Just wanted to share with ya'll a little of my last road trip I took with my brother. Winnipeg to Milwaukee… August 2nd - 12th... 11 days, 3558km's/2210 miles. This was only our second road trip taken, and with bare bones bikes and a couple of backpacks on our backs we had a blast. While in Brainerd, you must stop at The Barn for breakfast…. the food/service is fantastic. Duluth and the area is fabulous… the run up 61 to Grand Portage is a must. Highway 51 south through Wisconsin was very nice… riding up Burleigh St in Milwaukee was indeed interesting. The ride north up the Mississippi on 61 from Stoddard/La Crosse,Wis to Red Wing, Minn was excellent…. be sure to check out Marie's Underground Grill for the best chicken strips ever. North on 95 from Hudson, Minn to Taylors Falls/St Croix Falls was absolutely perfect. So many incredible people we met along the way. At 49 I've only been riding four years now, and if it gets better than this then I'll need to live another 49 years *lol*

 

Of all streets in Milwaukee, wtf were you doing on Burleigh? Lol!

Sounds like a great trip.

 

Nice ride and thanks for the advice on food stop and routes. I will be heading to Ashland WI in a few weeks and prob will drop down to the Milwaukee for a day.

 

Coming into town south on 45 we hit heavy traffic (rush hour/accident/construction?) and could barely get out of first gear. Bikes were getting pretty hot, so what looked to be a decent shopping complex to our left in order to stop and figure out where Canal & 6th St was, well, we somehow took the advice of a nice old fella' and et voila…. the Burleigh St experience happened. Someone at the museum during bike night was kinda concerned that we rode through there…. is it that bad of an area ?

 

Ashland Family Restaurant had some good food…. and 51 south was an excellent ride. Food at Preuss's in Woodruff/Arbor Vitae is fantastic.

 

Yeah, that part of 45 gets bad. There's tons of construction from that point all the way to the museum on that route. I would have had you come in farther east and from the north - much better ride all 'round.

Burleigh, at that point, is okay. That mall you stopped at (Corner Bakery I'll wager) is just fine. But once you get east of 50th it goes to hell. Worst neighborhood in Milwaukee.

On the plus side, you survived and avoided the construction on I-94.

Of course I will offer route advice now that you are home.

While 51 is decent, from Ashland there are much more scenic routes if you have a little more time. It may add an hour or two, but taking Hwy 2 over farther east and heading down 45 through Eagle River is quite beautiful. There are a few other local favorites that I know you would enjoy south of there.

Sledhead - feel free to PM for details.

 

Glad you had a good time here in Milwaukee and safe travels.