Madison Travel Guide, Discount & Cheap Madison Travel & Tourism, Free Madison Travel Guide Online

Madison Travel Guide: Discount & Cheap Madison Travel & Tourism, Free Madison Travel Guide Online

Picture in your mind's eye two pure blue, clean and clear glacial lakes surrounded by rolling hills. Fill in the picture with a charming Wisconsin city bustling with people who are eager to welcome visitors and to share this idyllic scene, and you will be envisioning Madison, Wisconsin.

Much of the activity in Madison centers upon the 18,000 acres of lake surface within or just outside the city limits. The heart of Madison is built on an isthmus that divides Lake Mendota and Lake Monona. From the state capitol, which is surrounded by a huge plaza called Capitol Square, several major streets radiate outward like spokes on a wheel. One of those streets, State Street, is closed to traffic, except for a few buses. On this pleasant oasis, many of the city's best museums, shops and restaurants are located. This area adjoins the campus of the University of Wisconsin.

The university occupies much of the isthmus west of Capitol Square. Mansion Hill is a historic neighborhood of grand limestone houses north of the Square near Lake Mendota. The upscale Marquette neighborhood is east of the Square.

Consistently ranked among the best places to live in the U.S. by national magazines, Madison's population is growing about twice as fast as the rest of the US. Madison is a great area for bicycling, cross-country skiing and other outdoor activities. It is a lively city with a progressive attitude and a deep respect for culture and education. Many who come to Madison to study at the University never leave.

A visit to Madison in the summer is delightful. The weather is balmy and the Farmers Market has a wonderful collection of colors, smells and tastes. Capitol Square, where hundreds of vendors set up stalls every Saturday, is really the center of town and a good place to start a tour. The white-domed capitol building contains delicately crafted glass mosaics and is surrounded by well-tended gardens. Moving along State Street toward the UW campus, there is the Veterans Museum, and also the Children's Museum with hands-on activities for the whole family. The Madison Art Center displays the latest in modern art.

Other fine museums nearby include the Elvehjem Museum of Art and the Geology Museum, which displays the skeleton of a mastodon that roamed Wisconsin during the Ice Age. The Babcock Hall Dairy on campus has demonstrations of cheese and ice cream preparation (and samples of the products.) The university's arboretum has more than 20 miles of marked trails that are open year-round for biking, walking and cross-country skiing. A walk or drive around the campus area always rewards you with its beautiful views.

Away from campus, visit the Olbrich Botanical Gardens, and stroll through the specialty gardens, as well as a conservatory that contains a rain-forest habitat. Another interesting stop, especially for children, is the Henry Vilas Zoo. Children can ride a camel there on Sunday morning.

Madison has several buildings designed by Frank Lloyd Wright including Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center, which is called a new Wright building because the exterior was designed by Wright in 1938 but wasn't built until 1997. Wright's Unitarian Meeting House, built between 1947 and 1951 under his direct supervision, is open for tours in season.

Madison summers are short but are exceptionally beautiful. Weekly outdoor performances by the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra and the Mad City Water Ski Team, along with a full roster of festivals celebrating everything from art to beer, make summer the busiest season on the city's calendar. Performing-arts groups and University of Wisconsin athletics provide outstanding entertainment the rest of the year.

Madison is truly a place for all seasons.

Madison Attractions: Madison Travel Guide, Discount & Cheap Madison Travel & Tourism, Free Madison Travel Guide Online

Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center

1 John Nolen Drive, Madison.

608-261-4000.
This graceful building was designed by architect Frank Lloyd Wright to complement the capitol building, which is a short walk away. A first draft of the building was completed in 1938, but it wasn't until half a century later, that the city built the lakeside center. Daily 8 am-5 pm, guided tours at 1 pm. The rooftop garden with a view of the lake view of the lake is open daily until midnight.

Nathaniel W. Dean House

4718 Monona Drive (eastern outskirts of Madison)

Madison, Wisconsin

608-222-5783.
A pre-Civil War brick home, restored in 1972 and furnished with 19th-century amenities. The Historic Blooming Grove Historical Society maintains the house as a living museum to support the study of the Wisconsin farm family during the Victorian Age. Scheduled events are primarily reenactments of the daily routines and significant occasions of the family, ranging from laundry days to holiday celebrations. Free guided tours every other Sunday afternoon (donations accepted).


