Madison Vacation Ideas

1. Wisconsin State Capitol

Resting on an isthmus between two lakes, Lake Monona and Lake Mendota, against the backdrop of Madison’s skyline is the Wisconsin State Capitol, one of the top Madison attractions. Standing over 200 feet tall, the Capitol is an architectural masterpiece, made of 43 varieties of stone from around the world, hand-carved furniture and exquisite glass mosaics, and topped by Daniel Chester French's elegant gilded bronze statue, “Wisconsin.” Visitors can experience the beauty of the Capitol on a guided tour, which explores the entire building.

See the Italian-styled Governor's conference room, which is adorned with 26 historical and allegorical paintings by Hugo Ballin and French walnut furniture and head into the Senate and Assembly Chambers, which feature New York and Italian marble, and a magnificent Edwin Blashfield mural.

2 E Main St, Madison, Wisconsin, Phone: 608-266-0382

2. Madison Museum of Contemporary Art

The Madison Museum of Contemporary Art exhibits, collects, and preserves modern and contemporary art to educate and inspire the community to take an interest in art. The museum is housed in a new facility at the Overture Center for the Arts that was designed by world-renowned architect Cesar Pelli and boasts over 50,000 square feet of exhibition space and a beautiful rooftop sculpture garden.

The museum's collection spans the 20th and 21st centuries and includes works by Frida Kahlo, John Steuart Curry, and Diego Rivera. The main galleries of the museum host major exhibitions, while the sculpture garden features rotating exhibits in a stunning garden setting. The Madison Museum of Contemporary Art is one of the best things to do in Madison, Wisconsin. It also features a 230-seat lecture hall, a new-media gallery, and a modern study center.

227 State Street, Madison, Wisconsin, Phone: 608-257-0158

3. Olbrich Botanical Gardens

Olbrich Botanical Gardens are located on Atwood Avenue and are made up of 16 acres of outdoor display gardens and an indoor, tropical conservatory.

Named after their founder, Michael Olbrich, the gardens feature a Thai Pavilion and Garden – the only one in the continental United States, a beautifully manicured Rose Garden, which has shrub and perennial roses, and a variety of specialty gardens such as a Herb Garden, a Sunken Garden and a Perennial Garden.

The Bolz Conservatory is a 50-foot-high glass pyramid that houses a diverse collection of tropical plants, including blooming orchids, free-flying birds and butterflies, and a rushing waterfall.

3330 Atwood Avenue, Madison, Wisconsin, Phone: 608-246-4550

4. Camp Randall Stadium, University of Wisconsin

Camp Randall Stadium is the home of Wisconsin's football team, The Badgers. The stadium was built in 1917 and is one of the nation’s largest school-owned stadiums with a current seating capacity of over 80,000.

In addition to hosting University of Wisconsin football games, the stadium also hosts a variety of events throughout the year, including music concerts, Drum Corps International, and Green Bay Packer exhibition games. The historic stadium also houses the Athletic Operations Building, the Fetzer Center study area for student-athletes, lounges, offices, and a beautiful display of football memorabilia.

Explore the history of the famous stadium on a variety of tours, which visit Camp Randall's luxury suites, and the Buckingham and Varsity Club seats with panoramic views of the field. Tours need to be booked at least two weeks in advance.

1440 Monroe Street, Madison, Wisconsin, Phone: 608-262-1866

5. University of Wisconsin-Madison Arboretum

The University of Wisconsin-Madison Arboretum is a world-class arboretum and botanical research center located on Seminole Highway.

Managed by the University of Wisconsin and home to the oldest and most varied collection of restored ecological communities in the world, the Arboretum is home to a diverse variety of trees, grasses, shrubs and flowers, including tallgrass prairies and a world-famous lilac collection.

The Arboretum aims to encourage and inspire the public’s interest in botany and nature by offering a variety of free walks, tours, and activities, as well as paid classes, workshops and summer camps for people of all ages.

University of Wisconsin-Madison Arboretum, 1207 Seminole Highway, Madison, Wisconsin, Phone: 608-263-7888

6. Chazen Museum of Art

The Chazen Museum of Art is located at the University of Wisconsin in Madison and is home to 20,000 works of art from a variety of genres, cultures, and periods.

The museum's collections showcase works from modern, post-modern and contemporary European artists, including Joan Miro, Auguste Rodin, Thomas Gainsborough and Eugene Boudin, as well as American works by Shusaku Arakawa and John Curry. The Chazen also hosts several temporary exhibitions each year featuring local and international artists and works from around the world.

Visitors to the museum can also enjoy complimentary educational programming including docent-led tours, lectures, artist talks, films, family activities, and other exclusive events.

750 University Ave, Madison, Wisconsin, Phone: 608-263-2246

7. Allen Centennial Garden

Allen Centennial Garden is based on the grounds of the Horticulture Department at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and serve as an outdoor classroom for students and the public alike.

The Gardens surround the historic Dean’s Residence, home of the first four Agricultural Deans of the University and act as a living laboratory for visitors of all ages.

The Allen Centennial Gardens offer several internships and educational classes, including ‘The Outdoor Display’, where the intern maintains herbaceous and woody plants in various sections of the Gardens and the ‘The Public Garden Leadership’, where the trainee learns about the management of a public garden/cultural non-profit organization. The Gardens are open year-round, dawn to dusk, and admission is free.

620 Babcock Drive, Madison, Wisconsin, Phone: 608-576-2501

8. Madison Eats

Experience Madison on a culinary journey around town with Madison Eats ’ Food Tours. Explore the city’s unique neighborhoods and scenic downtown area while you enjoy delicious food and drink samples from some of Madison’s most highly acclaimed chefs and producers. En route, you will also visit historic buildings and landmarks and learn all about the history of the city and its burgeoning foodie scene.

Regular tours include Atwood Avenue Lunch and Dinner Walking Tours, B-Cycle Brunch Tours, and Downtown Food Cart Tours. Walking and cycling tours visit locally owned restaurants, cafés, bakeries and butcheries that support local farmers and producers, a chance to meet the chefs and residents, and delicious food and beverage samples. Tours need to be booked in advance.

Madison Eats, 608-251-6996

9. State Street

State Street is a busy pedestrian mall in downtown Madison that features a host of shops, bars, restaurants and cafés, as well as live entertainment, making it a popular tourist destination. The bustling avenue extends from the Capitol to Lake Street and is home to over 370 shops, art galleries, museums, eateries and vibrant nightspots, many of which are locally owned.

State Street has developed a reputation for being the go-to place to celebrate Halloween when thousands of revelers take to the street in costumes to celebrate the holiday. If you are looking for things to do in Madison, Wisconsin, places of interest around State Street include the Memorial Library Mall and the Overture Center for the Arts.

10. Henry Vilas Zoo

The Henry Vilas Zoo is an admission-free, community-supported zoo in the heart of Madison. The zoo is home to a variety of animal species and diverse habitats, including a Tropical Rainforest Aviary with tropical plants and fish; a Big Cats Exhibit featuring Amur tigers and African lions; Arctic Passage, which is home to polar bears, grizzly bears and seals; and a Primate House with monkeys and other primates from all over the world.

If you are wondering what to do in Madison WI with kids, this is a great place to visit. The zoo presents a variety of educational programs about animals, nature and conservation for children of all ages, as well as bleacher programs and a range of games and activities.

702 S Randall Ave, Madison, Wisconsin, Phone: 608-266-4732