Description : UW-MADISON. Visitors are entranced by treasures the earth has given up at this fascinating museum. Focus is given to Wisconsin finds, including rocks, minerals, and mammal fossils such as giant beavers and mastadons. Remains of smaller, ocean-dwelling creatures can also be viewed, and visitors can discover how various classes of rocks are created and formed. Self-guided tours are common, and group tours can be arranged in advance. Gift and souvenir items are available as well.

Hours : Mon-Fri 8:30am-4:30pm, Sat 9am-1pm

Description : STATE STREET. Catering to youngsters under the age of nine, this interactive facility seeks to foster learning and adds in a strong dose of fun as well. Originally a series of traveling exhibits, the museum now boasts its own space and features hands-on displays about archaeology, physics, gardening, dinosaurs, art, creativity, and the dairy industry. If you're trying to occupy the kids' time during summer vacation or just want to break them from cartoons and video games, this museum is a terrific alternative.

Hours : Tue-Fri 9am-4pm, Sat 9am-5pm, Sun noon-4pm
Payment Methods : Cash

Description : CAPITOL SQUARE. For an enlightening overview of Wisconsin and regional history, this museum can't be beat. Spread across four floors are a wealth of information on original Native Americans, fur-trading, immigration, the lumber industry, politics, domestic life, and prominent figures. Artifacts, archives, multi-media exhibits, photographs, and life-sized vignettes communicate significant moments in state and local history, and displays are as beneficial to casual visitors as to scholars, researchers, and academics.

Hours : Tue-Sat 9am-4pm
Payment Methods : Cash,Visa,Master Card

Description : Veterans, in particular, are entranced by this thoughtful museum's displays, which chart our nation's military conflicts and the men and women who served in them. Wisconsin residents are highlighted, of course, and battles from the Civil War to the Persian Gulf are addressed. Helicopters, airplanes, vignettes, and other artifacts communicate particular eras and historical situations, and audio tour cassettes are available for rental for $4. A gift shop is located on the premises as well.

Hours : Mon-Sat 9am-4:30pm, Sun (Apr-Sep) noon-4pm

Description : MAPLE BLUFF. Wisconsin's executive residence, set along the waterfront on Lake Mendota, boasts Classical Revival architecture and rests on almost four acres of landscaped grounds. Lovely garden rooms accentuate the stately structure, which rises three stories and is distinguished by a lofty portico. Built in the 1920s, the private home was acquired by the state in 1949 to house its governors after an earlier mansion was sold to UW-Madison. The residence boasts 34 rooms, and tours are available during spring, summer, and the holiday season.

Hours : Tours Apr-Aug Thu noon-3pm

Description : SPRING GREEN. Tangible evidence of Frank Lloyd Wright's architectural genius, this 600-acre complex of structures and landscapes demonstrates Wright's interests in Asian design and organic architecture. In fact, "Taliesin," a nod to Wright's Welsh heritage, means "shining brow" and refers to his belief that homes should be built not on the peak of a hill but just below, so they appear to have arisen naturally from the landscape rather than crown it. Various tours focus on Taliesin's grounds, the hillside studio and theater, the house and its furnishings, and the estate in general (which incorporates facets of the other tours). Reservations are recommended, and children under 12 are not permitted in interior spaces.

Hours : Tours May-Oct. Hillside tour Daily 10:30am-4:30pm; Walking tour Daily 10:45am/1:45pm; House tour Daily 10am-4pm; Estate tour Tue/Thu/Sat/Sun 9:30am; Sunset tour June-Aug Fri 5pm
Payment Methods : Cash,Visa,Master Card

Description : Given Frank Lloyd Wright's lifelong connection to Madison, it's not surprising that multiple examples of his work can be found in the area. He designed this meeting house in the 1940s and had a particular investment in it, given that his family were members of the congregation. The structure, hunkered down in its natural setting, is crafted of copper, glass, wood, and limestone and features a distinguishing "prow" that juts up from the low-slung main building. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Hours : Services Sep-May Sat 4:30pm, Sun 9am and 11am; Jun Sun 9am and 11am; Jul-Aug Sun 10am. Guided Tours May-Sep Mon-Fri 1pm-4pm, Sat 9am-noon
Payment Methods : Cash

Description : MONONA. Named after Wisconsin's most noted conservationist, this center promotes good stewardship of the natural world. Programs to facilitate the goal take place on the complex's twenty acres and include lots of hands-on activities for folks of all ages. From nighttime hikes to wildflower identification excursions, ALNC impresses on visitors the interconnectedness of nature and humanity. Most activities require reservations and appropriate dress since they take place outside. Trails are open daily.

Hours : Programs by appt only; Trails Daily sunrise-sunset

Description : UW-MADISON. Essentially an outdoor learning facility, these gardens occupy 2½ acres surrounding a Victorian Gothic home on the UW-Madison campus. Although they were completed in 1989, the gardens convey the sense of much older landscaping. The site includes woodland and wetland gardens, boxwood parterres, rock gardens, and many more garden rooms and horticultural specimens. Along with the ornamental perennials, you'll also find annual beds and seasonal displays.

