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"The nation's watering hole" has come a long way since the rise of famous beer barons like Miller, Pabst and Schlitz in the 19th century. Milwaukee today remains a haven for brew lovers, but it is a diverse, festive city rich in history and culture as well. Miller Brewing Company, now one of the largest breweries in the world, offers free tours (and samples) at its headquarters, while the Milwaukee Art Museum, with its otherworldly bird-like addition, is an architectural landmark for the new millennium.

The Milwaukee County Zoo and Milwaukee Public Museum are must-visits for lovers of animals and natural history, and "The Domes" -- the Mitchell Park Horticultural Conservatory -- house a an array of seasonal flowers in three 85-foot glass domes. Among its many festivals and parties, Milwaukee also hosts Summerfest each June/July, an 11-day event billed as the world's largest music festival, and Oktoberfest throughout the month of September, a fall celebration with music, dancing, yodeling and, of course, plenty of beer.

Milwaukee County Transit System operates bus service throughout the Greater Milwaukee area for $1.75 one-way. A weekly pass is also available for $14. During the summer, getting around downtown is even easier via the Milwaukee Trolley Loop, which operates between late May and early September and hits many of the city's major attractions. Fare is $2 for an all-day pass.

General Mitchell International Airport is less than 10 miles south of Milwaukee and offers public transportation service into downtown via MCTS Route 80. Cab fare for the trip will run between approximately $30.

Have a Beer and a Brat at a Brewers Game
In 2001, the Brewers moved into their new home at beautiful Miller Park, which features a unique fan-shaped retractable roof and serves up Milwaukee-style concessions throughout its concourses. Don't forget to watch the now-infamous sausage races after the sixth inning, the event that gained national exposure in 2003, when the Pirates' Randall Simon knocked over "Guido," the Italian sausage, with a baseball bat. The stunt ultimately got Simon both arrested and suspended.

Hit the Road with the Cheeseheads
While the rabid football-fan base in Milwaukee does not have a major team to support in town, many spend their weekends making in-state treks to two of America's great football stadiums: Lambeau Field in Green Bay and Camp Randall Stadium in Madison. Chartered buses from Milwaukee are available for those of you who want to sample the city's signature beverage on the way to the game.

Drive the Mile at "America's Legendary Oval"
A motorsports mainstay since 1903, the Milwaukee Mile is the oldest continuously operated racetrack in the world and is the only venue to host events for NASCAR, Champ Car World Series and IRL. Aspiring gearheads also get their chance to experience the oval for themselves in the annual "Drive the Mile," where $15 buys fans three laps around the track in their own cars.

Track the Development of the Bucks' Young Bucks
The No. 1 pick in the 2005 NBA Draft landed in Milwaukee's lap, and the Bucks spent it on promising Australian center Andrew Bogut. With a collection of talented young players in place, the team is optimistic about its future, though frustrated by its aging arena; the Bradley Center opened its doors in 1988 and is now among the oldest venues in the NBA.

Get a Round of Golf Where the Pros Do
The PGA Tour makes its only stop in Wisconsin when it hits the public Brown Deer Golf Club each July for the U.S. Bank Championship. Brown Deer is consistently rated as a top municipal course, and weekend hackers can play 18 holes on the challenging layout for an $84 greens fee.

Cast a Line at the Expo Center
Outdoor pursuits are huge in Wisconsin, and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Sports Show is one of the biggest "try and buy" events in the country for nature fanatics. Held each March at the Wisconsin State Fair Park Expo Center, the 10-day show draws more than 150,000 attendees and features hundreds of sporting goods exhibitors, demonstrations and lessons as well as competitions in archery, shooting, fishing and more.

Miller Brewing Company
4251 W. State St.
Milwaukee, Wis. 53208
Milwaukee is America's beer town, and the Miller brewery -- the last major brewery in the city -- is Ground Zero for domestic beer. Sure, take the one-hour tour. But let's not kid ourselves: you're here for the free tastings, summers in the brewery's biergarten, the rest of the year in the adjoining, 19th-century Miller Inn.
http://www.millerbrewing.com

Milwaukee Art Museum
700 N. Art Museum Dr.
Milwaukee, Wis. 53202
The strengths of the museum are its contemporary, folk and decorative arts collections. In its halls you'll find works by Picasso, Miro, Kandinsky, Lichtenstein and Monet, among others. But the true star of the museum might be the building, itself. The Quadracci Pavilion, designed by Santiago Calatrava, features a 90-foot high, glass-walled reception hall enclosed by the Burke Brise Soleil, a sunscreen that can be raised or lowered to create a moving sculpture that resembles a bird of paradise.
http://www.mam.org

Milwaukee Public Museum
800 Wells St.
Milwaukee, Wis. 53233
The best parts of this museum are its array of recreated homes and villages from around the world. Experience what it's like to like an Inuit, or in pre-Columbian America, or in a turn-of-the-20th-century European village. Don't miss the Bugs Alive! exhibit, the recreation of a rainforest, and the two-story tropical garden where exotic butterflies fly free. Or the IMAX theater.
http://www.mpm.edu/

Harley-Davidson Tour Center
11700 W. Capitol Dr.
Wauwatosa, Wis. 53222
Go down to the factory floor and see how hogs are put together. You'll see engines hot-tested to make sure they meet Harley-Davidson standards. Then you'll get to climb aboard the company's latest models.
http://www.harley-davidson.com/

1977: Marquette University (defeated University of North Carolina, 67-59, NCAA Division I basketball)
1971: Milwaukee Bucks (defeated Baltimore Bullets, 4 games to 0)
1957: Milwaukee Braves (defeated New York Yankees, 4 games to 3)
1941: University of Wisconsin (defeated Washington State University, 39-34, NCAA Division I basketball)