Life in Wisconsin

Tradition

Traditionally, many of the early immigrants to Wisconsin were of German descent. Consequently, many of our state’s most popular foods are of German origin, like the bratwurst.
More familiarly known as a brat, this spicy sausage is usually served on a bun with sauerkraut or other condiments and is common fare at sporting events and neighborhood barbecues.

The Dairy State

Wisconsin is known as the “Dairy State” and ranks second in the nation in milk production. Cheese is a well-loved food among its residents. Wisconsin produces and exports many varieties of cheese worldwide.

Past trainees have been particularly fond of cheese curds, which are delicious bite-size pieces of cheddar cheese that can be served fresh or fried.

Global Cuisine

We also have a remarkable array of international cuisine for a medium-sized city. A few examples located in Downtown Madison include: traditional Neapolitan at Naples 15; classic French at L’Etoile; Nepalese cuisine at Himal Chuli; Japanese-Wisconsin fusion at Tavernakaya; and many other traditional and modern options.

Madison hosts a world-famous outdoors farmers’ market on the capitol square every Saturday from April through November.

Fellowship begins during the warm summer month of July. Summer hums with activity, as people in Madison and throughout the state take advantage of the long sunny days and refreshing cool nights.

September kicks off a beautiful autumn season. Mild temperatures transition to cooler days as the foliage around the region puts on a spectacular show. It’s a wonderful time for outdoor activities, and the area offers expansive state, county, and city parks.

Winters are cold and sometimes quite snowy, but there are still plenty of activities to be found: cross-country skiing, sledding, skating, ice fishing, and more.

Spring can be wet and temperatures can swing drastically from day to day, which is typical of the Midwest. No matter the weather, the University of Wisconsin-Madison is a very active campus!

For many Wisconsin residents, social lives revolve around getting together to watch one of the many beloved Wisconsin professional sports teams. The Green Bay Packers carry on a proud tradition with an intense fan base made up of sports-conscious, fun-loving Wisconsinites. Green and Gold Packer clothing is ubiquitous on NFL Sundays.

Wisconsin residents also enjoy cheering on our professional baseball team, the Milwaukee Brewers, and professional basketball team, the Milwaukee Bucks. The Brewers and the Bucks both had excellent post-season runs in 2021, with the Bucks defeating the Phoenix Suns in the NBA Finals in six games for their first title in 50 years!

Most beloved in the Madison area are the teams representing the University of Wisconsin—the Badgers! Across the entire state, and especially in Madison, residents don their red and white and join Bucky Badger in cheering on the famed football and basketball teams, as well as other UW teams. Badger Women’s Hockey and Volleyball have both been exceptionally successful in recent years. A football Saturday at Camp Randall Stadium is considered one of the premier experiences in college sports.

Bike Paths
cityofmadison.com/bikemadison

Bus Schedules
cityofmadison.com/metro

Childcare
dfc.wisconsin.gov/childcare

County Assessor
cityofmadison.com/assessor

Guide to Downtown Madison
downtownmadison.org

Madison Public Library
madisonpubliclibrary.org

Voter Registration
cityofmadison.com/clerk/electionsvoting/voter-registration

Wisconsin Driver’s License and Plates
wisconsindot.gov

Greater Madison Convention and Visitors Bureau
visitmadison.com

Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce
madisonbiz.com

Guide for Residing in Madison
cityofmadison.com

Profiles of Neighborhoods within Madison
cityofmadison.com/neighborhoods

City of Madison Parks (including dog parks)
cityofmadison.com/parks

Recycling Information
cityofmadison.com/streets/recycling

Trash Information
cityofmadison.com/streets/refuse

Concerts on the Square
The Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra’s Concerts on the Square is an outdoor concert series held each summer in Madison on the lawn of the Wisconsin State Capitol. The series consists of six concerts on Wednesday evenings and has been called “The Biggest Picnic of Summer.” Blankets may be placed on the lawn starting at 3:00 p.m. Bring a cooler or enjoy some of the great food from local vendors, 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
wcoconcerts.org/concerts-tickets/concerts-on-the-square

La Fête de Marquette
Located in the heart of Madison’s east Isthmus, Fête promises something for everyone: performances on 3 stages, games and activities for families, local restaurants, an eclectic array of arts and crafts vendors, and plenty of great beer and wine. This event is free admission.
wil-mar.org/fete

Live on King
Free outdoor concerts by nationally touring artists on King Street (by the Capitol) from June – September. 7:00 p.m. and later.

