Once I informed my buddies I used to be heading to Madison, Wisconsin in January I bought two questions again in response…WHERE? and WHY? I suppose individuals assume that until you’re a Packers fan or have an actual hankering for cheese curds, there is no such thing as a cause to go to Wisconsin within the winter.
However I’m going to allow you to in on just a little secret. Madison is fairly superior. And winter actually isn’t that unhealthy. Okay, granted, I reside in New England so I’m not precisely used to the balmy climate of Florida in January. But I’m additionally one to hibernate beneath blankets in entrance of a hearth through the winter months – until I’ve a cause to emerge from my cocoon and reside just a little. And there are many enjoyable (and heat) issues to do in Madison Wisconsin within the winter to fill a weekend getaway.
About Madison, Wisconsin
Word: This text is a part of a paid partnership with Vacation spot Madison. I’m nonetheless sharing my sincere opinion and expertise exploring this cool Midwestern metropolis.
First, let’s handle the the place query. Madison is Wisconsin’s state capital, situated about 90 minutes west of Milwaukee, 2.5 hours southwest of Inexperienced Bay, and solely an hour south of Wisconsin Dells, the waterpark capital of the world. Madison is a small metropolis, with about 230,000 residents. However they’ve a really good (and blissfully calm) airport that’s serviced by 25 direct flights.
Madison is situated on an isthmus between two lakes, with three different lakes close by. This geography lends itself to out of doors actions. Madison is certainly one of solely 5 Platinum-level bike cities within the U.S. and the one place I’ve heard of that always plows the snow off the bike paths earlier than the roads! Altogether, Madison has over 200 miles of trails, mixed with 6,000 acres of parkland and 15,000 acres of lakes.
It’s subsequently no marvel that Madison is constantly rated as a high group by which to reside, work, play, and lift a household and you’ll discover it on lists of the perfect capital cities, fittest cities, and most walkable cities. Not like some Midwest cities the place the younger individuals transfer out, millennials are flocking to Madison, making greater than half of Madison’s inhabitants beneath 30.
This blended combine of school city, state capital, and tech and medical trade start-up hub gives job alternatives that entice the perfect and brightest. And after getting millennials and Gen Z, you already know you’ll discover nice eating places, espresso outlets, and cultural actions, as a result of you’ll be able to’t get the hipsters with out being hip.
Issues to do in Madison Wisconsin in Winter
So why would I need to go to Madison Wisconsin within the winter? I’ve this factor for faculty cities and small cities. Perhaps it stems from once I moved to the Windfall, Rhode Island space and found how nice just a little metropolis may be. Particularly one that may be a school city. And a state capital.
You may have the meals, enjoyable, and accessibility, with out the effort of visitors, the expense of meals and parking, and the overwhelming feeling of navigating a large metropolis like Chicago or Atlanta.
Winter can be a good time to go to a small metropolis. Motels are cheaper, all the things is much less crowded, and a northern metropolis like Madison must transcend the norm with festivals, occasions, and experiences designed to draw guests.
So simply bundle up and discover! I discovered a lot to do in Madison WI within the winter, each indoors and outdoors. And by the way in which – quite a lot of it’s FREE!
1. Store on the Dane County Farmers’ Market
The Dane County Farmers’ Market often occupies the sq. across the statehouse on Saturday mornings, however within the winter months, it strikes indoors to the newly renovated Garver Feed Mill. This stunning previous constructing can be the everlasting dwelling to an outpost of Ian’s Pizza, a kombucha store, and the Kosa Spa Retreat.
On Saturday morning it welcomes distributors providing a collection of recent cheeses, meats, baked items, produce, honey, and handmade objects like soaps and physique merchandise. Even in case you are simply visiting, it’s enjoyable to browse, take pleasure in some samples, and possibly choose up a snack.
2. Cheer at a School Sports activities Recreation
Madison is dwelling to the College of Wisconsin – Madison, and over 40,000 college students when lessons are in session. Division 1 sports activities and quite a lot of hometown pleasure make attending a school sporting occasion a should if you happen to actually need to get a way of Madison.
