Conference & Stage Expo
Destination Milwaukee – The best of a large city – the ease of a hometown
The post-security area at the Milwaukee Airport. Going through security, you get all discombobulated. In Milwaukee, they are nice enough to provide a "recombobulation" area.
Photo/David Krajec
Just 90 miles north of Chicago, on the shores of Lake Michigan, Milwaukee is the largest city in Wisconsin and is a combination of the best of a large city with the ease of a hometown. Known for its lakeside and ethnic festivals and huge breweries, Milwaukee is reshaping its image, transforming industrial areas into restaurants, galleries, and performance venues. Part of the reshaping has included the transportation infrastructure, making it easier than ever to arrive in Milwaukee for the 2013 Annual Conference & Stage Expo.
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For those who wish to fly, USITT has partnered with Delta Air Lines for discounts from destinations both in North America and around the world, and the discounts are good for those flying into Milwaukee, O'Hare, or Midway airports. Find links and codes here or under Event Information and then under Hotel and Travel Information at www.usitt.org/2013.
Air travelers who arrive at Mitchell International airport (MKE) will note it is home to Southwest, Frontier, and Air Tran airlines. Mitchell is truly an easy in, easy out airport. Lines are short and the terminal is just 15 minutes south of downtown. An advantage of flying into Milwaukee's Mitchell Field is the opportunity to visit Renaissance Books, an excellent independent used bookseller that leases space in the main terminal. Only in Milwaukee can someone grab a custard, browse the shelves for a hidden treasure, and shop the Harley Davidson store -- all before leaving the airport.
For those whose connections take them first to Chicago, the options are O' Hare airport (ORD), very busy, or Midway (MDW), the farthest airport. There is excellent ground transportation on Amtrak and Coach USA bus lines that offer daily and hourly service connecting all three airports.
Milwaukee has a nifty new downtown train station, actually an "intermodal," which also serves connecting bus routes. Officially opened in late fall 2007, it's convenient, clean, and easily accessible. This will be the landing spot for any train or bus travel. Located at the south end of downtown, at 433 W. St. Paul, it is a six-block walk north to the Delta Center, formerly the Frontier Airlines Center.
It is easy to navigate to and around downtown Milwaukee. The area is positioned with Lake Michigan to the east; the east-west freeway I-94 divides it to the south. The freeway is a visual divider from downtown to an area known as the "third ward." The third ward is truly an area reborn and revitalized. It is within walking distance from the Delta Center.
For detailed information on all transportation options, there are two excellent websites. The first, How to Get Around Milwaukee Without a Car is the best collection of all things transportation, showing detailed schedules and providers. The second, Visit Milwaukee includes a downloadable guide of restaurants, transportation, and interactive maps.
Join us in Milwaukee to enjoy a city with a hometown charm.
