Catch a Sunset at the Memorial Union
Madison, Wisconsin
Rated 5.0/5
based on 1 reviews
5.0/5
Description
Added by Natalie F
The best spot in Madison.
- Being 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 music, shopping, and even outdoor movies. The Union has it all!
- The Lakeshore Path (biking or walking) is right there too, so check that out.
- The “sunburst” chairs on the terrace are an icon for Madison. They also make a great photo subject.
- Parking costs money and can be hard to come by.
- This place is very popular, sometimes you can’t find a seat.
- Wander inside too. The building is beautiful. You’ll also likely run into a bridal party! It’s a popular place for wedding photos and it’s even a wedding venue.
- Dogs are allowed on the lower deck.
- Tons of food options right at the Union and hundreds of more options just a short walk away along State Street or the Capitol Square.
800 Langdon St, Madison, WI 53706
Download the Outbound mobile app
Find adventures and camping on the go, share photos, use GPX tracks, and download maps for offline use.
Get the appFeatures
Stand Up Paddle
Chillin
Fishing
Photography
Kayaking
Swimming
Adult Beverages
Bathrooms
Dog Friendly
Family Friendly
Food Nearby
Groups
Lake
Picnic Area
Romantic
Scenic
Swimming Hole
ADA Accessible
Catch a Sunset at the Memorial Union Reviews
Perfect place to gather and enjoy food, drinks, friends and family! The lakeshore is refreshing. It’s also great for the added entertainment of people watching.
5.0
Leave No Trace
Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!
Nearby
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 in the lovely city skyline of Madison with the Monona Terrace and the Capitol building.
If you don...
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 near Greene Prairie.
There are two entrances:
The east entrance is located at: Wingra Drive and Haywo...
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 Madison invested in a system to help with this problem at Bernie’s Beach: “the system uses an impe...
Visit the Olbrich Botanical Gardens
Olbrich 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 Botanical Garden is the Bolz Conservatory which is filled with various tropical plant species arranged...
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 lotfreecommonly will see turkeysoutstanding colors in the fallHere is a link to a map of the Conservatory (includ...
Bike the Lower Yahara River Trail at McDaniel Park
This 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 McFarland via Madison’s Capital City Trail and McFarland’s McDaniel Park. There is a map at the park wi...
Community
© 2023 The Outbound Collective - Terms of Use - Privacy Policy