State Capitol

Capitol Square, Madison.

608-266-0382.

Monday-Friday 8 am-6 pm, Saturday and Sunday 8 am-4 pm.

Free tours depart from the information desk on the ground floor Monday-Saturday hourly. 9-3.

This white-domed granite building was modeled after the U.S. Capitol. It contains 43 kinds of stone from around the world, elaborate allegorical murals, glass mosaics and hand-carved furniture. The Governor's Conference Room is styled after a council chamber in the Doge's Palace in Venice.

Unitarian Meeting House

900 University Bay Drive (just west of the UW campus), Madison.

608-233-9774.
This triangular-shaped church, is one of the most interesting Frank Lloyd Wright-designed buildings in Madison. It is also considered one of the world's most innovative examples of church architecture. Completed in 1951, the building has a glass prow in the auditorium that creates the sense of soaring space without the use of a steeple.

Guided tours are available May-October Monday-Friday 10 am-3:45 pm and Saturday 9 am-noon (advance reservations required). Visitors are welcome at Sunday services.

but no tours of the building are allowed then. free self-guided tours.

University of Wisconsin-Madison Campus

608-265-9500 for tour information
A city focal point since 1848, this 900 acre campus occupies much of the south shoreline of Lake Mendota west of downtown. One of the largest universities in the U.S., it contains a mixture of modern and classical buildings and pretty quadrangles for strolling. There are also about a dozen Native American effigy mounds on campus. Two are on Observatory Hill, which overlooks Lake Mendota. The Terrace, located in the student union building, is a popular outdoor gathering spot for the entire Madison community.

Elvehjem Museum of Art

800 University Ave., Madison.

608-263-2246.
Created to house, exhibit and study the art collection of the University of Wisconsin. Some decorative objects date to 2300 BC, and its print collection is considered one of the finest in the nation. Musicians play in one of the galleries on Sunday afternoon October-May. The museum is open Tuesday-Friday 9 am-5 pm, Saturday and Sunday 11 am-5 pm. self-guided audio tour. Free guided tours Thursday at 12:30 pm and Sunday at 2 pm.

Madison Art Center

211 State St., Madison.

608-257-0158.
This nonprofit museum, located on the UW campus, exhibits contemporary art by both well-known and emerging artists. It sponsors two popular events: the Art Fair on the Square in July and the Holiday Art Fair in November. Tuesday-Thursday 11 am-5 pm, Friday 11 am-9 pm, Saturday 10 am-9 pm, Sunday 1-5 pm. Free.

Madison Children's Museum

100 State St., Madison

608-256-6445
A UW-area museum filled with entertaining hands-on activities, many involving art, for children of all ages. Special activities every weekend. Memorial Day-Labor Day daily 9 am-4 pm, Labor Day-Memorial Day Tuesday-Sunday 9 am-4 pm

State Historical Museum

30 N. Carroll St., Madison.

608-264-6555.
Artifacts, dioramas, audiovisual presentations and illustrations about Wisconsin's history. Exhibits are on the three upper floors, while the gift shop, which has an excellent selection of books, regional arts, cards and souvenirs, is located on the first floor. Tuesday-Saturday 10 am-4 pm. Admission is by donation.


UW Geology Museum

1215 W. Dayton (on the UW campus), Madison

608-262-2399.
Within walking distance of State Street's "Museum Mile" is Weeks Hall, where displays of minerals, rocks, fossils, dinosaur bones and a mastodon might interest children. They can examine the Earth with a large rotating globe and walk through a model of a Wisconsin limestone cave. Call to arrange a tour for a school or community group. Monday-Friday 8:30 am-4:30 pm, Saturday 9 am-1 pm. Free.

Wisconsin Veterans Museum

30 W. Mifflin St. (on Capitol Square), Madison.

608-267-1799

Year-round Monday-Saturday 9 am-4:30 pm; April-September also open Sunday noon-4 pm.

