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View of the illuminated Wisconsin State Capitol dome at sunset from a plaza with a large white fountain in Madison.
Wisconsin

Milwaukee & Madison: Wisconsin's Lakeside Gems

Program No. 25646RJ
Itinerary
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. Read More.
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
Duration
8 days
7 nights
What's Included
17 meals ( 7B, 5L, 5D )
1 expert-led lecture
15 expert-led field trips
1 hands-on experience
An experienced Group Leader
7 nights of accommodations
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
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Activity Note
Hotel check-in from 4:00 p.m. Remember to bring your name tag.
Afternoon:
Program Registration: 3:00-5:00 p.m. After you check in and have your room assignment, join us at the Road Scholar table to meet with program staff, get any updated information, and confirm the time and location of the Orientation session. If you arrive late, please locate your Group Leader and let them know you have arrived. Orientation: 5:00 p.m. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. We will learn from the Group Leader and a series of local experts who will give lectures and lead field trips. Transportation for program-related activities will be via motorcoach unless specified otherwise. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.
Dinner:
In our private hotel meeting room.
Evening:
At leisure. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night's rest for the day ahead.
Activity Note
Walking up to 3 miles throughout the day. Getting on/off a streetcar and riverboat.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We will embark this morning via public transit to the Historic Third Ward District. Before Milwaukee became the developed city we see today, it was a vast marshland that was parceled out and sold to businessmen in 1833. Along our walk, we will learn about the Bridge Wars, the Great Third Ward Fire of 1892, and the history of the American Candy Co. in this historic district.
Lunch:
For lunch, we will head to the Public Market, a culinary hub in Milwaukee. We’ll have the opportunity to explore the two-story market building before we gather for a culinary experience.
Afternoon:
After lunch, we will embark on a walking exploration along the Milwaukee Riverwalk. The Group Leader will narrate our walk and point out important landmarks. Then, we will embark on a 90-minute narrated boat ride on the Milwaukee River.
Dinner:
On your own.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Walking up to 2 miles in museums. Getting on/off a motorcoach. Walking to meals.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
After breakfast, we will travel via motorcoach to the Pabst Mansion for an expert-led walk of the estate. The patriarch of the Pabst family, Johann Gottlieb Friedrich Pabst (born 1836), was a ship’s captain from the Kingdom of Prussia who immigrated to Wisconsin. He is most notably known for being the namesake for the Pabst Brewing Company; however, the company was actually started by his father-in-law and was renamed after Pabst became the president of the company in 1873. Built in 1892 by the Pabst family, this mansion was almost destroyed in the 1970s to make way for a parking lot. Fortunately, it was preserved instead and placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. While the Pabst brewing location in Milwaukee is now closed, the mansion still holds the legacy of the Milwaukee Pabst family.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
After lunch, we’ll explore the Milwaukee Public Museum with a local expert. The Milwaukee Public Museum can be traced back to the mid-1800s when it was the German-English Academy; it officially opened to the public as a museum in 1884. Today, this museum has a plethora of collections and topics to explore. Afterwards, we’ll head back to the hotel for some down time before dinner.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant.
Evening:
Returning to the hotel, the remainder of the evening is at leisure.
Activity Note
Walking on uneven terrain, up to 2 miles in museums. Getting on/off a motorcoach.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
This morning, we will head out via motorcoach to visit the Mitchell Park Horticultural Conservatory, also known locally as “the domes.” We will embark on a docent-led journey through the three domes – each boasting with a unique biome inside. We will explore the tropical dome, with over 1,000 species of rainforest flora; the desert dome, where we will see various types of Southwestern plants like cacti; and the floral show dome, which changes throughout the year. (Please note, the floral dome closes sporadically throughout the year for new displays. We will be unable to view this dome if we visit during transition week.)
