Staying in Milwaukee during the RNC? Here are non-convention things to do that week

The Republican National Convention will be in Milwaukee July 15-18, and between road closures, security perimeters and tens of thousands of visitors, downtown will be busy.

During those four days, some businesses will be closed to the public and some regular events like Jazz in the Park won't take place that week.

But if you're staying in the city during the RNC, there are still plenty of things to do. Here are a few ideas.

Go to a museum

Betty Brinn Children's Museum, Discovery World and the Milwaukee Public Museum are closed during the four days the convention is in town, but the weekend before or weekend after the RNC is a great time to visit the public museum, as its hours are being extended. Rather than closing at 5 p.m. on July 13, 14, 19 and 20, the museum, at 800 W. Wells St., will stay open until 7 p.m.

Speaking of a great time to visit museums, the Milwaukee Art Museum will not only stay open during the RNC (with the exception of July 15 as the art museum is typically closed on Mondays), but admission will be free. The art museum, at 700 N. Art Museum Drive, will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on July 14, 16, 17, 19 and 20, and from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. July 18.

The Harley-Davidson Museum, at 400 W. Canal St., is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

America's Black Holocaust Museum, at 401 W. North Ave., is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday and Saturday. The museum is closed Sunday and Monday.

The Wisconsin Black Historical Society and Museum, at 2620 W. Center St., is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. The historical society is closed Sunday.

The Jewish Museum Milwaukee, at 1360 N. Prospect Ave., will be closed July 14-18, but will be open on Friday, July 19 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. and Sunday, July 21 from 12-4 p.m.

As part of the Wisconsin Historical Society's history makers tour, there will be a display about women's voting rights at the Cedarburg History Museum, N58W6194 Columbia Road, through July 17. The same display will be at the New Berlin Historical Society, 19885 W. National Ave., the whole time the RNC is in town.

Check out summer exhibits at the Domes or the zoo

The summer floral show will be at the Mitchell Park Domes, 524 S. Layton Blvd., during the time the RNC is in town. This year's exhibit is "United Plants Across America," a road-trip theme that highlights national landmarks across the five regions of the United States. The Domes are open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

The Milwaukee County Zoo, at 10001 W. Blue Mound Road, is open during the RNC, and the summer exhibit, Dinosaur Discovery, will be there during that time. The zoo is open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Get outside at a farmers market, concert, movie, beer garden or festival

There are always plenty of farmers markets in the Milwaukee area during the summer months. Just a few that will be happening during the RNC include the ones in Brown Deer and Oak Creek, at Hartung Park in Wauwatosa and at Jackson Park in Milwaukee. Check out this farmers market guide for details.

The same is true for free outdoor concerts including ones at Lake Park, Konkel Park in Greenfield, Chill on the Hill in Bay View and Kadish Park on North Avenue. Check out this guide for details on these and more concerts.

There will be free outdoor movies in Waukesha's Cutler Park at 321 Wisconsin Ave. on July 15 and at Bayshore in Glendale on July 17.

The Milwaukee County Parks traveling beer garden will be at Kops Park, 3321 N. 86th St., during the RNC's time in Milwaukee.

There will be two community festivals going on during the RNC. The Town Food Truck Festival, with live music, local food trucks, a beer tent and family activities, will be at the Corners of Brookfield, 20111 W. Blue Mound Road from 4:30 to 8 p.m. July 17. And the Waukesha County Fair will begin during the RNC; it runs July 17-21 at Waukesha County Fairgrounds, 1000 Northview Road.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Things to do in Milwaukee during the Republican National Convention