MADISON
Madison, the capital of the state, has a population of about 200,000. It is called the "Four Lakes City" because of its proximity to Lakes Mendota, Monona, Waubesa, and Kegonsa. The Yahara River, which passes through the heart of Madison, connects the four lakes. A fifth lake, Wingra, adds to the beauty of the city. For more information on Madison, see http://www.ci.madison.wi.us/.
PLACES OF INTEREST
City Parks: Madison has an extensive system of free parks. Many parks offer recreational opportunities such as volleyball and basketball, boating, swimming, fishing, hiking. All of them are good places to picnic. Groups may reserve the shelter houses for large picnics. To make a summer shelter reservation, call 266 4711 far in advance of the date needed. Park hours are from 7:00 am to 10:00 pm. For locations of parks see a Madison map or consult the "Community Living" section of the Yellow Pages.
State Capitol Building: Climb to an upper level and get a wonderful view of the city. Tours through the rotunda and four governmental wings are conducted six times daily.
Dane County Coliseum: Located at the Dane County Fairgrounds on the southeast side of town. Watch the newspapers for announcements of sporting events, industrial displays, fairs, ice shows, and many other types of entertainment.
Government in Operation: Meetings of the Wisconsin Legislature, the Madison Common Council, the Dane County Board, the Madison Metropolitan School District may interest many of you. If you would like to attend any of these sessions, call the Dane County League of Women Voters' office (255-5636).
Wisconsin Veteran's Museum: 30 W. Mifflin Street. Phone 266-1680. Features exhibits on Wisconsin veterans from the Civil War to the present.
State Historical Society Museum: 30 N. Carroll Street. Exhibits showing Wisconsin's growth from prehistoric Indian times to 20th century. Free admission. For information call 264-6555.
Madison Children's Museum: 100 State Street, phone 256-6445. Open Tuesday through Sunday. This hands on museum features changing exhibits and special programs for adults and children, ages 3-13.
Olbrich Botanical Gardens: 3330 Atwood Avenue, phone 246 4551, Open weekdays from 8:00 am through 5:00 pm; weekends, from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm.
The Arboretum: a large research area surrounding much of Lake Wingra, contains 1200 beautiful acres of shore, marsh, stream, uplands, and prairie maintained in its natural state. Located three miles from the center of the city, the arboretum provides an excellent opportunity for walking, observing birds and animals, and for getting away from the pressures of the city. No picnicking is allowed. Closing time is 10:00 pm.
Babcock Hall: 1605 Linden Drive. The UW Babcock Dairy Plant has been making and selling award winning ice cream for over 90 years. Babcock Dairy store offers over 70 flavors of ice cream for sale, along with cheese, frozen yogurt, and sherbets. The store is open from 9:30 am to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday, and from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm on Saturdays.
Picnic Point: A wooded peninsula extending into Lake Mendota, is at the end of the Lake Shore path. It has a swimming beach, a boat pier, outdoor fireplaces. It's a beautiful spot for picnicking, walking, and observing nature. Closing time is 10:00 pm.
Unitarian Meeting House: 900 University Bay Drive, on the west side of town, was designed by Wisconsin's most famous architect, Frank Lloyd Wright. For tour information, call 233 9774.
Washburn Observatory: located on Observatory Hill on the campus, is open to visitors on the first and third Wednesdays of each month, if the night is clear. The U.W. Astronomy Department (262 3071) and James Madison Memorial High School, 201 S. Gammon Rd. (833 2020) also have planetarium exhibits on scheduled occasions.
Madison Tourism Information: Greater Madison Convention and Visitors Bureau (255 2537). Contact this office for more information on attractions and events in the Madison area.
SEASONAL EVENTS IN THE MADISON AREA
Farmers Market: Capitol Square, Saturday mornings throughout the spring, summer and fall. Martin Luther King Boulevard, Wednesday mornings, Hilldale Parking Lot, Wednesday or Saturday mornings...
Capitol City Water Ski Team: Law Park on John Nolen Drive, Fridays at 7:00 pm throughout the summer, weather permitting. Free.
Governor's Residence Tours: 99 Cambridge Rd. (266 7484). Summer through September, Thursdays, 12:00 3:00 pm. Also offers tours during the Christmas season.
Concerts on the Square: Wednesday evenings from 6:30 through 8:30, in late June and July.
Dane County Junior Fair: Dane Country Fairgrounds, July.
Art Fair on the Square, Art Fair Off the Square: Capitol Concourse, July.
Maxwell Street Days: State St., July.
Taste of Madison: Capitol Concourse, Labor Day weekend, annual festival featuring delicacies from over 50 restaurants, live music.
World Dairy Expo: Dane County Expo Center, September.
World Beef Expo: Dane County Expo Center, April.
International Holiday Festival: Madison Civic Center, November.
Holiday Fantasy in Lights: Warner Park, December.
Wisconsin Tourism Information: Wisconsin Department of Development, Tourist Information. (266 2161). Stop in the office at 123 West Washington Avenue to pick up information on events and attractions throughout the state. Or write for information: P.O. Box 7606 Madison, WI 53707 7606.
NIGHTLIFE
Very integral to what happens here in Madison is its very active nightlife. Here are some of the ins and outs of nightlife in Madison.
Dining. One of the many advantages to dining in Madison is that it has the quality food of a big city with the reasonable prices of a small town. State Street has a good concentration of restaurants ranging from cheap fast food and pizza to $35 a plate dinners. You'll find foods ranging from American burgers and fries to Greek gyros to Thai noodles. We cannot make any recommendations in this manual because restaurants come and go, but a good place to check is the Isthmus Annual Manual (see INFO SOURCES). It will show you the popular places along with some places you have probably never heard of before. Happy dining!
Coffeehouses, Ice Cream Shops, etc. A great place to stop after dinner or anytime for that matter, are the various coffeehouses and ice cream shops on and around State Street. A lot of the shops now have little study areas on the inside with couches and comfortable chairs where you can sit back and enjoy your treat. Also many of the coffeehouses also have tables and chairs set up out on the sidewalk in summer.
Bars. Bars and alcohol are very much part of Madison's landscape. Wisconsin state law says that you must be 21 years old to consume alcohol and in some cases, you have to be 21 to even enter a drinking establishment.
Alternatives to Alcohol. If you feel that going to the bars or to parties where drinking is going on is not your way to spend a Friday or Saturday night, there are plenty of alternatives available to you. Union South hosts many alternative choices, such as alcohol free dance clubs, and group activities in the game room in the basement. The Memorial Union also has dancing, but usually with a live band instead of a DJ. The Rathskeller on the first floor of the Memorial Union is a bar, which also allows students that are underage. If your friends want to go out to the bars, but you don't want to, convince them to go to the Rathskeller instead, so you can all hang out together. The Rathskeller usually has entertainment on Friday and Saturday nights, so it can be a very fun atmosphere. On summer nights, the bands play outside on the terrace. Go out to dinner, go to a movie, or just hang out with friends in your room, there are many things to do besides drink. Remember, when it seems like everyone is drinking, they aren't, and you don't have to be drinking to have a good time.
Films. Madison has a strong film culture and a many movie theaters. Films are always listed in the Madison newspapers.
Music. Madison has a very good music scene. Many bars feature weekly headliners or nightly acts. See CULTURAL OPPORTUNITIES.