Powerful dioramas tell tales of Wisconsin veterans in combat from the Civil War to modern times. One of the paintings in its collection is a portrait of a man said to be the red-haired grandson of Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings. Exhibits include three aircraft (including a World War I biplane) suspended from the ceiling and 16 scale models of 19th- and 20th-century ships (including the USS Wisconsin). Children can look through a submarine periscope that protrudes through the gallery roof for a bird's-eye view of downtown.

Allen Centennial Gardens

620 Babcock Drive (on the UW campus), Madison.
This manicured and intriguing horticultural sanctuary, beside a magnificent Victorian home, is one of the best spots on the UW campus to stop and let the world go on without you. There are theme gardens from around the world and a fish pond. Daily 7 am-dusk. Free.

Olbrich Botanical Gardens

3330 Atwood Ave., East Side, Madison.

608-246-4550. http://www.olbrich.org.
Everywhere you turn at this public garden you see something beautiful. Its 14 acres/5.5 hectares include herb, rock and rose gardens, as well as an outdoor sunken garden with an 80-ft/25-m reflecting pool. The Bolz Conservatory is a glass pyramid where birds fly freely among more than 500 exotic plants. In 2002 the gardens added an authentic Thai Pavilion, the only one in the continental U.S. It opens onto a new Thai Garden. The gardens are open October-March Monday-Saturday 9 am-4 pm, Sunday 10 am-5 pm; April-September Monday-Friday 8 am-8 pm. Conservatory hours 10 am-4 pm, Sunday till 5 pm. November-March 8 am-5 pm. Free admission to the outdoor gardens. free each Wednesday and Saturday 10 am-noon.

UW Arboretum

1207 Seminole Highway, Madison.

608-263-7888.

This 1,260-acre/510-hectare refuge is a popular place to jog or stroll because it's one of the city's most beautiful places. It has restored and remnant prairies, wetlands, woods, effigy and burial mounds, an abundance of woodland plants and miles of trails for hiking, biking and cross-country skiing. Daily 7 am-10 pm. The information office is open Monday-Friday 9:30 am-4 pm, Saturday and Sunday noon-4 pm, excluding holidays. Free.


Babcock Hall Dairy

1605 Linden Drive (on the UW campus), Madison.

608-262-3047
No formal tours are conducted, but you can observe the production of milk, cheese and ice cream, then shop in the dairy store for some of the best ice cream on Earth. Monday-Friday 9:30 am-5:30 pm, Saturday 10:30 am-1:30 pm. On football Saturdays, the store is open 10 am-5 pm. Tour Free.


Capital Brewery and Bier Garten

7734 Terrace Ave. (just west of Madison), Middleton.

608-836-7100.

An award-winning brewery that specializes in German and English-style beers, Capital is just as well-known for such events as Bock Fest (February, includes a fish toss); a German version of Mardi Gras (March); and Repeal of Prohibition Fest (April). Much of the brewing equipment, including a pair of copper kettles, was brought from the Hoxter Brewery in Germany. There is a popular Bier Garten with live music. The Bier Garten is open Wednesday-Friday 4-9 pm, Saturday 1-9 pm. The hospitality room is open October-mid May Thursday-Saturday. The brewery hosts many private parties, so it is best to call ahead to make sure it's open to the public. (Friday at 3:30 pm and Saturday at 1:30 and 3:30 pm).

Lake Farm Park

At the end of Libby Road , Madison.

On the northwest shore of Lake Waubesa is the Native American Archaeological Trail, which has a self-guided tour that describes what the area looked like from 10,000 BC to AD 300.

Madison Events: Madison Travel Guide, Discount & Cheap Madison Travel & Tourism, Free Madison Travel Guide Online

Events

January

Mid January: Annual
Madfest Juggling Festival. For nearly 50 years, audiences have watched juggling talents toss knives, chainsaws and flaming batons. Also workshops, vendors, parties and other events. Tickets for this popular event sell out quickly. For information, call 608-240-0606 or 608-833-8944. For tickets, call 608-262-2201.

