holiday guides
Thanksgiving on Milwaukee’s North Shore: 2026 Family Planning Guide
Plan a North Shore Thanksgiving with local outings, a morning turkey trot and ways to spend the day together.
News & Adventures
outdoor activities guide
Milwaukee Area Turkey Trots: Complete Guide for 2026
Find Thanksgiving runs and walks around Milwaukee, including kids’ races, dog-friendly courses and hot chocolate stops.
holiday guides
Milwaukee Area Christmas Parades 2026: Dates, Times and Locations
Bundle up for Milwaukee-area Christmas parades, holiday strolls and community tree lightings.
festival guides
Milwaukee Holiday Lights Festival 2026: Dates, Kickoff and Jingle Bus
Plan a downtown holiday lights outing, from the kickoff celebration to Cocoa with the Clauses and the Jingle Bus.
holiday guides
Milwaukee North Shore Holiday Gift Guide 2026
Shop close to home with local gifts, family experiences and holiday treats from North Shore businesses.
holiday guides
Thanksgiving Volunteering in Milwaukee and the North Shore: 2026 Guide
Find a family service project with Feeding America, Hunger Task Force and other local organizations.
food drinks
Thanksgiving Dinner in Wisconsin 2026: Dine-In & Takeout
Compare Thanksgiving restaurant dinners, buffets and take-home meals around Wisconsin, including Milwaukee and the North Shore.
mequon
Mequon plans 11.5 acres of fencing at Katherine Kearney Carpenter Dog Park
Mequon’s dog park fencing plan would add separate areas for large and small dogs. Here’s the proposal and how to help.
mequon
Know the North Shore: O’Malley Family Farm’s 5 Generations
Meet the Mequon family behind O’Malley Family Farm & Nursery, and plan a Christmas tree outing.
holiday guides
Breakfast with Santa near Milwaukee: 2026 Guide
Find a Santa breakfast near Milwaukee, from community pancakes to a festive morning at Old World Wisconsin.
holiday guides
Santa Visits in Greater Milwaukee: 2026 Guide
Pick a Santa visit, a neighborhood celebration or a holiday photo outing for the family.
holiday guides
Christmas Volunteering in Milwaukee and the North Shore: 2026 Guide
Make giving back part of your December with local family volunteer programs and food-bank projects.
road trips
Door County in December: Complete Guide for 2026
Plan a December getaway with Christmas markets, winter walks, seasonal closures and places to stay.
whitefish bay
Whitefish Bay Moves Klode Park Warming House Design Forward
The latest design discussion for Klode Park’s warming house, pavilion and community spaces.
fox point
Donut Zone Opens in Fox Point
Meet Donut Zone, the new donut and breakfast stop at Fox Point’s RiverPoint Shopping Center.
glendale
New at Bayshore: Pho Love Opens, Plus New Stores and More Coming Soon
Pho Love is open at Bayshore. Catch up on the center’s latest restaurant and shop arrivals.
whitefish bay
Why Whitefish Bay May Remove Parking Meters
A closer look at the proposed changes to parking in the Silver Spring Drive business district.
shorewood
$465,000 in Improvements Proposed for Atwater Park
New gathering spaces, expanded bicycle parking, beach amenities and bluff restoration could be coming to one of the North Shore's most popular lakefront parks.
fox point
Play It Again Sports Plans New Fox Point Location at RiverPoint
Play It Again Sports is planning a new Fox Point location at RiverPoint Shopping Center. Here's what we know about the store, opening timeline and approval process.
shorewood
Pizzeria Di Lusso Is Open in Shorewood
Pizzeria Di Lusso is open on Oakland Avenue, serving Trenton-style tomato pies and Grandma-style pizza.
seasonal guides
Halloween Houses: Milwaukee's Most Spectacular Displays
As Halloween season creeps in, Milwaukee and its suburbs come alive with over-the-top yard haunts and spooky spectacles. Local homeowners are transforming their properties into mini haunted attractions.
food drinks
Coolest Coffee Shops in the Milwaukee Area
Discover Milwaukee's coolest coffee shops — from a café inside a garden center to cat cafés, historic roasteries, and North Shore family favorites.
food drinks
The Complete Guide to Italian Food in Greater Milwaukee
From a pizzeria firing pies at 900°F to century-old bakeries on Brady Street , this guide covers every essential Italian dining experience across the greater Milwaukee area—fine dining destinations, neighborhood trattorias, legendary pizza joints, authentic delis, and the gelaterias worth crossing town for.
outdoor activities guide
Best Playgrounds in Milwaukee 2026: 45+ Parks Families Love
Discover 40+ of the best playgrounds in the greater Milwaukee area, from inclusive builds to splash pads, beaches, and zip lines.
indoor activities
Indoor fun guide: 60+ arcades and game venues
Your local guide to 60+ Milwaukee-area arcades, barcades, pinball bars, escape rooms, bowling alleys & indoor fun for families, date nights, and group outings.
birthday party guide
17 Birthday Freebies You Can Actually Use Around Milwaukee
The best birthday freebies for Milwaukee-area families, ranked by value — with direct sign-up links to Culver's, Portillo's, Benihana, and more.
outdoor activities guide
Milwaukee Hiking Guide
Here are some family-friendly hiking spots that offer diverse landscapes and engaging experiences for all ages: