Things to do in Wisconsin
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Dane County Farmers’ Market
On Saturday, the Dane County Farmers’ Market takes over Capitol Sq. It’s one of the nation’s largest markets, famed for its artisanal cheeses.
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Fromagination
Fromagination specializes in small-batch and hard-to-find local hunks. Be sure to pick up some cheese curds to experience their squeaky bite.
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Himal Chuli
Cheerful, cozy Himal Chuli serves homemade Nepalese fare, including vegetarian dishes.
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Dr Evermor’s Sculpture Park
Dr Evermor’s Sculpture Park sprawls 11 miles northwest of Madison on US 12. The doc welds old pipes, carburetors and other salvaged metal into a hallucinatory world of futuristic creatures and structures. The crowning glory is the giant, egg-domed Forevertron, cited by Guinness as the world’s largest scrap-metal sculpture. The good doctor himself – aka Tom Every – is often around and happy to chat about his birds, dragons and other pieces of folk art. Look for sculptures along the highway marking the entrance.
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Apostle Islands Cruise Service
If you prefer a motor to power your explorations, climb aboard the Apostle Islands Cruise Service boat. It departs at 10am from Bayfield's City Dock for a three-hour narrated trip past sea caves and lighthouses (adult/child $40/24). Other trips call at islands to drop off/pick up campers and their kayaks, which avoids the long, possibly rough paddle.
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House of Wisconsin Cheese
Madison's lengthy State St is lined with fair-trade coffee shops, parked bicycles and incense-wafting stores selling hackeysacks and flowing Indian skirts. An anomaly is the House of Wisconsin Cheese, which sells state-shaped cheddar blocks and foam rubber cheese-wedge hats among its pungent stock.
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Graze Gastropub & L’Etoile Restaurant
Slow-food pioneer Odessa Piper offered farm-to-table dinners at L’Etoile for 30 years. These days, chef Tory Miller does the cooking, with seasonal ingredients sourced at the farmers’ market. Graze slings organic sandwiches, burgers and mussels during the day, and the attached bakery wafts pastries.
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The Paddlin’ Shop
By all means, take advantage of the city’s lakes and 200 miles of trails. For rentals, try The Paddlin’ Shop for water-faring craft and Yellow Jersey for two-wheelers. Both are near Capitol Sq (three blocks and 10 blocks, respectively).
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Yellow Jersey
Take advantage of Madison’s lakes and 200 miles of trails. For rentals, try Yellow Jersey for two-wheelers, and The Paddlin’ Shop for water-faring craft. Both are near Capitol Sq (three blocks and 10 blocks, respectively).
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Museum of Contemporary Art
The impressive Museum of Contemporary Art hosts works by Frida Kahlo, Claes Oldenburg and others, plus a rooftop sculpture garden, a cinema and a martini lounge.
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Memorial Union
The University of Wisconsin campus has its own attraction, the Memorial Union, with its festive outdoor bar and free live music, films and internet access.
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Concrete Park
North on Hwy 13, folk artist and retired lumberjack Fred Smith's Concrete Park in Phillips is extraordinary, with 200-plus whimsical, life-size sculptures.
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Roth Käse
Follow your nose to Roth Käse, a store and factory where you can watch cheesemakers in action from the observation deck (weekday mornings only).
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Capitol Building
The X-shaped Capitol Building, the largest outside Washington, DC, marks the heart of downtown. Tours are available on the hour most days.
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Maggie's
Kitschy, flamingo-themed Maggie's is the place to sample local lake trout and whitefish; there's pizza and burgers too.
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Johnson Wax Company Administration Building
The Johnson Wax Company Administration Building, dates from 1939 and is a magnificent space with tall, flared columns.
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Budget Bicycle Center
For wheels, head to Budget Bicycle Center, about 1½ miles from Capitol Square, near the university and good trails.
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Rutabaga Paddlesports
For water-faring craft, try Rutabaga Paddlesports, about 5 miles southeast of Capitol Sq and right on the water.
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Baumgartner's
Bite into a fresh limburger-and-raw-onion sandwich at Baumgartner's, an old Swiss tavern on the town square.
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JJ's
For drinks, hang with the young boater types at JJ's, a good-time pub attached to a Mexican restaurant.
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Arboretum
The University of Wisconsin campus has its own attraction, the 1260-acre Arboretum, dense with lilac.
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Living Adventure
Try Living Adventure for a guided paddle through arches and sea caves; beginners are welcome.
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Big Water Cafe
Ecoconscious Big Water Cafe serves sandwiches, local farmstead cheeses and area microbrews.
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Overture Center for the Arts
The Overture Center for the Arts is a home to jazz, opera, dance and other performing arts.
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