Your guide to activities and fun things to do with your preschoolers, toddlers and kids in milwaukee, WI

Top Five Things Not To Miss at the State Fair

by Amy Jo Jones

August 04, 2009

It's August and that means it's time for the Wisconsin State Fair.

The 158th edition of the Fair begins Thursday morning and runs through Aug. 16 at State Fair Park. Here are some of the events you just won't want your kids to miss. (See the State Fair's Website for details. Some events may have a seperate fee that applies.) http://www.wistatefair.com/09_web/index.html

1. CHILDREN’S FAMILY FUN ZONE
For a wide range of activities and inflatable fun, take the kids to the Children’s Family Fun Zone
operated by Music on the Move Plus. There are two Children’s Family Fun Zones located near the
northwest side of the Wisconsin Exposition Center and on the east side of the Wisconsin Exposition Center. 

2. RIDE THE SLIDE
The slide isn’t just for kids, but they will definitely love it! You can't miss the giant green and yellow slide and it's such a part of the true Fair experience.

3. DON'T EAT YOUR VEGGIES...YET

At the Ag Oasis, between the Coliseum and the Wisconsin Products Pavilion, kids can pick a vegetable and race with it. It’s fun for the whole family and parents can cheer on their youngster and their veggie as they race to cross the finish line! Races take place throughout the day.

4. WE ENERGIES ENERGY PARK
Filled with all sorts of exciting and educational programming for Fairgoers, We Energies Energy Park is a wonderful setting to enjoy horticulture expert Melinda Myers, Sky Hunters “Birds of Prey,” the Energy Game Show, Sensational Servings with Chef Mark and the Solar Car Race. Plus, We Energies provides FREE Safety Wristbands for Children from 8am until 8pm daily. We Energies Energy Park is located on the west side of the Fair Park along Wetley Way.

5. NATURAL RESOURCES PARK
The Natural Resources Park is located just west of the Wisconsin Exposition Center on the south side of the Fair Park and is a wonderful experience for kids and families. The Natural Resources Park provides a beautiful and green natural setting while also offering a variety of interactive and fun activities for children.

Don't forget your sunscreen, drink plenty of water, wear your comfy shoes and have a great time!
 

Best Places to Stop and Smell the Roses

by Amy Jo Jones

July 28, 2009

What better way to teach your kids to have an appreciation of different plants and flowers while showing them that in learning to care for a garden, you are also learning how to better care for the Earth? Tour a garden.

This summer the flowers are in bloom. Here are some of the most popular flower gardens/exhibits for you to visit:

Boerner Botanical Gardens in Whitnall Park
Mitchell Park Horticultural Conservatory (also known as The Domes)
Wehr Nature Center in Whitnall Park
Nature in the Parks
Urban Ecology Center in Riverside Park

For more information on these parks or others, visit the Milwaukee County Parks Website here.

Best Spots for a Picnic

by Amy Jo Jones

June 30, 2009

Pack up lemonade in your sippy cups, a couple of PBJ's and a blanket and you have all the makings of a fun afternoon or evening picnic.

No matter which side of town you live by, there are plenty of county parks and picnic spots available. All of the parks listed below are free and have picnic tables or designated picnic areas.

Here are some of the most popular:

Doctor's Park  1870 E Fox Ln, Milwaukee

Grant Park  100 Hawthorne Ave, South Milwaukee grantparkbeach.com

Mukwanago Park  W325 S9945 Beulah Road, County Hwy LO (Park Entrance), Mukwanago

Mequon Nature Preserve 8200 W County Line Rd, Mequon mequonnaturepreserve.org

Boerner Botanical Gardens 9400 Boerner Dr, Hales Corners boernerbotanicalgardens.org/

For more picnic picks visit either the Milwaukee County Parks Website or the Waukesha County Parks systems website.

ABC Garden Explorers

by Amy Jo Jones

June 15, 2009

HELP BETTY BRINN PLANT AN ABC GARDEN!

On June 18 from 5 – 8 p.m, during WaterStone Bank & FOX 6 Neighborhood Night , you can bring your little green thumbs for a free, fun-filled evening of planting the Museum’s ABC Garden, sponsored by Garden Room!

Join them outdoors on the balconies to fill the Museum’s whimsical garden boxes with flowers and plants that begin with each letter of the alphabet - from Azaleas to Zinnias. Kids will “dig” gardening programs, crafts, a special story and more!  

Kids are invited to try simple experiments and make observations about colors, seeds and plants, sun and water, and other summer weather subjects while outdoors in the museum's ABC Garden (weather permitting).

414.291.0888

Metro Milwaukee Farner's Markets

by Amy Jo Jones

June 02, 2009

The Farmers Market is one of my favorite Milwaukee traditions. This year it's back and the list is bigger than ever! You just can't beat it: It's free, it's outside, there is room for children to be kids- meaning they can be loud and move around and wiggle. There's music, fresh fruit and vegetables and hopefully sunshine, or at least warm weather.

Here is a list of Milwaukee area Farmer's Markets. This list is by no means complete. I'll post more in the coming weeks. Also be sure to visit Wisconsin.gov for a comprhensive listing. 

Beaver Dam Farmers Market
Beaver Dam Mall Parking Lot, 1645 N. Spring St., (920) 887-3106
Wednesdays and Saturdays 8 a.m.-1 p.m., May-October

Bradley Road Farmers Market
Bradley Commerce Center, North 43rd Street and Bradley Road,
(414) 354-6923
Wednesdays, 9 a.m.-6 p.m., May 20-Oct. 28

Brookfield Farmers Market
Civic Center Plaza, 2000 N. Calhoun Rd., (262) 784-7804
Saturdays, 7:30 a.m.-noon (rain or shine), May 2-Oct. 31
brookfieldfarmersmarket.com

Delafield Farmers Market
City parking lot, at Main Street, (292) 968-4471
May 2-Oct. 31, Saturdays, 7 a.m.-2 p.m.

