To Do
Dane County Farmers Market
On Saturday morning enjoy one of the largest farmers market in the country! Grab magic coffee, hot spicy cheese-bread, flowers, and all the veggies.
Colectivo Coffee - Monroe St.
One of Guy's favorite roasters. There are three locations in Madison, including this super airy cafe on Monroe Street and another on the capitol square.
Wingra Park & Boat Livery
Rent kayaks, canoes, and stand-up paddle boards to enjoy a few hours on one of Madison's most peaceful lakes -- and Sara's personal favorite -- or catch a morning yoga class near the water!
Michael's Frozen Custard
It's summer! Grab some french fries and a classic frozen custard after you whip around Lake Wingra.
Henry Vilas Zoo
A public zoo that charges no admission! (But welcomes donations.) Take your kiddos, and go visit the red pandas, capybaras, and river otters!
Pizza Brutta
We love this place! Best pizza in Madison, great salads, and a good selection of beer and wine.
UW-Madison Arboretum
Explore native plant gardens, wander the prairie, or run on the trails in the 1200 acre arboretum. (There is no charge for visiting or parking.)
Lakeside Coffee
Lots of places to get good coffee in Madison; this little cafe, adjacent to a knitting shop, boasts a deck overlooking the Monona Bay, and happens to be where Sara wrote most of her dissertation.
Memorial Union Terrace
If you haven't been to Madison before, this is a must. Enjoy a beer by the lake, and go for a stroll on the Lakeshore path!
Picnic Point
Take yourself out for a one mile (round trip) hike that delivers great views of Lake Mendota but demands very little in the way of exertion.
Batch Bakehouse
The bread and pastries (savory and sweet) here are buh-nanas! Sara loves the vanilla swirl. Treat yourself!
Mason Lounge
A cozy bar on the South side of town, boasting a great beer selection and delightful cocktails.
Madison Sourdough
Delicious breads and pastries. And a wonderful place for a casual breakfast, lunch, or brunch. Try the biscuits and gravy or the delightful french toast!
Himal Chuli Restaurant
Wonderful Nepali food, reasonably priced, and especially great for folks who are vegetarian, vegan and/or gluten-free.
Children's Museum
This place is amazing for kids and adults! Lots of opportunities for discovery and play, and you'll be impressed by by their emphasis on sustainability.
The Old Fashioned
A quintessential Wisconsin restaurant. Fantastic burgers, beers, and the best fried cheese curds in town -- all locally sourced.
Machinery Row Bicycles
Rent a bicycle at Machinery Row and spend a morning riding around Lake Monona! (Or pick another rental and route; this is a bike-friendly city!)
Olbrich Botanical Gardens
A colorful retreat within the city. Along paved walking paths you'll find flowering plants, architectural features, and reflecting pools.
Greenbush Bakery
Family owned, kosher bakery with late hours and lots of inventive donut flavors. Sara is partial to the blueberry donuts. Guy likes the plain old-fashioned.
Dream Park Playground
If you're bringing kiddos, you might want to visit this epic playground, complete with a wizard, a dragon, and play structure built to look like a castle.