Live Music and Performing Art Venues
Madison is home to a wide variety of outdoor and indoor music and performing art venues, hosting local to international musicians and artists. Catch a show or play at any of these widely-known locations, including:

• The Sylvee: thesylvee.com
• The Majestic: majesticmadison.com/events/
• High Noon Saloon: high-noon.com/calendar
• The Orpheum Theater: madisonorpheum.com
• Barrymore Theatre: barrymorelive.com
• Alliant Energy Center: alliantenergycenter.com/upcoming-events

Dane County Farmers’ Market
The Saturday Dane County Farmers’ Market is conveniently located on the tree-lined grounds surrounding the Wisconsin State Capitol building — otherwise known as “the Square” — in downtown Madison. The Market encircles the Square and runs from 6:15 a.m. – 1:45 p.m., April – November.
dcfm.org/markets/saturday-on-the-square

Taste of Madison
Held over Labor Day Weekend since 1983, The Taste is one of the city’s signature events, with over 80 restaurants, 3 entertainment stages, and 26 beverage stands drawing over 250,000 to the Capitol Square. There is no charge for admission or entertainment. Taste of Madison raises $60,000 annually for local non-profit and charitable organizations.
tasteofmadison.com

Olbrich Botanical Gardens
The outdoor gardens span 16 acres and are free, open daily to the public. For the indoor tropics, admission is $2 or free on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. – noon. A lush, indoor tropical garden is a perfect place to visit on a cold Wisconsin day. On Tuesdays at 7:00 p.m. in the summer, this non-profit hosts free concerts.
olbrich.org

Troy Gardens
Community Groundworks is the non-profit that operates the Troy community gardens. Visitors can explore the free gardens, prairie trails, and purchase locally grown produce. Every Thursday in the summer from 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m., visitors will enjoy live music and fun activities, as well as be able to purchase farm-fresh pizza using seasonal vegetables from the farm.
rootedwi.org/gardening/troy-community-gardens/

Arboretum
With more than 17 miles of trails and plentiful gardens, the Arboretum is a breathtaking area in Madison. It is open year-round and free for the public.
arboretum.wisc.edu/visit

Alumni Park
Between the Memorial Union and the Red Gym (off of Langdon Street), you’ll find a place that celebrates the University of Wisconsin–Madison and its graduates. Not only does Alumni Park give graduates, students, and visitors of all kinds a beautiful spot to enjoy, but it also tells the stories of the university and its alumni and the ways they’ve changed the world.
alumnipark.com

Bascom Hill
The Bascom Hill Historic Park District features some of the oldest buildings on campus. Civil War soldiers once drilled here, and maypole celebrations, parades, gatherings, and demonstrations have all taken place on the hill. It is also the spot where former President Obama gave a campaign speech preceding the 2012 US presidential election.
wisconsinhistory.org/Records/NationalRegister/NR59

Camp Randall Stadium
Camp Randall Stadium is very busy on American football Saturdays when 80,321 fans cheer on the Badgers.
uwbadgers.com/sports/2015/8/21/GEN_2014010132.aspx

Carillon Tower
The Carillon Tower is 85 feet (25.903 m) high and houses 56 bronze bells. This carillon is one of three in Wisconsin. Visitors may climb the tower during the free concerts held on Sunday at 3:00 p.m.
lakeshorepreserve.wisc.edu/visit/places/carillon-tower/

Chazen Museum of Art
The Chazen Museum of Art is home to 19,000 works of art, dating from antiquities to the Renaissance to more modern compositions. The exhibits rotate frequently, and admission is free. It is closed on Mondays.
chazen.wisc.edu

Henry Vilas Zoo
An admission-free, community-supported zoo. The Henry Vilas Zoo has over 650 animals, 20 of which are considered endangered and vulnerable.
henryvilaszoo.gov

