Add another accolade to Milwaukee’s trophy case.
National Geographer named Brew City one of 25 best places to travel in 2023 in the annual Best of the World list, published online on October 26.
Milwaukee made the list community categorylesser-visited destinations “that stand out for their community-led conservation efforts, groundbreaking work in ecotourism, sustainability and inclusive travel, and meaningful ways travelers can give back.”
The article called Milwaukee “the Great Lakes city to watch,” noting that it “combines blue-collar strength and empowering energy with a tight-knit creative community.” Featured destinations include Harley-Davidson MuseumRiverwalk, Deer District (and 2021 World Champion Milwaukee Bucks), neighborhoods like Bronzeville and Historic Third Ward, Public market, The Art Museum and of course breweries.
More:18 things to do in Milwaukee when you have guests in town
More:7 hotels in Wisconsin recognized by Conde Nast Traveler as among the best in the country
“Milwaukee has every reason to be proud of this. This is especially rewarding because of the global perspective Nat Geo provides in its “World’s Best” ratings, Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson said in a press release. “There is much to love about our city, and we should never lose sight of the fact that Milwaukee is a truly great place.”
Milwaukee was one of five U.S. destinations on National Geographic’s list and the only place in the Midwest.
This isn’t the first time Milwaukee has been named a great place to visit. Earlier this year, the New York Times included Bronzeville on its list of 52 places to visit this year. Before the pandemic reached the United States, Forbes named it one of the best cities to visit in 2020 and the Wall Street Journal named it one of the 10 places to visit in 2020 before everyone else does . Airbnb and Thrillist also included Milwaukee on their lists of cities to visit in 2020.
The 2020 honors came as more eyes turned to Milwaukee ahead of the city hosting the 2020 Democratic National Convention — a convention that turned out to be mostly virtual. The city will receive more attention in the coming years as it prepares to host the 2024 Republican National Convention.
“Milwaukee is home to many hidden gems that don’t get enough attention. Whether it’s our museums, sports teams, breweries, restaurants, summer festivals, beaches or Milwaukee County park system, we truly have something for everyone,” County Executive David Crowley said in a news release. “Over the past few years, these amenities have made our region a destination for large-scale events such as American Triathlon, Red Bull Flugtag and national political conventions. This prestigious distinction will attract even more events and more travelers landing at MKE Airport to explore our world-class city.
Contact Chelsey Lewis at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter at @chelseylew AND @TravelMJS and Facebook at Ranger’s Travel Journal.
More:From visits to the zoo to festivals to the lake, here are the free things to do around Milwaukee
