"Go Pack Go!"
"It's On!"

Two of my favorite cheers collided on November 1 when I had the pleasure of attending the Southwest Milwaukee tailgate party to celebrate Southwest's opening in the land of cheeseheads. Wisconsin happens to be my home state, and Milwaukee is where my entire family resides, so I couldn't be happier about Southwest's newest destination. The tailgate event was filled with families and exemplified all that Southwest is: Spirit, Fun, and LUV. Family-friendly opportunities abound in Wisconsin, making it a great vacation spot that I think many people overlook. Why go to Florida when you can go to the frozen tundra? :)

From a great zoo to great museums, Milwaukee offers something for families of all ages. Moreover, the city is filled with great restaurants, shopping districts, beautiful parks and the gorgeous Lake Michigan lakefront.

Here is a list of some of my favorite family destinations in Milwaukee:

The Milwaukee County Zoo  http://www.milwaukeezoo.org/

The Brewers  http://milwaukee.brewers.mlb.com/index.jsp?c_id=mil

Betty Brin Children's Museum  http://www.bbcmkids.org/

Discovery World  http://www.discoveryworld.org/

Mitchell Park Horticultural Conservatory (aka The Domes) http://www.county.milwaukee.gov/MitchellParkConserva10116.htm

Milwaukee Repertory Theater  http://www.milwaukeerep.com/

Pettit National Ice Center: US Olympic Training Facility http://www.thepettit.com/

Summerfest: The World's Largest Music Festival http://www.summerfest.com/flash/

And if you feel like taking a drive when you get to Milwaukee you could also visit some of my other favorite spots in Wisconsin:

The University of Wisconsin-Madison http://www.wisc.edu

Wisconsin Dells, including my favorite attraction, Noah's Ark  http://wisdells.com/   http://www.noahsarkwaterpark.com/

EAA AirVenture Oshkosh is America's largest annual gathering of aviation enthusiasts   http://www.eaa.org

Door County http://www.doorcounty.com

Lambeau Field, home to The Green Bay Packers http://www.packers.com

In Wisconsin you will find good-natured, hard-working, fun-loving people--just like you find on a Southwest plane. I hope you have the opportunity to enjoy Milwaukee and the great state of Wisconsin. Be sure to get some cheese curds while you are there!

Jessica Turner is Southwest’s resident Mommy Blogger. Her guest blog posts and vlogs will focus on traveling with her baby, tips she discovers and family-friendly activities to experience around the country. When she isn't traveling, she enjoys spending time with her family, working, blogging and scrapbooking. She and her husband, Matthew, live in Nashville, Tenn., with their 16-month-old peanut, Elias, who is currently into everything! 

You can find Jessica's mommy blog at: www.TheMomCreative.com