouse Bay View: A unique hotel that is structured as guest rooms with a communal kitchen and living space. The rooms are loft style and similar to individual apartments. It is a super cute space and right in the heart of the Bay View neighborhood.

  • Sorella: An Italian restaurant on the ground level of the hotel. They have a nice outdoor patio, a pretty bar, a solid beer selection along with wines and cocktails, and a full Italian food menu with pizza, pasta and appetizers.

• Colectivo Coffee: A local chain coffeeshop with great coffee and food. The Bay View location is huge and has an adorable outdoor space.

Milwaukee Art Museum

Milwaukee Tourist Spots Actually Worth Visiting: 

• Milwaukee Art Museum: A cool art museum in a gorgeous building downtown on the water. It is pretty large with a variety of exhibits so I’d recommend setting aside at least a couple of hours to explore. You have to pay for admission and for parking which I thought was quite silly to charge for both. You can park near Discovery World on the street for free and walk over instead.

• Milwaukee Public Market: Your classic public market with restaurants, shops and bars. Go hungry and eat your way through the different stalls.

• Explore the RiverWalk, a trail meandering alongside the river throughout different neighborhoods of the city.

• Bublr Bikes: The best way to get around town! These rentable shared bikes are docked everywhere throughout the city. Overall they are super easy to use and Milwaukee is very bike friendly.

• Explore the Oak Leaf Trail: This 135 mile trail runs throughout the city and is very nice. In the summer there are pop-up beer gardens along the route.

• South Shore Park: A nice area on Lake Michigan with a beach, marina, terrace, playground and more!

Café Benelux

Other Milwaukee Things To Do:​​​

• Central Waters Brewing Co.: This Amherst, WI based brewery also has a Milwaukee taproom in the old Pabst factory. Dairyland has a kitchen here with delicious burgers, fries and more.

• Third Space Brewing: This brewery has a large taproom and a large outdoor space with a massive tap list. They focus on Hazy IPAs but still have a variety of beers overall. Triciclo Peru is their onsite food truck with empanadas.

• Good City Brewing: A brewery with 4 locations in Wisconsin. They have a full food menu, a wide variety of beers and a rooftop.

• The Explorium Brewpub: A restaurant-style brewery that is downtown just across the river from the Public Market. They have a full food menu and solid beers.

• Anodyne Coffee: A cute little neighborhood spot with coffee in the morning and then pizza and cocktails in the evening.

• City Lights Brewing Co.: A brewery in the old city powerhouse with a small tap list, a unique atmosphere and a large patio.

• MobCraft Beer: A brewery that creates crowdsourced beers in the Walker’s Point neighborhood. They also have a kitchen and specials each weekday.

• Vennture Brew Co: A coffee shop and brewery on the west side of the city. It is a nice open air space that is more coffee focused than beer but a good stop overall.

• Broken Bat Brewery: A baseball themed brewery with games and an indoor wiffleball field. They have a pretty large tap list with average beers.

Madison, WI

Madison is a fun college town with a cute downtown and some superb breweries!

Mad City Tips: 

• Hang out on the water! Madison has several lakes in the city so be sure to spend some time enjoying them.

• Madison is definitely a college town, so prepare for Badger everything! As a Michigan State grad it wasn’t my favorite part of the city, but it is fun to see the culture.

• Madison is quite small, you can accomplish a lot in just a day or two!

• Madison is only 1.5 hours west of Milwaukee, another fun city to explore! Check out my Milwaukee beer and travel guide here.

Adventures & Ales Top Madison Recommendations: 

• New Glarus Brewing: New Glarus is 50 minutes south of Madison but 1000% worth going out of your way to visit. This Wisconsin-only brewery is located on a huge, gorgeous property with a beer garden and views of the surrounding farms. There are only a few beers on tap but it is set up where you either pay for 3 tasters or for a pint, and you keep the glass. Spotted Cow is their most popular beer and a must-try. There is a large gift shop with swag and local cheese/snacks for sale to accompany your beers. The Beer Depot downstairs has to-go beer offerings with a large variety of beers and single bottle options as well. They also offer tours to learn more about their giant facility.

• Memorial Union Terrace: A super cute outdoor restaurant, bar and lounge space on the water on UW’s campus. Grab a local beer and hang out on the water! This is also a popular spot to watch the sunset.

