Madison Area Attractions

"Just 80 miles west of Milwaukee and 142 miles northwest of Chicago, Madison, Wisconsin, is a veritable hotbed for free speech and free thought. Its history of grassroots activism and political progressivism, its citizens' belief in the benefits of hard work, the availability and access to educational resources and the careful stewardship of the land all have cast a favorable spotlight on this Midwestern mecca." -- The online Insider's Guide to Madison

State Capitol

Downtown Madison is relatively compact and there are many things to do within walking distance of the Monona Terrace. Here are some suggestions of things to do while you are in Madison -- for more information, go to: http://www.visitmadison.com

For a map of Madison, click here: http://www.greatermadisonchamber.com/documents/Madison.pdf

For a UW-Madison Campus map, click here:
http://uwbadgers.com/maps/images/Pdfs/CampusMap.pdf

Tours

One block up from the Monona Terrace is the Wisconsin State Capitol. Free tours of the building are offered daily. Visit this site for more information: http://www.wisconsin.gov/state/core/wisconsin_state_capitol_tour.html

Take a campus tour of the University of Wisconsin. Learn interesting facts about the University's rich history and work your legs on this great walking tour. http://www.visit.wisc.edu/tours.html#2

Frank Lloyd Wright's architecture:

• Monona Terrace Convention Center (1997) http://www.mononaterrace.com/

• Unitarian Meeting House (1947), 900 University Bay Dr. Tours available. (http://www.wrightinwisconsin.org/WisconsinSites/UnitarianMeeting/
Default.asp )

• Gilmore (“Airplane”) House (1908), 120 Ely Place

Museums

The University of Wisconsin Elvehjem Museum of Art (pronounced L-V-M) at 800 University Avenue offers a strong permanent collection and exhibits of African Art, European and English ceramics from the 18th and 19th centuries, and Chinese export porcelain from the 17th -19th centuries.
Visit http://www.lvm.wisc.edu/ for more information.
*Free Admission*

The Madison Museum of Contemporary Art, two blocks from the State Capitol at 211 State Street, houses works by some of the most influential American artists of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. For more details, please visit their website at: http://www.madisonartcenter.org
*Free Admission*

Located on the Capitol Square at 30 N. Carroll Street, the Wisconsin Historical Museum tells Wisconsin 's vivid history through its diverse collection of photographs, artifacts, interactive exhibits and more. Tours are available; $4 admission donation is requested. http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/museum/

The University of Wisconsin Geology Museum is home to a diverse collection of fossils, rocks, and minerals. Located near the Engineering side of campus at 1215 West Dayton Street, the Geology Museum offers tours by trained guides for a minimum of $15 per group. To schedule a tour, please call 608.262.1412. Hours are 8:30am-4:30pm Monday-Friday and 9:00am-1:00pm Saturdays. http://www.geology.wisc.edu/~museum/

To satisfy your inner child, don't forget to visit the Madison Children's Museum! The Museum offers hands-on exhibits on a variety of topics. Free admission the first Sunday of every month, normal admission is $4. http://www.madisonchildrensmuseum.com

Food & Drink

Watch how UW's famous ice cream is made (or just eat it!) at Babcock Hall Dairy Plant at 1605 Linden Drive. Hours are 9:30am-5:30pm Monday-Friday, and Saturdays 10am-1:30pm. Don't forget to try the cheesecurds! http://www.wisc.edu/foodsci/store/ (Note: Babcock Ice Cream is also available at Memorial Union or Union South http://www.union.wisc.edu/)

Walk a few minutes to the Capitol Square and visit one of Madison's finest–the Dane County Farmer's Market. Buy a pastry or piece of fruit for your stroll around the square and upper State Street. http://www.madfarmmkt.org/

Just outside of Madison, in Middleton, take a tour of Capital Brewery. Samples are served at the end of the tour. Tours are Fridays at 3:30pm and Saturdays at 1:30 and 3:30pm. http://www.capital-brewery.com/

The Madison-based newspaper Isthmus developed a handy dining guide. The Madison Dining Guide will help you narrow-down your options by isolating by location, price range, and type of cuisine (you can also browse the guide!) Additionally, it lists recent reviews of select Madison restaurants. http://www.thedailypage.com/going-out/eats/

Exercise and Nature

Work on your relationship with Nature at the UW-Madison Arboretum! Free guided walks are available, or you can arrange a private tour by calling the Tour Coordinator at 608.265.5872. The Arboretum is a great place to walk, hike, jog, or bike on over 20 miles of trails on its 1260 acres. A true must for naturalists. For a map, driving directions, and other visitor information, please visit: http://wiscinfo.doit.wisc.edu/arboretum/public/VISITOR.HTM

Don't forget to stroll through the Henry Vilas Zoo while you're enjoying the Arboretum. *Free Admission* Hours are 9:30am-5pm http://www.vilaszoo.org/

Olbrich Botanical Gardens, located at 3330 Atwood Avenue, is a great place to enjoy beautiful flowers year round, whether in the conservatory or in the outdoor gardens. For more details, call 608.246.4718, or visit: http://www.olbrich.org/olbrich_index.htm

Rent a bicycle or inline skates and take advantage of Madison's awesome bike routes. There is actually a bike path that curves right in front of the Monona Terrace. Some route suggestions: around Lake Monona (20K), to the scenic Picnic Point (10K), to Olin Park (2 miles), or through the Arboretum (10K). For a map of city bike routes: http://www.ci.madison.wi.us/transp/Bicycle/BikeMap/bikemap.pdf

Rental stores near the Monona Terrace Convention Center:

• Machinery Row Bicycles (http://www.machineryrowbicycles.com/), 601 Williamson St., 608.442.5974, is less than a five-minute walk from the Monona Terrace. Bicycles: $20/day, Tandems: $50/day, Inline Skates: $10/day.

