Weekend Getaways: The Ultimate Travel Guide to Madison, Wisconsin
This story is sponsored by Destination Madison. Plan your post-vaxx travels with Destination Madison.
After more than a year of stay-at-home orders and recent vaccinations following the COVID-19 pandemic, the excitement to once again travel has kicked into high gear.
This summer, small town vibes remain top of mind for me, and my first-time visit to Madison especially stands out for a return trip. Madison, Wisconsin is a one-of-a-kind but familiar city with tree-lined streets, outdoorsy activities, quirky artful shops, and down-home locals. Luckily, direct flights from Madison to Philly started up again on American Airlines, and Madison is ready to show up and show out!
Weekend mornings in front of the State Capital
How to Visit Madison — Virtually, or In Person:
Midwesterners love their adult beverages, but The Badger State Capital stands out as a place where you can get a good pour for a few bucks. Start your night with Wisconsin’s take on the Old Fashioned: swap whiskey for brandy, and seltzer with lemon-lime soda (like Seven-Up or Sprite) for a sweeter cocktail that calls most supper clubs home. Order your Wisconsin Brandy Old Fashioned at the Tornado Club downtown, and pair it with a steakhouse dinner a la Ron Swanson to-go for a complete treat yo’ self experience.
Happy hours are still going strong at Bar Corallini in Atwood. Aperitivo hour here means $6 Negroni’s on draft and Venetian spritzes 4-6 pm Sunday through Thursday. Naples-born Chef Giovanni Novella and his crew are stepping up their typical resto lounging vibes, now with enhanced safety precautions in place. Snag an outdoor reservation to share their epic antipasto board with your vaxxed faves. This is not your mom’s meat and cheese deli tray but instead grilled zucchini, heirloom cherry tomatoes with pesto, plus home-made stracciatella, whipped ricotta, and hot out the oven crispy, charred pizza bread.
Idyllic views are aplenty at almost every turn in Madison. Mask up on a Betty Lou Cruise to admire the natural waters of Lake Mendota in all its glory. Brush up on your history through a virtual VR tour inside the grand State Capitol or plan an afternoon picnic on the lawn near the North Hamilton walkway for Lunch Time LIVE concert series.
Flower vendor at Dane County Farmers Market
No visit to America’s Dairyland is complete without cheese, but if you thought Madison was just a city of curds, think again. Get your fix with Fromagination cheese classes to become an expert on beer, wine and chocolate pairings or brush up on home entertaining skills. Opt for a lunchbox to-go and picnic by one of Madison’s five lakes when the weather is on your side. Get in on locals’ Saturday Dane County Farmers Market routines with the return of the OG Capitol Square location. Bountiful produce, flower bouquets, and cheese curds share the spotlight here with hand-made empanadas and the original Hot & Spicy Cheese Bread from mother-daughter bakers at Stella Bakery and Violet Rose & Bread Barn. Staying in town for a while? Sign up for a CSA share with South Madison Farmers Market to prep ingredients for at-home cooking!
Madisonians know how to make the most of their city whether on foot, bike, or board. Trek-sponsored B-Cycle electric bike shares make for easy riding around Madison’s vast network (240 miles to be exact) of protected paths around five lakes and beaches. Ride with a purpose this summer with one of their art bikes, showing off custom and original designs in support of social justice by local artists. Hit the water for kayaking and stand up paddleboarding or try snowshoeing and ice fishing if you dare. You can smell and touch nature's best at Olbrich Botanical Garden as you stroll through nearly 3,000 plant species and serene spaces.
Throw Midwestern stereotypes out the door. Madisonians are fiercely proud of their city, and small businesses like Short Stack Eatery, an all-day breakfast joint, and Giant Jones Brewing Company, a woman-run microbrewery, are examples of where community spirit and sustainability thrive. Sanctuary welcome signs and black and brown-inclusive LGBTQIA flags share space with non-profit partners at Short Stack. Craft beers get the organic farm-sourced treatment thanks to Erika Jones at Madison’s east side brewery. Jones brings her agricultural expertise to create bold beers with positive environmental impact, a value that extends to neighbors who are known to bike the Willy Street trails in between brews. Stop in for a bite and brew to go.
Short Stack Eatery #Pride
While music venues make their full return, you can bring Willy Street jazz legends at Café CODA home with live-stream performances. You can even make it a family affair IRL every Saturday morning for free musical workshops available where “any instruments, abilities and ages are welcome.” It’s OG places like these that ensure Madison sticks around for good.
