A Madison, Wisconsin Weekend
Friday
If your flight gets in early enough to go for dinner, head to the Old Fashioned for a Wisconsin classic, the Friday Fish Fry, and don't forget to order the fried cheese curds as an appetizer.
Saturday
Morning
Wake up and head to the Capitol Square for a lap around the famous Dane County Farmers' Market. Have breakfast from one of the many bakeries or food carts at the market, and make sure to stop by Stella's tent to buy a Spicy Cheese Bread and Brunkow's to sample their Baked Cheese.
While at the market, make sure to walk up the steps and into the Capitol Building. It is open to the public from 8am-6pm and the central atrium is stunning. Free tours also start on the hour at 9, 10, 11, 1, 2, and 3. The 6th floor observation deck is also open in summer.
Lunch
Eat lunch downtown at any of the restaurants I recommend on my "Where to Eat and Drink in Madison" guide. If you enjoy people watching, I'd recommend The Old Fashioned, Graze, or Cooper's Tavern which all sit around the Capitol and will give you an opportunity to watch the shoppers at the Farmers' Market.
Afternoon: Get on the Water
Midwesterners love their lake life and being an isthmus (narrow strip of land that connects two larger landmasses and separates two bodies of water), Madison is perfectly situated for an afternoon on the water. I have two options below to get out there, depending on your preferred activity level.
Option 1-Book a Cruise
Betty Lou operates a variety of cruises on both Lakes Mendota and Monona with different eating and drinking options. They do have a tendency to sell out in the nice months though, so make sure to book this one in advance.
Option 2-Rent a Kayak
If you want something more active, head over to Brittingham Boats on Monona Bay and rent a kayak.
Dinner
Either have dinner downtown again or if you want to check out the hipster side of town, you can dine at one of the restaurants in the Willy Streeet/Near East Neighborhood.
After dinner, enjoy some drinks at one of Madtown's many bars. The UW Memorial Union terrace would be the perfect spot if you're still eager for more outdoors and lake views.
Sunday
We continue the outdoor celebration on Sunday morning with another choice to make. You can either stay in town and tour the botanical gardens or rent a car and drive about an hour north of town to Devil's Lake State Park and some stunning views.
Option 1-In town botanical gardens
If you want to stay in town/not drive, then head up to the Olbrich Botanical Gardens and take a lap through the beautiful flora. Make sure not to miss the Bolz Conservatory and its tropical plants. You can uber there or my preferred transportation would be to rent a bicycle from one of the many BCycle stations around town (link below). There is a station at Olbrich Park to check the bike back in.
After you've had your fill in the garden, you can walk over to the biergarten in the park for a beer by the water and some fried cheese curds or a brat. If that isn't enough lunch for you, then try out another restaurant in either Willy Street or downtown.
Option 2-Drive to Devil's Lake and Hike
Devil's Lake is about an hour north of Madison and can be very popular in the nice months, so try to get there before 9am to make sure you get a parking spot.
For an extra scenic treat on the ride, you can add the Merrimac Ferry as a way point and take a free, 7 minute cable ferry across Lake Wisconsin. This does add some extra time to the drive, so make sure you check that route out on google maps ahead of time and plan your departure time accordingly.
Once at Devil's lake, go for a hike. They have a total 29 miles of trails, including 1.5 miles of trails which are accessible to people with disabilities, so there should be a good option for anyone. My personal favorite is from the North Shore, up the East Bluff Trail, around Balanced Rock and Grottos Trails, and back by way of the East Bluff Woods Trail as it has the best views on the way up and an easy descent on the way back down. It's a nice morning hike of about 3 miles.
The full list of trails can be found on their website and you can also check in at the visitor center when you arrive.
Either bring a picnic for lunch or you can have a snacky lunch at the concession stand at the park.
Afternoon/Evening
If you still have energy in the afternoon/evening for some more exploring after the gardens or hike, you can head over to the Madison suburb of Middleton and stop by one of my favorite quirky museums, the National Mustard Museum. Just as the name suggests, this small museum and shop honors the potent condiment and is a fun little stop towards the end of your day.
Note: If this is a high on your priority list, keep an eye on time earlier in the day since they close at 5pm every day. Also, if you chose to do the Olbrich Gardens and not to rent a car, I'd definitely recommend uber to get there rather than trying to cycle out to the west side of town.
After the museum (or in lieu of if you didn't make it before 5), stop for a beer at the biergarten at Capital Brewery to round out your Madison weekend.
Alternates for a Rainy Day
If you have bad luck with the weather while in town, then you can still go into the Capitol for a tour and the indoor Bolz Conservatory at the Olbrich Botanical Gardens from our main itinerary. Here are also three additional museums worth subbing in as alternatives to the outdoor activities listed above, depending on the makeup and interests of your group.
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