• Williamson Bicycle Works (http://willybikes.com/site/page.cfm?PageID=213), 640 West Washington Ave., 608.255.5292. Bicycles: $12/day, Tandems: $25/day.

• Yellow Jersey Bicycles (http://www.yellowjersey.org/rentals.html), 419 State St., 608.257.4737. Bicycles: $9.50/half-day, $18/day, $38/long weekend; Tandems are also available.

• Budget Bicycle Center, 930 Regent St., 608.251.1663. Bicycles are free through the city-sponsored Yellow Bikes Project (deposit is $75).

Take a walk or run

• To Olin Park: Follow the bike path along Lake Monona from the Monona Terrace, keeping the lake on your left. About two miles round-trip, with a great view of the Capitol and Monona Terrace on the Lake.

• To Picnic Point: Go down State St., turn right at Lake St. until you reach Lake Mendota, turn left and follow the Lakeshore Path past the Memorial Union (great place to stretch/get water) to Picnic Point. This is about 10K round-trip and is very scenic.

• Around Lake Monona: Great for a long run/walk (20K)! Follow bike path signs; much of the “path” is on city streets.

Rent a Canoe, Kayak, Sailboat, or Windsurfer (weather-permitting, best to call ahead)

• On Lake Mendota

UW Hoofers Sailing Club (http://www.union.wisc.edu/outdoorrentals/index.html)

At the Memorial Union boat house, 800 Langdon St., 608.262.7445. Make reservations for lessons and guided sails. Canoe rentals available for $7/day and sailboat or windsurfers are available for rental for those with experience in sailing and windsurfing. You'll need to show your meeting nametag.

• On Lake Wingra

Wingra Canoe and Sailing (http://www.wingraboats.com/), 824 Knickerbocker St., 608.233.5332. Canoes, kayaks, and paddle boats available for rental.

Boulder's Climbing Gym, 3964 Commercial Ave., Madison. Boulder's is an indoor climbing gym that offers walls of varied skill levels. For more information, visit: http://www.bouldersgym.com/

Shopping

Downtown Madison's State Street is lined with an amazing variety of boutiques, restaurants, and bars, most of which are non-chain and locally owned. On your stroll through the heart of Madison, observe the mixture of backpacks and briefcases, as State Street literally connects the State Capitol to the core of the UW Campus. Visit http://www.state-st.com/categorylist.htm for a listing of State Street businesses.

Entertainment

Check out the Madison Civic Center events calendar for shows during the conference: http://www.madcivic.org/events/events_cal.html

Partake in open mic, listen to live music in the Rathskeller, join in on the International Conversation and Coffee Hour, or just relax on the Terrace at the Memorial Union. For a list of events during the meeting dates, visit: http://www.union.wisc.edu/events/.

For music listings in Madison bars and clubs, visit: http://www.thedailypage.com/going-out/music/

Surrounding Areas

Wisconsin is more than cows and cheese. Here are just a few suggestions of places to visit just outside of Madison. Visit http://www.travelwisconsin.com or http://www.wisconline.com/attractions/ for more ideas, or to order from a variety of free travel guides.

Cave of the Mounds: Located just 30 minutes outside of Madison, tour this beautiful meandering cave. It's a bit chilly, so don't forget your jacket. For more information, visit http://www.caveofthemounds.com

Just a mile up the road from Cave of the Mounds is Little Norway where you can tour the grounds of an old Norwegian farmstead. Relax on your tour through this outdoor museum! For more information visit: http://www.littlenorway.com/index.html

Located in Spring Green (1.5 hours from Madison ), the House on the Rock is a unique home constructed atop a bluff that contains many fascinating exhibits and even a carousel. http://www.houseontherock.com/

Wollersheim Winery is a short 25 minute drive from Madison. Wollersheim offers daily tours, complete with samples. http://www.wollersheim.com/

Enjoy a guided tour at the International Crane Foundation situated in Baraboo (about an hour from Madison ). See many species of cranes in their natural habitat. http://www.savingcranes.com

Near Baraboo is Devil's Lake State Park. This park offers amazing hiking, camping, rock climbing, and biking and wonderful scenery. http://www.devilslakewisconsin.com

Door County, a three-hour drive from Madison, is called the Cape Cod of the Midwest. It is filled with quiet villages, small shops and artist's studios, live theater and music productions, and unique restaurants, as well as a number of scenic harbors and lighthouses and lots of trails for hiking and biking. http://www.doorcounty.com