Harley-Davidson Museum is fun for adults and kids

OK, I admit it. I don’t own a motorcycle, and it’s been years since I’ve even ridden one. But the Harley-Davidson Museum is downtown Milwaukee is awesome! It’s worth a visit, and be sure to take your camera. My wife, grandson and I spent a couple of hours there recently in air-conditioned comfort, spellbound by the displays. The place occupies two floors in the sort of building you’d expect for a Harley-Davidson museum. It has a no-nonsense, spacious industrial feel to it – lots of exposed steel girders and glass and decorated in black, orange and gray colors. Admission prices are reasonable, audio tours are available and kids can go on a free “scavenger hunt” and win a prize. Scores of Harley-Davidson bikes are thoughtfully displayed in chronological order, from the 1903 cycle sporting serial no. 1 to bikes used by the military and police to a replica of Captain America from “Easy Rider.” Elvis Presley’s 1956 Harley-Davidson is there. So are racing Harleys on a recreated 1920s board track. In addition, you can watch a robot manufacture a Harley-Davidson motorcycle in the Design Center exhibit, and you can actually climb on and pretend you’re riding a variety of bikes in another special exhibit. Across the street in the souvenir shop, we bought some keepsakes of our visit. And we enjoyed a fabulous lunch at Café Racer which, with Motor, is one of two restaurants available. If you’re near Milwaukee and you don’t visit the Harley-Davidson Museum, you’re making a big mistake!