Mid January:
Madison Auto Show. Showcase of new models and the latest technology in trucks, cars and sport-utility vehicles. Also appearances by top NASCAR drivers. Alliant Energy Center Exhibition Hall, 1919 Alliant Energy Center Way.

February

Mid February: Wisconsin Public Television Garden Expo. More than 200 exhibitors display the latest garden products and give nearly 130 seminars, demonstrations and workshops on landscape design, gardening, lawn care and more. Alliant Energy Center, 1919 Alliant Energy Center Way. For information, call 608-262-5256.

Mid February:
International Festival. This free annual festival reflects the diverse cultures of Madison with more than 25 theatrical performances and cultural demonstrations. Also a craft bazaar offering ethnic clothing, crafts, jewelry and cuisine. Overture Center for the Arts, 201 State St. For information, call 608-258-4177.

March

End of March: Wisconsin Film Festival. Four day Festival. Screenings of independent and experimental features, documentaries and shorts by Wisconsin, national and international filmmakers. Various cinemas. For information, call 608-262-9099, or toll-free 877-963-3456.

April

Early April:
Annual Children's Art Festival. This annual festival presents theater, dance, music, artistic performances and workshops by and for children. Overture Center for the Arts, 201 State St. For information, call 608-258-4177.


Mid April: Midwest Horse Fair. More than 50,000 attend this showcase of 1,500 horses of nearly 50 breeds. Also 550 vendors and seminars with leading industry experts from throughout the U.S. Alliant Energy Center, 1919 Alliant Energy Center Way. For information, call 920-623-5515.


Late April – late November: Dane County Farmers Market. This extraordinarily popular year-round market comes outdoors to Capitol Square every Wednesday and Saturday during the summer and fall. More than 300 vendors sell fresh homegrown Wisconsin produce, meat, fish and cheese in one of the U.S.' largest producers-only farmers market. For information, call 608-455-1999

May

Mid May: Syttende Mai. An offbeat pairing of a road race and Norwegian culture, Syttende Mai means "17 May" in Norwegian, the date in 1814 when Norway achieved independence. A 20-mile run begins on Capitol Square and ends in the Norwegian enclave of Stoughton, where there are traditional Norwegian arts, food and dancing. For information, call 608-873-7912, or toll-free 800-873-7912.

Mid-Late May through early September: Mad City Ski Team Water Ski Shows. The Mad City Ski Team performs acrobatic waterskiing tricks on Lake Monona in Law Park on Sunday evenings. Free admission. For information, call 608-663-8326.

Memorial Day weekend: Mad City Marathon. Full, half, relay and wheelchair marathons, and 5K and 10K races with runners from more than 40 states and five countries start at Capitol Square and end at Olin-Turville Park. Followed by food, drinks, music and award ceremonies at the Capital Brewery Finish Line Festival. For information, call 608-850-4900.


Early May: Celebrate Madison. Music, dance, cultural demonstrations, crafts, workshops and other activities showcase the cultures of Madison's Italian, Hispanic, Native American, German, Asian-American and African-American communities. Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center, 1 John Nolen Drive. For information, call 608-261-4000.

July
Early-Mid July: Art Fair Off the Square

. Approximately 135 artists working in a variety of styles showcase ceramics, paintings, drawings, sculptures, jewelry, engravings and other works. Also live music, refreshments and children's entertainment. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, between Dotty and Wilson streets, between Capitol Square and Monona Terrace Convention Center. For information, call 608-798-4814.


4 July: Fireworks. This Independence Day festival begins at 10:30 am with aerial displays by the Wisconsin Air Guard, parachute jumps, music, children's activities and carnival rides. But the highlight is the fireworks display: the largest in the Midwest with more than 15,000 fireworks set to a 35-minute musical score. Warner Park, Northport Drive and Sherman Avenue. For information, call 608-833-6717.

August

Mid August: Great Taste of the Midwest. Beer enthusiasts flock to the second-longest-running beer festival in the U.S. Around 100 breweries and pubs give samples of more than 400 brews. Also food and entertainment. Ticket sales start in May, and they usually go quickly. Olin-Turville Park, John Nolen Drive. 608-255-8041.


