Get the app

Wisconsin, United States

Bradford Beach & the Lakefront

A Jan 1 on Lake Michigan: the noon plunge, a lighthouse walk and a matinee. We have mapped 3 sights, 2 activities and 1 outdoor spot here, each with a reason to go.

Plan Bradford Beach & the Lakefront with friendsBrowse 7 places
Bradford Beach & the Lakefront, Wisconsin, United States
Places
7

3 See · 2 Do · 1 Outdoors · 1 Eat

Curated routes
1

Milwaukee New Year's Eve

Best season
Dec 30 – Jan 1

from our route notes

Warmest month
July

28°C / 83°F avg high

Coolest month
January

-2°C / 28°F avg high

Wettest month
June

about 125 mm rain

Climate: NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages for Milwaukee, the nearest city we track.

Things to do in Bradford Beach & the Lakefront

7 places from our curated routes, grouped by what you will do there. Each one has its own page with the address and full notes.

See

3 sights worth building a day around across Lake Park, East Side and Lakefront.

  • North Point Lighthouse in Bradford Beach & the LakefrontPhoto: Michael Barera · CC BY-SA 4.0
    See

    North Point Lighthouse

    1888 lighthouse in Lake Park on the bluff above the lake, now a small maritime museum.

    Tip The grounds are open year-round; check museum hours before you plan to climb the tower.

    • Lake Park
    • $
    • 45 min
    • Afternoon
  • See

    Villa Terrace

    1920s Italian Renaissance-style villa above the lake, now a decorative arts museum with terraced gardens.

    Tip Check Jan 1 hours; the garden stairs give a long view over the lakefront.

    • East Side
    • $
    • 60 min
    • Afternoon
  • Milwaukee Art Museum in Bradford Beach & the LakefrontPhoto: thirdsphoto · CC BY 2.0
    See

    Milwaukee Art Museum

    Lakefront art museum whose Calatrava-designed Quadracci Pavilion opens its winglike brise soleil by day.

    Tip Check holiday hours; even when closed, the pavilion is worth seeing from the lakefront path.

    • Lakefront
    • $$
    • 2 hr
    • Midday

Do

2 activities for when the group wants to do more than look in East Side.

  • Polar Bear Plunge at Bradford Beach in Bradford Beach & the LakefrontPhoto: Dori · CC BY-SA 3.0 us
    Do

    Polar Bear Plunge at Bradford Beach

    Free New Year's Day plunge into Lake Michigan at noon, a Milwaukee tradition that draws hundreds every year.

    Tip Watch from the bluff path above the beach if you would rather stay dry.

    • East Side
    • Free
    • 60 min
    • Noon
  • Do

    Oriental Theatre

    1927 movie palace on Farwell Avenue with an elaborate East Indian-style interior, still showing films daily.

    Tip A warm way to finish Jan 1 after the plunge.

    • East Side
    • $
    • 2.5 hr
    • Late afternoon

Outdoors

1 outdoor spot for fresh air in East Side.

  • Outdoors

    Lake Park

    Olmsted-designed bluff park above Bradford Beach, with ravine bridges and lake overlooks.

    Tip Walk the bluff path north from the lighthouse for the widest lake views.

    • East Side
    • Free
    • 60 min
    • Afternoon

Eat

Where we would book a table in Bradford Beach & the Lakefront in Lakefront.

  • Eat

    Colectivo Lakefront

    Coffee shop and cafe in the 1888 Milwaukee River Flushing Station on Lincoln Memorial Drive, with lake views.

    Tip Get a hot drink here before or after the plunge; it is a short drive south of the beach.

    • Lakefront
    • $
    • 45 min
    • Morning

How to fit Bradford Beach & the Lakefront into a trip

Bradford Beach & the Lakefront is stop 2 of 2 on our Milwaukee New Year's Eve route. Follow it as-is or lift Bradford Beach & the Lakefront into your own plan.

Weather by month, based on Milwaukee

Our climate figures for Bradford Beach & the Lakefront come from Milwaukee, about 4 km (2 mi) away. Average daily highs run from -2°C / 28°F in January to 28°C / 83°F in July. June is the wettest month, with about 125 mm of rain. Outlined months fall in the best season on our routes.

Average daily highs, NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages for Milwaukee. Milwaukee weather (covers Bradford Beach & the Lakefront) →

Near Bradford Beach & the Lakefront

8 other destinations from our guides within about 250 km (155 mi), measured in a straight line.

Bradford Beach & the Lakefront questions, answered

How many days do you need in Bradford Beach & the Lakefront?

On our Milwaukee New Year's Eve route it is stop 2 of 2 in a 3-day trip. Split evenly, that is about 2 days here, an estimate rather than a rule. The listed visit times for our 7 places add up to roughly 9 hours, before travel between them, so you will need to choose.

What is Bradford Beach & the Lakefront best known for?

A Jan 1 on Lake Michigan: the noon plunge, a lighthouse walk and a matinee. Standouts on our list: North Point Lighthouse (1888 lighthouse in Lake Park on the bluff above the lake, now a small maritime museum); Villa Terrace (1920s Italian Renaissance-style villa above the lake, now a decorative arts museum with terraced gardens); Milwaukee Art Museum (Lakefront art museum whose Calatrava-designed Quadracci Pavilion opens its winglike brise soleil by day).

When is the best time to visit Bradford Beach & the Lakefront?

Our Milwaukee New Year's Eve route is best Dec 30 – Jan 1. NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages for nearby Milwaukee put the warmest highs in July (28°C / 83°F), the coolest in January (-2°C / 28°F) and the most rain in June (about 125 mm).

What are the best things to do in Bradford Beach & the Lakefront?

Start with Polar Bear Plunge at Bradford Beach, North Point Lighthouse, Lake Park, Villa Terrace and Oriental Theatre. Our guide lists 7 places in all, from 3 sights, 2 activities, 1 outdoor spot and 1 place to eat.

What is near Bradford Beach & the Lakefront?

The closest destinations in our guides are Milwaukee (about 4 km / 2 mi), Deer District & Downtown Milwaukee (about 4 km / 3 mi) and Lincoln Park (about 128 km / 80 mi). Distances are straight-line estimates, not road distances.

Plan Bradford Beach & the Lakefront with your crew

Open the Milwaukee New Year's Eve route in TripsCircle, invite friends with a link, settle which of these 7 places make the cut with a quick poll, then split costs and share one packing list.

Get TripsCircle

Plan around Bradford Beach & the Lakefront

More in United States

Plan it together

Plan Bradford Beach & the Lakefront