10 things to do in Madison beyond the Terrace and the Capitol
Wisconsin's capital city is pretty spectacular.
But once you've jumped around at a Badger football game, toured the Capitol, drank a beer at Memorial Union terrace and sampled some cheese curds, you might be wondering: What else can I do?
Things are always moving and grooving on and around the isthmus, from festivals to music performances to countless opportunities for outdoor recreation. Here are a few ways you can dig a little deeper into all that Madison has to offer.
Swing by a neighborhood festival
Get to know Madison's unique neighborhoods by attending the festivals that show off their personalities — and enjoy lots of delicious food and live music along the way.
These festivals happen throughout the summer and into the fall, starting with the Marquette Waterfront Festival in June and its popular Fools' Flotilla, a costumed boat parade on the Yahara River. Next up is La Fête de Marquette, a French-themed festival held at Madison's McPike Park in mid-July. The vibrant Atwood neighborhood gets AtwoodFest at the tail end of July, one of Madison's longest-running music festivals. And in the fall, head to the Willy Street Fair and the Monroe Street Festival to cap off festival season.
If you haven't had your fill yet, Destination Madison keeps a more extensive list of the city's many festivals.
Catch a Forward Madison FC or Mallards game
Yes, the Badgers are a fan favorite. But you can have just as much fun (or more) cheering on the city's other sports teams.
Downtown, Breese Stevens Field is home to Forward Madison FC, the city's USL League One soccer team. The Flamingos — named for the iconic lawn ornaments that first graced Bascom Hill in 1979 — have made quite the splash since they debuted in 2019. The energy is electric during a game, but their off-the-field antics, like adopting a team cow they named Lionela Bessi, are just as entertaining. (Lionela's first calf, Rose Cowbelle, was born in 2021 and named after UW-Madison alumna and U.S. Women's National Soccer team star Rose Lavelle.)
If peanuts and crackerjacks are more your speed, catch a Madison Mallards game at Warner Park on the city's north side. The collegiate baseball team plays all summer long and fans can take part in a variety of theme nights, including one where they welcome dogs to the ballpark. Pay a little more and you can sit in the Busch Light Duck Blind, which offers bottomless beverages and all-you-can-eat snacks.
Get out on Lake Wingra
Lakes Monona and Mendota are eye-catching from the isthmus, but their smaller counterpart, Lake Wingra, is worth a visit too.
Adjacent to the UW-Madison Arboretum — a great place to explore in its own right — Lake Wingra provides a natural solace in the heart of the city. You can rent kayaks, canoes, stand-up paddleboards and even a paddleboat in the shape of a duck or swan from Madison Boats to take out on the water. They also offer special events like full moon paddles and stand-up paddleboard yoga.
Once you're done at the lake, you can also check out the free Henry Vilas Zoo and the shops on nearby Monroe Street.
Take a break at the Biergarten at Olbrich Park
After a day of work or play, not much beats relaxing by the lake. At Olbrich Park on Atwood Avenue, you can do so at a German-style biergarten. Have a Wisconsin craft beer, cider, seltzer or non-alcoholic option and pair it with a brat, giant pretzel or cheese curds. While you sip, you can feast your eyes on the perfect view of the downtown skyline over Lake Monona.
Across the street, Olbrich Botanical Gardens also makes for an eye-catching stop. Explore 16 free acres of outdoor gardens — including the Thai Pavilion, a gift to UW-Madison from the Thai government and the Thai Chapter of the Wisconsin Alumni Association. Or check out their indoor conservatory, a glass-walled greenhouse full of colorful tropical plants. You can also see several species of butterflies flitting around the conservatory for its annual Blooming Butterflies exhibit, this year through Aug. 6.
Pick up some knowledge at a museum
Madison has a whole host of museums to explore — from the aesthetically beautiful, like the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art, to the niche, like the Leonard R. Ingersoll Physics Museum, located inside Chamberlin Hall on the UW campus.
If you need to entertain kids, don't miss the Madison Children's Museum just off Capitol Square. If you're a history buff, check out the Wisconsin Veterans Museum. If you like rocks, UW-Madison's Geology Museum is a must-see. And if you like mustard, the National Mustard Museum isn't too far away in Middleton.
