<p>H and I have decided we need a getaway weekend and are going to Madison, WI. We have both been there before, but not for a long time. We are staying at a luxury B&B-type place near the Capitol. We love college towns and can walk around campus, little downtown areas, etc. This is planned for late October, so the weather will be crisp but pleasant, and we’re happy to spend it outdoors.</p>
<p>Ideas for charming areas to see, anything more outdoorsy / hiking related, great restaurants, etc? We’ll have a car, but wanted to stay pretty close to Madison and ideally walk everywhere or just be in the car a short distance – this isn’t an explore-Wisconsin trip.</p>
<p>One of our favorite ‘hikes’ is to go out Picnic Point. It’s a peninsula on Lake Mendota. There are beautiful views from the trail, and at the end.</p>
<p>Oh, if you’re there Saturday morning (well, anytime before 2PM), don’t pass up the Dane County Farmer’s Market on the capitol square. If you’re anywhere downtown around the capitol, you really won’t be able to miss it. Sometimes we go up to Madison for the day, just for the farmer’s market!</p>
<p>The UW Arboretum is in town although you’ll need a car to get there. Makes for a lovely walk on a fall day. And you can do a short walk or a five mile walk. [University</a> of Wisconsin-Madison Arboretum](<a href=“http://uwarboretum.org/]University”>http://uwarboretum.org/)</p>
<p>This thread is taking me back in time! Another ‘must do’ on our list when we visit Madison, is getting ice cream at Babcock Hall. It wouldn’t matter to me if it was zero degrees outside when we visited. I cannot pass up their homemade ice cream!</p>
<p>If you have any interest in modern American architecture, visit Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin home in Spring Green, Wisconsin. I think it’s not too far from Madison. Ever since I visited Taliesin West (his home in Arizona), I’ve made a point of trying to see FLW houses/buildings. This summer my youngest D and I were driving from Philadelphia to Cleveland and we made a stop to see two of Wright’s houses–Falling Water and Kentuck Knob, both in PA.</p>
<p>Thanks - that appears to be an hour away from Madison, and given that we ourselves live only about 2.5 hours from Madison, I don’t think we want to add another hour - our goal was to find a charming city nearby, drive there but then spend our time there versus further driving. But thank you for the thought - very nice of you!</p>
<p>No need to leave Madison to see FL Wright. Monona Terrace is a short walk from downtown and has lovely view of one of the lakes, from inside or the top. [Monona</a> Terrace Community and Convention Center](<a href=“http://mononaterrace.com/]Monona”>http://mononaterrace.com/)</p>
<p>There are FLW houses scattered around town as well, particularly in the University Heights neighborhood. </p>
<p>You can also see this church [The</a> Unitarian Meeting House](<a href=“http://www.fusmadison.org/landmark]The”>http://www.fusmadison.org/landmark) as the endpoint of a long walk from Memorial Union along the lakeshore path. Head left as you exit the union on the Union Terrace. Walk back up the hill on Observatory drive, stopping at the Allen Gardens on the way. </p>
<p>The Lakeshore path walk is worth doing as a small or longer hike.</p>
<p>There are many good restaurants on the square. Take your pick of price points. </p>
<p>If cold, the Chazen museum on campus is worth a wander, and there is a free classical music concert at noon on Sundays.</p>
<p>I clicked on teriwtt’s link and found…no yogurt! What happened to Babcock Hall yogurt? When I was a student there thirty years ago, I got hooked on the yogurt - incredibly thick, rich, and creamy, similar to Greek yogurt. I’ve never had yogurt like it anywhere since. Have they stopped making it? I see frozen yogurt, but that’s not the same…</p>
<p>I suggest on Saturday morning you start up on “the square” (the area around the Capital). Go to the Farmer’s Market, have breakfast, there are lots of bakeries, cider, other places to eat. There are tours of the Capital that are quite fun. Then walk down State Street to the UW campus. State Street has many interesting shops and restaurants and the Madison Museum of Modern art. Head over to the Memorial Union where you can get Babcock Ice cream or go to the Rathskeller for a beer. It might be too chilly to sit out back on the Terrace, but at least go back to see the view.</p>
<p>I would love to make the trip to Madison sometime soon as well. I’ve never been there, and now we are within driving distance. I’ve heard it is a lovely place.</p>
<p>Many good suggestions already. Babcock ice cream is a necessity- fortunately available at the Unions so you don’t need to make Babcock Hall’s open hours.</p>
<p>Walk from the Union (Memorial) to Picnic Point along the Lakeshore path if you want to avoid hills and get some exercise. Of course you will need to walk back to your car- perhaps you could choose a visitor’s lot or one of the few spaces near the entrance to Picnic Point. You can eat in any Res Halls dining facility along the way if you get hungry- there are snack bars you can stop at or get something to go (see locations and hours on the UW housing website).</p>
<p>Browse State St. Go into the University Bookstore- check on the textbooks in the basement. Choose one of many different ethnic eateries. See the art museum near Park and University. If the Capitol building is open tour it- perhaps go out on the balcony surrounding the dome.</p>
<p>The Arboretum is walking distance for a 20 something college student (did it Labor day senior year). You could park near the Vilas zoo and walk into the arboretum. I do not recommend the zoo anymore- is has become terrible. May flowering shrubs and trees are worth seeing (reason to be early to move out a kid from the dorms).</p>
<p>There are several state parks nearby. One on the north shore of Lake Mendota. Devil’s Lake is a great afternoon trip from Madison.</p>
<p>The Whaddya Know show (?exact name) is likely sold out.</p>
<p>Dane County is not “exciting” but it is the sort of place those who live in don’t want to leave. I have mixed feelings about it- wonderful area to grow up in and excellent place to be a student but not a touristy place and it was nice to experience other areas.</p>