by Trent Jonas

A float on one of these glowing swan boats is a dreamy way to spend a summer night in Wisconsin. Make it part of a Milwaukee weekend adventure.

Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is home to several truly lovely parks. The crown jewel of them all, I think, is Veterans Park. It’s a sprawling county park on the Milwaukee waterfront that spans nearly a mile of Lake Michigan shoreline between Juneau Park and McKinley Park, creating a contiguous public green space along the water. McKinley Park is known, of course, for its beautiful beach and marina, but Veterans Park has something that no other Milwaukee Park can offer: swan boats. These charming watercraft are fun to pedal around in at any time of day, but they take on a romantic, almost ethereal, quality when the sun begins to set. For my money, floating on the Veterans Park lagoon in a glowing swan boat is just about the dreamiest way to spend a summer evening in Wisconsin.

Look for these whimsical vessels in the lagoon at the north end of the park. A concessionaire, Wheel Fun Rentals, manages the swan boats and rents them out in half-hour increments.

Taking a spin on a swan boat is an excellent way to get out on the water—much tamer than neighboring Lake Michigan, which is visible from the lagoon—and while away an afternoon. Fresh air, lovely views, a fairytale conveyance: What could be better?

As charming as this all is, the real enchantment happens when the sun starts to dip behind the Milwaukee skyline. This is when the swans, which are lined with strands of LED lights, are illuminated. Swan riders become mere shadows, floating on glowing waterfowl beneath star-dotted skies, gliding over reflections of city lights on the dark lagoon, and breathing in the cool night air.

Illuminated swan boat rides are available from sunset to 9:30 p.m. daily during the summer, and on certain weekends in May and September. Check the Wheel Fun Rentals website for exact dates and rental pricing.

Read the full article at onlyinyourstate.com >>