Experience Madison like a Local

Start out your Saturday at the Dane County Farmer's Market.  Grab a cup of coffee or a fresh squeezed orange juice, along with your pastry of choice, and start out your leisurely stroll around the capitol square to see the season's best bounty of vegetables, flowers, and specialty products from approximately150 vendors. 

Head down State Street, a pedestrian mall that connects the state Capitol with the UW campus, and is filled with eclectic shops and galleries.  Grab lunch at one of the many restaurants that line the street. 

Venture off to one of Madison's diverse neighborhoods for shopping, strolling, and dinner:

• You will find an assortment of boutiques and local restaurants on Monroe Street, which is located just down from Camp Randall stadium.  We suggest stopping for a cup of coffee at Ancora Coffee Roasters or a glass of wine at Barrique's Wine Cave.  You are bound to find something to eat at Bluephie's, which has a variety of contemporary comfort food and a dessert display that is irresistable.  Find an incredible assortment of kitchenware, toys, specialty foods, gifts, cards, soaps and much more at the locally owned Orange Tree Imports.  Visit the fair trade gift-shop, SERRV, to find unique handcrafts and artisanal foods from around the world.
• Visit the eclectic Willy Street neighborhood on Madison's near east side (Willy Street is short for Williamson Street).  Find delicious Tex-Mex and southwestern cuisine at Eldorado Grill, located right on Williamson Street, or at Tex Tubb's Taco Palace located near Williamson Street on Atwood Avenue, or enjoy Indonesian cuisine at Bandung.  Browse through many of the diverse shops in the Willy Street neighborhood, including The Kitchen Gallery, where you will find high-end kitchenware and gourmet foods.
• Head out to one of the surrounding communities, including but not limited to, recently voted "Best Place to Live"- Middleton, or hometown USA - Verona, or head out to troll capital of the world - Mount Horeb.   It each of these towns, you will find their own charm and plenty of things to see and do.

Finish your day off at the Memorial Union Terrace, and watch the sun set over beautiful Lake Mendota, with Babcock Ice Cream (served at the Union) or a cold beer and popcorn.  Many summer nights on the terrace, you will be able to enjoy live music.