A visit to Madison is often more than a one-time stop. There are several reasons as to why: Madison was named the most bike friendly city; the Dane County Farmer’s Market is one of the largest in the nation; Madison has the most restaurants per capita of any U.S. city; and Madison is home to nationally recognized academics and athletics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
As Madison is the state capital of Wisconsin, you can’t visit here and not see the State Capitol building in all its glory. The Wisconsin State Capitol is conveniently located near to Madison’s gorgeous lakeshore in the downtown area of the city, so you can also explore this area on foot at the same time.
Located on the scenic waterfront of Madison, the Olbrich Botanical Gardens are one of the most serene and colorful parts of the city. The gardens bloom all year round with seasonal plants, and were first opened in 1952. One of the signature features of the gardens are the roses that are grown here, as well as the Bolz Conservatory which is an indoor area that features a range of pretty indigenous foliage.
If you are traveling in Madison with younger visitors, then a trip to the Madison Children’s Museum is well worth the effort. The museum has a wide range of exciting and engaging exhibits for young minds and there are different activity areas for guests of different ages from toddlers to pre-teens. Each section is dedicated to a different theme to teach youngsters about the world around them, such as biology, physics, and history, and this is a perfect place to come on a rainy day to keep young visitors entertained.
Situated just to the southeast of Madison, Lake Kegonsa State Park lies on the shores of the gorgeous Lake Kegonsa. The park is filled with ecological gems such as forest lands, prairies, and stunning wetlands. There are over 8 kilometers of hiking trails here if you are feeling active and fancy a walk, or if you want to take to the lake then you can go fishing, boating, swimming, or even water skiing here.