Madison Wisconsin is SO much more than a college town full of good beer and cheese. Although, yes, it has all of those as well! We partnered with Destination Madison, and headed to this capitol city to find some of the best year-round things to do. Here’s a complete guide of where to go, what to do, and where to eat!

FREE THINGS TO DO IN MADISON

VISIT THE STATE CAPITOL BUILDING

The Wisconsin State Capitol is the tallest building in Madison standing at 187 feet tall. The building is open to the public and offers free tours seven days a week (some holidays excluded). The inside of the building is surrounded by giant marble columns and beautiful mosaic art. When you visit, don’t forget to rub one of the badger statues’ noses for good luck (a Wisconsin tradition).

THE NATIONAL MUSTARD MUSEUM

I am all about finding the unique, quirky, and off-the-beaten-path destinations when I travel; The National Mustard Museum was definitely that! The Museum was opened back in 1992 by former Assistant Attorney General, Barry Levenson. With over 6,000 mustards from all over the world, this place is unlike any other! There are interactive games, a theater with a movie about the history of mustard, and historical mustard artifacts.

Upstairs in the gift shop and tasting bar, you can try hundreds of mustards. With the help of the “Confidential Condiment Counselors”, I even found a few that my mustard-hating tastebuds loved! And then of course there’s the Poupon U Campus gear with all sorts of quirky gifts. If the owner Barry is around when you visit, make sure you get to hear the official Poupon U fight song. The best part is, the museum is FREE! Just be sure to leave a donation or buy something from the gift shop to support this super fun place!

DANE COUNTY FARMER’S MARKET

The Dane County Farmer’s Market is the nation’s largest producers-only farmer’s market. What does that mean? It means that everything is local, everyone at the market has made their own products, and they know everything about what they’re selling.

In the summertime, the market is held in the heart of downtown on the square and also features locals street musicians and craft vendors. In the winter, the market takes place at the beautifully renovated Garver Feed Mill. The historic turn-of-the-century building was an old sugar beet factory that has now been turned into a community destination full of retail stores, wellness studios, and event spaces.

VISIT THE UW-ARBORETUM

Everywhere I go I love to get outdoors and into some nature. One of the most surprising things about Madison is how much of a year-round city it really is! All year long there are people running, biking, and enjoying the outdoors, whatever the temperature may be! It truly is an active community.

One great place to get onto a trail is the UW-Arboretum. There are more than 17 miles of trails to enjoy here and it’s also full of culture and history with 38 effigy mounds. Effigy mounds are ancient Native American burial grounds and they can be found throughout the park.

MORE THINGS TO DO IN MADISON

OLBRICH BOTANICAL GARDENS

Olbrich Botanical Gardens features 16 acres of outdoor gardens as well as the indoor tropical Bolz Conservatory. Between the birds, the waterfalls, and the beautiful tropical plants, this place is the ultimate calming destination. It’s no wonder it was named one of North America’s 10 Most Inspirational Gardens by Horticulture Magazine. Classes, programs, and events are held at the gardens all year-round. You can find a full list of their flowers in bloom, plants on property, and upcoming events on their website.

CHEESE SAMPLING AT FROMAGINATION

You can’t come to Wisconsin and NOT do some cheese sampling! Fromagination is a beautiful artisan cheese shop right in the heart of downtown Madison. With a focus on local Wisconsin cheeses, the expert Cheesemongers here can help you find the perfect cheese for your next meal. Fromagination carries cheeses from all over the world but truly does highlight everything the makes the Wisconsin dairy industry special. The shop includes local wine, beer, food, and gifts and also offers classes and catering.

GO BOULDERING AT BOULDER’S CLIMBING GYM

One of my big bucket list adventures is to go rock climbing, but just hopping onto a giant cliffside outdoors is terrifying! Boulder’s Climbing Gym was the perfect place to try out the sport of climbing and bouldering. One thing that has held me back from trying, is the intimidation factor! Walking into a gym with no knowledge of where to start can be scary. Boulder’s made our visit super comfortable and welcomed us right in.

Owner Brad Werntz gave us a rundown of the downtown facility and its over 8,000 square feet of bouldering walls. We then got to try our hand at different levels of climbs and it was a blast! If you’re a newbie like me, they also offer beginner classes like Intro to Bouldering and Learn to Belay. Their East facility offers another 8,000 square feet of roped climbing as well. A few sessions here and you’ll be ready to head out to the rocks in no time!

Boulder's Climbing Gym Madison Wisconsin

STATE LINE DISTILLERY

I’ve said it a few times now, if I didn’t write about travel and adventure, I would love to feature different wineries, breweries, and distilleries because they all have a unique story to tell, flavors to taste, and heart beyond the glass.

State Line Distillery was founded by John Mlezia after studying brewing and distilling in Scotland and wanting to create Wisconsin-produced spirits. Using locally-owned botanicals and grains, State Line Distillery has created some incredible gins, vodkas, rums, brandy’s and more! They offer tours, tastings, and even a cocktail lab. And whatever they’re doing, it’s working! I had an incredible “Oat Cold” cocktail, and combined with trivia night, this was an awesome Madison night out!

ESSENTIAL MADISON EXPERIENCE

When we travel internationally we tend to book tour guides and curated adventures but a lot of times we don’t think to look for those within the United States. One of the coolest things Madison offers are the Essential Madison Experiences. From cruises and paddle tours, to cocktail classes, and food creation, there is something for everyone.

