Depending where in the city your at, it can take as long to get from one end of Chicago to the other as it can to get to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Milwaukee has an interesting vibe and a much more laid back feel than Chicago. I have yet to visit MKE when it is not cloudy and overcast, which makes it perfect for visiting Colectivo Coffee (http://colectivocoffee.com). Their cortados and espresso shakes are worth the drive alone. Colectivo's lakefront location is in an old pump room where you can still see some of the old machinery alongside coffee roasting equipment.
The Pabst, yes as in PBR mansion is also in Milwaukee, as well hundreds of beautiful old chapels, churches and a basilica. Leon's frozen custard has been a Milwaukee landmark since 1942. Grab some cinnamon custard, bask in its creamy goodness and you'll be back to the city in no time feeling refreshed and dairylishious.
And of course a visit to the Cheesehead state would not be complete without a stop at one of it's cheese factories, marts, emporium's or castles where you can purchase hundreds of kinds of cheese as well as cheese popcorn, cheese pastries, and cheese curds and lots of sausage. The Mars Cheese Castle even has a pub, because what goes better with cheese than a pint?
