Beach Review: Bradford Beach (Milwaukee, WI)
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Bradford Beach is THE beach in downtown Milwaukee. It's like Miami Spring Break-lite, with tiki bars, volleyball, beer pong, and cruise ships in the distance. It's pretty generally packed, but that's alright if it's the vibe you're after.
Overview
At Great Lakes Coastal, we're the gold standard in Great Lakes beachwear, and we're fortunate to have so many beaches right next to our basecamp in Southeast Wisconsin. Bradford is as close as it gets to an urban beach here, as it's at the north end of a long continuous lakefront park that swings through McKinley Beach, the marina, Veteran's Park, the Milwaukee Art Museum, and ends at Lakeshore State Park.
Looking out east over Bradford Beach.
The Beach
On most weekend days, this beach is almost entirely a party zone. There are about 12 beach volleyball courts here (see the league for more information), which are almost always packed with people. In between the volleyball courts are three tiki bars with beers, mixed drinks, great views, and music. There's also another two-level bar and patio area at the beach's center. The party keeps going until 10 PM at beach close, but you're only a 10-20 minute walk from Milwaukee's prime bar districts, Northpoint and the Lower East Side.
Our Bootjack Sling Packs at Bradford Beach.
There is some pretty decent surfing on the north end of the beach when the wind is right, due to the point of land just north of here that can affect wind patterns slightly. There are better spots, but it's not bad at all. Surfline offers surf reports on this beach, so keep an eye out. I've surfed here once and caught some 2 foot rollers and had some longboard fun- about all you can ask for on a random September Saturday in Wisconsin. If you're looking for local surf beta, we have to plug Big Lake Jake at the nearby Lake Effect Surf Shop, give him a shout!
If you're here in the morning (beach opens at 4:30 AM), expect things to be a lot quieter. It's a great spot to enjoy a sunrise over Lake Michigan, watch for birds, or just go for a walk. It's also family-friendliest at these hours, although there are other nearby beaches that definitely fit the bill a little better for this. The north end is generally a little quieter even in the afternoon, so scope out a spot there if that's what you're after. On the south end, check out MooSa's for ice cream and burgers.
Bradford Beach tiki bar and volleyball. (tripsavvy.com)
The Bottom Line
This is a great spot if you're in Milwaukee and looking to catch some sun- it's right in town and has everything you'd need, aside from sunblock and a cooler. You're within a short walk or drive from everything on the east side, and have access to volleyball and a few food and drink options.
That said, if you're looking for something a little more relaxed, check out Atwater Beach or South Shore Park.
Sand: 7/10 - I've seen better but it gets the job done.
Water: 7/10 - It can get a little mucky, typical for some Wisconsin beaches, but it's not bad and has a lifeguard most open hours.
Scenery: 6/10 - Unless you're here early in the day, you're here for the party.
Amenities: 9/10 - Tiki bars, beachside food spot, right in town.
Overall: 7/10
