153 Weekend Getaway to Madison, Wisconsin

Who knew the small city of Madison, Wisconsin could offer so much to do -- especially in the winter? This week Tamara fills us in on her recent trip to the Wisconsin state capital, and home to the University of Wisconsin - Madison and shares why this college town makes a cool winter weekend getaway. Warning: you may end up craving cheese curds if you listen to this episode! This episode is part of a paid partnership with Destination Madison, allowing Tamara to experience what Madison has to offer and share her honest opinion with our listeners. ON THE PODCAST 00:30 - Talking with Kim and Tamara 00:55 - Tamara’s time in Madison, Wisconsin 06:48 - Where to stay in Madison 12:55 - Things to do in Madison 20:30 - Madison Eats Food Tour 29:55 - Favorite cold weather travel gear TIPS FOR VISITING MADISON, WISCONSIN Madison is the state capital of Wisconsin and home to the University of Wisconsin - Madison. This vibrant city is also the HQ for many tech and healthcare start ups and over 50% of the people that live in Madison are under 30. If you are visiting the University, or want to stay downtown, the Graduate Hotel is a great choice that offers an academic and local vibe. This hotel has a rooftop bar and restaurant called the Camp Trippalindee which is named after an 80s movie Back to School. On the lake, also walking distance to the Capitol and downtown, you will find the The Edgewater Hotel. Newly renovated and slightly more upscale, here you will have a great view of the lake and during the winter they also have a small ice skating rink right next to the lake. You can catch a free tour of the capitol building which runs every hour. If you don’t want to take a tour, you are free to roam around on your own if that is what you prefer. If you take a walk down State Street from the capitol building you will find a bunch of boutiques, bars and restaurants. As you walk you will see the transition from downtown life to more of the college town scene. If you like food and want to explore some of Madison's neighborhoods, you should really check out taking a food tour through Madison Eats. Tamara took the Atwood "Brew and Chew" tour, which included six food stops and three drinks. There are a lot of different locations in Madison that offer a class or some type of hands on activity. When planning your trip you should really make sure to look into some of these Essential Madison Experiences. You can find more information about them on the Destination Madison website. If you like mustard at all you should check out the National Mustard Museum. The bottom floor is a kitschy museum with old packaging, signs, and videos. But the top floor has a shop along with a mustard tasting bar where you can taste test 200+ types of mustard! Madison also offers many museums and attractions, like the zoo, which are free to visit, making this city an affordable weekend getaway. On Saturday mornings in the winter, the Dane County Farmer's Market is held at the Garver Feed Mill, also home to the Kosa Ayurvedic Spa. There are many entertainment options in Madison, including the new Madison Circus Space. Madison is home to many restaurants and some that really stood out include Everly, Graze, and Short Stack Eatery. FOLLOW US AND SPREAD THE WORD! If you liked this show, please be sure to subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, or Google Play and leave us a review! Have a question or comment? Send us an email at podcast@vacationmavens.com. You can also follow our travels on Stuffed Suitcase and We3Travel, or follow the Vacation Mavens on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter. Thanks for listening!