Go on exciting day trips in your Ford Escape, EcoSport, or Edge from Cudahy, WI, and enjoy loads of fun. Walk through the giant glass domes and view over a thousand plant species, stroll down an alley with colorful murals and through a garden filled with metal sculptures, and put on your hiking boots to discover the untouched natural beauty of Wisconsin.
1. The Mitchell Park Horticultural Conservatory
Just down the road at 524 S Layton Boulevard in Milwaukee is a unique botanical garden with over 1,000 plant species protected by three massive geodesic domes. In the late 1800s, Alexander Mitchell, once the wealthiest man in the state, built the first horticultural conservatory in Wisconsin and opened Mitchell's Grove, his own park. After his death, the city bought 30 acres of the park and opened the Mitchell Park Horticultural Conservatory.
The three giant glass domes were completed in 1965 and has large fans to prevent overheating and allow 85 percent light through. Each dome has a theme and rotating seasonal displays of exotic, tropical, and indigenous plants. The Mitchell Park Horticultural Conservatory is open Monday to Friday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. and on weekends from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
2. Black Cat Alley
Another exciting place to visit on Milwaukee's East Side is Black Cat Alley, an outdoor art gallery behind the historic Oriental Theatre. Take a stroll down North Avenue to the Ivanhoe intersection and enter the Black Cat Alley close to Sip 'n Purr Cafe. You will be astonished by how 24 artists from all over the world could transform a dreary alley into a street art masterpiece.
The Alley is in a bustling area, so before you head home, browse through the many little interesting shops and pop in at the famous Sip 'n Purr Cafe, the only walk-in cat lounge in the city for a bite to eat.
3. Mequon Nature Preserve
The breathtaking 510-acre Mequon Nature Preserve at 8200 W. County Line Road in Mequon stretches out over natural beech and maple forests, wooded wetlands, and restored prairies and protects the indigenous plant and wildlife of the region. It's a fantastic place to explore on foot down the six miles of scenic trails that wind past pristine ponds, through beautiful woodlands, and meadows carpeted with wildflowers.
Enjoy a panoramic view of the park from the observation tower, learn more about the conservation efforts, plants, and wildlife at the PieperPower Education Center, and enjoy a peaceful picnic in nature. The PieperPower Education Center is open Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The nature trails are open from sunrise to sunset.
4. Bobrowitz Spectacular Sculpture Garden
Take a drive out to N93W29174 Woodchuck Way in Colgate to take a leisurely stroll through the whimsical Bobrowitz Spectacular Sculpture Garden. Paul Bobrowitz created this six-acre treasure over many decades out of metal, and each colorful sculpture tells a different story.
There is an array of metal monsters, animals, and even astonishing stainless steel kinetic pieces. Bobrowitz Spectacular Sculpture Garden is open daily in the summer from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m and the rest of the year from 9 a.m. until dusk.
Jump in your Ford, drive out to fantastic destinations, and discover a new world of fascinating things. Before you pack your car to go on an unforgettable trip, drive to Ewald's Venus Ford today for a maintenance service to ensure your vehicle is in tip-top shape.
