Call an Uber or Lyft from the airport, and you’ll near-instantly be at your hotel or Airbnb—provided you’re staying in any of many the neighborhoods worth making a temporary home out of. The must-visit cobblestoned Historic Third Ward, for instance, is home to the Milwaukee Public Market, boutique hotels, and hip restaurants, and the Lower East Side’s proximity to the University of Milwaukee makes it a budget-friendly and lively place to stay. Travel between both—and the lake—via foot or the “The Hop” Milwaukee Streetcar.

Often frigid and snowy in the winter, the summer is when Milwaukee comes to life. The lakefront-adjacent Summerfest, dubbed the largest musical festival in the world, spans about 10 days, a dozen stages, and hundreds of artists. You can also picnic during Jazz in the Park on Fridays, check out the Bastille Day celebration in July, or cheer on the Brewers (and their Famous Racing Sausages) all season long. Other summer festivals including German Fest, Festa Italiana, and Irish Fest, showcase the city’s cultural diversity.

The Milwaukee Art Museum, designed by Santiago Calatrava, is breathtaking from both the outside and within. Be sure to include a visit to it in your itinerary, along with many of the other cultural landmarks and museums. There’s something for everyone: Motorcycle fans can visit the Harley-Davidson Museum, architecture and history buffs will love the Pabst Mansion, theater aficionados will be impressed by the Milwaukee Repertory Theater, and families can get their fill at Discovery World and the Betty Brinn Children’s Museum.

The smell of brewer’s yeast wafts over Milwaukee, and it’s worth seeing how the sausage—and beer—is made. Miller Brewery’s 70-minute, $20 tour and tasting through Miller Valley should be on every beer drinker’s list, and Lakefront Brewery offers a cheaper and shorter tour, which it says is “America’s Favorite.” From there, head to Water Street, Brady Street, or the Deer District where you’ll find plenty of sports bar fare (like fried cheese curds) to soak it all up.

Milwaukee’s lakeside setup means it’s ideal for all sorts of recreation. Run or golf at Lake Park (designed by Central Park’s own Frederick Law Olmsted), swim or join a beach volleyball game at Bradford Beach, rent a paddleboat at Veteran’s Park, or bike through the 120-mile Oak Leaf Trail. If you visit in winter, you’ll even spot people cross-country skiing through some of the city’s many parks.