Madison, Wisconsin
Top Spots in and near Madison
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Madison, Wisconsin
Memorial Union
5.0Being a native Wisconsinite, I think the most quintessential thing to do in Madison is beers and a sunset at Memorial Union Terrace on Lake Mendota. There’s plenty more to do right at the Union too, including world famous ice cream, kayaking and other water sport rentals at Hoofer’s, live mu...Read more -
Madison, Wisconsin
Kayak Lake Monona
I like to put in at the Camp Randall Rowing Club Brittingham Boat House located at 617 N Shore Dr, Madison, WI 53703. There’s a dock and free 3 hour parking. Once in the water just paddle straight towards John Nolen Drive and go under the bridge and you’ll be in Lake Monona. Keep going and soak...Read more -
Madison, Wisconsin
Explore the University of Wisconsin Arboretum
It is filled with effigy mounds, thousands of plant and animal species, and unlimited places to explore. You can run, hike, bike, and even drive through the Arboretum. There is a visitor center and you can host an event here. Trail info One of my favorite trails is in the Grady Tract area nea...Read more -
Madison, Wisconsin
Relax at Bernie's Beach
There’s plenty to do here: relax on the beach, walk the neighborhood, soak in the views of the Madison skyline, bring a kayak or SUP to get on the water, or go for a swim. Always be sure to check the blue-green algae levels before swimming in a Madison lake. That can be done here. Thankfully...Read more -
Madison, Wisconsin
Visit the Olbrich Botanical Gardens
4.0Olbrich Gardens has 16 acres of gardens including a rose garden, sunken garden, Thai pavilion, rock garden, herb garden, and more. Each one is unique with its own pathways and plant life as well as man made structures which include bridges, pools, the Thai pavilion, and more. Adjoining the Bot...Read more -
Madison, Wisconsin
Hiking through Owen Conservation Park
There are no specific trails in this conservancy, so just choose the path that looks the best to you. It would be hard to get lost here and all the trails put together are only about 3 miles. There are some hills, but nothing too serious. bathrooms in the parking lotsmall parking lotfreecommon...Read more -
McFarland, Wisconsin
Bike the Lower Yahara River Trail at McDaniel Park
2.5 miThis lakeside park has a newer bike/walking path. The park itself is an excellent spot for a picnic or catching a sunset! There is a nice play area and a rocky beach. The path is known as the Lower Yahara River Trail and opened in 2017. It provides a non-road connection between Madison and McFa...Read more -
Verona, Wisconsin
Visit the public gardens at West Madison Agricultural Research Station of UW-Madison
This garden is open to the public from dawn to dusk, 7 days a week, free of charge. The gardens are tended by summer interns. During the off-season they are maintained by volunteers and apprentices. We made our first stop here earlier this week. It was beautiful. Tons of plants and lots of sp...Read more -
Madison, Wisconsin
Hike the Ice Age Junction Trail portion of the Ice Age Trail
4.6 miThis is an excellent trail right in the city of Madison and doing this portion made me very excited to continue hiking more of the Ice Age Trail in this area. The Ice Age Trail is more than 1,000 miles long and it follows the edge of the last continental glacier in Wisconsin. - - - - - For thi...Read more -
Middleton, Wisconsin
Hike through Pope Farm Conservancy
More info can be found about that here. This is a beautiful 105 acre conservancy with several different trails. It’s a great spot for a picnic and to bring the family. There are interpretive signs so you can learn about the history of the land like glaciers and the different settlers. They ev...Read more -
Cross Plains, Wisconsin
Hike through Indian Lake Park
4.04.7 mi / 324 ft gain442 acre park just outside of Madison is a perfect spot to escape for awhile. About a 20 minute drive from Madison makes it easily accessible even on a tight schedule. It provides a great place for lots of outdoor activities, year round.I love this place enough that I have been there many times a...Read more -
Gibraltar Rock State Natural Area, Wisconsin
Gibraltar Rock Loop
5.01.5 mi / 322 ft gainStarting at the trailhead at the base of the hill, follow the paved asphalt path that ascends the backside of Gibraltar Rock. While the trail is paved all the way to the top, there are sections of it that are rather rough due to tree roots tearing the pavement up. There is also a slightly longer ...Read more -
Poynette, Wisconsin
Fish on Lake Wisconsin
It is over 7,000 acres and has a maximum depth of 24 feet. There are several public boat landings if you are lucky enough to own a boat. For this specific adventure, you can fish right off County Rd. V in Poynette. It’s a scenic spot that can get busy, but if you go during the week it’s quiet ...Read more -
Sauk City, Wisconsin
Hike Ferry Bluff State Natural Area
0.8 mi / 320 ft gainFerry Bluff is a 0.8 mile lightly trafficked, very steep out and back trail located near Sauk City, Wisconsin that features a river and is good for all skill levels. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, nature trips, and birding and is best used from April until October. The entire no...Read more -
Sauk City, Wisconsin
Hike the Overlook Trail at Ferry Bluff State Natural Area
5.00.37 mi / 300 ft gainFive miles west from Sauk City lies another great natural area. According to the official website, it is about a 25-minute drive from Devil’s Lake State Park. There are a few trails you can take here at this park, they go up all of the bluffs in the area, the most popular one is Cactus Bluff. Fol...Read more -
Poynette, Wisconsin
Float on the Wisconsin River at Camp Rest Park
If you come on a weekend expect there to be a crowd, but there is plenty of space for everyone. You can hang out on the shore, float in the water on an inflatable floatie, kayak, canoe, or spread out on one of the many sand bars close by. Depending on the time of year and level of the water, yo...Read more
Top Activities
Camping and Lodging in Madison
Edgerton, Wisconsin
Milton KOA Holiday
Tucked into the rolling hills of southern Wisconsin, this family-friendly campground offers grassy, level sites surrounded by blooming ga...
Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin
Wisconsin Dells KOA Holiday
Welcome to "The Waterpark Capital of the World!" The campground's country setting is the perfect spot for all that the Wisconsin Dells ha...