Things to Do & See in Madison
P.O. Box 77, Baraboo, WI 53913 608.355.0279
For more than 20 years, the Aldo Leopold Foundation has promoted the care of natural resources and fostered an ethical relationship between people and land. As the primary advocate and interpreter of the Leopold legacy, the Foundation manages the original Leopold farm and now-famous Shack, serves as the executor of Leopold’s literary estate, and acts as a clearinghouse for information regarding Aldo Leopold, his work, and his ideas. The Shack, a re-built chicken coop along the Wisconsin River where the Leopold family stayed during weekend retreats, continues to serve as the heart of the Foundation’s programs. Each year, thousands of visitors are inspired through tours, seminars, and workshops in the same landscape that deeply moved Leopold.
Allen Centennial Gardens
620 Babcock Dr., Madison, WI.
Featuring English, Victorian, and New American gardens, this 2.5 acre garden on the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus contains over 1,400 different plants labeled by their scientific and common names. The garden is located on the site of a historic Victorian home that once served as a residence for university deans. Located on the corner of Observatory and Babcock drives. Open dawn to dusk. Free admission.
Biking & Walking
Madison has 120 miles of shared use paths making it ideal to explore the city by bicycle or foot. Madison Trust for Historic Preservation, which works to preserve Madison’s architectural and historical heritage, offers guided walking tours of downtown Madison’s historic neighborhoods including State Street, Mansion Hill and King Street.
The City of Madison also offers 14 itineraries for self-guided walking tours of Madison neighborhoods. The guides are available for download atwww.cityofmadison.com.
Budget Bicycle Center (1230 Regent St., Madison, 608.251.8413) and Williamson Bicycle Works & Fitness (3729 E. Washington Ave., Madison, 608.255.5292) are conveniently located downtown and offer daily and weekly bicycle rentals, making it easy to hit the trails.
Printable maps of Madison’s Historical Markers and Madison and Dane County bike maps are also available for download at www.visitmadison.com
Area State Parks
Blue Mound State Park Enjoy spectacular views of the countryside from the highest point in southern Wisconsin. 4350 Mounds Park Rd., Blue Mounds.
Capital Spring State Park and Recreation Area Encompassing about 3,000 acres, the park is at the hug of several state and city trails, making travel to and from it easy for hikers and cyclists. 2101 Lake Farm Rd., Madison.
Devil’s Lake State Park Situated along the Ice Age Trail, the nearly 10,000-acre state park offers views from 500 foot cliffs, miles of hiking trails, swimming areas, hundreds of campsites, and mountain bike trails. S5875 Park Rd., Baraboo.
Governor Dodge State Park One of the state’s largest state parks featuring 5,270 scenic acres of steep hills, sandstone bluffs, deep valleys, two lakes and a waterfall. 4175 Hwy 23 N., Dodgeville.
Governor Nelson State Park Located on the shores of Lake Mendota, Governor Nelson State Park features restored prairies, savannas, effigy mounds and hiking trails. 5140 County Hwy M, Waunakee.
Lake Kegonsa State Park The 342-acre park of oak woods, prairie and wetland marsh offers 5.1 miles of hiking trails and a wetland boardwalk. 2405 Door Creek Rd., Stoughton.
Mirror Lake State Park Sandstone bluffs surround half the lake, which offers excellent fishing, swimming and canoeing. The parks also features wooded campsites, picnic areas, a boat landing, and biking and hiking trails. E10320 Fern Dell Rd., Baraboo.
Natural Bridge State Park The centerpiece of this site is a natural sandstone arch with a rock shelter used by people when the glacier was melting 11,000 years ago. County Hwy C, Sauk County
Cave of the Mounds-National Natural Landmark
P.O. Box 148, Blue Mounds, WI
For more than 60 years, visitors have discovered why this is one of the best one day trips in the Midwest. Discover buried treasure and enjoy daily-guided tours, hiking/biking trails, prairie/savannah restoration and butterfly gardens. Open year round. Travel Green Wisconsin Charter Member, National Natural Landmark since 1988.
Chazen Museum of Art
800 University Ave., Madison, WI
Designed by Harry Weese, the museum’s collections include ancient Greek ceramics, Indian miniatures, European and American paintings. Hosts touring regional, national and international art exhibits. Guided tours available.
