Discover Glendale

Glendale combines nature experiences along the Milwaukee River with the Oak Leaf Trail, traces of Potawatomi history, and Sprecher experiences. A waterfall on the river draws anglers from across the Midwest, who come to catch spawning salmon and other migratory fish. This gives the area a distinctive appeal for travelers interested in fishing, history, or local brewing culture. When choosing a vacation rental, you can consider which of these aspects you want to shape your stay.

Waterfall and Oak Leaf Trail

The Oak Leaf Trail is accessible in Glendale at Richard E. Maslowski Park. If you want to include a trail in your travel plans, it offers a different focus from the waterfall: the trail is about being out on a path, while the Milwaukee River is about fishing for spawning salmon and other migratory fish. Both appeal to different interests, without requiring you to limit your stay to just one way of exploring.

The waterfall is more than just a general natural backdrop: it is a specific fishing spot that draws anglers from across the Midwest. Salmon spawn there, and other migratory fish are caught as well. If you choose Glendale for the fishing, you will find a distinctive destination centered on that interest. The Oak Leaf Trail offers a second way to add a trail experience to your stay.

Potawatomi History and Early Settlers

Potawatomi villages once stood in what is now Glendale. Their burial mounds in Kletzsch Park are evidence of the civilization that once flourished there. This historical connection gives visitors a different perspective from the activities along the river and on the trail: it focuses on the area’s earlier history and the people who lived there.

The first meeting hall of the Town of Milwaukee has also been preserved in Glendale. The building is a landmark dating from 1872. Milwaukee Union Cemetery adds another connection to the area’s history of early settlers. The small, preserved cemetery contains about 100 graves, many of them unmarked. The approximate number and the many unmarked graves are part of its distinctive character. Those interested in Glendale’s history can explore several different traces: the former Potawatomi villages, the meeting hall, and the cemetery associated with early settlers.

Sprecher: Tours, Tasting and Beer Garden

At Sprecher Brewery, tours and the daily “Tasting Experience” are two different offerings. The tours are family-friendly and suitable for guests of all ages. The tasting includes unlimited soda and four draft samples of Sprecher beer or hard soda. This gives you a choice between a family-friendly tour and a tasting featuring the beverages listed above.

Another Sprecher experience is the family-friendly Sprecher Brewing Outdoor Oasis, a beer garden in Richard E. Maslowski Community Park. Sprecher beverages and food are available there. For the 2026 season, it opens on Wednesday, June 10, 2026. Along with the Tasting Experience and the tours, it offers a specific look at Sprecher’s offerings, with different points of interest for families and other guests.

More local pages: St. Francis, Whitefish Bay, Wauwatosa, River Hills, Oak Creek, Milwaukee, Brown Deer, Greenfield.

Return to the main travel overview: Milwaukee.