Four Days in the Mad City

Day 1

Start with a stroll at sunrise along the John Nolen recreation path along Lake Monona (you’ll want to bike this later!). Wander through the nothing-else-like-it Monona Terrace Convention Center [1]. Take in the gargantuan, stately Wisconsin Capitol Building [2], a piece of grand art. Grab lunch at a food cart and hang alfresco with the Capitol crowd. Start trekking the Museum Mile [3], which will definitely fill out the first day’s activities.

Day 2

Arise and grab coffee and a scone at the University of Wisconsin [4]’s Memorial Union. Stroll along the gorgeous lakefront path to Picnic Point. Backtrack to the campus proper and energize with a café lunch on State Street [5] and start the campus campaign. Pick and choose from nearly a half dozen museums. This author would later hoof west to Babcock Hall [6] for some famed ice cream! Devour the tasty delight and sack out on Bascom Hill with the class skippers.

Day 3

Give your feet a break along the greatest city bike trail in the state (no argument here, please). From Monona Terrace [1] ride counterclockwise all the way to the Capital City Trail. Continue on this trail through splendid, bucolic countryside all the way to bike-friendly Seminole Highway. Turn right and keep riding to the magnificent UW Arboretum [7] and stretch the legs on some trails or take a nap under the blossoms. From here, turn left at the other end of the arboretum to the fun Vilas Zoo [8]. From here, you’re just a hop up to the student district of Regent Street—a great place to grab some pub grub and refuel.

Day 4

Check out the funky Near East Side by starting at Olbrich Gardens [9] to contemplate the universe under its gorgeous Thai Pavilion. Continue down the isthmus and the Willy Street zone for some funkiness. In the afternoon, take a drive to see the Frank Lloyd Wright–designed First Unitarian Church [10] on your way to Smoky’s Club for steaks. One simply must finish the final evening with a sunset at the University of Wisconsin Memorial Union [11], quaffing a brew with the rest of the citizenry.