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Activity East Side, Bradford Beach & the Lakefront

Polar Bear Plunge at Bradford Beach

An activity in East Side, Bradford Beach & the Lakefront, free to visit and worth about an hour. Best time to go: Noon.

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Polar Bear Plunge at Bradford Beach in East Side, Bradford Beach & the Lakefront
Photo: Dori · CC BY-SA 3.0 us · license

Why go

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

It is one of 7 curated places we feature in Bradford Beach & the Lakefront, alongside 3 sights, 1 activity and 1 place to eat. 3 more of our picks sit within about half a mile in a straight line, so it pairs easily with North Point Lighthouse and Lake Park.

Type
Activity · Adventure
Neighborhood
East Side
Price
Free
Time needed
1 hr
Best time
Noon

Nearby

Our closest curated picks, including 1 beyond Bradford Beach & the Lakefront. Distances are straight-line, not walking or driving.

  1. 1
    North Point Lighthouse

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

    Sight · 0.3 mi straight-line
  2. 2
    Lake Park

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

    Outdoors · 0.4 mi straight-line
  3. 3
    Villa Terrace

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

    Sight · 0.5 mi straight-line
  4. 4
    Oriental Theatre

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

    Activity · 0.7 mi straight-line
  5. 5
    Colectivo Lakefront

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

    Food · 0.9 mi straight-line
  6. 6
    Milwaukee RiverWalk

    Riverside path linking the Third Ward and downtown, passing the Bronze Fonz.

    Activity · Milwaukee · 1.2 mi straight-line

On these curated routes

Polar Bear Plunge at Bradford Beach is a stop on our Milwaukee New Year's Eve route. Open it to see the full day-by-day plan.

More to do in Bradford Beach & the Lakefront

Polar Bear Plunge at Bradford Beach is our only activity pick in Bradford Beach & the Lakefront; here is what else we recommend there. See the full Bradford Beach & the Lakefront guide.

When to go: weather by month, based on Milwaukee

Our climate figures for Bradford Beach & the Lakefront come from nearby Milwaukee. Average daily highs in Milwaukee run from 28°F in January to 83°F in July; June is usually the wettest month. For Polar Bear Plunge at Bradford Beach itself, we suggest: Noon.

Modelled monthly averages for Milwaukee from NASA POWER, not a forecast. Milwaukee weather by month (covers Bradford Beach & the Lakefront).

Getting there

Map links open a live search for Polar Bear Plunge at Bradford Beach, so hours and directions come straight from the map app.

Coordinates
43.06167, -87.87306
Destination
Bradford Beach & the Lakefront, Wisconsin

Polar Bear Plunge at Bradford Beach: quick answers

How much time do you need at Polar Bear Plunge at Bradford Beach?

Plan on about an hour at Polar Bear Plunge at Bradford Beach. That is our curated estimate for a typical visit; groups that linger will want more.

When is the best time to visit Polar Bear Plunge at Bradford Beach?

Our pick: Noon. Insider tip: Watch from the bluff path above the beach if you would rather stay dry.

Is Polar Bear Plunge at Bradford Beach free?

Yes, we list Polar Bear Plunge at Bradford Beach as free to visit. Check locally before you go, since special exhibits, parking or tours can carry a fee.

Which TripsCircle routes include Polar Bear Plunge at Bradford Beach?

Polar Bear Plunge at Bradford Beach appears on Milwaukee New Year's Eve, a curated route you can open on TripsCircle and plan with your group.

Add it to your crew's plan

Save it to a shared TripsCircle itinerary, settle the timing with a quick poll, and split the costs with everyone going to Bradford Beach & the Lakefront.

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Lists & regions

Also in Bradford Beach & the Lakefront

Curated recommendation, not live listing data. Confirm hours, prices, bookings and access before you go.