I am getting ready to leave on vacation and one of the stops will be three days in Madison, WI. I have never been to this area and was wondering if anybody had any suggestions about things to see or do in this area.

I was there once for a meeting. There is one of the biggest cheese section I have ever seen in one of the grocery stores there... Of course, I don't remember the name of it; but I am sure Mr. Peepers would know.

I am a graduate of the UW at Madison. Madison is a great city. It has many of the big city conveniences while maintaining a feel of a smaller city.

State Street is a open air mall that has many shops and restaurants. It is a great stroll (about 7 blocks) from the Library Mall at the UW up to the Capitol.

If you're there on a Saturday morning, the farmers' market on the Capitol square is a must. There is also a Veteran's Museum on the Square (right at State Street). So, you could start off at the Square with the Farmer's Market. Go to the museum and end up wandering down State Street (the people watching is unparalleled) to the Library Mall.

The University itself along with Camp Randall is worth a look.

If there is anything at the Performing Arts Center (on State Street) go. It's a great venue. Afterwards, have a drink or snack at either Stillwaters (on State) or the Whitehorse Inn (just across from the PAC on a side street).

If you have kiddles, the Vilas Zoo is fun for them.

The parks and lakes (there are 4 in the immediate area) are fun. The Capitol building is beautiful and worth walking through.

Have I given you enough? Have a great time. Old Madtown holds a spot very near and dear in my heart.

Oh, yeah...don't forget....go to the Brathaus on State Street for a brat and a beer. Definitely not a trip to Madison without that!

When I was there for BAI Operations/Audit school, there was a wonderful coffeehouse/bookstore downtown (wish I could remember the name). There were also some wonderful little shops where you could purchase native american jewelery, pottery, and such.

In Madison or anywhere in Wisconsin ---------
Buy CHEESE

Excuse me, you're forgetting the brats! Wisconsin does not live on cheese alone...!

Oh, and I forgot the beer....you need something to wash down those brats!

Thanks for the suggestions. It's nice to have an idea what to do while we are there.

I was there for the Graduate School of Banking. Just walking up and down State street is interesting. You never know what you will see.

Ok, you wiseguys, next time you're in town, let me know and I'll show you the REAL Madison. It's way more than brats and beer and cheesecurds!

Isn't there a fabulous Frank Lloyd Wright house there to see? Riverwalk or something....

You can pick up some cheese curds and nibble while you tour

And here I was feeling sorry for you with the butter on the brain thing in the other thread!

The Monona Terrace is right on the lake downtown and was designed by FLW and actually built years after his death. No river anything in this town, tho. We've 4 lakes but no rivers.

Frank Lloyd Wright's complex called Talisin is located west and a little bit south of Madison as I recall. I think it is actually outside of Spring Green. My husband has an appreciation for Frank LLoyd Wright architecture, so, we stopped and did the tour. Quite unique - glad we stopped

No, that's in Bascom Hall on campus or anywhere they serve food on campus.

Monona Terrace is on the other side of the Capital building and yes, it's walking distance, albeit a bit long, to UW ice cream. I look at it as working off the ice cream calories!

freeze your butt off

It's warm this week girl@cu - also the capital is beautiful, and all the roads around it have great little shops where you can get just about everything (including cheese curds!) and there is a pizza place about 2 blocks away with the BEST pizza ever, however I don't remember the name of it. It's been a few months since I was there.

Rocky Roccoco's?

Or Gino's?