• Young Blood Beer Company: A fantastic brewery downtown near the Capitol building. They have chill vibes, a patio space, a kitchen and delicious beers.

• Stay at Mansion Hill Inn! Madison is full of old mansions that have been converted to bed and breakfast spots and Mansion Hill Inn is fantastic. It is a beautiful old space with modern amenities and attentive staff. Your stay also includes a Madison BCycle pass and there is a docking station at the Inn.

• Working Draft Beer Company: A great brewery in the Marquette neighborhood with an IPA-heavy tap list and a nice taproom. They have a small patio space and fantastic beers.

New Glarus Brewing

Madison Tourist Spots Actually Worth Visiting: 

• The Old Fashioned: A famous restaurant in the heart of downtown with extremely delicious cheese curds that have been rated the best in the state. The bar selection is huge and they have a solid draft list as well.

• Ride around town with a Madison BCycle pass! Madison is super bike friendly and there are BCycle docking stations all over to make things easy!

• Explore State Street: This is the heart of downtown and is a cute, walkable area full of restaurants, shops and bars.

• Explore the Arboretum: A large outdoor space with trails, gardens and events.

Colectivo Coffee

Other Madison Things To Do:​​​

• Colectivo Coffee: A local coffee chain with great coffee and food. They have a few locations in town and have nice outdoor seating options.

• If you are visiting in the summer months be sure to check out Concerts on the Square on Wednesday evenings at the Capitol. This is an incredible event that brings together the city with the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra, BYOB drinks and food and drink vendors throughout.

• Bascom Hill: A nice viewpoint at the heart of UW’s campus.

• Hop Haus Brewing: A brewery in Fitchburg on the way to Madison from New Glarus. They have a full kitchen and average beers.

Decorah, IA

Decorah, Iowa Is exactly what you picture when you think of small town america—cute + bustling downtown, the nicest people & quirky charm

Decorah Tips: 

• Visit! Decorah is a small town but it has so many great reasons to visit—lots of outdoorsy activities, a great beer scene and a rich culture.

• Decorah has Norwegian roots so you will see fun connections all throughout town!

• Decorah is close to several cities in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, and more! Add it as a stop to your Midwest road trip.

Adventures & Ales Top Decorah Recommendations: 

• Pulpit Rock Brewing Company: A phenomenal brewery in the heart of downtown Decorah! Pulpit Rock is known for their Sours but every style of beer they make is delicious. They have a small taproom, a nice patio and The Landing Market is a food hall next door owned by the same folks so you can bring your beer over there or your food back to the brewery.

• Toppling Goliath Brewing Company: TG is one of the most highly rated breweries in the country and they are located just 7 minutes from downtown Decorah. They have a restaurant-style set-up with a full food menu and a nice indoor and outdoor space. Their facility is absolutely massive and you can look in on production from large windows in the tap room.

• Magpie Café and Coffeehouse: A super cute spot for breakfast, lunch and coffee on the main strip of downtown. The food and coffee is delicious and the team is incredibly nice. They also have lots of different vegan and vegetarian options.

• Dixie’s Biergarten: Dixie’s is a fun beer bar in the original Toppling Goliath space. They have 31 taps with a great selection of local and non-local craft beers. They also have a fantastic outdoor space with hops and string lights.

• Convergence Cider Works: A fun cidery downtown with their own ciders on tap, a few guest beers and a kitchen. They also have a small back patio and the owners are incredibly nice.

  • The owners also have an Airbnb upstairs that is 2 bedrooms and very cute. This is a great spot to stay while visiting Decorah!

Pulpit Rock Brewing

Decorah Tourist Spots Actually Worth Visiting: 

• Trout Run Trail: An 11-mile loop that goes around the city and crosses trout stream 5 times throughout. The trail ranges from easy to challenging thanks to steep switchbacks in certain areas.

  • Rent a bike from Decorah Bicycles to explore all 11 miles! They also have e-bikes to make things a bit easier if you’d like.

  • Check out Dunnings Springs Waterfall right off the trail to see the 200ft waterfall

  • Palisdes Park is in the same area with trails and scenic overlooks

• Chimney Rock Campground & Canoe Rental: Rent a kayak, canoe or tube and float the Upper Iowa River! You can choose your length of float and they will drive you to a launch and you will end at the campground. They are about 25 minutes northwest of Decorah and it is absolutely gorgeous out on the river!

