Madison on a Dime

Madison is a great place to discover on a budget. Scroll down for a sampling of Madison-area attractions and events that you can do for little or no cost! 

State Capitol (Free and open to the public weekdays 8:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. and weekends and holidays 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Free tours are offered daily, year-round except on the following holidays: New Year's Day, Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas.)  The best way to experience the beauty and grandeur of Wisconsin's Capitol building is to see it for yourself. The sixth floor museum and observation deck are open during the summer months.

UW-Madison Geology Museum (Free; Monday-Friday: 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Saturday: 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.; 1215 W Dayton St, 608.262.2399) Come touch a piece of history! Tours and storytelling times available.

Chazen Museum of Art (Free; Tuesday-Friday 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., Saturday-Sunday 11:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.; 800 University Avenue; 608.263.2246) Chazen Museum is associated with the University of Wisconsin-Madison and houses touring and permanent collections of paintings, sculptures and drawings.

Wisconsin Historical Museum (Donations suggested; Tuesday-Saturday: 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.; 30 N. Carroll St ) The museum is full of wonderful information about the state's rich history including dioramas, artifacts, photography and interactive multimedia programs.

Olbrich Botanical Gardens (Free to the general public on Wednesday and Saturday mornings 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m., except during Olbrich's Blooming Butterflies event.) Stroll through 16 acres of outdoor display gardens or explore the tropical paradise in Olbrich's Bolz Conservatory, a glass pyramid filled with exotic plants and flowers, small birds, a rushing waterfall, and fragrant orchids.

Henry Vilas Zoo (Free; Grounds hours: 9:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Building hours: 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Daily. 702 South Randall Avenue, 608.266-4732) One of the nation's only free zoos where you can see more than 800 animals. Open year-round.

The National Mustard Museum (Free; Open Daily 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., 7477 Hubbard Ave. Middleton, WI 53562 800.438.6878). The centerpiece collection is an ever-growing display of prepared mustards which currently spans more than 5,000 jars, bottles and tubes from all 50 states and more than 60 countries.

The Nationally renowned  Dane County Farmers Market takes place every Saturday morning (Free; 7:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m., April-November).  It is the largest producer-only farmers market in the country and is held around the Capitol square. 

Wisconsin Veterans Museum (Free; Monday-Saturday: 9:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Sunday: Noon-4:00 p.m. April-September; 30 West Mifflin Street; 608.267.1799) The Veterans Museum offers instructive exhibits that highlight important events in Wisconsin military history from the Civil War to the present.

University of Wisconsin Arboretum (Free; Arboretum trails and the Visitor Center parking lot are open year-round 7:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m. Other Arboretum parking lots are open from dawn to dusk. The Visitor Center is open weekdays 9:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m. and weekends 12:30-4:00 p.m. (excluding holidays); 1207 Seminole Hwy; 608.263.7888) Since 1934 the University of Wisconsin-Madison Arboretum has been restoring the land, advancing ecological restoration, and fostering Aldo Leopold's land ethic.

Wollersheim Winery (Free for children 11 and under; $3.50 for adults; Open daily 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. year-round; 7876 State Rd 188; 800.847.9463) Just across from Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin, the Wollersheim Winery sits on a scenic hillside overlooking the Wisconsin River and offers daily tours and tastings.

Governor's Mansion (30-minute tours offered every Thursday 1:00-3:00 p.m.; April-August; 99 Cambridge Rd; 608.246.5501) The mansion was built in the Classical Revival style on more than four acres along Lake Mendota and has 16,000 square feet of living space include 34 rooms, 13 bathrooms, and 7 bedrooms and fireplaces.

Tunes at Monona Terrace (Free; Every Wednesday 5:30pm-7:00pm) Enjoy an evening of dancing and great music with friends! Themed menu specials, snacks, beer, cocktails and soft drinks are available for purchase beginning at 5:00 p.m.

Concerts on the Square (Free; Wednesdays, June 25-July 30) Sit on the lawn of the Capitol under summer skies and enjoy as the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra performs weekly featuring guest artists.

Kids in the Rotunda (Free; Saturdays 9:30 a.m., 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.) Every Saturday during the school year, Overture Center offers free arts programs designed for children and families featuring a diverse lineup of local and regional musicians, storytellers, jugglers, theater troupes, magicians and dancers. The 1:00 p.m. performances are sign language interpreted.