You get the idea. There's something for everyone.
Catch some live music
Madison has no shortage of places beyond the Memorial Union Terrace if you're in the mood for some tunes.
On summer Wednesday evenings, people crowd around the Capitol for the popular Concerts on the Square, a free performance from the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra and special guests. Show up early to claim your spot and bring a low-height lawn chair (or a picnic blanket and a charcuterie board).
If orchestral music isn't your thing, check out Live On King Street, a free festival that happens five Friday nights during the summer on the 100 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, just off Capitol Square. The gig pulls in national touring artists — yet to come this year is KennyHoopla and Margo Price — and also offers food, beer and a kids' corner.
Farther from the Capitol, check out the Sessions at McPike Park at 202 S. Ingersoll St. Another free place to discover new artists, this year's August sessions run Aug. 11 and 12 as well as Aug. 16 and 17.
Take a nature walk at Edna Taylor Conservation Park
Near Madison's border with the city of Monona, you'll find an underrated spot for a stroll at Edna Taylor Conservation Park. Taylor was a teacher, writer and dairy farmer who sold 37 acres of her land to the city of Madison more than 50 years ago.
When it's warm out, watch for turtles, muskrats, ducklings, dragonflies and more along the easy paths that take you through marsh, wetland and wooded areas. A group of Native American effigy mounds, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, is preserved on a high glacial drumlin on the eastern edge of the park.
If you need more nature, visit the Aldo Leopold Nature Center next to the park.
Explore the bookstores
Those of the literary persuasion can spend hours browsing Madison's top-notch bookstores, some of which are curated to specific tastes.
Are you a mystery lover? You'll want to hit up Mystery to Me on Monroe Street (which sells other genres, too). If you're a world traveler, visit Leopold's Books Bar Caffè on Regent Street, where titles are sorted by country. A tasty bonus: it doubles as a trendy coffee shop and bar.
Queer and trans-owned feminist bookstore A Room of One's Own found a new home on Atwood Avenue in 2021 after decades downtown. Last year, they found themselves in the New York Times for the fun flowcharts one bookseller created to help people decide what to read. You can find many such recommendations — based on your favorite horror film, what video games you like to play, and the album you've got on repeat this summer — on their Instagram. And don't forget to stop into the newest shop in town, Lake City Books, located across from the Madison Children's Museum.
Try Russian dumplings at Paul's Pel'meni
Located on Gilman Street just off State, Paul's Pel'meni is a favorite late-night destination of many a college student, but tastes just as good during the day. You can get their signature Russian dumplings stuffed with potato, beef, or a mix of both, topped with butter, curry powder, sweet chili sauce and cilantro — also known as "the works." Get an extra sour cream on the side if you can't handle the heat.
If you love it so much that you wish you could take it with you, good news: out-of-towners can order frozen dumplings to make at home.
Day-trip to a nearby community
OK, so this one isn't technically Madison. But if you've got a half-day or more free, there's a lot to discover in the city's surroundings.
It'd be impossible to forget New Glarus Brewing Company, about 45 minutes southwest of Madison. Here, you can sip not only the iconic Spotted Cow but a wide variety of tasty beers, all while taking in the scenery of the picturesque location. The village of New Glarus itself, bursting with Swiss heritage and charm, is also worth a look.
If you're more of a wine person, check out Wollersheim Winery in Prairie du Sac, about 40 minutes northwest of Madison. It's also got a distillery and bistro, and isn't far from stunning views of the Wisconsin River.
Paoli — an unincorporated community less than a half-hour southwest of Madison — is having a moment. Madison Magazine in its June issue deemed it "the new America's Dairyland," and you'll want to taste it for yourself. Try the ice cream at Seven Acre Dairy Company, a restored dairy factory that markets itself as "a destination for dairy lovers."
And 20 miles west of Madison is the troll capital of the world: Mount Horeb. Make sure to stop at the Grumpy Troll Brewpub.
Did we miss any of your Madison favorites? Let us know.
Madeline Heim is a Report for America corps reporter who writes about environmental issues in the Mississippi River watershed and across Wisconsin. Contact her at 920-996-7266 or mheim@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: 10 things to do in Madison beyond the Terrace and the Capitol
