My birthday was this week so we went on “special-occasion” adventure!

I chose to go with my family on the Surf & Turf Evening Edelweiss Boat Cruise and it did not disappoint.

The weather was poor that day. Strong storms passed through several times and prompted me to call the Edelwiess boat office. “Rain or Shine” they said.

So even though we were a bit skeptical - we went. And we were so glad we did!

The boat loads in downtown Milwaukee. The Edelwiess office is just off of Old World Third Street and not far from the Fiserv Forum.

The cruise starts on the Milwaukee River and winds its way south through downtown Milwaukee. We passed by skyscrapers and lovely historic downtown buildings.

Seeing some of our favorite old landmarks from a new perspective was really fun!

We were served a delicious meal as we slowly cruised on the water. The meal started with wine, a fresh salad and warm bread. There is a cash bar on the boat. The dinner was marinated shrimp, a filet of steak and a side of potato. The steak was cooked close to medium. (We usually order medium rare steak but everyone at the table agreed that it was delicious!) Arlo (my youngest) ate the kid’s meal of chicken fingers and fries. We were all served a thick slice of decadent cheesecake for dessert.

Kid-Friendly: A few friends were surprised that we brought kids on the “fancy” dinner boat ride. I can say that the kids thoroughly enjoyed it. 

The way they slowly brought out the food (warm bread is always a hit!) in courses really helped keep the kids busy. Mostly my boys loved to look out the window and enjoy all of the scenery just like the adults!

Arlo, who is seven, loved watching the seagulls dive into the water around the boat for fish!

At no point was I worried about their safety or worried that we were interrupting anyone else’s date. There was a mix of couples and small groups on our ride. The boat plays music and everyone seemed to be talking and having a good time. Our noise level fit right in with the rest of the boat. 

If your kids can sit through a regular restaurant meal - then they should be able to sit through this ride!

They can also go out to the observation deck at any time!

Each group had their own table and it felt very intimate. The dining area on the boat is encased in glass windows on the sides and above. We were warm even though it was a chilly night.

What to wear: If you go on any boat ride on Lake Michigan - prepare for it to be at least 10 degrees cooler than on land. It is likely to feel even cooler than that with the constant breeze. Bring layers!

The front and back of the boat both have observation decks where you can sit outside at any point on your ride. The front deck has benches to sit on. As a photographer I really enjoyed this adventure!

I found myself constantly scrambling out to the observation deck to catch photos of all sorts of interesting scenes from a unique perspective. I brought my iPhone and I was happy with the photos! I think if I did it again I would also bring my DSLR so I could have a more zoom and low-light options just for fun. The iPhone X held up great though!

The Edelweiss Boat Tour company offers many different options. The surf and turf ride was a great fit for our family! The kids stayed up a bit past bedtime and that gave us the opportunity to see the city at sunset and afterwards when all the lights go on. It was so nice to have our own table. We were very comfortable. I definitely want to go back and ride on their historic tour boat ride! Thanks for the great night Edelweiss!

Learn More Here: www.edelweissboats.com