Kohl Center
The Kohl Center is an arena and athletic center at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. It is the home to basketball and men’s hockey, where 17,230 fans cheer on the Badgers.
uwbadgers.com/sports/2015/8/21/GEN_2014010135.aspx

Lakeshore Nature Preserve
An integral part of the campus landscape, it has 300 acres of woods, wetlands, open fields, restored prairie/savanna, and three miles (4.82 km) of Lake Mendota shoreline, including two swimming beaches and many picnicking spots.
lakeshorepreserve.wisc.edu

Lincoln Statue
The statue holds a place of honor on Bascom Hill because President Abraham Lincoln signed the Morrill Act in 1862, which designated the university as a land-grant institution. It is a campus tradition for graduating students to climb into Abe’s lap and whisper their dreams for the future into his ear.
onwisconsin.uwalumni.com/destination/lincoln-statue/

Madison Children’s Museum
Madison Children’s Museum is a place to play, learn, create art, and more. Fun for the whole family.
madisonchildrensmuseum.org

Memorial Union Terrace
Located on Lake Mendota, where people meet, eat, and hear music. The terrace is one of Madison’s most popular gathering spots to sit back and relax.
union.wisc.edu/visit/memorial-union/

Union South
Features great places to eat, as well as spaces to relax, see movies, enjoy music, and go bowling. It even has a rock-climbing wall!
union.wisc.edu/visit/union-south/

State Street
Connects the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus to the State Capitol. It is a dynamic pedestrian mall lined with shops, galleries, restaurants, nightclubs, museums, and cultural destinations.
visitdowntownmadison.com

The Red Gym
Built in 1894 as a militia training and student recreation center. Lovingly restored and renovated, it is a National Historic Landmark and houses the international student services office, among others.
iss.wisc.edu/about/history-of-the-red-gym/

Wisconsin State Capitol
Centerpiece of the Capitol Square. Free tours are available.
legis.wisconsin.gov/about/visit

American Players Theatre
Located in picturesque Spring Green, American Players Theatre (APT) is a classical theater about one hour from Madison. It includes a 1,148-seat outdoor amphitheater and sits on 110 acres of woods and meadow. APT draws an annual audience of more than 110,000 people from around the country.
americanplayers.org

Devil’s Lake State Park
Visited by over 2 million visitors each year, Devil’s Lake is located in Baraboo, about one hour north of Madison. It is the largest state park in Wisconsin. Devil’s Lake offers magnificent views from 500-foot quartzite bluffs overlooking a 360-acre lake.
dnr.wi.gov/topic/parks/name/devilslake/

Milwaukee
Wisconsin’s largest city, Milwaukee, is located east of Madison on the shores of Lake Michigan. The city has a vibrant beer brewing heritage, a powerhouse arts scene, revitalized historic districts, and numerous James Beard-nominated chefs that feature a vibrant farm-to-table culinary scene.
visitmilwaukee.org

Mount Horeb
Known for its Scandinavian heritage, particularly on its Main Street. This thoroughfare is decorated with life-sized, carved, wooden trolls – the classic creatures of Scandinavian folklore. The quaint downtown includes specialty shops, antique stores, and artist studios.
trollway.com

New Glarus
Settled in 1845 by Swiss immigrants, this picturesque community is a thriving showcase of Swiss heritage, architecture, customs, and cuisine. New Glarus is about 30 miles southwest of Madison and is home to Wisconsin’s famous New Glarus Brewery and Oktoberfest Celebration.
swisstown.com

Nearby Towns
Cottage Grove, Fitchburg, McFarland, Middleton, Monona, Mt. Horeb, Oregon, Stoughton, Sun Prairie, Verona, and Windsor are nearby towns with unique attractions.
countyofdane.com

Wisconsin Dells
Situated in Wisconsin’s Heartland, in the middle of the southern half of the state. Wisconsin Dells is roughly one hour north of Madison and is world-famous for its numerous indoor and outdoor waterparks and breathtaking glacier-carved sandstone formations.
wisdells.com