Things to Do in Cudahy

Passengers on the Iroquois, Vista King, and Voyageur cruise ships have passed under century-old raising bridges and laid eyes on history-rich chunks of Milwaukee skyline. However, they've also sat under squadrons of F-18s performing barrel rolls over Lake Michigan. Licensed by the U.S. Coast Guard to perform tours and charters on the lake, Jake Chianelli and his captains offer their passengers a unique perspective on the city's waterside events. They also partner with the nonprofit organization Historic Milwaukee by using their trained docents to lead history tours, which include facts and anecdotes from the arrival of the first fur traders up to modern day.

With kitchen facilities and a full bar on board, each of the three double-decked ships are equipped for tours as well as a range of corporate events, wedding-rehearsal dinners, and Moby Dick-themed improv shows. Climate-controlled lower decks give passengers shelter in all weather, and open upper decks house a stage space where local indie-rock bands play during a summer concert series.

At Underwater Connection, southeast Wisconsin’s only PADI five-star instructor-training center, an award-winning course director and a team of skilled instructors educate both undersea novices and emergency-service professionals in the art of scuba diving. Following safe, low-stress basic diving courses in the classroom pool, teachers and students move to the open water to cover techniques that include rebreathing, underwater videography, and recovering toy-boat wrecks from flooded bathtubs. Underwater Connection provides all equipment for classes, relying on its factory-trained equipment mechanics and Aqualung Master Technician, who refill tanks and do in-house repairs on gear from brands such as Dive Rite, Poseidon, Oceanic, Aqua Lung, and Scubapro.

Sea-sated guests sail into a night of delicious dinner courses and romantic scenery aboard the Edelweiss premier cruise vessels, which double as floating banquet halls featuring outdoor viewing decks and climate-controlled indoor cabins. Like all of the best baroque concertos, the Saturday feast commences with a dinner salad and concludes with a seasonal dessert. The main course plays host to a sizzling duet of grilled steak and jumbo-shrimp kebabs. These platters of protein serve as savory valleys between mountains of mashed potatoes and fresh vegetables. Vegetarian dinners must be requested at the time of reservation. Liquid libations flow from a cash bar, from which guests may also purchase permits to practice their underwater cha cha routines.

French, of course, for French Alliance of Milwaukee, Alliance Française de Milwaukee transplants the culture and language of the French-speaking world to the city's Lake Michigan shores. Several teachers help students learn the smooth, mellifluous language even if they weren't born with a Frenchman's velvet tongue, and a variety of events commemorate French history, from the joyous summer hours of Bastille Day to the annual release of the beaujolais nouveau wine each fall.

Skaters circle around Slice of Ice in Red Arrow Park—part of the Milwaukee County Parks system—amid trees strung with lights and the arched façade of the 1000 North Water Street building. The refrigerated oval rink accommodates 100 skaters at a time, making it ideal for family outings and confusing games of super-hockey. And inside the rink’s warming house, visitors can hide from the chill with a cup of coffee.

The longest running professional soccer franchise in the United States, the Milwaukee Wave debuted in 1984 as one of the six charter members of the American Indoor Soccer Association. Now, nearly three decades later, and as part of the Major Indoor Soccer League, the club builds upon a history that already includes six league championships–most notably, back-to-back titles in 2011 and 2012.

Off the field, the Wave's positive impact ripples into the community through an educational program, Making Waves, which sends players to more than 70 schools annually to discuss why healthy habits are good and why mistaking a referee for a zebra could be bad. The club maintains those community-inspired good vibes during its home games at U.S. Cellular Arena, where frequent promotions and mascot Brad Beach keep fans of all ages entertained.