Dane County Farmers’ Market
Capitol Square, Madison, WI
It’s a Madison tradition to take a stroll around the Square and survey the fresh produce, herbs, plants, flowers, cheeses, bakery items and other delicacies from approximately 160 local vendors. The market runs on Saturdays from late April Saturday through the first Saturday in November from 6:00 a.m. –2:00 p.m. Wednesday’s Farmers’ Market runs from 8:30 a.m.–2:00 p.m. from the first Wednesday in May through the last Wednesday in October in the 200 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Henry Vilas Zoo
702 S. Randall Ave., Madison, WI
One of the nation’s few free zoos, the Henry Vilas Zoo is open year-round. See a wide variety of wild animals, birds, reptiles and fish. 800 animals, 200 species. Open every day: 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Horicon Marsh State Wildlife Area
Horicon Marsh, the largest freshwater cattail marsh in the United States, is located just one hour southeast from Madiosn. The 32,000-acre marsh is home to more than 290 species of birds and is renown for the spring and fall migration of Canadian Geese. Activities available in the Horicon Marsh Wildlife Area include daily boat tours, canoing, hiking, biking, and birding. Two photo and observation blinds are also available for use. N7725 Hwy 28, Horicon, WI. 920.387.786
International Crane Foundation
E11376 Shady Lane Rd., Baraboo, WI
Observe the world’s largest endangered cranes in a natural, family-friendly setting. Tours, gift shop, Education Center. Solar hot water, solar power, waterless urinal, tankless water heater, geothermal, natural landscaping, Marmoleum flooring. Travel Green Wisconsin certified.
Madison Trust for Historic Preservation
Walking Tours
PO Box 296 Madison, WI
Explore the history and architecture of State Street and prominent neighborhoods every Saturday at 10 a.m., May through September.
Madison Museum of Contemporary Art
227 State St., Madison, WI
Madison Museum of Contemporary Art (MMoCA) encompasses 51,500 square feet of interior space, including highly flexible gallery space and a rooftop restaurant and sculpture garden. The permanent collection features nearly 5,000 works of art, including a vast selection of American prints, photographs, drawings, paintings, and sculptures. MMOCA uses low-emissivity (“low-E”) glass, which allows light to enter while also providing thermal insulation.
Monona Terrace® Community and Convention Center
One John Nolen Dr., Madison, WI
The Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Monona Terrace Convention Center is located in the heart of Madison’s vibrant downtown on the shore of Lake Monona. Travel Green Wisconsin certified, LEED-EB Certification pending, renewable energy purchased as part of consumption, emissions offset program available to consumers.
3330 Atwood Ave., Madison, WI
Beautiful 16-arces: Midwest-hardy plants, Rose Garden, Thai Pavilion. Tropical conservatory. Year-round events. Ecologically-friendly, sustainable gardening practices, Travel Green Wisconsin certified, winner of the National 2005 Garden of Excellence Award.
Overture Center for the Arts
201 State St., Madison, WI
Designed by internationally-acclaimed architect Cesar Pelli, Overture Center is an impressive 400,000 square foot, world-class visual and performing arts facility. This magnificent space is host to countless visiting performers and traveling exhibitions, and is also home to Overture Center’s 10 resident companies. Travel Green Wisconsin certified.
Taliesin Preservation, Inc.
5607 County Road C, Spring Green, WI
Tours a 600-acre working organic farm and architecture, natural creek, pond and waterfall set in southwestern Wisconsin’s driftless region. Landscape and architecture preservation, prairie restoration, organic farming and gardening, and restaurant serving locally grown produce and meat dishes.
The University of Wisconsin – Madison Campus
The fourth largest and one of the top ranked public universities in the nation, UW-Madison is located on the southern shores of Lake Mendota just west of downtown Madison. The campus offers a plethora of sights and welcomes visitors to the grounds and buildings. 100-minute tours of campus are led by experienced tour guides and highlight campus life, academics and the history of the university. They are offered at 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, and at noon, Saturday and Sunday, throughout the year. Customized group tours are also available. Please call 608.263.2400 for more information.
University of Wisconsin-Madison Arboretum
1207 Seminole Hwy, Madison, WI
An oasis in the heart of the city, the Arboretum embraces part of Lake Wingra and 1200 acres of shore, stream, marsh and prairie. Contains native and cultivated shrubs and trees, restored prairie grasses and wildflowers, and over 200 varieties of lilacs. Open year-round. Free admission.
University of Wisconsin – Madison Picnic Point
The University of Wisconsin–Madison’s Picnic Point is a favorite among Madisonians. This heavily wooded peninsula extends into Lake Mendota and offers a spectacular view of the lake, the University campus and the Capitol. Picnic Point is a popular hiking destination, campfire and bird watching location.
Capitol Square, Madison
Located on the downtown isthmus bordered by lakes Monona and Mendota, the Wisconsin State Capitol building, completed in 1917, features the only granite dome in the United States. The interior of the 284 foot-high Capitol contains 43 varieties of stone from around the world, decorative murals, glass mosaics, and hand-carved furniture. Year-round tours are offered 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. A 4:00 p.m. tour is offered weekdays (excluding holidays), Memorial Day through Labor Day. Admission is free. Call ahead for group reservations 608.266.0382.
Wisconsin Union
800 Langdon St., Madison, WI
Located on Lake Mendota, this classic Italian Renaissance building has been considered the “heart and soul” of the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus since it was built in 1928. Students, faculty, visitors and guests converge in Memorial Union to eat, meet and relax. The Union hosts live music inside the Rathskeller and outside on the Terrace overlooking Lake Mendota. 800 Langdon St., Madison, 608.265.3000
