After enduring a stereotypical midwest winter filled with icy streets and sub-zero temperatures, it’s impossible not to appreciate warm weather to an elevated extent. When you’ve spent three months fiddling your thumbs trying to figure out what to do inside all day (a feeling that became even more exaggerated from the pandemic and working from home), it starts to feel criminal not to be outside once the temperature hits 60 degrees or higher.
Summer in Madison is one of the most vibrant and lively atmospheres you can encounter and anyone lucky enough to experience it understands exactly what I’m talking about. Whether it’s Memorial Day or Labor Day, here are some ideas for how to make the most out of a long summer weekend in Madison.
After sleeping in on a relaxing Saturday morning, you can head to Grace Coffee for anything ranging from a cold brew to a matcha latte or berry lemonade. Only about a block away from Grace, you can find Fontana Sports, which carries all sorts of outdoor gear and grab yourself a portable hammock to be used all over Madison. If you’re feeling particularly adventurous, you can take a quick road trip to Devil’s Lake State Park less than an hour away and find a beautiful location for some hiking and hammock time. On your way back from Devil’s Lake, you can stop at the stunning Wollersheim Winery and Distillery to unwind after an active summer day.
On Sunday morning, you can visit Ancora on Kings Street for a great coffee, breakfast, and atmosphere. There are several convenient B-cycle stations in the area, where you can check out some bikes and take a beautiful bike ride through quaint neighborhoods along Lake Monona all the way to the Olbrich Botanical Gardens. The gardens are incredibly stunning and worth spending some time walking through and appreciating the beauty of nature. Right next to the botanical gardens, you can find the Biergarten at Olbrich Park, where you can enjoy a great selection of beer in a beautiful park directly on the lake. Olbrich Park is a great place to play any sport from beach volleyball, to soccer or spikeball and enjoy a relaxing picnic in a great environment.
On the last day of your long weekend, you can take a nice stroll or bike ride to Picnic Point on Lake Mendota for more amazing lake views. Don’t forget your hammock as there are tons of great spots to set it up along the trail. After some exercise, you can get some food and drinks at Memorial Union Terrace and even rent some kayaks if you’re feeling ambitious. You can end your weekend the best summery way by heading to Camp Tripalindee on the roof of the Graduate Hotel to toast your own S’mores with great views of Madison.
Our DC ads team hopes you have an amazing summer and get the opportunity to experience any one of these summer plans that ensure you have a blast while supporting some incredible local businesses.
