Things to do / Travel Guide
Address:Madison, Wisconsin
Our Tourist Attractions Expert Says:
Cheese lovers will flock to Wisconsin, known as "The Cheese State" to taste over 600 varieties of the state's famous dairy product. For those who prefer a cheese-free vacation, Madison, Wisconsin offers much more to do than cheese! It is home to many micro-beer breweries, so head on over for a drink. Visit downtown Madison's "Museum Mile," and the beautiful State Capitol building. Bike for miles and enjoy seemingly-endless beaches, beautiful parks and botanical gardens. Madison is a university city, home to the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and thus attracts a lot of entertainment and culture, and boasts terrific nightlife because of its student population.
Downtown Madison is laid out along a half-mile-wide and two-mile-long isthmus, where a lot of the excitement is located. The main downtown thoroughfare, State Street, links the University of Wisconsin campus with the State Capitol Square, and is lined with restaurants, espresso cafes and shops. Only pedestrians, buses, police, delivery vehicles and bikes are allowed on State Street.
The Wisconsin State Capitol Building is a sight to be seen. It is the second largest capitol building in the country, next only to the United States Capitol Building in Washington D.C., which it resembles. Tours are available, with the chance to see government in action, and the state building has an observation deck.
The downtown area has several other interesting attractions. The Dane County Farmers' Market is held around the Capitol Square every Saturday morning in the summer, and on Wednesday evenings, the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra performs free concerts on the Capitol's lawn.
Other attractions are located throughout the rest of the city. The Olbrich Botanical Gardens is on the east side of Madison, in Olbrich Park. The gardens cover over 15 acres, including a Thai-style pavilion donated by the royal family of Thailand. In the conservatory, you'll find a tropical forest including over 750 plants, and a waterfall. Across town, on the south side of Madison, is the University of Wisconsin Arboretum. With a 1,260-acre mix of wetlands and prairie grass, the arboretum contains over 300 types of native plants.
Madison's "Museum Mile" has six museums and galleries, all free of charge. The Elvehjem Museum of Art features exhibits from the 12th-20th centuries, specializing in American and European art. Highlights include the European paintings. There are also related educational programs supporting the teaching, research and public service mission of the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The University of Wisconsin-Geology Museum features natural history, science, and technology exhibits. Highlights for kids include the dinosaur fossils. Approximately two-thirds of the museum is devoted to invertebrate, vertebrate, plant, and trace fossils. Large, touchable specimens are located throughout the museum, including rocks from a period when there were volcanoes in Wisconsin. There are also corals, jellyfish and other sea creatures that once lived and swam in the area, now dry land. Guided tours of the museum are available. It is accessible by public bus, with a stop minutes from the museum.
For shopping in Madison, visit the East Towne Mall, an indoor mega mall with 115 stores and eateries. The West Towne Mall features more than 110 specialty stores including most well-known chains. Dine at Chili's, Olive Garden, Red Lobster or Outback Steakhouse.
Outdoor enthusiasts should know that Wisconsin has been rated one of the top states for cyclists. Many major streets in Madison have designated bike lanes and the city has one of the most extensive bike trail systems in the country. Ride the 13-mile paved bike loop around Lake Monona and breeze past the downtown area and beaches. Lake Monona and Lake Mendota have excellent parks and beaches, where families can feed the ducks, fish, go boating, or play ball. There are lots of places to grill and picnic.
Wisconsin is known for its beer brewing, which has been going on since the 1890s. Wisconsin is home to Miller Brewing Company among other breweries, and specialty micro-breweries can be found nearly anywhere in southern Wisconsin. Wisconsin also produces over one-third of the cheese sold in the United States, in over 600 varieties. Cheese lovers will enjoy visiting one or several cheese boutiques in Madison.
Madison is said to contain more restaurants per capita than any other American city. Everything from spicy Cajun to exotic Laotian is available. You'll find classier fare on Capitol Square, where restaurants cook with locally-grown produce.
Madison has a vibrant college scene and many nightlife opportunities away from campus. You'll find the college set concentrated around University Avenue and State Street. Other places are closer to the isthmus, in the Capitol Square area, and slightly more to the south. Luther's Blues, on University Avenue, is your place for roots rock and smooth blues, while Opus Lounge, in Capitol Square, serves great cocktails.
Madison is located in south-central Wisconsin, 77 miles west of Milwaukee and 122 miles northwest of Chicago. The nearest airport is the Dane County Regional Airport, where there is a Metro bus line with service to town, making visiting Madison extremely convenient.