If possible, any visit to Milwaukee should be planned around Summerfest in late June/early July. Also, the new Harley-Davidson Museum will have to be fit in with any of these!

Day 1

Start off with a Friday dinner of German food and then the sunrise illuminating your walk to the winged Santiago Calatrava addition to the Milwaukee Art Museum. After a stroll/bike/drive north along the grand lakefront to the museums overlooking the north end atop the bluff line, it’s time for lunch in the funky Brady Street area.

In the afternoon, try to wander the Riverwalk before a dinner at one of Milwaukee’s legendary fish fries.

Day 2

Start out with Discovery World at Pier Wisconsin as you learn the ins and outs of lake ecology, followed several hours later by lunch/strolling in the Historic Third Ward. Take a river boat tour of the rivers and harbor.

Day 3

Go west, traveler—first to the museums and chapels of Marquette University. You’ll absolutely have to take a tour of Miller Brewing next. By now, you can either head for the nationally renowned Milwaukee County Zoo just to the south or catnap for an evening Brewers baseball game at the retro-futuristic Miller Park.

Day 4

It’s time to hit the lovely green spaces that Milwaukee should be famous for. You have two options. Choose between superb Whitnall Park and Mitchell Park Conservatory (a.k.a. the Domes) or consider the Schlitz Audubon Center. Return to the lakefront, rent a bike, and strike off on the worthy Oak Leaf Trail.

Day 5

The next day is a leisurely appreciation of the Old World neighborhoods laden with Cream City brick; take a two-hour Historic Milwaukee Inc. (828 N. Broadway, 414/277-7795, www.historicmilwaukee.org) walking tour. The best architecture is next: Pabst Mansion.

Day 6

Scenic auto stuff is fills the last full day, when the legs are weary. West of town one could visit Ten Chimneys, the retreat of Lynne Fontaine and Alfred Lunt, followed by a pilgrimage to the inspiring Holy Hill and a scenic drive through Kettle Moraine State Forest. Or drive north along the picturesque coast to the town that time forgot—Cedarburg.

With time left over—relax! (People never do that!)