Day One: Eagle/Milwaukee Tour

A shoemaker plies his
trade in Old World
Wisconsin's 1870s
crossroads village.

Begin your sojourn in Eagle, 15 miles south of Interstate-94 on Highway 67 in the beautiful southern unit of Kettle Moraine State Forest. Just south of the village you will find Old World Wisconsin, the Midwest's largest outdoor museum of rural history. The flagship of the Wisconsin Historical Society's network of historic sites, the museum comprises 10 ethnic farmsteads and an 1870s crossroads village that dot 576 acres of rolling prairie and woods. Interpreters outfitted in authentic period attire provide a firsthand look at the lives and times of Wisconsin's pioneer families. Explore award-winning nature trails that wind through a beautiful landscape that abounds with wildlife. Enjoy lunch amid the rustic charm of the octagonal Clausing Barn Restaurant. After lunch, hop onto Highway 59 for the short drive to historic Milwaukee, your overnight destination. Take a stroll through the city's historic Third Ward District, the 19th-century warehouse and manufacturing district that now contains numerous art galleries, antique shops, restaurants and specialty shops. Visit the Milwaukee County Historical Society, on North Old World Third Street in the heart of Third Ward, where you can take in exhibits on Milwaukee's colorful history. Or take a short jaunt just a few blocks away and explore the awesome exhibits of the Milwaukee Public Museum, which cover everything from the city's prehistoric past and Native American history to a walk through "The Streets of Old Milwaukee" exhibit.