Milwaukee is one of the most up-and-coming cities in America, but we have to warn you, living here might ruin you forever. We’re a Midwestern city with a lot of habits that are hard to break. Here are 10 ways living in Milwaukee will change you for life.
- Winters will scar you forever.
Maggie Tacheny / Flickr …in the best and worst ways possible. We’ve had some memorable winters, being completely snowed in and having dangerously freezing temperatures. On the other hand, winters in Milwaukee are more beautiful than anywhere else, and it’s an experience to be had.
- For being a large city, Milwaukee feels small.
erik aldrich / Flickr With a population of nearly 600,000 people, Milwaukee is no small city. Nevertheless, everything about Milwaukee feels accessible. Almost everywhere is a short bike ride apart, and you can get wherever you need to be in 15 minutes or less. It’s a hard trait to find in an ever-growing city these days.
- There’s a bar on almost every corner. Seriously.
adaenn / Flickr It’s pretty well-known that Wisconsin has more bars than grocery stores. Milwaukee’s nightlife, and honestly, daylife, is unlike anywhere else. With a bar in walking distance of any point in the city, and a good crowd any night of the week, there’s just absolutely nowhere that has a drinking culture like Milwaukee.
- The parks are gorgeous, and they’re everywhere.
Indy Kethdy / Flickr Milwaukee has over 100 county parks, and they’re all absolutely gorgeous. Living in the city often makes you miss the outdoors, but we still have nature everywhere we go.
- The sweet, sweet sound of music.
Summerfest / Facebook Being home to the world’s largest music festival, Summerfest, Milwaukeeans have grown accustomed to being surrounded by great music at any given time. It’s not unusual to stop into a bar for a drink and there to be an amazing local band playing. Music is everywhere in Milwaukee
- The art culture here is booming.
David B. Gleason / Flickr Milwaukee is easy on the eyes. Everywhere you go there’s a mural to be seen, a gallery to stroll into, and a museum to be visited. Even local shops and restaurants are filled with local artist’s work. Milwaukee is beautiful inside and out.
- It’s easy to forget how awesome living on water is.
icarus_shift / Flickr Having a Great Lake in your backyard is something you’ll never want to take for granted. Being able to easily go boating, fishing, or just relax on the beach beats living anywhere else.
- The coffee can’t be beat.
Anodyne Coffee Roasting Co. / Facebook There are few places with a better coffee scene than Milwaukee’s. Wherever you go, there’s a local roaster and an amazing cup of joe to be had with welcoming people. Everything about our coffee culture gives you warm and fuzzy feelings of home.
- Neighbors are the most neighborly.
Petra Bensted / Flickr Being a Midwestern city, it’s hard to get rid of our Midwestern charm. Milwaukeeans are always willing to help out when no one else will. A Milwaukee neighbor is a neighbor for life.
- Summers are enjoyed full-force.
Gideon Tsang / Flickr Winters in Milwaukee are long, and summers are short, but no one here will ever take it for granted. A Milwaukee summer is an experience to be had. After being buried beneath snow for months at a time, the city truly comes to life, and it’s a celebration all summer long.
Has living in Milwaukee ruined you, and how so? Let us know in the comments!
Maggie Tacheny / Flickr
…in the best and worst ways possible. We’ve had some memorable winters, being completely snowed in and having dangerously freezing temperatures. On the other hand, winters in Milwaukee are more beautiful than anywhere else, and it’s an experience to be had.
erik aldrich / Flickr
With a population of nearly 600,000 people, Milwaukee is no small city. Nevertheless, everything about Milwaukee feels accessible. Almost everywhere is a short bike ride apart, and you can get wherever you need to be in 15 minutes or less. It’s a hard trait to find in an ever-growing city these days.
adaenn / Flickr
It’s pretty well-known that Wisconsin has more bars than grocery stores. Milwaukee’s nightlife, and honestly, daylife, is unlike anywhere else. With a bar in walking distance of any point in the city, and a good crowd any night of the week, there’s just absolutely nowhere that has a drinking culture like Milwaukee.
Indy Kethdy / Flickr
Milwaukee has over 100 county parks, and they’re all absolutely gorgeous. Living in the city often makes you miss the outdoors, but we still have nature everywhere we go.
Summerfest / Facebook
Being home to the world’s largest music festival, Summerfest, Milwaukeeans have grown accustomed to being surrounded by great music at any given time. It’s not unusual to stop into a bar for a drink and there to be an amazing local band playing. Music is everywhere in Milwaukee
David B. Gleason / Flickr
Milwaukee is easy on the eyes. Everywhere you go there’s a mural to be seen, a gallery to stroll into, and a museum to be visited. Even local shops and restaurants are filled with local artist’s work. Milwaukee is beautiful inside and out.
icarus_shift / Flickr
Having a Great Lake in your backyard is something you’ll never want to take for granted. Being able to easily go boating, fishing, or just relax on the beach beats living anywhere else.
Anodyne Coffee Roasting Co. / Facebook
There are few places with a better coffee scene than Milwaukee’s. Wherever you go, there’s a local roaster and an amazing cup of joe to be had with welcoming people. Everything about our coffee culture gives you warm and fuzzy feelings of home.
Petra Bensted / Flickr
Being a Midwestern city, it’s hard to get rid of our Midwestern charm. Milwaukeeans are always willing to help out when no one else will. A Milwaukee neighbor is a neighbor for life.
Gideon Tsang / Flickr
Winters in Milwaukee are long, and summers are short, but no one here will ever take it for granted. A Milwaukee summer is an experience to be had. After being buried beneath snow for months at a time, the city truly comes to life, and it’s a celebration all summer long.
If this hasn’t deterred you from living here, check out the best places to live in Milwaukee.
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