Situated on an isthmus between Lakes Mendota and Monona, Madison is a charming and picturesque city with lots to offer – five lakes, 200 parks, miles of bicycle and foot paths, one of the loveliest university campuses in the country, great dining and entertainment, and a stimulating cultural and recreational environment.
Lake Mendota
Take a walk, bicycle ride, or run along the shore of Lake Mendota on the Howard Temin Lakeshore Path. You can access the path at the Memorial Union on Langdon Street and continue west for 1.5 miles where you will reach the entrance to Picnic Point. Picnic Point is a peninsula and nature preserve for foot traffic only. You can walk or run out to the end of the point (.75 miles) for great views of Madison and campus.
Memorial Union
The Memorial Union at the corner of Park and Langdon Streets is a legendary campus hangout. The Union Terrace on Lake Mendota offers lovely views, beautiful sunsets, and great people watching. The Union Terrace is a great place to enjoy a cold local beer or The University of Wisconsin’s famous Babcock Dairy Ice Cream.
State Street
State Street links the University of Wisconsin campus with the Capitol Square. A walk up State Street offers a wide variety of ethnic restaurants, coffeehouses, and shops. The Overture Center for the Arts, located on the 200-block of State Street, houses the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art. The Wisconsin Historical Museum, the Wisconsin Veterans Museum, and the Madison Children’s Museum are all located on the corner where State Street meets the Capitol Square.
Wisconsin State Capitol
The State Capitol building is open to the public weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and weekends from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Free tours are offered daily. Tours start at the information desk Monday through Saturday at 9:00, 10:00, 11:00 a.m. and 1:00, 2:00, 3:00 p.m.; and Sundays at 1:00, 2:00, 3:00 p.m.
Dane County Farmers’ Market
The fabulous Saturday Morning Dane County Farmers’ Market is held April through October, around the Capitol Square. Hours are 6 a.m.-2 p.m. The considerably smaller Wednesday Farmers’ Market is located on Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, located on the southeast side of the Capitol (in front of the Monona Terrace), and is open Wednesdays from 8:30am-2:00pm, May through October.
Henry Vilas Zoo
The Henry Vilas Zoo is one of only a handful of admission-free, community-supported zoos in the country. Fully accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, the beautiful zoo features exhibits and attractions for the whole family. The Zoo is open daily 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., all year round.
Madison Children’s Museum
The Madison Children’s Museum is located at the top of State Street and is open Monday-Friday 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Saturday 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., and Sunday noon – 5:00 p.m. Admission is $5 per person for adults and kids. Admission is free the first Sunday of every month.