Paddle Trip and History Tour on Urban Water Trail

Prior to launching my kayak, I was handed a beer and a bag of cheese curds. It was 8:30 a.m.. We were in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where beer and cheese curds are beloved staples.

We took a three-hour guided history tour through downtown with Milwaukee Kayak Company. While we paddled past high-rises and historic buildings, our guide talked about the city’s origins, its architecture, German heritage and the efforts it took in the past 30 years to revive its three rivers after a long period of neglect. 

The Milwaukee River Greenway now has nearly 900 acres of public green space.

– Jan Schroder, Editor-in-chief