Maple Tree - Milwaukee, WI

The area in and around Maple Tree was originally inhabited by various Native American tribes including the Menominee and Potawatomi. French traders started arriving in the area in the late 1600s and a trading post was established in 1785. The first town that would eventually become Milwaukee was established in 1818. Over the course of the century, the city would see an influx of German immigrants who brought with them a long brewing tradition. A large Polish and Serbian population settled in the area in the 1900s, and in the 1950s the Hispanic population began to grow.

The Milwaukee Art Museum and the Milwaukee Repertory Theater are venerable institutions for art and theater for sure, but this town also likes its sports with the Brewers baseball team and the Bucks basketball team playing right in the city. The Wisconsin State Fair and Summerfest are popular festivals for food and music.

Maple Tree features a lot of mainstream restaurants such as Ruby Tuesdays and Cousins Subs, a popular Wisconsin sub sandwich chain. However, some hidden gems exist throughout the community. Locals enjoy Elliot's Off Broadway on Park Place. This deli offers sandwiches, soups, and hot entrées seven days a week. They also have a catering menu.

For a taste of India or Pakistan, head to G. Mirch Masala on North 76th. This restaurant is praised for its chicken biryani, and locals particularly love the naan.

Area residents also patronize Allgauer's in the Park at the Hilton Garden Inn. This classy bar and restaurant offers reasonable prices on its menu items and wine list. Enjoy fresh seafood options as well as a breakfast buffet.

The Trysting Place Pub provides another opportunity to relax with a cold one in a laid-back environment. The Friday night fish fry reigns in Wisconsin, and the Trysting Place offers an exceptional version. Flaky, baked, beer-battered cod, served from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. every Friday, keeps this "Wisco" tradition alive, and if you don't like fish, the pub has a daily lunch buffet Monday through Friday, offering pizza, tacos, fried chicken and more.

If sports bars aren't your thing, head over to the Hot Water & Wherehouse for the best Latin dancing in the area. Live salsa music gets you ready to move your feet, but your options aren't limited. The Wherehouse features a rotation of dance styles every night, from tango to swing, with 50s rock-and-roll in between.

There are several bus routes of the Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS) that serve the Maple Tree neighborhood. Buses can be taken for travel around Maple Tree or used to get downtown. Cyclists have many options for two-wheeled travel around the county with an extensive network of bike trails. It’s even possible to travel west to Madison or south to Chicago using a series of trails and connections. As part of an urban area, walking in parts of Maple Tree does require some caution, but the neighborhood does posses many walkable streets.

There are plenty of options for cab service throughout the area, but unless you are closer to downtown, you'll fare better calling for service. Uber car sharing is also available. U.S. Route 41 can be accessed in Maple Tree for travel north to Fond du Lac. A connection via Route 45 will get you to Interstate 94 for a trip west to Madison or south to Chicago. The city of Milwaukee has many options for paid public parking, although residential parking in neighborhoods like Maple Tree are free and not difficult to find.

The Little Menomonee River Parkway features the paved Oak Leaf Trail which provides for a smooth, even jogging, hiking and cycling path. There is also an archery center and a playground for kids and great views of the Little Menomonee River. Dretzka Park features two well-maintained disc golf courses, which are a fun way to get exercise. The Granville Dog Park is the place to let the mutts run free and expend their endless energy. Both of these parks are free and open to the public.

Milwaukee’s world famous outdoor event, Summerfest, is the biggest music festival in the world. Held over 11 days in Henry Maier Festival Park on Milwaukee’s lakefront, the "Big Gig" attracts upwards of one million people who come to enjoy the music of roughly 700 live acts.

The overall cost of living in the Milwaukee area remains just slightly less than the national average. Groceries and housing are cheaper, but health care and transportation are higher. Public transit is an inexpensive way to get around town with bus fares at $2.25. Children under 12 and seniors receive a discount, and weekly and monthly passes are available for a discounted price. Gas prices in the area are about five percent less than the national average. The median price of a one-bedroom apartment goes for $625 per month. A pint of domestic beer at your local bar or restaurant will cost about $3 to $4 dollars and a bottle of import will be around $4.75 to $5.

Pick 'n Save is the place for grocery and pharmacy needs in the Maple Tree area, and Target has a location here as well. Mills Fleet Farm is close by as well and offers a better choice of outdoor sporting gear. For the more thrifty shopper, E-Collectique Runway Boutique is the place to find second-hand treasures, from skirts and blouses to purses and scarves. Fresh, locally grown produce is just a short distance away at the Brown Deer Farmers' Market. Every year from May to October, this open air market sets up shop in the American TV parking lot and offers locals food that is fresh and in season.