Milwaukee by paddle and pedal
The name, Milwaukee, was coined by the city's first forefathers, the Algonkian Indians. It came from the word, Millioki, which means, "Gathering of the waters," in reference to the fact that three rivers, the Milwaukee, Menomonee and Kinnickinnic empty into Lake Michigan in the downtown area.
The Milwaukee River is the artery that carries life to downtown Milwaukee, fostering restaurants, condos, boat docks, team skull boats and the famous Riverwalk. A statue of the Fonz oversees activities on the river now.
One such activity is the daily kayak and canoe trip. For those of you thinking, "I would never do that," you might want to think again. I recently did this with a dozen others, many of whom had never been in a canoe or kayak. To their surprise, they all loved paddling along a shoreline graced with skyscrapers. Our spirits joined those of the Algonkians who paddled before us.
We put in at the Water Street docks of Laacke & Joys Outfitters, which provides safe crafts for beginners and experts, and all other necessary equipment, from life preservers to dry bags for cameras. They provide guide service as well.
The folks in our group paddling for the first time took a few moments to catch their breath and let the butterflies in their stomach disperse. Proceeding upstream from Laacke and Joys, we passed under Wisconsin, Wells and Michigan streets as well as Interstate 43 and several old bridge tender stations with windows two tiers high. Cars rumbled as they made their busy procession over the bridges.
Workers along the banks waved at us. Pedestrians leaned over bridge railings, photographing us while we photographed them. Others sat at tables along the Riverwalk, drinking coffee, reading the paper and talking in spirited fashion. Pontoon boats joined us and kept to the speed limit of 5 mph. Cruise boats and tugboats sat moored along the shore, awaiting their call to duty. And a huge banner along the river advertised the upcoming Milwaukee River Challenge, a rowing regatta, on September 18.
There are many ways to enjoy kayak and canoe ventures. Peaceful lakes are an option as is paddling down a remote stream while deer drink along shore. But don't deny yourself an adventure on the Milwaukee River. You'll find yourself frequently putting your paddle down to take photographs of the skyscrapers, tugboats and bridges. You'll stop just to listen to the sounds of the city. You'll watch that sun bounce off the glass of taller buildings and create myriad reflections on the water. You'll wonder if you're really doing this at all, and you'll be glad you came.
It's fun to people watch along Milwaukee's lakefront. Sailboats, paddle boats and sand volleyball courts attract a buzz of humanity. Then there are the cyclists, inline skaters, buggy pushers, hikers and joggers who utilize the 100-plus miles of trails that nourish the city with its own kind of energy and enthusiasm.
We rented bikes at Crank Daddy's Bicycle Works on Yankee Hill, not far from the lakefront. Our guide Kate Rawsthorne wore beach slippers and a ponytail. Although she could pass for a self-assured teenager, she's actually a lawyer and owner of Brew City Bike Tours.
Rawsthorne guided us down a city street and onto a county park bike trail free of honking horns, menacing traffic and streetlights. In no time we hit the waterfront where Lincoln Memorial Drive lays claim to those volleyball courts at Bradford Beach, sailboats and a good portion of the energy a metro area of 1.6 million can muster.
Biking along Milwaukee's lakefront is effortless, partly because it is flat and partly because it is just so stimulating that you are pumped up. Coffee shops, museums and people thrive there.
We stopped at the Milwaukee Art Museum for a peek out its massive windows at the sailboats flirting with the horizon. Then we were off to Lake Shore State Park, the only state park within the city, to watch the traffic high above us on the Hoan Bridge. A bike trail negotiates the perimeter of the park. A large tepee stands alongside the trail just across the lagoon from the Summerfest grounds, where the world's largest music festival is held each summer.
We biked along the lakefront, past Discovery World, a clipper ship, Veteran's Park, Milwaukee County War Memorial Center and Juneau Park Lagoon, where a ton of paddle boats await fun lovers. At McKinley Park, we crossed Lincoln Memorial Drive near Alterra Coffee, which is harbored in an 1888 cream city pump station building that once tendered the largest water pump in the world.
Then it was up a grinding hill, across a few city streets and back to Crank Daddy's. We reluctantly surrendered our bikes with the hope that the experience could be repeated some day.
• Hyatt Regency-Milwaukee, milwaukee.hyatt.com
• Iron Horse Hotel, theironhorsehotel.com
• Mader's, a German Restaurant, madersrestaurant.com
• Alterra Coffee, alterracoffeepro.com
• Harley-Davidson Museum, harley-davidson.com
• Iron Horse Hotel, theironhorsehotel.com
• Numerous museums, visitmilwaukee.org
• Brew City Bike Tours, brewcitybiketours.com
• Paddling outfitter Laacke and Joys, laackeandjoys.com
• Ethnic festivals, milwaukee.com/festivals
The Milwaukee River is the artery that carries life to downtown Milwaukee, fostering restaurants, condos, boat docks, team skull boats and the famous Riverwalk. A statue of the Fonz oversees activities on the river now.
