Memorial Union Terrace. Great view and special UW tables and chairs!
Annual Spring Powwow
The Henry Vilas Zoo is close to downtown, open year-round, and free!
Boarded up store front in downtown Madison after the protests related to the murder of George Floyd.
Outdoor recreation is popular in Madison year-round.
One of the things Madison is most known for is the Farmers Markets. The Dane County Farmers Market is on the square around the capital from April-October (inside the rest of the year).
Madison has some of the best food! Cheese curds are a staple.
Madison has miles and miles of bike trails. Good for commuting, recreation, and exercise.
People love to hang out by the lake!
Within easy driving distance there are many state parks for hiking, camping, fishing, boating, or hammocking.
Madison has many parks all over the city for R & R.
The Capital is open for tours regularly, just drop-in during business hours. It's beautiful!
Living, working and thriving in Madison
Explore new faculty and staff resources
Lakes, bike trails, parks, dog parks, Madison offers many opportunities for outdoor recreation (yes, year round!)
- Tyrol Basin– Snow skiing and tubing
- Cascade Mountain– Snow skiing and tubing
- Granit Peak Ski Area– The highest skiable mountain in the state
- Wisconsin Hoofers Outing Club– From canoe trips, whitewater kayaking, and backpacking excursions in the fall, to snowshoeing and cross-country skiing in the winter, Outing Club members explore the country through wilderness excursions.
- University of Wisconsin- Madison Arboretum– 1,200 acres of varied habitats including prairies, forests & wetlands plus trails & nature classes.
- Devil’s Lake State Park– A great place for a day of hiking, rock climbing or to just hang out on the beach! Camp sites are also available.
- Peninsula State Park– Located in Door County
- Washington Island– Take a boat ferry to the island and spend the day exploring, hiking, eating or relaxing!
- Visit the Apostle Islands to tour the ice caves in the winter or take a kayak or boat tour in the summer.
- Cave of the Mounds– A natural limestone cave located near Blue Mounds, Wisconsin
- Horicon Marsh– One of the most important migratory bird preserves in North America and a beautiful walking trail.
- Olbrich Botanical Gardens– Really nice, and the tropical conservatory is a nice retreat in the winter.
- Wisconsin Hoofers Outing Club– From canoe trips, whitewater kayaking, and backpacking excursions in the fall, to snowshoeing and cross-country skiing in the winter, Outing Club members explore the country through wilderness excursions.
- Madison Boats on both Lake Monona and Lake Mendota- Rent kayaks, pontoon boats, paddle boards and more! –
- Noah’s Ark– America’s largest water park! Fun for the whole family!
- Mt. Olympus Water and Theme Park– Great fun all year round with 4 different indoor and outdoor theme parks. –
- Tubing down the Sugar River– Take a day and relax by floating down the Sugar River. Make a whole weekend of it make it a camp overnight.
- Wildman Adventure Resort– Whitewater rafting, zipline tour, paintball and rock climbing.
Interested in the arts? Madison offers museums, galleries, and venues for the performing arts.
Sports Fan?
Foodie? Madison has many options and is known for farm-to-table.
- Smokey’s Club– a delicious supper club serving great steak, seafood and legendary martinis that has been around for over 65 years!
- Café Hollander – Hilldale- serves a great brunch, delicious food and has an extensive beer list.
- The Great Dane Pub and Brewing– Several locations throughout the city, offering house-brewed ales and lagers, with made from scratch pub food.
- The Old Fashioned– a great hangout down on the square, serving some of Wisconsin’s well known specialties. Cheese curds, brats, fish fry and of course old fashions, just to name a few.
- Tipsy Cow– Comfortable brewpub with outdoor seating, a big beer selection & artful menu of burgers & bar bites.
- Lazy Janes Café– Amazing pastries and a great place for brunch.
- A Pig in a Fur Coat– Hip, cozy bistro serving small & large Mediterranean plates, beer & wine at butcher-block tables.
- Ha Long Bay Restaurant– Traditional Southeast Asian eatery serving up a large menu of Thai, Vietnamese & Laotian dishes.
- Weary Traveler Freehouse– A beer-focused bar, elevated pub food & brunch plus board games in a vintage, hodgepodge setting.
- Global Market and Food Hall– Features and Asian food market and houses 11 different restaurants, food court style!
Coffee anyone?
- EVP Coffee University Bay- located right across the street from the hospital.
- Barriques– Coffee and wine bar.
- Crescendo Espresso Bar– Offering light fare and baked goods along with cold coffee & beer on tap, plus live music.
- Indie Coffee– Cozy breakfast & lunch coffee shop offering all-day waffles, Wisconsin microbrews & free events.
- Fair Trade Coffee House– Artful, well-lit space for carefully sourced coffee, house- made soups & paninis, plus free WiFi.
- Michelangelo’s Coffee House– Coffee, pastries & sandwiches, plus free WiFi, from AM to late-night in an art-filled space.
And a beer?
- Karben4 Brewing– Warehouse-like spot serving house-brewed malty ales plus a menu of sandwiches, salads & sides.Known for its Fantasy Factory IPA. Also a fan favorite- Lady Luck.
- Ale Asylum– Large microbrewery with a taproom offering house beers & light noshes plus tours & outdoor seating.
- One Barrel Brewing Company– Neighborhood brewery features a variety of draft microbrews & casual fare in a comfy brick interior.
- Vintage Brewing Company– also has a great food menu!
- Capital Brewery– Offers tours and a beer garden featuring craft brews & outdoor seating.
- New Glarus Brewing Company– Home of the Spotted Cow! Craft brewery featuring a tasting room, gifts, self-guided tours & reservation-only hard hat tours.
- The Lone Girl Brewing Company– has a really cute rooftop bar in the summer time and a great food menu!
- Full Mile Beer Company– A locally-owned restaurant, tavern and brewery in downtown Sun Prairie, Wisconsin.
- Leinenkugel’s– Located in Chippewa Falls, WI, this brewery has been around for over 150 years. Take a tour of the historic brewery, and sample their award-winning beers. We recommend the Summer Shandy!
- Hinterland Brewery– In Green Bay and right across the street from Lambeau Field!
- Wisconsin Brewing Company– Brewery featuring craft beers & tours also hosts seasonal events in their backyard next to a pond.
Or Wine?
- Drumlin Ridge Winery– Family owned and closest winery to Madison, located in Waunakee, WI.
- Wollersheim Winery– Located on a scenic hillside overlooking the Wisconsin River, has been part of the Midwest’s wine legacy since Wisconsin achieved statehood. They offer guided tours and self-guided tastings. with their newly added bistro and distillery, Wollershiem is must visit!
- Rock N Wool Winery– A Wisconsin Winery making Wisconsin Wines with only Wisconsin Grapes. Includes 4 distinct bars and 9 different seating areas. Don’t forget about BINGO Fridays!
- Von Stiehl Winery– Wisconsin’s oldest licensed winery
- Harbor Ridge Winery– One of our PC’s favorite wineries! Enjoy a glass of wine, (or a whole bottle) on the patio that overlooks their vineyard. Carmen’s Last Dance is a must try! We call it “adult grape juice”.
- Door Peninsula Winery– Features a large tasting room with 79 different wines, ciders, homemade fudge, oilery, distilleray, and a large gift shop! Another must visit while in Door County.
- Lautenbach’s Orchard Country Winery & Market– Established in 1985, the winery resides in a restored dairy barn and produces most of its award-winning wines from fruits grown on the property. The types of wines available for complimentary tasting and purchase range from dry to sweet, including sparkling and spiced.
Interested in learning about Madison Schools?
Madison Metropolitan School District
Want to learn about Madison neighborhoods?
Information about Madison’s 124 neighborhoods
- Best Neighborhoods in Madison for Single
- Best Neighborhoods in Madison for Families
- Safest Neighborhoods in Madison
- Most Dangerous Neighborhoods in Madison
- Cheapest Neighborhoods in Madison to Buy a House
- Cheapest Neighborhoods in Madison for Renters
- Most Affordable Neighborhoods in Madison
- Most Expensive Neighborhoods in Madison
A Few Apartments
Within 1 mile or less of the hospital
Favorite Gyms of our Residents (their suggestions!)
Other Activities and Attractions
- Concerts on the Square– An outdoor concert series held each summer in Madison on the lawn of the Wisconsin State Capitol. The series consists of six concerts on Wednesday evenings. It has been called “The Biggest Picnic of Summer”-
- Little Amerricka Amusement Park– Fun for all! Features 26 rides and attractions. Perfect for young families to spend time together!
- Madison Children’s Museum– One of the best that contains exhibits on the arts, sciences, history, culture, health, and civic engagement.
- Overture Center for the Arts– A state of the art performing arts center and gallery with several spaces hosting a variety of shows & musicals.
- Henry Vilas Zoo– A 28-acre public zoo in Madison that does not charge admission or parking fees.
- Milwaukee County Zoo– The zoo houses 1,800 animals and covers an area of 190 acres.
- Wisconsin Dells– From the Tommy Bartlett Exloratory, his ski show, the Duck tours, Pirate’s Cove, there is a ton to explore and it’s all only 45 minutes away!
- The Terrace at Memorial Union– Home to one of the best views on campus, the Memorial Union Terrace is a great place to visit for a bite, beverage, outdoor movie, and live music.
- The Garver Feed Mill– Home to a collection of producers, artisan food makers, wellness studios and hospitality providers.
- Lambeau Field Stadium Tours – try and coordinate during Packers training camp
- Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame and Museum– Was the first hall of fame built to honor a single professional American football team.
- Wildman Adventure Resort– Rafting, zipline tour, paintball and rock climbing.