Dunnings Springs Waterfall

Other Decorah Things To Do:​​​

• Luna Valley Farm: On weekends in the summer and fall they host pizza nights on the farm, make a reservation in advance!

• La Rana: A cute bistro that the locals love. They have a solid beer selection, wine, cocktails, and delicious food.

• PIVO Brewery: PIVO is in neighboring Calmar and has a whopping 39 beers on tap. Their tap list spans all varieties of beer. They also have a food menu and a patio space.

• Decorah hosts an annual Nordic Fest and various Nordic dancing events throughout the year that are truly astonishing to witness—if you are lucky enough to be in town during one be sure to check it out!

Columbus, OH

Columbus is a fun city in the center of Ohio—a sentence I never thought I would say!

Cbus Tips: 

• Remember every time you are planning a trip to the Midwest—you will enjoy your time more if you go from May-October. Winter can be brutal!

• There is a thriving beer scene here! Be sure to plan ahead because you’ll want to target your ideal breweries, it would be nearly impossible to hit them all in one trip!

• Snag a Columbus Ale Trail booklet from pretty much any brewery to get stamps for your purchases and earn free swag!

• Ohio State University is located here so be conscious of football/graduation seasons when planning your trip! [Also be sure to yell Go Green for me if you’re there when they play Michigan State!]

• Columbus definitely has some rough areas so be aware and be safe.

Exploring Ohio? Check out my guides to Cincinnati, Dayton and Cleveland!

Adventures & Ales Top Columbus Recommendations: ​

• Hoof Hearted Brewing: A hype brewery mainly known for their IPAs which are super tasty, but everything they make is generally great. They have two locations in the Columbus area:

  • Marengo, Ohio: Their original location is about 30 minutes northeast of Columbus. They have Oak Hill BBQ onsite, an arcade, front and back patios, and overall chill vibes. This is basically in the middle of nowhere but it is a cool spot to check out.

  • Italian Village Neighborhood: Their downtown spot has fun vibes and even a pool that you can pay $10 to hang out at if you’re not a member of the gym it’s connected to.

• Land Grant Brewing Company: Yummy beers, a massive outdoor beer garden space, and tons of TVs. They also have frequent live music and outdoor movies during the summer months! Rayrays Hog Pit lives onsite for your BBQ needs.

• Gemut Biergarten: A great German biergarten with traditional German food (read: great pretzel) and solid beers.

• Lineage Brewing: A very chill spot with a full food menu without exuding ‘restaurant’ vibes. They’ve also got wine and cocktails for your non-beer friends and frequently host events.

• Emmett’s Café: A fantastic neighborhood café in the Brewery District of Columbus. They have fantastic breakfast/brunch/lunch and coffees and a great outdoor patio in the back. Highly recommend!

• North High Brewing: Super delicious beers at this brewery located in the Short North Arts District. You can also brew your own beer here which is a super fun concept! It can get quite loud and crazy on the weekends as a forewarning.

• Henmick Farm & Brewery: A farm-style brewery in Deleware, Ohio just north of Columbus. They have an extremely nice set up both indoors and out and great beers. There is usually a food truck or you can also bring your own food.

• Wolf’s Ridge Brewing: There are two different entrances to Wolf’s Ridge, one for the taproom and one for the restaurant, so decide what kind of mood you are in and go in the correct door! The taproom side has a smaller food menu and you can get beer from both sides of course!

• 2 Tones Brewing: Delicious beers and a super friendly staff. Worth adventuring out of central Columbus for!

• Somewhere in Particular Brewing: A funky brewery with a nice outdoor space and average beers. They’ve also got a full food menu if you’re hungry!

• Zaftig Brewing: This brewery also has two locations—the original is just north of the city and the newer spot is downtown. During my first visit to the original spot the beers were super impressive and the staff was incredibly friendly. During my visit to the downtown location the beers were not good and the service was terrible. Take that as you will!

Pretentious Barrel House

Columbus Tourist Spots Actually Worth Visiting: ​

• The Book Loft: A giant bookstore with 32 rooms and a cute garden out front!

  • Stauf’s Coffee Roasters is located right next door with delicious coffees and pastries!

