When your tagline is "a city in motion," visitors expect a day on the go, and Fitchburg, WI certainly lives up to expectations. We've broken down the best ways to spend a day in Fitchburg complete with where to bike, what events to plan your trip around and what food and drinks you need to try while in town.
Jump around to explore your Fitchburg itinerary:
Morning: Bikes and Bites
Wake up at the Wyndham Garden Madison Fitchburg or the Mainstay Suites Fitchburg bright and early to get a head start on your jam-packed day. Grab a BCycle at Hatchery Hill Park, then roll down Fish Hatchery Road (featuring well-maintained bike lanes) to Rolling Pin Bakery for one of the best pastries or donuts you have ever tasted. Hop back on your bike and continue down Fish Hatchery to Oasis Cafe for coffee to fuel your adventure.
From Oasis, bike west on Lacy Road until you hit the Badger State Trail. Heading north on the trail will lead you to the Velo Underround, a bike roundabout where the Badger State Trail, Military Ridge State Trail, Southwest Commuter Path, Cannonball Path and Capital City State Trail intersect. This allows you to take a choose-your-own-adventure approach to your morning on wheels.
- Badger State Trail > New Glarus to see America's Little Switzerland (6.5 miles)
- Military Ridge State Trail > Paoli to see Seven Acre Dairy Co. (9 miles)
- Southwest Commuter Path > Henry Vilas Zoo to see furry friends (4.7 miles)
- Cannonball Path > UW–Madison Arboretum for hiking and seasonal blooms (2 miles)
- Capital City State Trail > Wisconsin State Capitol to experience downtown Madison (7 miles)
Pro tip: Sign up for Madison by Bike to get discounts and earn prizes while exploring the Southwest Commuter Path.
Pro tip #2: Planning on being in Fitchburg throughout the summer? Sign up for the Bike the 'Burg Challenge to track your miles and be entered into drawings for prizes from local businesses.
Mountain biking
Looking for off road adventure? Don't forget to bring your mountain bike! Fitchburg is home to three mountain bike parks: Quarry Ridge Recreation Area, Seminole Mountain Bike Area and The Saris Trails, each tailoring to a variety of skill levels.
Afternoon: Parks and places
If a little down time after your morning in motion sounds good, pack a picnic or grab takeout from a local restaurant before heading to some of Fitchburg's best parks and places for a restorative afternoon.
Agora
The community space at Agora is a hub for Fitchburg's events and local businesses. Wind all the way down by booking a yoga class at Perennial Yoga (don't forget to grab snacks from the cafe inside) or a treatment from Kneaded Relief Day Spa.
Magic happens each season as Agora hosts some of Fitchburg's signature events.
Agora Art Fair
More than 100 artists convene each August for the Agora Art Fair. You will find one-of-a-kind artwork across a variety of mediums including paintings, ceramics, jewelry, woodwork and more. It's the perfect place to start to give your home an aesthetic revamp or grab gifts for all your favorite people.
There's more to this art fair than meets the eye. Live music fills the area, local food and drink fill the tummies and aerial dancers fill the air during performances scattered throughout the day. The event is continuously evolving, so make sure to check back every year to learn what's new and coming soon to the fair.
Fitchburg Farmers' Market
Stop by Agora every Thursday from 3 to 6 p.m. to shop local produce, baked goods and other delights that offer a taste of Fitchburg.
Get Festive with Agora
Holiday cheer is brought to life during Fitchburg's annual Get Festive At Agora. This holiday extravaganza is the kickoff to the Fitchburg Holiday Lights Tour, a self-guided adventure around town to see all the best local light displays. Enjoy hot cocoa, caroling, food, shopping, carriage rides and more before heading out to see the lights.
McKee Farms Park
When looking for things to do with kids in Fitchburg, there's no place greater than McKee Farms Park. Equipped with a farm-themed splash pad, playground, tennis courts, volleyball courts and more, the park is a great place to spend your afternoon.
Concerts at McKee
Fitchburg's free concert series brings bands from across the state to perform family-friendly shows under the summer sun. Bring a picnic or grab food from local food trucks stationed around the park. Beer and wine are also available for purchase during the event.
Nine Springs Golf Course
Spread your afternoon out across nine holes of standard golf or disc golf at Nine Springs Golf Course. The course is located right in the center of town, which makes it easy to access by foot or by bike if you choose.
Evening: Sensational sips and dining
Some of the best memories happen around the dinner table. Our picks for where to eat in Fitchburg give you options that make the dreaded "what does everyone feel like for dinner" question a bit simpler.
- Dhaba Kitchen: stellar Indian food
- Ollie's: gluten free and vegan menus
- Quivey's Grove: elevated Wisconsin classics
- Tapatios: Mexican food and margs
- Thirsty Goat: pub food and catching the game (whatever game that might be)
End your day with something sweet or spirited as you hop, responsibly, around local bars or breweries.
Fitchburg is a small community that punches above its weight in the local beer scene with three different breweries calling the town home. Bring the kids and enjoy dinner, or come just with adults for drinks, at Hop Haus Brewing or Great Dane Brewing Co. Enjoy beer and snacks at Delta Beer Lab, an LGBTQ+ owned brewery that hosts events every week from craft nights to drag BINGO and beyond. For cocktails, Rusty Bee Lounge, Atomic Koi Cocktail Lounge and Flight Wine and Bourbon Bar are all great options to end your day.
Rideshare options like Uber or Lyft and locally-owned Union Cab are available to make sure you get to where you're headed safely.
Pro tip: Sign up for Madison on Tap to get discounts at Fitchburg breweries and earn prizes along the way.
