By Leslie Atkins

Remember Laverne and Shirley handling bottle caps as a conveyor belt rolled past? That was TV’s version of Milwaukee — the old Milwaukee. Today, the real version of Milwaukee is one in which contemporary women business owners can enjoy all the luxury that the city and a nearby spa resort have to offer.

Milwaukee: Relaxation on the Lake

Situated on the western shore of Lake Michigan, Milwaukee combines the benefits of the huge and inspiring lake with a location that’s just 90 miles north of Chicago.

Indeed, the city occupies a prime spot on Lake Michigan, an immense body of water that possesses all the allure of large lakes and offers drama and a psychic energy that skims across its surface and alights on anyone close to its shoreline.

Traditionally, Milwaukee was home to many German style breweries. One of them — Miller Brewing — is still in the city and going strong. Others — Pabst, Blatz and Schlitz — are long gone. But, in their place are a number of thriving microbreweries, such as the popular Water Street Brewery, that offer the locals excellent home-brewed suds.

Milwaukee also is the corporate home of the Harley-Davidson Motor Company. Last year, in celebration of the company’s 100 th anniversary, Harley-Davidson hosted a major celebration, and Harley devotees rumbled in from all corners of the world to pay homage to their favorite brand of bike.

As if that’s not enough, Milwaukee also offers Marquette University and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, two theater districts, beautiful homes, the Potawatomi Bingo Casino, the Allen-Bradley clock tower in the skyline, countless neighborhood bars and brew pubs, and the Summerfest music festival.

Milwaukee, it seems, has a little bit of something for everyone.

For a great view, visit Blu, the sophisticated martini bar on the 23 rd floor of The Pfister hotel. Once you’ve enjoyed the grand vista, take some time to wander around the ornate lobby of the Pfister, which is reminiscent of past Victorian splendors and a grandeur that is timeless, if just a bit old-fashioned. Then, dine at Celia downstairs. (Don’t miss Celia’s scallop appetizer or sorbet dessert. In between, you can’t go wrong with any of Celia’s entrees.)

One morning, have breakfast at Alterra at the Lake, and revel in this establishment’s fresh-roasted coffee and delicious banana-chocolate chip muffins, apple-cinnamon bagels, or spinach-feta-dill scones. Food is, after all, an important part of traveling. Alterra may look unimpressive from the outside, but inside, this former pumping station is cozy and filled with the aroma of delicious food.

After breakfast, explore the beaches and parks along the water, and marvel at the immensity of Lake Michigan, the rocks, the seagulls, and the Canada geese. During the summer, sailboats and other pleasure craft are out on the lake, and soccer, rugby and beach volleyball players fill the lakefront athletic fields. Kite flyers abound, too, making for a fun and festive panorama. In fact, summer is considered the best time to see and be seen in this area.

If it’s other pastimes you seek, Milwaukee also is home to Brewers baseball, Bucks basketball, and art.

The Art Museum — one of the rare buildings on this otherwise relatively undeveloped piece of shoreline, looks like a bird with its wings spread. Weather permitting, the “wings” also “flap” at noon each day, opening and closing for visitors’ enjoyment. When it’s too windy or stormy, the wings stay closed. Inside the Art Museum is an enticing, eclectic permanent collection that ranges from Renaissance clocks to Rococo paintings to modern art. The gift shop has some great finds, too, allowing you to take home something aesthetically pleasing.

Then, there’s the Milwaukee Public Museum. This museum, the majority of which is now funded by private funds, currently is the only Midwest venue for “The Quest for Immortality: Treasures of Ancient Egypt” exhibition, which is traveling the United States on loan from the Cairo Museum. The Milwaukee Public Museum has plans for other similar major exhibitions, and also boasts a permanent collection that includes a wondrous exhibit on the “Streets of Old Milwaukee.”

Milwaukee’s offerings do not go unnoticed, and the city is known as a cultural and epicurean getaway destination in the Midwest. It is served by major airlines and Midwest Airlines, with its comfortable planes that seat two across in coach with wide leather seats.

Don’t Miss Kohler

For another Wisconsin getaway, drive north from Milwaukee just an hour to the town of Kohler (pronounced “COAL-LURE”), known for the Kohler Co., a world leader in fixtures, faucets and other products for the kitchen and bath, as well as home furnishings.

Destination Kohler features The American Club, a AAA, five-diamond hotel and resort located close to Lake Michigan. One of its four golf courses, the Straits course at Whistling Straits, is right on the shore of Lake Michigan, and is set to challenge the best golfers in the world at this year’s PGA C hampionship. Hills and dunes make it a difficult, but wondrous, backdrop to the lake beyond.

Kohler Waters Spa is world class. Naturally, it features water treatments, as well as more traditional massages and facials. With the allure and majesty of a massive Great Lake nearby, inside you can soak in a constantly overflowing tub…or enjoy a water massage under a Vichy shower with five jets of water pulsing down on your back and legs…or have a marine pedicure that incorporates reflexology to soothe any aches and pains…or do all of the above and more.

The town of Kohler has a population of about 1,900, and this wondrous resort in its midst caters to visitors from Chicago and Minneapolis, and occasionally from as far away as Denver, Los Angeles, or New York.

The American Club resort hotel is delightful, or you can stay across the street at their Carriage House, with Kohler Waters Spa just downstairs. The Carriage House offers a “Girlfriends’ Get-Together” package; you can call to have breakfast sent up to your room, slip into the plush robes and slippers found in the room closet, and then go down to the spa for hours of pampering.

Kohler also has many great dining options. One important, “not-to-miss” opportunity is The Winery Bar, where you can sip wine or champagne, or have a cosmopolitan while nibbling on an array of Wisconsin cheeses and exquisite appetizers.

A Great Lake, a great city, a great spa. Move over Laverne and Shirley. Wisconsin is today’s destination.

LESLIE ATKINS is Enterprising Women’s contributing travel editor and an award-winning feature writer who specializes in travel, sports and fitness topics. The owner of LA Communications, LLC, a Washington, DC-based public relations and editorial services firm, she can be contacted at 202-223-1865 (e-mail: LAtkinsCom@aol.com).

(This article is reprinted from the 2004 Enterprising Women of the Year edition of Enterprising Women magazine. Copyright 2004 Enterprising Women Inc.  Reproduction in whole or part is prohibited, except by express permission of the publisher.)