On my go to, the UW males’s hockey group was enjoying the Ohio State Buckeyes and the professional-sports-sized area was a sea of crimson. Watching the marching band cheer and Bucky Badger leads the gang in resounding choruses of Varsity and cheers of On Wisconsin even had me buzzing alongside.
3. Tour the State Home
The tallest constructing in Madison, the Wisconsin Statehouse looms over the town in a manner that looks like all roads result in the Capitol. Every of its 4 sides gives an analogous façade, providing up stunning photograph alternatives from each angle.
Whereas stunning from the surface, this 100-year-old constructing ought to actually be seen from the within as effectively. Anybody can stroll inside and discover, and there are additionally free guided excursions supplied day by day on the hour at 9, 10, 11, 1, 2, and three pm Monday via Saturday, besides holidays, with extra restricted excursions on Sunday afternoons.
Whether it is open, take a peek on the view from the Trumpeter’s Balcony, or attempt to discover the statue of a badger.
4. Attend a Efficiency
There are over 20 performing arts areas in Madison together with ballet, theater, symphony, and extra eclectic choices, together with loads of reside music settings from classical to karaoke and all the things in between. I not too long ago attended the primary efficiency within the Madison Circus Area’s new constructing, one of many nation’s solely devoted locations for the circus arts.
5. Get pleasure from a Uniquely Madison Expertise
The tourism board, Vacation spot Madison, has partnered with many native companies and sights to create Important Madison Experiences. Test the calendar to see what could also be on provide when you find yourself visiting.
Experiences embrace constructing a Wisconsin cheese board, a mixology class, studying to prepare dinner with Mustard on the Nationwide Mustard Museum, and having fun with an out of doors winter stroll.
6. Cozy up on the Spa
When it’s chilly outdoors, it’s heat and comfy within the spa. Step into the steam room, sweat it out on the sauna, meditate within the leisure room…all earlier than settling in for a calming physique therapy and Ayurvedic therapeutic massage on the Kosa Spa in Garver Feed Mill.
My therapeutic massage was probably the most enjoyable I’ve ever skilled and I discovered myself drifting off to sleep a number of occasions through the 75-minute Traditional Abhyanga expertise.
7. Chow Down on a Meals Tour
One in every of my favourite methods to discover a brand new metropolis is thru a meals tour. Madison Eats gives quite a lot of choices, each downtown and the Atwood “Brew and Chew” tour. These three-hour excursions embrace six stops with foods and drinks tastings – plus enjoyable, entertaining, and informative guides.
I discovered that Madison is dwelling to one of many high 10 chocolatiers within the nation, that they’ve actually good Austin-style tacos, and I truly like pecans, at the least the sugary ones by native producer Nutkrak.
8. Hike or Snowshoe on the UW Arboretum
The College of Wisconsin Arboretum covers 1,200 acres used for each analysis and public entry to a community of trails. Altogether there are 17 miles of trails via restored prairies, savannas, woodlands, and wetlands. Within the winter, snowshoeing and Nordic snowboarding are each allowed on designated trails.
You’ll cross by Native American effigy mounds and sacred sizzling springs in your romp via the woods. Simply choose up a path map or take an image of the path map earlier than heading out.
9. Heat up within the Museums
If it will get too chilly outdoors, Madison gives loads of choices for warming up in its museums — a lot of which supply free admission. Situated proper on State Road, the Madison Museum of Up to date Artwork (MMoCA) gives a everlasting assortment, momentary reveals, particular occasions, and a big rooftop sculpture backyard.
The Wisconsin Historic Museum covers all the things from the fur commerce to the Native American peoples who’ve lived in Wisconsin for over 12,000 years. The Chazen Museum of Artwork, named after a former College of Wisconsin president, is dwelling to greater than 22,000 artworks from world wide.
If you’re visiting with younger kids, allow them to burn off power and spark their creativity on the Madison Kids’s Museum. From the decrease Wildernest for little ones beneath 5, to the Rooftop Ramble, youngsters can climb, create, think about, and discover.
10. Zen out on the Botanical Gardens
The Olbrich Botanical Backyards is an effective spot for a peaceable stroll, even on a winter’s day. Wander out to the Thai Pavilion, or pop into the toasty Bolz Conservatory to heat up within the glass pyramid. The Conservatory is free on Saturday mornings and is simply throughout the road from the Garver Feed Mill — making an ideal Saturday morning combo with the Farmer’s Market.
