Spring in Milwaukee is a time of longer days, blooming flowers, and kids who really need to get outside. But let’s be real — keeping the whole family entertained can add up fast.
That’s why we put together this list of 25 fun and totally free things to do with kids this spring. Whether you’re looking for an afternoon adventure, a weekend outing, or just a way to burn off some energy, you’ll find something here for every age and stage.
Most of these ideas link to full guides with all the details — just click through to learn more. Let’s dive in!
Ride The Hop Streetcar
Explore downtown on Milwaukee’s very own streetcar. It’s clean, safe, and fun for kids—and it’s completely free to ride. Plus, we found 10 fun stops along the route that are kid-friendly.
👉 Hop on The Hop
Walk Through Black Cat Alley
This colorful East Side alley is full of large-scale street art and hidden gems.
👉 Explore Black Cat Alley & Milwaukee Murals
Watch the Flowers at the Art Museum
Families can stop by the Art Museum and stare at their new Winter Series: Meadow exhibit. The choreographed flowers are suspended in Windhover Hall, and they’re mesmerizing. No need to pay – access to this exhibit is FREE! (And, kids 12 and under always get in free.)
👉 10 Best Things To Do at the Art Museum
Hike the Discovery Trail at Retzer Nature Center
Kid-friendly trails, giant eagle’s nest, insect exploration stations, and more await at this Waukesha gem.
👉 Discover Retzer
Visit the Milwaukee Public Museum on Free Day
Get free admission on the first Thursday of each month and explore dinosaurs, dioramas, and a butterfly garden.
👉 Museum Pro Tips + Must-Sees
Play at Wehr’s Nature Play Space
A dream for young explorers with sand pits, a plant maze, giant logs, and a lakeside setting.
👉 See Wehr’s Nature Center
Ride the Slides at the Urban Ecology Center
Riverside Park’s Urban Ecology Center has secret slides that you can only access from a hidden outside door, plus live animals, and tons of hands-on nature play. You can also check out the brand new building at the Washington Park Brach, complete with a slide that goes from the second floor to the first floor. The Menomonee Valley Branch also has an indoor slide!
👉 Visit UEC Riverside
Watch Airplanes Take Off
The Layton Avenue observation area near the airport offers an up-close view of planes landing and taking off.
👉 Plane Spotting Details
Climb the Lighthouse at Central Library
The kids’ area at Milwaukee’s historic Central Library includes a whimsical lighthouse and tons of cozy reading spots. Older kids and curious minds can join a free Green Roof Tour, offered April – October.
👉 Explore Central Library
Snap a Selfie with the Bronze Fonz
Say “Ayyyy!” and grab a photo with Milwaukee’s most iconic statue along the Riverwalk. It’s along the Hop Route!
👉 Find the Fonz + Nearby Stops
Go On a Mural Hunt
Track down larger-than-life art all over the city—including the towering Giannis mural.
👉 Take a Mural Tour
Visit Betty Brinn Children’s Museum on Free Day
Enjoy hands-on exhibits on Community Access Days, the third Thursday of every month (advance registration required).
👉 Betty Brinn Info + Tips
Explore Art in Nature at Lynden Sculpture Garden
Let your kids roam through 40 acres of open fields, ponds, and larger-than-life sculptures at this hidden gem in River Hills. With over 50 monumental artworks scattered across the landscape—including the famous polka-dotted cows—Lynden is part art adventure, part nature escape.
👉 Discover everything you need to know about visiting Lynden Sculpture Garden with kids »
Play at Kayla’s Playground
Fully accessible and full of imaginative fun, this Franklin playground is worth the trip.
👉 Tour Kayla’s Playground
Walk the Labyrinth at Hartung Park
Stretch your legs and your mind at this peaceful park with trails, a labyrinth, and playground.
👉 Visit Hartung Park
Tour the Milwaukee Fire Museum
Open the first Sunday of each month, April through December. Step inside a real historic firehouse!
👉 Fire Museum Details
Visit the Milwaukee Lionel Railroad Club
Push buttons to bring miniature train scenes to life at this hands-on train-lover’s paradise.
👉 All Aboard!
Hike at the Conservancy for Healing and Heritage
This serene Franklin nature spot has trails, peaceful views, and a gorgeous healing chapel.
👉 Plan Your Visit
Cozy Up at Mitchell Street Library
Read by the fireplace, explore the maker space, or dive into the puppet-filled children’s area.
👉 Explore Mitchell Library
Play at Northwestern Mutual Community Park
This lakefront playground is fully inclusive and open for the season.
👉 See Park Details
Visit Imagination Station
This inclusive Oconomowoc playground lives up to its name with creative structures for all abilities.
👉 Get Inspired at Imagination Station
Meet Friendly Animals at Concord General Store & Petting Zoo (Free to visit!)
If you’re in the Oconomowoc area, this charming pit stop off I-94 is a must. Behind the old-fashioned general store, you’ll find a free petting zoo with goats, alpacas, mini horses, donkeys, pigs, and more—plus snacks and specialty coffee from the Moose Café inside.
Visit Lakefront Sculptures
📍 500 N Harbor Dr, Milwaukee
Right outside Discovery World, you’ll find the mesmerizing Wind Leaves—shimmering aluminum columns that spin in the wind and reflect light beautifully. Kids can also play the nearby musical benches, and across the street, there’s a whimsical water fountain to explore.
👉 Bonus: Snap a photo at the nearby LOVE sculpture behind the Milwaukee Art Museum.