Late August – Early November: University of Wisconsin Football. The popular University of Wisconsin Badgers play home games at Camp Randall Stadium, 1440 Monroe St. Tickets can be difficult to come by. For information and tickets, call 608-262-1440, or toll-free 800-462-2343.

September

Labor Day Weekend: Taste of Madison. Madison chefs from more than 60 restaurants serve dishes reflecting the city's global culture. The state's largest free music festival features acts on four entertainment stages. For information, call 608-850-4900.


Late September – early October: World Dairy Expo. This massive international trade show features the latest in dairy technology and innovations. Nearly 70,000 visitors from almost 80 countries participate in cattle judging, shows, exhibits, contests and educational seminars. Alliant Energy Center of Dane County, 1919 Alliant Energy Center Way. For information, call 608-224-6455.

October

Early October: Wisconsin Book Festival. Approximately 100 free events feature more than 200 leading writers, editors and illustrators in fiction, poetry, nonfiction, journalism, illustration and publishing. Activities include readings, lectures, panel discussions, storytelling, open-mike poetry slams, writing workshops and autograph sessions. Various venues. For information, call 608-265-5595.

November

Mid November:
Winter Art Festival. More than 140 artists working in a variety of styles showcase their works in pottery, watercolors, fiber, wood, glass, graphics and other media. Monona Terrace Convention Center, 1 John Nolen Drive. For information, call 608-798-4814.

Sports

Recreation

Madison and surrounding Dane County are known for exceptionally beautiful parks and numerous lakes. Regattas are popular on the bigger lakes, and you'll see plenty of people sailing and sailboarding. The city also maintains 13 free public beaches on area lakes.

Fishing goes on year-round. In summer, you can cast from the railroad trestle as well as from public and private docks and the Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center. In winter, the lakes are dotted with ice-fishing shanties. License required in order to fish.

Spectator Sports

608-262-1440.
The University of Wisconsin's men's and women's basketball and hockey teams draw large crowds, but the football team brings out the entire city as well as many out-of-town visitors, The ticket office is at the Kohl Center, on campus.

Skiing

Parks Department

608-266-4711

The city grooms about 18 miles of cross-country ski trails at seven parks and two municipal golf courses. Many skiers also use Madison's lakes, which are usually frozen over by mid December. Call the parks department for maps

Golf

Courses usually open around 1 April, and the season continues until mid October or even November.

Beaches

For directions, hours and updated information 608-266-4711.
Lake Mendota, Lake Monona, Monona Bay and Lake Wingra (by the zoo) all have free public beaches with lifeguards posted in the summer. Most of Madison's beaches are open daily early June-late August.

Bicycling

Madison, known as the bike capital of the Midwest, has spent more than a decade making itself more bicycle-friendly: New trails are being added all the time (most are shared by joggers and hikers). Even in the dead of winter, residents refuse to give up their bicycles. The best-known path is a 12-mile scenic loop that skirts the edge of Lake Monona, beginning at the convention center.

Golf

University Ridge Golf Course

9002 County Road

Verona.

608-845-7700.
This par-72 course, designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr., has rolling greens for the front nine, while the back nine runs through a forest. Club rentals, lessons and golf supplies are available. Call at least six days in advance for tee times. Open daily, with twilight golf available. Fees vary by day of the week and time of year

Yahara Hills Golf Course

6701 E. Broadway (off Highway 12/18, east of Interstate 90), Madison

608-838-3126.

Two 18-hole courses with fairways suitable for championship play. A course for serious golfers. Call for information about fees, discounts and tee times.

Hiking and Walking

Indian Lake Park
One of Dane County's largest parks with miles of nature trails, including an elevated boardwalk that circles the lake. Another trail leads to a gorgeous hilltop view and a historic chapel.



Elver Park

1240 McKenna Blvd.,West Side, Madison

The best hill in the city for sledding and snowboarding, but it tends to get crowded, especially now that skiers are joining those on sleds.

