Johnson's Woods - Milwaukee, WI Area Guide

Johnson's Woods neighborhood traces its history from a tiny frontier settlement to a thriving city on the outskirts of downtown Milwaukee. Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal agencies developed the neighborhood's Burbank Park, and enabled further growth and development in the area that drew new populations from Milwaukee's congested city center.

Johnson's Woods does not have any museums of its own, though the world-famous Milwaukee Art Museum and The Captain Frederick Pabst Mansion rest only five miles away. For a little culture closer to home, residents can easily walk to Miller Park to catch the Milwaukee Brewers baseball games during the summer, or head another east to visit the expansive array of wildlife at the Milwaukee County Zoo.

Miller Park has transformed the surrounding areas, including Johnson's Woods, into a restaurant and nightlife hotspot, where locals can experience both dive-quality sports bars and world-class fine-dining eateries all within a 2-mile radius. A trip down West Bluemound Road exposes residents to an endless variety of locally-owned and chain restaurants and bars.

Since 2007, Maxie's has provided the West Allis area with authentic southern cuisine coming from the Carolinas and the Creole and Cajun cooking of Louisiana, which includes slow-smoked southern barbecue and southern comfort cooking of all kinds. Located on the corner of 68th Street and Fairview Avenue, immediately north of West O'Connor Street, this traditional southern restaurant has garnered several accolades in the Milwaukee area while serving up hearty plates of crab cakes, sweet potato fries and oysters. Locals highly recommend the jambalaya.

Most restaurants focus on a single part of the world when creating their menus. Blue's Egg on North 76th Street does the exact opposite by reflecting on the melting pot of American culinary culture and developing a menu based on old-world ingredients and gastronomy spanning Europe, Africa and Asia. From berry-smothered French toast in the morning to fried shrimp sandwiches for lunch, this Americana-styled restaurant emphasizes sufficient helpings, fresh products and made-from-scratch cooking techniques.

Combining the culinary traditions of a German beer hall with old world decor, Kegel's Inn remains one of the most authentic German beer halls and restaurants in the area. Located 1 mile south of Johnson's Woods on West National Avenue, Kegel's transports patrons to the historic German inn with its selection of beef rouladen, weiner schnitzel, glazed veal and much more. Make sure to accompany a meal with a stein of imported German beer.

Speaking of beer, Johnson's Woods also features a diverse nightlife that allows for both high-octane nights at the club and cool, relaxing lounge scenes ideal for a comfortable drink with friends. Milwaukee Brewers baseball fever captures a large part of the nightlife scene, and residents are never too far from a sports bar to watch the game. Rounding Third always has drink specials during Brewers and Packers games, while Kelly’s Bleachers emphasizes a strong party scene complemented with drinking, live music and sports-themed events.

Abundant sidewalks and spacious, minimal-traffic suburban streets enable a culture of walking and bicycling, and whether for exercise or for shorter trips, some Johnson's Woods locals prefer to get around by foot or by bike. Even without bike lanes on many streets, Milwaukee drivers often provide right-of-way to bikers and are quite courteous.

Despite Johnson's Woods green culture, residents need a car when conducting common errands or commuting to work. The neighborhood's proximity to I-94 enables convenient access to downtown Milwaukee, but this interstate does become quite crowded during rush hour. Instead, take West National Avenue to the downtown area for relatively clear travel. Residents can often find free, curbside parking along many neighborhood streets, but they must remember to obey snow plow regulations in the winter.

Most Milwaukee taxis don't wander around the Johnson's Woods streets looking to pick up customers, and therefore locals need to call ahead or book a ride with Uber to catch a quick ride. When using public transportation, residents can catch the Milwaukee Country Transit's Route 64 and Route 76 along South Hawley Road and South 70th Street, respectively.

Getting out and enjoying some fresh air and outdoors recreation is never a challenge for Johnson's Woods residents, as both neighborhood and county parks abound in this area. Four cemeteries rest just to the east of this neighborhood, including the historic Wood National Cemetery. This expansive cemetery, dating back to 1867, showcases the grim realities of war while taking visitors on a trip through America's military engagements and praising the brave heroes who fought in them.

Local children do not have to travel far to play a little baseball or joke around on some quality playground apparatuses, as the Burbank Playground rests right in the center of Johnson's Woods along West Adler Street. Kopperud Park just south of the Hank Aaron State Trail provides ample green space ideal for a picnic or relaxing in some afternoon sunshine, and McKinley Park offers a large baseball field for the sports enthusiasts. Access is always free to these parks.

Dogs are allowed on-leash in most city parks, except for the Burbank Playground. Dog owners often have to travel to take advantage of the area's dog parks, such as the scenic Bay View Dog Park on South Bay Street or the Currie Dog Park in Wauwatosa.

Johnson's Woods residents can visit the Wisconsin State Fair at the Wisconsin State Fair Park off West Adler Street. Spanning over 200 acres of land and 20 buildings within the State Fair Park, this annual event draws near a million visitors and includes Wisconsin’s largest agricultural showcase as well as hundreds of food vendors, carnival rides, live music and much more. This fair runs for a week towards the beginning of August, and it does cost an admission fee.

Johnson's Woods carries a slightly lower cost of living than Milwaukee's average, though residents can still enjoy luxurious housing and nearby, world-class amenities. The median cost for a one-bedroom apartment in the neighborhood hovers around $630 a month. Paying in cash for a trip on the Milwaukee County Transit System costs $2.25, while car owners can expect to pay about 11 percent less than national averages on gas. For a pint of beer at local pubs, locals only need to pull $4 or $5 from their wallets.

As a small housing community surrounding the Burbank Elementary School, Johnson's Woods does not support a vibrant shopping scene. However, locals don't have to make the 5 miles trip to downtown Milwaukee when looking to shop at high-end stores and boutiques. For a diverse selection of clothing, home decor and other shops, head to West Bluemound Road to the north or West Greenfield Avenue to the south. The acclaimed Mayfair shopping mall requires about 10 minutes travel by car, while the Shops of Grande Avenue in downtown Milwaukee is about a 15-minute drive away.

Get ready for a big formal party or wedding by heading to Kashka's of Milwaukee on Greenfield Avenue. Known as Milwaukee's favorite bridal shop and full-service salon, this quaint, friendly store emphasizes custom-designed and constructed bridal gowns, dresses and accessories. Even if visitors bought their formal dresses somewhere else, Kashka's stands as the ultimate solution for tailoring and repair as well.

Wisconsin is known throughout the United States for its world-class cheeses, and when stocking up on elegant and innovative cheeses and other gifts for family and friends, locals head to the West Allis Cheese & Sausage Shoppe. Some of Wisconsin's most revered cheese artisans contribute to the wide selection of cheeses at this rustic store, and visitors can often find authentic imported cheeses from places such as Italy and Switzerland. Ask about wine pairing options while you're there, and pick up some organic honey or homemade jam.

Johnson's Woods residents have several grocery store options. The Walmart Neighborhood Market and the Pick 'n Save stand as the most affordable markets for brand-name fruits and vegetables, meats and other kitchen staples. For a wide selection of organic fruits and vegetables, as well as sustainable meats, many locals recommend Health Hut Natural Foods on South 108th Street or the Cermak Fresh Market on Miller Park Way. From May to Thanksgiving, residents can visit the West Allis Farmers Market off West National Avenue to enjoy healthy foods straight from the outlying county farms.