Madison Area Attractions
Located in Madison, the University of Madison campus spreads out along Lake Mendota, encompassing wooded hills, friendly shores and lively city streets. Madison—the state's capital city with a population of 208,000—offers the perfect combination of natural beauty, stimulating cultural offerings, outdoor recreation, distinctive restaurants, unique shops and vibrant nightlife. State Street is a special attraction. It is a half-mile long stretch of restaurants, coffee shops and retail business and connects Wisconsin's state capitol building and the campus.
The city tops many "best" lists, including:
- #1 City for Cyling (Pop: 200,000-500,000) Bicycling 2006
- #1 Research Institution in the Nation, Washington Monthly magazine, 2005
- One of 18 Perfect Towns that Have It All, Outside magazine, 2005
- One of the 10 Best Metros for Business and Careers, Forbes, 2004
- #2 Best Small City to Live In, Men's Journal, 2004
- #1 Best College Sports Town, Sports Illustrated on Campus, 2003
The university's location in south central Wisconsin makes for convenient access to Milwaukee (80 miles), Chicago (150 miles) and Minneapolis (270 miles). You should consider warm clothes, as early spring tends to be a bit chilly outside in Madison.