Know Before You Go: About Madison
Magnificent Madison—with its sophisticated downtown perched between two lakes—offers the perfect blend of nurture and nature
You'll find world class museums and a state capitol building that's just waiting to be explored. Prefer the outdoors? Plan a summer picnic in Tenney Park or do a bit of ice skating on the park's frozen lagoon in midwinter. You'll find vacation fun the family and your friends during all seasons in Madison.
Four Distinct Seasons
Visit Madison in the summer, especially in July and August, and you'll find temperatures averaging in the low 80s. The nearby lakes also cause an increase in humidity and rainfall during these months. Temps cool down and the rain tapers off by the end of September, bringing out the fall colors. Love snow? Visit Madison in December and January—each month averages a foot of the white stuff. With temperatures hovering below the freezing mark, your chances of seeing a white Christmas are very good. Spring blows in, literally, by early April. Bundle up for a brisk walk in Tenney Park and welcome the first flowers.
Enjoying Culture and Nature
When you visit Madison, start with a tour of the Wisconsin State Capitol. Then check out the Wisconsin Historical Museum and learn what life was like for Native Americans and the early settlers. Love art? Visit the Chazen Museum of Art and discover works dating back to ancient Egypt. If you're in town in early July, attend the annual Art Fair on the Square run by the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art. Take the kids to the Madison Children's Museum for some hands-on learning, and check out the Henry Vilas Zoo for some exotic animal fun. Planning a winter visit? Try ice fishing on nearby Lake Mendota. You can even rent an ice shack that sits over the fishing hole to keep from getting too chilly.
How the City Works
Madison is not only Wisconsin's capital, it is home to one of the top medical schools in the United States at the University of Wisconsin. That said, it's not surprising that education, scientific research and health care combined make up nearly 40 percent of the city's economic base. You'll find locales working in the tourism and restaurant industries welcoming. That sector, combined with the retail trade, makes up about 20 percent of Madison's industrial base. Government officials are constantly streaming in and out of Madison as well—you never know who you'll run into.
Getting Around on Two Wheels or More
If you're flying into Madison, you'll find the Dane County Regional Airport just north of the city center. Rent a car, grab a taxi or hop on the Madison Metro Transit for the 40-minute ride into downtown. Metro Transit also makes it easy to get around town, but why not travel like a local? Check out the Madison B-Cycle bike-sharing program. Buy a B-Cycle membership or simply walk up to any of the bike kiosks to check out a ride. You'll need a credit card to unlock the bike dock. The fee is charged when the bike is returned, either to where you checked it out or at another B-Cycle location. With nearly 40 stations and roughly 350 bikes, you're never too far from a ride.
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