The East Side Green Market
Beans and Barley Parking lot, 1901 E. North Ave., (414) 534-8492
Entering its ninth season, The East Side Green Market (a new name!) has returned to Saturdays, when it runs from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m., June 27-Oct. 10 The market is still in the Beans & Barley parking lot.
theeastside.org

East Town Market
Cathedral Square Park, Kilbourn Avenue and Jefferson Street, (414) 271-1416
Saturdays, 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m., June 6-Oct. 24,
easttown.com

Fondy Farmers Market
2200 W. Fond du Lac Ave., (414) 933-8121
May 10th- June 7th , Saturdays 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
June 14th-Oct 31st, Saturdays 7 a.m.-4 p.m. and Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 9 a.m.-3 p.m., closed Mondays and Fridays
November: Saturdays 7 a.m.-4 p.m. through Nov. 17
fondymarket.org

Fox Point Farmers Market
Stormonth Grade School west parking lot, 7300 Lombardy Rd., (414) 352-0555
Saturdays, 8 a.m.-noon, June 20- Oct 17

Greendale Open Market
Municiple parking lot, one black west of Village Center, (414) 423-2790
Saturdays 8 a.m.-12 p.m.
June 27
July 18
Aug. 1, 15 and 29
Sept. 12 and 26
Oct. 3 and 17

Hales Corners Harvest on the Homestead
Stahl-Conrad Homestead, 9724 W. Forest Home Ave., (414) 708-0584
Saturdays 8 a.m.-1 p.m.
July 5 and 19
Aug. 9 and 30
Sept. 13 and 27
Oct. 11 and 25
historichalescorners.org

Harbor Marketplace of Kenosha
56th Street and 2nd Avenue, (262)-498-4388
Saturdays 9 a.m.-2 p.m., May 23-Oct. 24
kenoshaharbormarket.com

Menomonee Falls Farmers Market
North Junior High School parking lot, Main Street (one block west of Appleton Avenue)
May 6-Nov. 18, Wednesdays 7 a.m.-5 p.m.
shoppingthevillage.com/farm.htm

Milwaukee Public Market
400 N. Water St., (414) 336-1111
Saturdays 10 a.m.-3 p.m., May 30-Oct. 17
milwaukeepublicmarket.org

Oconomowoc Farmers Market
St. Paul's Lutheran Church parking lot, 210 E. Pleasant St., (262) 567-2666
Saturdays 7 a.m.-noon, June 6-Oct. 24
oconomowoc.com

Port Washington Market
East Main Street, between Franklin and Wisconsin Streets, (262) 305-4220
Saturdays 8 a.m.-1 p.m., July 4-Oct.24

Racine Downtown Farmers Market
700 State St. in the Case Corp. parking lot, downtown, (262) 634-6002
Saturdays 8 a.m.-noon, May-Oct. 24

Riverwest Gardeners Market
Garden Park, Locust and Bremen Streets, (414) 265-7278
Sundays 11 a.m.-4 p.m., June 14-Oct. 25

Sherman Park Farmers Market
Sherman Perk Coffee parking lot, corner of 49th and Roosevelt, (414) 875-7275
Saturdays and Sundays 8 a.m., May-Sept

South Milwaukee Green Market
St. Mary's Catholic Church, 13th Avenue, (262) 835-4386
Thursdays 10 a.m.-2 p.m., May 7-Oct. 22

South Shore Farmers Market
South Shore Park, Bay View, 2900 S. Shore Dr., (414) 727-8744
Saturdays 8 a.m.-noon, June 20-Oct. 24

Thiensville Farmers Market
Main Street and Freistadt Road, (262) 376-1812
Tuesdays 8 a.m.-6:30 p.m., June 9-Oct. 27

Waukesha Farmers Market
Riverfront Plaza, at the river in downtown, (262) 549-6154
Saturdays 7 a.m.-noon, May 9-Oct. 24
Tuesdays 2:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m., July 14-Oct. 27 downtownwaukesha.com

West Allis Market
1559 S. 65th St., (414) 302-8600
Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays noon-6 p.m., May-November
ci.west-allis.wi.us

Westown Market on the Park
Zeidler Union Square, 3rd and Michigan Streets, (414) 276-6696
Wednesdays 10 a.m.-4 p.m., June 3-Oct. 21
westown.org

Sweet Strawberry Fields

by Amy Jo Jones

June 02, 2009

My kindergartener is gearing up for a field trip to pick some of the freshest bounty the summer has to offer: Strawberries. Summer is a great time to go out and pick your own- Just make sure you go during the month of June when strawberries are at their peak.

Here are some local farms and orchards where you can pick your own:

Barthel Fruit Farm 12246 N Farmdale Road, Mequon, WI. Phone: 262-242-2737. Open daily 7AM weather and berries permitting. Call for an update before you come: 242-2737 or 242-2774

The Apple Barn Orchard and Winery W6384 Sugar Creek Road, Elkhorn, WI 53121.  Phone: 262-728-3266.

The Fideler Farm - raspberries, rhubarb, strawberries, 2863 Ridge Road, Kewaskum, WI 53040.

Thompson's Strawberry Farm - Pick your own strawberries, raspberries and pumpkins.
Bristol, WI.   Hotline: (262) 857-2353. For additional information: (262) 857-2351.

Kirschbaum's Strawberry Acres - N5802 HWY151, Beaver Dam, WI, 53916. Open: 7AM-8PM Daily.