While I was in Madison, I did the Paint Madison Experience with Wheelhouse Studios at the UW Student Union. This 2-hour class takes you step-by-step through painting the iconic Terrace Chairs. While I knew I would enjoy this experience, I didn’t realize how calming it would be. By the end of the class I not only had an amazing (well, sort of amazing) painting, but I also felt really zenned out. I cannot recommend this enough!

WHERE TO STAY IN MADISON

GRADUATE HOTEL (AND CAMP TRIPPALINDEE)

While Madison has a variety of incredible places to stay within the city, I always like to look for something unique; and camping themed, even better! Graduate Hotels can be found in various university cities around the nation and each one is unique in its own way. Graduate Madison is filled with plaid decor, camping and outdoor gear, and full on canoe’s used for decoration.

The rooms themselves are decked out in school-themed bathroom wallpaper and wall art, the room keys themselves are student ID cards, and the lobby is complete with a study area and coffee bar. As an added bonus, the hotel is also pet-friendly.

But the true gem for me was the rooftop bar Camp Trippalindee. Inspired by 1980’s camp movies, the decor looks like everything you’d find in your midwest grandmother’s basement. Retro board games and plastic covered seats make for the perfect setting to enjoy a Wisconsin beer and views of the lake. We managed to finish every tour-filled day with a stop up at our favorite bar.

WHERE TO EAT IN MADISON

There was no shortage of incredible food here in Madison. While I expected amazing beer and cheese, I had no idea we’d discover mouth-watering breakfast stops, craft cocktail bars, and the most incredible Italian food I’ve ever had! Here are some stops I highly recommend for your next visit.

THE OLD FASHIONED

The ultimate Wisconsin dining experience can be found right next to the capitol at The Old Fashioned. Named for Wisconsin’s famous Brandy Old Fashioneds, the menu is a tribute to the state with things like cheese curds, lazy Susans filled with smoked fish, bratwurst, and deviled eggs, and nightly specials like the fish fry.

ENO VINO/AC HOTEL

Within the brand new AC Hotel in downtown Madison, is the rooftop Eno Vino Wine Bar and Bistro. While I didn’t have the chance to eat here, it’s definitely worth a stop in for the best view of the State Capitol! At the lounge cocktail bar, they serve tapas and amazing hand-crafted cocktails.

BASSET STREET BRUNCH CLUB

This kitchy robot-themed brunch club is everything you could ask for in a diner. Freshly made donuts, brunch-inspired cocktails, and dishes like The Hangover and Breakfast Nachos to get your day going. And of course we had to try the Chicken and a Donut appetizer served with a honey sirracha-sour cream sauce.

SHORT STACK EATERY

You can spot Short Stack Eatery easily on the weekends by the line wrapping around the block…and for good reason! This first-come-first-serve breakfast spot is full of amazing food combinations. But my favorite part…”The Blind”. For only $7 you can order “The Blind” with one simple question: Sweet or Savory? That’s all you get to know. This item is constantly changing so if you’re a risk-taker like me give it a go! You won’t be sorry!

HUBBARD AVENUE DINER

Just outside of Madison in Middleton Wisconsin, is another amazing breakfast place, Hubbard Avenue Diner. While their classic breakfast and lunch dishes are wonderful, it’s their pie’s that really make this place special. And you can’t visit and not try a pie taco. BONUS: this restaurant is right next to the National Mustard Museum.

DOTTY DUMPLINGS DOWRY

Dotty’s is the home of award-winning hamburgers, a Friday Fish-Fry, and over 24 Wisconsin Craft Beers on tap. For over 40 years, this restaurant has been a staple to Madison. Surrounded by classic decor and old movies, this restaurant was one of my favorites!

QUIVEY’S GROVE

Have I mentioned that I love unique places to eat? Quivey’s Grove dates back to 1855 with an old Stone House and Stable that were turned into dining areas in 1980. The Stone House has transformed every turn-of-the-century room into it’s own special dining area. With a menu made fresh from scratch, you’ll truly feel right at home. The Rustic Stable Grill made my country-heart happy with it’s saloon-vibe bar area, and renovated stable dining rooms, it was the perfect place to stop for lunch. But the best part? The stone tunnel way connecting the two restaurants. It felt like a secret hideaway and is complete with a wine tasting room.

BAR CORALLINI

Alright, now let’s talk about my favorite dining experience in Madison; Bar Corallini!!! Italian Chef Giovanni Novella named Bar Corallini for his hometown of Torre Del Greco “Little Coral”. Chef Giovanni not only had an authentic wood oven shipped over from Italy, but also brings in fresh ingredients from Italy as well, including the yeast for the pizza dough and pasta.

Every day, they make fresh pasta 2-3 times a day by hand to guarantee it’s as fresh as you can get it. The pizza’s are tossed by hand (an experience I even got to try) and cooked in the giant wood oven right in front of your eyes with the open kitchen. I’ve been to Italy, and I have to say, this was the best Italian meal I’ve ever had! BONUS: follow @chefgiovanni on Instagram to watch him prepare his incredible specials every day!

PHEW! So as you can see, there are SO many reasons to add Madison Wisconsin to your travel list. From the food, to unique destinations and adventures, to a city that’s always got something going on, Madison truly is a city for everyone! To learn more about all of these places and more, go to https://www.visitmadison.com and watch the full episode below!

The Complete Madison Wisconsin Travel Guide - FREE Things To Do, Where To Eat, Where To Stay and More!