  • These are located in the German Village neighborhood which is cute and has several German bars and restaurants

• Scioto Mile: Several parks along the river downtown. It makes for a lovely walk/run/bike ride!

  • Bicentennial Park: If it is summertime and you’ve got kids with you on your trip this is the perfect park to hang out in with water features for them to play in

• North Market: Classic food hall/farmer’s market combo in the heart of the city

  • Jeni’s Ice Cream is located here and will forever be one of my favorite ice cream spots!

  • Barrel and Bottle is a beer shop—you can get a beer on tap and “sip and stroll” the market with it if you want!

• Short North Arts District: A fun neighborhood downtown with all kinds of restaurants, bars, coffee shops, and stores to wander!

• Take a day trip or weekend trip to Hocking Hills! This gorgeous state park is just an hour southeast of Columbus. Check out my recommendations here!

Hoof Hearted Brewing

Other Things To Do in Columbus:​​

• Mission Coffee Co: Cute industrial coffee shop in the Short North Arts District neighborhood

• Endeavor Brewing: I loved the adventure theme at Endeavor but their beers were just average. They had a bunch of board games and they host soccer viewing parties too!

• Seventh Son Brewing: Located just up the street from Hoof Hearted’s downtown location, this brewery has a rooftop bar and frequent food trucks.

• Platform Beer Co: Solid beers, rooftop space, and a little off the beaten path. They’ve got darts and several board games for entertainment. Heads up you have to pay for metered parking here. Unfortunately they sold out to big beer, so support small and local first.

• BrewDog: A Scottish brewery with several outposts in the Columbus area. This brewery has faced a lot of issues with sexism and discrimination, so please support somewhere else first. Prior to all of these issues were surfaced I visited the Franklinton location which is right across the street from Land Grant Brewing. At this location the downstairs had more of a restaurant vibe with a full food menu and upstairs was a rooftop bar. The Doghouse, BrewDog’s craft beer hotel is also located in Columbus.

• There are a TON of other breweries in the area if you have a longer trip—over 45! Check out the map here.

Dayton, OH

Dayton is your classic Small Midwestern City with a few good spots to explore!

Dayton Tips: 

• Dayton is pretty small so I would recommend just a day or two to explore.

• I would recommend trying to stay closer to the university area or downtown! The outskirts of Dayton are not always super safe, so the closer to downtown the better.

• On a road trip through Ohio? Check out my guides to Cincinnati, Columbus, Cleveland, and Hocking Hills!

Adventures & Ales Top Dayton Recommendations:

• The Barrel House: A fantastic beer bar with a killer tap list and phenomenal selection of cans and bottles for on-site consumption or to-go. If you can only go to one place in Dayton this is the number one spot! Highly recommend.

• Branch and Bone Artisanal Ales: A nice little spot with tasty beers and friendly staff members. They have a small dog-friendly patio as well.

• Nowhere in Particular Cabinet of Curiosities: A very funky brewery with some delicious beers and some average beers. Overall I would recommend checking it out. They are dog-friendly inside and out!

The Barrel House

Other things to do in Dayton:

• Warped Wing Brewing Company: A solid brewery in a converted warehouse with a massive tap list. They have a kitchen as well with tasty food! There is no outdoor seating option here so dogs are not welcome.

• Toxic Brew Company: A solid brewery right downtown with a wide range of brews.

• Ghostlight Coffee: A great coffee shop with two locations in town.

The Best Breweries in the Midwest

The Midwest is full of great breweries—let’s be real there’s not much to do from November-March when you are snowed in other than brew and drink great beer. As a result there are some stellar spots spanning across these states!

The best breweries in the Midwest, in no particular order:

Phase Three Brewing Company: Lake Zurich, IL

Speciation Artisan Ales: Grand Rapids, MI

Pulpit Rock Brewing Company: Decorah, IA

Lua Brewing: Des Moines, IA

Forager Brewery: Rochester, MN

Side Project Brewing: Maplewood, MO

Jackie O’s Brewery: Athens, OH

New Glarus Brewing Company: New Glarus, WI

BlackStack Brewing: St. Paul, MN

Transient Artisan Ales: Bridgman, MI

Revolution Brewing: Chicago, IL

Drekker Brewing Company: Fargo, ND

Which of these have you been to? What are your favorites? Let me know in the comments! Cheers—Alexis