My travels to Chicago and Milwaukee happened during the same trip.  While I have been to Chicago a dozen times, this was only my second visit to Milwaukee.  At only 1.5 hours apart, a trip to Milwaukee is always a dedication because when you are in Chicago, you just don’t want to leave.  Chicago has some of the best summer days in America and Lake Michigan is so pristine you just can’t get enough of it.  The people, energy, architecture and fantastic transportation system make for one of the best experiences one can have in a US city. If you haven’t been to Chicago before, stop what you are doing and plan a trip.  As for Milwaukee, it is a deceiving city upon entering by car.  The entrance leaves a lot to be desired (Like Cincinnati from I-75 South).  You see old gritty factories, some abandonment and it never fails that it is overcast for me upon my arrival.  Although it usually clears up by mid afternoon.  Once you get into the Downtown, Third Ward and the lake front, you will continually be surprised that the city exceeds it reputation as a “Rust Belt” city.  During this trip to Milwaukee, I made sure to bring a kite to the park on Lake Michigan.  The open field and winds just call for such an activity and my daughter had a blast navigating the kite in winds that we don’t see in Cincinnati.  My photos on this trip focused on my family but I did take a enough photos of each city to update their respective galleries.  You can view Chicago Gallery here and the Milwaukee Gallery here.