Take in the View at Hawthorn Glen
📍 1130 N. 60th St., Milwaukee
This 23-acre nature preserve is tucked right into the city. It features kid-friendly hiking trails, a nature-themed playground, and a charming Little Nature Museum with live animals. The self-guided trail and museum are open on evenings and weekends.
Plan your visit »
Walk the Labyrinth at Alice’s Garden Urban Farm
📍 2136 N. 21st St., Milwaukee
Peaceful, grounding, and totally unique—Alice’s Garden is a beautiful urban farm where families can stroll the labyrinth, explore garden beds, and sometimes catch free family movie nights or yoga classes.
👉 Check their Facebook page or our calendar for special events.
Climb the Observation Tower at Mequon Nature Preserve
📍 8200 W. County Line Rd., Mequon
With 444 acres of restored wetlands, prairie, and forest, this preserve offers an observation tower, a nature-themed playground, and a weekly storytime for kids. It’s a perfect blend of nature and discovery.
Explore Mequon Nature Preserve »
Join a Family Nature Hike at Havenwoods State Forest
📍 6141 N Hopkins St, Milwaukee
Wisconsin’s only urban state forest is right here in Milwaukee! Havenwoods offers 200+ acres of nature to explore, plus monthly guided hikes, live animals in the Nature Center, and even a 120-foot bridge.
👉 Check hike dates »
Explore the Bluffs at Lion’s Den Gorge Nature Preserve
📍 511 High Bluff Dr., Grafton
Walk high above Lake Michigan on stunning bluffs, cross scenic bridges, or take the stairway down to the beach below. This 73-acre preserve is one of the most breathtaking spots in the region. Use caution! There are steep drops along the hike.
See trail info »
Bike the Oak Leaf Trail
Milwaukee’s 135-mile Oak Leaf Trail system is perfect for family biking. Pack the helmets, load up the bike trailer, and hit a section that matches your crew’s comfort level.
Explore trail maps »
Free Admission for Moms on Mother’s Day (Varies by venue)
Each year, local favorites like Betty Brinn Children’s Museum, Harley-Davidson Museum, the Milwaukee County Zoo, Milwaukee Public Museum, and Old World Wisconsin offer free admission for moms on Mother’s Day.
👉 See this year’s free Mother’s Day events »
Visit Gertie the Duck & Her Ducklings
📍 Wisconsin Avenue Bridge
A Milwaukee icon, Gertie the Duck became a symbol of hope during WWII. Today, you can visit her bronze statue and ducklings along the Riverwalk, right on the Wisconsin Avenue bridge. Use caution, because it’s a high traffic area – You can also seem them from the Riverwalk.
👉 Find her location + story »
Walk the Haunts of Nature at Grant Park
📍 Enter at South Lake Dr & Park Ave, South Milwaukee
The legendary Seven Bridges Trail invites you to “Enter this wild wood and view the haunts of nature.” Walk over rustic bridges, alongside a creek, and down to a beach playground and lakeside grill. It feels like an enchanted forest.
👉 Look for bonus stops like the traveling beer garden or Friday fish fry in summer!
Explore Grant Park »
Play + Learn at Enderis Playfield
Run across the giant U.S. map, explore the “Magic Grove,” and enjoy the historic WPA-era playground.
👉 Find Enderis Playfield
Possibility Playground in Port Washington
A whimsical, lakeside destination playground with wooden castles, musical instruments, and more.
👉 Possibility Playground Guide
Dig for Fossils at the Dinosaur Discovery Museum
This free museum in Kenosha features dino skeletons and a hands-on dig pit.
Visit the Dino Museum
Check Out Big Truck Day
Held in May at Red Arrow Park (date TBD), this free event lets kids climb on fire trucks, snowplows, and more.
👉 Big Truck Day Info
Go to the Kite Festival
Veterans Park comes alive with 600+ colorful kites at the Gift of Wings IKEA Kite Festival in late May.
👉 Kite Festival Details
Spring Doesn’t Have to Cost a Thing
Milwaukee is bursting with family-friendly adventures—many of them free! Whether you’re exploring murals, sliding through nature centers, or digging for dino bones, there’s no shortage of ways to make memories without spending a dime.
✨ Want even more ideas for free family fun throughout the year?
Check out our brand-new 100-page ebook, MKE for Free — packed with seasonal guides, hidden gems, and year-round activities that won’t cost a thing. It’s your go-to resource for exploring Milwaukee on a budget.
🐣 Looking for more Spring fun?
Don’t miss our roundup of Easter Events in the Milwaukee Area, including the free Bayshore Bunny Hop, a list of the best Tulip Festivals Near Milwaukee, and the best Petting Zoos Around Milwaukee.
Happy spring adventuring!
Calie Herbst, Editor-in-Chief of Milwaukee With Kids, has spent over a decade combining her experiences as a parent of three to create a hub for Milwaukee’s family adventures.
Her decade-long teaching career in Milwaukee Public Schools and academic background, including a Master’s in Teaching from Marquette University and dual B.A.s in Sociology and Spanish from the University of Wisconsin – Madison, fuel her passion for inclusive and engaging family content.
Calie is also a recognized voice in local media, contributing to WISN Channel 12 News, WTMJ Wisconsin Morning News, Fox 6’s Real Milwaukee, and B93.3.
Discover more about Calie’s journey and editorial approach on her About Page and Editorial Policy Page.
