Wisconsin

Madison

Recommendations

  • sights: Capitol
  • outside: Memorial Terrace
  • outside: Arboretum
  • activities: Ice Skating (winter)
  • activities: Paddleboarding / Kayaking (summer)
  • outside: Olbrich Beer Garten
  • events: Concerts on the Square (summer)
  • events: Badger football @ Camp Randall (fall)
    • Awesome Big 10 football experience. Stay for fifth quarter.
  • events/food: Dane County Farmer's Market (summer)
    • Enormous farmer's market on Saturday mornings. More vegetable vendors than you could shake a stick at, but I usually buy flowers (most flower booths on the s.e. side of the square) and cheese -- my favorite is Bleu Mont Dairy (state st. corner). There's also a stand w/ really good donuts and in the spring, I get herbs and tomato plants from a few stands.
  • shopping: Room of One's Own
    • Local, woman-owned, bookstore, with a feminist/queer/social-justice flair. Personable and wonderful. Also has a lot of cool cards!
  • food: Med Cafe
    • On State Street, cash only, closed Mondays, the best Mediterranean food. Also get the tea. MMMMM.
  • food: Lao Lang Xang
    • Two words: Kang Gai. Savoury soup that is to die for.
  • food: Tex Tubb's Taco Palace
    • A favorite of my work colleagues; they've shrunk their menu but have good tacos, enormous nachos and excellent tortas.
  • food: Natty's fast food
    • Neighborhood spot, with super tasty chicken wings and other good Mexican options
  • food: Great Dane, Tipsy Cow, Old-Fashioned
    • Trio of pubs with solid grub
  • food: Craftsman Table and Tap
    • Out in Middleton, but is my pick for best cheese curds in town
  • museum: Mustard Museum
    • Only a 1-2 hour activity, but pretty fun.
  • events: Madison Mallards
    • Summer college-level baseball league. All the schtick you could want from minor-league baseball, including t-shirt giveaways and the "beer batter" -- a player from the opposing team, who, if he strikes out, means that everyone gets 2 for 1 beers until the beginning of the next inning.

Also Seen

  • Graze, Cooper's Tavern, Tacqueria Guadalajara, Pancake Cafe, Copper Pot Family Restaurant, Weary Traveler, Umami, Big 10 Pub, Tip Top Tavern
  • Outdoor movies (Edgewater + Terrace)
  • Olbrich Gardens (incl. orchid show, butterfly show)
  • Overture Center
  • The Majestic

Door County / Washington Island

Recommendations

  • Cana Island Lighthouse
  • Rock Island State Park
  • Siever's School of Fiber Arts
  • Schoolhouse Beach / Dune Beach (on WA Island)

Also Seen

  • Penninsula State Park (briefly)

Around the state

Recommendations

  • events: American Players Theatre (summer)
  • food: New Glarus Brewery
  • food: Wollersheim Winery
  • sights: WI small towns like Delavan, Springville, Stoughton, Evansville
  • sights/outside: Taliesen
    • Lots of drama in Frank Lloyd Wright's personal life, but beautiful architecture
  • museum: Hamilton Wood Type Museum
    • A gem!
  • Devil's Lake State Park
  • Wyalusing State Park

To See

  • church/sights: Holy Hill Monastary
  • House on the Rock
  • Cave of the Mounds
  • Villa Louis
  • Madeleine Island + the Apostle Islands
  • Drive along the Mississippi
  • More of Milwaukee! (architecture tour, art museum)

Books

  • Little House in the Big Woods, Laura Ingalls Wilder