Head north or south from the highest point in Madison, Wisconsin—aka Capital Square, home to the domed state capitol—and you’ll run into water within a few blocks. One of only two US cities on an isthmus, this buzzing college town crams in a wealth of culture between its four lakes. Known as the “Berkeley of the Midwest,” things to do in this progressive spot include exploring its lakefront patios, cheering on the Wisconsin Badgers, and, of course, cruising the water.
Madison has two main seasons: lake season and football season. The latter runs from August to December; the former from May to September. That means you can double your fun in August and September when temperatures are warm and Memorial Union Terrace—right on the shores of Lake Mendota—is popping with students and Badger fans. It’s also when Saturdays mean the massive Dane County Farmers Market and college football games.
If you’re staying on the isthmus—which includes downtown Madison and the UW campus—and you want the classic Madison experience, you can get by with walking, cycling, or nabbing the occasional rideshare or city bus. But if you want to go beyond the city’s core, you’ll want your own set of wheels, as public transport doesn’t service further flung areas of the city.
Madison offers a range of cultural experiences. You’ll find award-winning chefs at spots such as Fairchild and Ahan, while the UW Arboretum is a national historic landmark; the campus is full of little easter eggs, such as the Frank Lloyd Wright–designed Monona Terrace and John Muir’s “alarm clock” (a desk that forced him out of bed). Of course, just grabbing beers on the lake is good, too.