Hours : Daily dawn-dusk

Description : Endowed by Colonel William Vilas in the early part of the 20th century, this 28-acre zoo is unusual for not charging admission fees (a feature also dictated by Vilas' bequest). Exhibits are easily managed in a few hours time, and include such animal mainstays as giraffes, primates, lions, camels, and tigers. You'll also find a reptile house, children's zoo (where little ones can feed the animals), penguin exhibit, and more. Food services and a gift shop are available as well.

Hours : Grounds Daily 9:30am-5pm; Buildings Daily 10am-4pm; Children's zoo Memorial Day-Labor Day Daily 10am-4pm; Gift Shop Mar-Nov Daily 9:30am-5pm

Description : Named for Michael Olbrich, a local attorney dedicated to the proliferation of parks and public lands in Madison, this park arose as a result of Olbrich's own personal and financial commitment. Over the years, land was reclaimed and developed until, today, the park boasts both outdoor venues and a dramatic glass conservatory filled with tropical specimens. Ten themed gardens define the outdoor space, including ones devoted to roses, hostas, wildflowers, herbs, and perennials. An authentic Thai pavilion adds a note of Asian beauty to the grounds.

Hours : Outdoor gardens Apr-Sep Daily 8am-8pm, Oct-Mar Daily 9am-4pm; Conservatory Daily 10am-4pm; Gift Shop Daily 10am-4pm
Payment Methods : Cash,Visa,Master Card

Description : UW-MADISON. Outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers relish this stretch of preserved land. Spread across more than 1200 acres, the arboretum features a variety of terrains, including prairies, savannas, hardwood forests, evergreen forests, marshes, and ponds. Many of them were restored to their natural status (as they would have been before European settlement); others are in the works. Additional attractions include planned gardens, Native American burial mounds, a visitors center and nature trails criss-crossing the acreage.

Hours : Arboretum Daily 7am-10pm; Visitors Center Mon-Fri 9:30pm-4pm, Sat-Sun (Sep-May) 12:30pm-4pm and (Jun-Aug) 11am-3pm
Payment Methods : Cash

Description : You'll have a whole other perspective on Madison when you view it from a motor yacht on Lake Mendota. These popular cruises run throughout the day and evening and feature complete meals and full bar service. They often present lakeside scenery along 20-plus miles of shoreline, introducing visitors to Governor Nelson State Park, the Governor's Residence, and such downtown landmarks as the State Capitol, Monona Terrace, and UW-Madison. Open-air and cabin seating are available, and options can be arranged for corporate or leisure functions. Reservations required.

Hours : May-Oct Cocktail cruise Fri 4pm-6pm, Moonlight cruise Sat 9:30pm-11:30pm, Brunch cruise Sun 10:30am-12:30pm and noon-2pm, Lunch cruise call for dates and times, Dinner cruise Sun 6pm-8pm
Payment Methods : Cash,Visa,Master Card

Description : One of Madison's first prestigious neighborhoods, Mansion Hill is a relatively small enclave situated north of Capitol Hill. Established in the mid-19th century, the district boasts striking Victorian architecture, characterized by charming details and an eclectic use of historic precedents. Among the most prominent examples are homes built in the Italianate and German Romanesque Revival styles.

Description : DOWNTOWN. Hugging Lake Monona in the midst of downtown Madison, this impressive structure was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1938, although it wasn't approved and completed until 1997. Even then, it wasn't without controversy, and although the exterior remained true to Wright's design, the interior was reworked by a Wright protege. These days, the sweeping structure is a study of circles, arcs, and framed vistas, and it bridges the space between the lake and the State Capitol. Rooftop gardens distinguish the building, which offers ample space for meetings, conventions, and special gatherings. Tours explore architecture and construction details and last approximately one hour.

Hours : Daily 8am-5pm; Gift shop Daily 10am-5pm; Cafe Mon-Sat 8am-2pm; Tours Daily 1pm; Rooftop garden Sun-Thu 8am-10pm, Fri-Sat 8am-midnight

Description : STATE STREET. Sponsored by the Madison Trust for Historic Preservation, this summertime tour series explores one of the city's most notable thoroughfares. Guides direct interested folks along the street, pointing out intriguing architectural features and regaling visitors with anecdotes about prominent citizens and past organizations that made the district what it is today. Tours begin at Madison Children's Museum and last about an hour. Reservations aren't required.

Hours : May-Sep 2nd and 4th Sat 10am, 2nd and 4th Thu 5:30pm

Description : UW-MADISON. Looking out over Lake Mendota from behind UW-Madison's Memorial Union, this paved, landscaped area offers the ideal spot to munch on take-out or to nurse a beer from the Union Rathskeller. It also draws crowds of folks who come to bask in the sunlight, including college students, city professionals, and more. Citrus-colored metal chairs provide a distinguishing feature, and during the summer, live bands play and people kick back while enjoying the music and lakeside sunsets. Union Membership required for alcohol purchases.

Payment Methods : Cash,Visa,Master Card