Things to Do in Madison

• Wisconsin State Capital: o Free admission and tours of the building. There are also opportunities for self‐guided tours and exploration. o http://www.travelwisconsin.com/architecture/wisconsin‐state‐capitol‐building‐203394 • Monona Terrace: o Located on Lake Monona, the Monona Terrace offers some great vies of the lake and has great design and architecture. The terrace offers free concerts and has a farmer’s market on Wednesday during the summer time. Some fees may apply. o www.mononaterrace.com • Olbrich Botanical Garden‐ o Stroll 16 acres of outdoor gardens featuring stunning landscapes and Midwest‐hardy plants. Visit the tropics in the Bolz Conservatory, filled with exotic plants, flowers, orchids, birds, and a waterfall. Outdoor Gardens are free and open daily. Conservatory admission is $2 and free on Wednesday and Saturday, 10 am to noon. o www.olbrich.org • Henry Vilas Zoo: o The Henry Vilas Zoo in Madison, WI is one of only a handful of admission‐free, community‐ supported zoos in the country. Fully accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, our beautiful zoo features exhibit’s and attractions for the whole family. The Zoo is open daily 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., all year round except some holidays. Donations are encouraged but not required. All are welcome at the Henry Vilas Zoo! o http://www.vilaszoo.org • : o The Chazen is located at 750 University Avenue on the UW–Madison campus. Admission is free. The museum is open to the public. o Museum Hours: Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Museum Shop is open during museum hours. Closed Mondays. Closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day o www.chazen.wisc.edu • UW Arboretum: o The Arboretum features distinct ecological communities, horticultural collections, effigy mounds, more than 20 miles of trails, and a Visitor Center. It is a place of active learning, reflection, creativity, land care, research, and recreation—where human, animal, and plant communities coexist. To start your visit, stop by the Visitor Center, the central source of information and learning opportunities. Get the latest news from the volunteer receptionist, pick up maps and pamphlets, visit the bookstore and art gallery. o https://arboretum.wisc.edu • UW Geology Museum o The UW Geology museum is free and open to the public. Located at 1215 W. Dayton St. on the UW‐Madison Campus. Hours are Monday‐Friday 8:30 am‐4:30 pm; Saturday 9:00 am‐1:00 pm. Self‐ guided tours are free and there are guided tours available for a small fee. A storytime is offered trice a month geared toward pre‐school aged children. o http://geoscience.wisc.edu/museum_wp/

• Madison Children's Museum: o The Madison Children's Museum is a museum for children in Madison, Wisconsin that contains exhibits on the arts, sciences, history, culture, health, and civic engagement.

o Hours & Schedule: Day after Memorial Day to Labor Day: Monday – Sunday 9:30 a.m.–5 p.m. Labor Day to Memorial Day: Tuesday – Sunday 9:30 a.m.–5 p.m., Closed Mondays with the exception of the last Monday of each month! o www.madisonchildrensmuseum.org Memorial Union Terrace: o Grab a chair and soak up the sun on the historic Memorial Union Terrace. The years have passed, the space has grown and even the chairs have changed. But through it all, the Terrace has remained a favorite spot for UW students, faculty, staff, Union members and anyone else looking to enjoy sunny day or beautiful evening in the summer, spring or fall. 2016 Summer Hours (May 16‐September 4) Monday‐ Wednesday: 7am to Midnight Thursday‐Friday: 7am to 1am Saturday: 8am to 1am Sunday: 8am to Midnight • Allen Centennial Gardens: o Allen Centennial Garden is the artful living laboratory and public botanical garden of the Horticulture Department at the University of Wisconsin‐Madison. The Garden serves as an outdoor classroom for UW‐Madison students and the surrounding communities, providing meaningful learning opportunities for visitors of all ages. The Gardens are open year‐round, dawn to dusk. Admission is free. • Picnic Point: o Picnic Point, a nearly mile‐long peninsula along Lake Mendota's south shore, is among Madison's most distinctive features and is probably the most popular destination in the Preserve. Each year thousands of students and Madisonians visit the Point for outings. In a hectic world of university life or city living, it's nice to know that this natural area is just a short distance from where you live. Free admission. • Madison Public Library: o Madison Public Library's tradition of promoting education, literacy and community involvement has enriched the City of Madison for more than 140 years. Our nine locations throughout the City of Madison are open six days a week (with limited Sunday hours) and welcome over 2 million visits each year. There is regular free programming for all ages. www.madisonpubliclibrary.org

Madison has a lot of offer without a lot of expense. The Madison Visitor and Convention Bureau keeps a list of free things to do in Madison at http://www.visitmadison.com/things‐to‐do/free‐things‐to‐do/

Parks and Recreation

 Madison Parks. Something for everyone! Madison Parks are for all seasons. No matter the time of year, there is always something to enjoy in Madison Parks. Whether it is a softball game, a round of golf, an outdoor concert, a dip in the pool, a family reunion, an afternoon of ice skating or a quiet hike ‐ Madison Parks has something for everyone. Get out & about in Madison Parks and find your favorite. www.cityofmadison.com/parks  Lake Mendota Picnic Point: o Picnic Point, a nearly mile‐long peninsula along Lake Mendota's south shore, is among Madison's most distinctive features and is probably the most popular destination in the Preserve. Each year thousands of students and Madisonians visit the Point for outings. In a hectic world of university life or city living, it's nice to know that this natural area is just a short distance from where you live. Free admission!!!

Pools, Splash Pads

 Irwin A. and Robert D. Goodman Swimming Pool: . Fees Apply. The Goodman Pool season coincides with the Madison Metropolitan School District calendar, opening on the first day of summer‐break and continuing through Labor Day. Goodman Pool offers swimming lessons, masters swim, recreation swim, lap swim and a swim team. . It is easy to get to the Goodman Pool with its central location and convenience to the Beltline, bike trails, and bus routes (Route 13). Visitors to the Goodman Pool will enjoy the 1000 person capacity pool, 2 waterslides, 8 lane 25‐meter lap area with diving boards, and a number of shallow water play features for pre‐school aged children. The pool area is complete with a fully accessible playground, designed for 2‐5 year olds, concessions, changing rooms, deck chairs, umbrella tables and shade structures. It's a great place to spend your summer! http://www.cityofmadison.com/parks/pool/  Splash Pads in Madison: . Madison Parks offers three splash parks featuring spray toys and fountains for children of all ages. They are free to use and open daily 10:00am ‐ 7:00pm in season. The season typically begins Memorial Day weekend and continues through Labor Day weekend. . Reindal Park Splash Park . Elver Park Splash Park . Cypress Park Splash Park  Splash Pad in Lakeview Park City of Middleton: 6300 Mendota Avenue Middleton, WI 53562 . This free, outdoor aquatic park filled with fun water features is the perfect place to cool off on a hot summer day. The brightly colored water features appeal to kids of all ages and the interactive nature of the park keeps kids entertained for hours. Open 9:00am – 7:00pm daily from Memorial Day to Labor Day.