DayTrips

Frank Lloyd Wright self-tour.

Fans of architect Frank Lloyd Wright often make pilgrimages to Wisconsin to see the many buildings designed by the legendary architect who founded the Prairie School and designed some of the world's most innovative buildings.

Wright designed 32 structures for Dane County, but only 11 were built and just eight survive. The homes are not open to the public, but the Unitarian Church has tours.

The other Wright buildings include The Robert Lamp Residence, a simple cube brick home at 22 Butler St. (downtown), one of his early design was built in 1903.

E.A. Gilmore Residence, also known as "The Airplane House" because its wings look like those of a biplane, was built in 1908 in University Heights. It's the only local example of the architect's fully evolved Prairie style.

Jacobs Residence

is an unassuming L-shaped house built in 1937 was the first authentic Usonian house, which was meant to be affordable to the average American. It has a flat roof and a carport, both of which have been tested by Wisconsin's harsh climate.

Pew Residence is situated on a ravine overlooking Lake Mendota at 3650 Lake Mendota Drive. This limestone and cypress dwelling is small but full of interesting detail.

Spring Green.

608-588-7900.

One of the loveliest spots in Wisconsin, best known for Frank Lloyd Wright's hilly 600-acre estate, Taliesin. (He lived and worked there during most of his life.) Tours begin at the Frank Lloyd Wright Visitor Center at the intersection of Highway 23 and Highway C. Daily May-October, with limited group tours in November, weather permitting.

Arts and Entertainment

Madison Opera

Overture Hall, Overture Center for the Arts, 201 State St.

For information, call 608-238-8085. For tickets, call 608-258-4141

One of the finest regional opera companies in the country, it typically stages three productions each season. Continues through late April

Overture Center for the Arts

201 State St.

For information, call 608-258-4177

The Madison Symphony Orchestra performs regularly in the recently built Overture Hall. For information, call 608-257-3734. For tickets, call 608-258-4141.

Madison Facts: Madison Travel Guide, Discount & Cheap Madison Travel & Tourism, Free Madison Travel Guide Online

Madison Kids Activities: Madison Travel Guide, Discount & Cheap Madison Travel & Tourism, Free Madison Travel Guide Online

Henry Vilas Zoo

702 Randall Ave., Madison.

608-266-4732.

A lakeside zoo that is as famous for its scenery as the animals. It's also one of the few zoos in the nation that admits visitors free of charge. (The philanthropist who donated the land in 1904 stipulated there would never be an admission fee. Well-attended fund-raisers have kept the animals in first-class accommodations.) The zoo has a herpetarium, primate house, a Big Cat Complex for lions and tigers, and a children's zoo (summer only). The primate house is a favorite with children. Grounds are open daily 9:30 am-5 pm. Building is open daily 10 am-4 pm. Strollers, wagons and wheelchairs are available for a fee.

Madison Children's Museum

100 State St., Madison

608-256-6445
A UW-area museum filled with entertaining hands-on activities, many involving art, for children of all ages. Exhibits that are hands-on and extremely creative include: Dig into Dinosaurs; the Shadow Room; Celebrating the Early Years; and Let's Grow. Special activities every weekend. Memorial Day-Labor Day daily 9 -4, Labor Day-Memorial Day Tuesday-Sunday 9-4.

Babcock Hall Dairy

1605 Linden Drive (on the UW campus), Madison.

608-262-3047
No formal tours are conducted, but you can observe the production of milk, cheese and ice cream, then shop in the dairy store for some of the best ice cream on Earth. Monday-Friday 9:30 am-5:30 pm, Saturday 10:30 am-1:30 pm. On football Saturdays, the store is open 10 am-5 pm. Tour Free.

Geology Museum

Weeks Hall

Charter and Dayton Streets

Madison, WI

608-262-1412.

Mineral, rock, and fossil exhibits include the skeleton of a Wisconsin mastodon and a 33 foot long duck-billed dinosaur. Additional highlights include a six foot rotating globe and a walk-through model of a limestone cave. Mon.-Fri. 8:30-4:30. Sat. 9-1. Closed holidays. Free.

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