When visiting with youngsters, if you happen to get a heat day, take a winter stroll within the Henry Vilas Zoo (additionally free) will carry you face-to-face with lions, tigers, lemurs, bears, meerkats, and extra. This accredited zoo is dwelling to over 650 animals from everywhere in the world and options over 115 species, 20 of that are thought-about endangered and weak.
11. Store. Sip. Style.
If boutique purchasing is your jam, you’ll want to try the choices that line State Road, like shoo. Or if you happen to choose specialty outlets, don’t miss popping into Fromagination to style take a look at some scrumptious Wisconsin cheese. While you get drained you’ll be able to reenergize at native espresso outlets like Collectivo or Grace.
For those who love quirky sights, or are mustard nuts like me, don’t miss out on a cease on the Nationwide Mustard Museum. This hilarious museum has collections and mustard memorabilia from across the nation, however the true deal with is the reward store upstairs. There you’ll be able to pattern a lot of the 200-300 sorts of mustard that they provide on the market.
If upscale purchasing is your concept of enjoyable, head out to Hilldale Procuring Heart, the place you’ll discover manufacturers like lululemon, Anthropologie, and Kendra Scott. While you’ve shopped till you might be able to drop, there are additionally loads of native eating and consuming institutions. You gained’t be disillusioned with the Sconnie burger at Cafe Hollander.
The place to Keep in Madison
Word: This submit could include affiliate hyperlinks. In case you click on a hyperlink and make a purchase order, I could obtain a small fee. All opinions are my very own.
There are nice choices in Madison, whether or not you might be in search of an upscale retreat or a downtown hotspot.
Graduate Madison
Graduate Motels have staked their declare to school cities — making it an ideal alternative for any school go to. The Graduate Madison is not any exception. The decor within the foyer brings within the influences of Madison, from the town chicken of pink flamingoes to canoes hanging overhead, paying tribute to the 5 lakes round Madison.
Upstairs the rooms mix academia with native touches for a novel and localized keep. Pet and student-friendly Graduate Madison helps company perk up on the Pointdexter foyer espresso store, or sit back on the camp-themed rooftop bar, Camp Trippalindee? Any guesses what film impressed the identify?
The Edgewater
The lakefront Edgewater Resort is a brief stroll from the capitol, but additionally gives stunning water views. This upscale resort options massive, newly renovated rooms, two eating places, and bars, in addition to a full-service spa. Within the winter, company can take pleasure in lakeside ice skating.
The Statehouse restaurant gives breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner with attractive water views via the floor-to-ceiling home windows. This historic resort is ideal for these in search of extra luxurious finishes and a quieter location.
The place to Eat in Madison
In case you assume it’s all cheese curds and fish fries in Madison, assume once more. You can see all the things from farm-to-table delicacies to genuine Thai eating places to good old style supper golf equipment. These are a number of of my favourite discoveries.
Breakfast: Brief Stack Eatery
Short Stack Eatery is a well-liked native spot for breakfast all day, and it’s even open 24 hours on Saturdays. Along with basic pancakes, you may as well discover extra attention-grabbing choices like candy potato oatmeal pancakes or pulled pork and tacky grits.
Lunch or COcktails: Graze
Providing unobstructed views of the State Capitol, Graze is a well-liked spot for enterprise lunches and after-work joyful hour. Impressed by the New York gastropubs, Graze will get its identify from each the grass-fed meat they serve and the small plates it serves to encourage diners to linger and graze.
Graze’s vodka-battered cheese curds had been the perfect I tasted in Madison and the Bibimbop supplied a pleasant steadiness to the fried curds.
Dinner: Everly
This veggie-forward restaurant within the Monroe neighborhood gives up tasty small plates and creative cocktails. Everly serves up breakfast, lunch, and dinner in its sun-washed eating room and out of doors patio.
Order the fried Brussels sprouts and edamame hummus toast — you’ll be glad you probably did. It’s best to go along with buddies in an effort to pattern and share.
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