One such activity is the daily kayak and canoe trip. For those of you thinking, "I would never do that," you might want to think again. I recently did this with a dozen others, many of whom had never been in a canoe or kayak. To their surprise, they all loved paddling along a shoreline graced with skyscrapers. Our spirits joined those of the Algonkians who paddled before us.
We put in at the Water Street docks of Laacke & Joys Outfitters, which provides safe crafts for beginners and experts, and all other necessary equipment, from life preservers to dry bags for cameras. They provide guide service as well.
The folks in our group paddling for the first time took a few moments to catch their breath and let the butterflies in their stomach disperse. Proceeding upstream from Laacke and Joys, we passed under Wisconsin, Wells and Michigan streets as well as Interstate 43 and several old bridge tender stations with windows two tiers high. Cars rumbled as they made their busy procession over the bridges.
Workers along the banks waved at us. Pedestrians leaned over bridge railings, photographing us while we photographed them. Others sat at tables along the Riverwalk, drinking coffee, reading the paper and talking in spirited fashion. Pontoon boats joined us and kept to the speed limit of 5 mph. Cruise boats and tugboats sat moored along the shore, awaiting their call to duty. And a huge banner along the river advertised the upcoming Milwaukee River Challenge, a rowing regatta, on September 18.
There are many ways to enjoy kayak and canoe ventures. Peaceful lakes are an option as is paddling down a remote stream while deer drink along shore. But don't deny yourself an adventure on the Milwaukee River. You'll find yourself frequently putting your paddle down to take photographs of the skyscrapers, tugboats and bridges. You'll stop just to listen to the sounds of the city. You'll watch that sun bounce off the glass of taller buildings and create myriad reflections on the water. You'll wonder if you're really doing this at all, and you'll be glad you came.
It's fun to people watch along Milwaukee's lakefront. Sailboats, paddle boats and sand volleyball courts attract a buzz of humanity. Then there are the cyclists, inline skaters, buggy pushers, hikers and joggers who utilize the 100-plus miles of trails that nourish the city with its own kind of energy and enthusiasm.
We rented bikes at Crank Daddy's Bicycle Works on Yankee Hill, not far from the lakefront. Our guide Kate Rawsthorne wore beach slippers and a ponytail. Although she could pass for a self-assured teenager, she's actually a lawyer and owner of Brew City Bike Tours.
Rawsthorne guided us down a city street and onto a county park bike trail free of honking horns, menacing traffic and streetlights. In no time we hit the waterfront where Lincoln Memorial Drive lays claim to those volleyball courts at Bradford Beach, sailboats and a good portion of the energy a metro area of 1.6 million can muster.
Biking along Milwaukee's lakefront is effortless, partly because it is flat and partly because it is just so stimulating that you are pumped up. Coffee shops, museums and people thrive there.
We stopped at the Milwaukee Art Museum for a peek out its massive windows at the sailboats flirting with the horizon. Then we were off to Lake Shore State Park, the only state park within the city, to watch the traffic high above us on the Hoan Bridge. A bike trail negotiates the perimeter of the park. A large tepee stands alongside the trail just across the lagoon from the Summerfest grounds, where the world's largest music festival is held each summer.
We biked along the lakefront, past Discovery World, a clipper ship, Veteran's Park, Milwaukee County War Memorial Center and Juneau Park Lagoon, where a ton of paddle boats await fun lovers. At McKinley Park, we crossed Lincoln Memorial Drive near Alterra Coffee, which is harbored in an 1888 cream city pump station building that once tendered the largest water pump in the world.
Then it was up a grinding hill, across a few city streets and back to Crank Daddy's. We reluctantly surrendered our bikes with the hope that the experience could be repeated some day.
• Hyatt Regency-Milwaukee, milwaukee.hyatt.com
• Iron Horse Hotel, theironhorsehotel.com
• Mader's, a German Restaurant, madersrestaurant.com
• Alterra Coffee, alterracoffeepro.com
• Harley-Davidson Museum, harley-davidson.com
• Iron Horse Hotel, theironhorsehotel.com
• Numerous museums, visitmilwaukee.org
• Brew City Bike Tours, brewcitybiketours.com
• Paddling outfitter Laacke and Joys, laackeandjoys.com
• Ethnic festivals, milwaukee.com/festivals
1 Comment for "Milwaukee by paddle and pedal"
Actually, that meant you proceeded "downstream".
active2gether Jun 12, 2011 9:31 PM