I’ve lived in Milwaukee for 10 years, moving here from Kansas City where there were zero beaches. When I first moved to Milwaukee, I made it a point to find the best Milwaukee beaches! Since starting photography, I have been even more excited to try to find the best Milwaukee beaches for photo sessions. So, whether you are looking for a Milwaukee beach for fun or for photos, I’m here to give you all the details and make your search easy!
I will do my best to provide information on both photography at the beach, as well as information that you will need to have a fun day with your family! So, buckle up! Here is all the info on the best Milwaukee beaches!
Grant Park Beach- Best Beach in Milwaukee in my opinion!
Grant Park Beach is truly one of my favorite Milwaukee beaches! There are several areas on the beach. The first is one that you can enter through the Seven Bridges Trail . Seven Bridges is a very fun family hike, if you are up for a beach day and a short family hike! My 4 kids ages 8, 6, 5 and 3 are easily able to do this hike!
images by Abby Park Photography
Doctor’s Park – One of the best photo beaches in Milwaukee!
Doctor’s Park is in Bayside, Wisconsin and is truly such a beautiful beach! I love it for photos especially because it tends to be a little more secluded and not overly populated. It has a beautiful distant tree line and a few spots where you can walk out into the water for some beautiful shots!
Doctor’s Park beach is a bit on the rocky side. If you’re heading there with kids and plan to go for a swim, plan to bring some shoes that can be worn on the beach! It also is about a 10-15 minute walk from the parking lot, depending on how fast your kids walk ;). A stroller will take you all the way down to the beach, and you will need to carry it down a small set of stairs to the sand.
There is a playground near the parking lot, as well as some porta potty toilets. There is also one near the beach, if you need to use that!
Atwater Beach – One of the best Milwaukee Beaches for swimming!
Every time I go to Atwater Beach, I wonder why I don’t go more often! It’s a beautiful Milwaukee beach for a photo session or for swimming. There are lifeguards on the beach which makes it a safe place to take your children during designated hours.
For photos, the beach is quite crowded during daytime and early evening hours. I would not recommend using this Milwaukee beach for a weekend session, but it is usually more clear on a weeknight evening (though you still might be editing people out of the shot!)
There is a lovely boardwalk as well as a greenery area for some variety in photos! The walkway down to the beach is long and winding, so plan a little extra time to walk down, and encourage your clients to bring a stroller 🙂
Interested in scheduling a beach photo session? Beach sessions are one of my most popular offerings in the summer! You can reach out to me here and I would love to talk more with you about the vision for your session!