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
Next, we will travel to the Milwaukee Art Museum, a uniquely shaped building on the shores of Lake Michigan. A docent will walk us through the numerous collections that are on display. Later in the afternoon, we’ll head to Sprecher Brewing Company, the oldest craft brewery in Milwaukee. Sprecher founder, Randy Sprecher, started his brewing career at Pabst before leaving in 1984 to start his own company in 1985. Today, Sprecher is one of the biggest brewing companies in the region, and the only brewery to use fire brewing to create their craft beers and sodas. During our visit, we will have the opportunity to hear about the Sprecher brewing process and sample some Sprecher beers and sodas.
Dinner:
This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to have what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.
Evening:
At leisure. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.
Activity Note
Walking up to 2 miles throughout the day. Getting on/off a motorcoach.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We will check out of our Milwaukee hotel, load our luggage into the motorcoach, and head to our next destination: Madison, Wisconsin. Upon arriving to Madison, we will stop at the state’s Capitol building for a docent-led exploration of the grounds. We will visit the Capitol’s observation deck (weather dependent) for panoramic views of the city. We’ll be able to see the isthmus that Madison sits upon, situated perfectly between Lake Monona and Lake Mendota. Next, we will depart the Capitol on foot for our cheese tasting class. A cheese expert will lead us through an hour-long class to learn about different types of cheeses, the cheese-making process, the stories of artisan cheesemakers, and the unique characteristics of Wisconsin cheese. Additionally, a variety of Wisconsin cheeses will be available for tasting. After our class, we will explore State Street, where the Group Leader will point out notable places for our free afternoon.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
After lunch, we will regroup and depart for our hotel to get settled in our rooms. The rest of the afternoon is free for you to explore the city.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Short 1-mile hike over uneven terrain, walking up to two miles at Taliesin. Getting on/off a motorcoach.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We will depart via motorcoach for Devil’s Lake State Park, the largest state park in Wisconsin. Devil’s Lake State Park is known for its high quartzite bluffs, formed by large glacial deposits during the last ice age. Research suggests that the first human activity from the native Ho-Chunk people could date back to 300,000 years ago, before the last glacial ice receded. The Group Leader will lead a short, 1-mile hike around the lakeshore.
Lunch:
Boxed lunches at Devil's Lake State Park.
Afternoon:
After lunch, we will head to Spring Green, Wisconsin to explore Taliesin. With a local expert, we’ll explore the Frank Lloyd Wright Visitor’s Center and the 800-acre Taliesin Estate, which was Wright’s home for 48 years from 1911 until 1959. The estate features buildings that represent his work across his career as it served as a laboratory for architectural design and innovation. We’ll then head back to our hotel before dinner.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Walking up to 2 miles on uneven terrain. Getting on/off a motorcoach; city driving.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We will head to one of the country’s best farmers’ markets – Dane County Farmers’ Market, held at the State Capitol. We will wander the market, noting the local produce and local cheese producers. The Group Leader will allow some time for you to explore and talk to vendors on your own. After the Farmers’ Market, we will depart via motorcoach to visit the University of Wisconsin-Madison. We will explore the history of Madison, Wisconsin through the 12,000 years of Ho-Chunk perspective and learn about the effigy mounds. Effigy mounds are sacred monuments, often built into the shapes of animals or spirits, that symbolized burial mounds or another deep meaning for those who constructed them. Wisconsin has the largest concentration of effigy mounds in the world - approximately 4,000 effigy mounds across the state – however it’s estimated that only 200 remain in Madison. Please remember that while the effigy mounds are publicly accessible, they are sacred sites. Consider using this visit as a moment of peace and reflection.
Lunch:
Free time. This period of time has been set aside for your personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. Please refer to the list of Free Time Opportunities. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Please note that the period scheduled for free time is subject to change depending on local circumstances and opportunities for independent exploration.
Afternoon:
On your own.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant. Share favorite experiences and enjoy camaraderie with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.
Evening:
At leisure. Prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.
Activity Note
Hotel check-out by 12:00 Noon.
Breakfast:
At the hotel. This concludes our program.
Morning:
If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to like our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!
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