sbarra

My husband and I will be in Madison July 22, 23, and 24. We will have a car and are looking for ideas for a day trip outside of the city.

Thanks folks,

Cheryl

CAPH52

When we were there last summer for our son's orientation at UW, we did a day (well, half-day!) trip to Mt. Horeb. Our daughter had a friend whose parents had visited the mustard museum therewww.mustardmuseum.com So she was curious to check it out. The "museum", really more store than museum, was fun. Not necessarily something I'd go out of my way for though. However, it's a nice little town and makes a nice side trip.

One of these times when we're visiting our son, we're going to do a day trip to New Glarus. If for no other reason than to visit the brewery. They make some very tasty beers!

I'm going to find my trip report and post a link. Just in case you'd be interested in the Madison part.

DMitchell

Devils Lake State park is great. It is in Baraboo, WI.
http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/ORG/LAND/...ic/devilslake/

You can take the Merrimac car ferry to get there.

The Wisconsin Dells are always fun and touristy.

CAPH52

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...1&tid=34838354

This one is from a couple of years ago. Still looking for the other one.

CAPH52

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...1&tid=35043589

That's the more recent one.

I also realized I screwed up the link in my first post. It should be:

www.mustardmuseum.com

joebear

Lands ENd?

Bill_I

If you are interested in going to a cave in the area, there is Cave of the Mounds, about 20 miles west of Madison.
http://www.caveofthemounds.com/

ChiDad

Cheryl,

For hiking and a day at a beautiful lake, I'd recommend Devil's Lake State Park. It will take you only an hour or so to get there and I'd suggest a picnic lunch.

For culture and scenery, a trip 45 minutes west of Madison to Spring Green would be nice. You could visit Frank Lloyd Wright's Talesin and see Shakespeare under the stars at the American Player's Theater. For a bizarre touristy attraction, you could go to House on the Rock, too.

If you are into cheese, you could create a tour of your own that would have you taking area backroads. If you'd like to do this, I'd suggest a stop at Fromagination of the Capital square for a route and some contact info. You might be able to hit some of the smaller breweries, too. Or, the Wollersheim winery (which you could also do on your way back from Devil's Lake).

If you'd like to go the big city route, Milwaukee is only 90 minutes east of Madison. The Third Ward area is nice and the lakefront always is beautiful.

Enjoy Madison (my adopted hometown),

Kevin

travelbuff

Another vote for House on the Rock, a kind of bizarre, spot, built by hand in the begining, and expanded so MANY times. The collections of so many things, rooms that play music, largest carousel in the world, a must see.

loftymaples

In Mt. Horeb, there is an old fashioned cafe about half a block from the mustard museum. It is on the same side of the street as the museum. I don't recall the name but one look in the window will tell you you are there; tile floor, very high metal tile ceiling, long soda counter. They serve all the old soda fountain drinks,vanilla phosphate, cherry coke, green river... The food is nice, they have normal sandwiches but I had a Norwegian sandwich which was wonderful.

The mustard museum is OK, just a one room display and a large store. It has a nice bathroom if you are out and about and need a nice place to stop. They always have samples of mustard and pretzels.

Mt. Horeb has some nice antique stores and a wonderful cross stitch needlepoint shop. It is also on the way to Cave of the Mounds and House on the Rock and Little Norway. http://www.thehouseontherock.com/ House on the Rock is huge, doing it all in one day is exhausting. Our favorite parts are the house itself and the music machines. Both the house and cave are favorites of ours. Little Norway is also interesting and close by.http://www.littlenorway.com/

Also in the area is Mineral Point. State Historic Pendarvis is very enjoyable and the downtown is full of nice shops, galleries and places to eat. http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/pendarvis/

sbarra

Thanks so much everyone. You have given us plenty of ideas!

Cheryl

k

Take a look at Spring Green. APT (America Players Theatre) has great Shakespeare plays. I think they have a website. It is awesome.
Read the best seller "Loving Frank" on Frank Lloyd Wright and his Lover ( a great book) and go to Taliesin. IMO House on the Rock is cheesy and I wound't go. Do Taliesin instead. have lunch there, go to The Springs, or the Bank both nice restaurants in the area for lunch or a drink. If you like golf, The Springs is a nice course and really close to APT.
Devils Lake isn't open right now due to flooding. Might be open by July. It is beautiful. If you are in to Circus' go to Circus world museum.
Drive to New Glarus, a cute little Swiss town and on to Monroe. Stop at Baumgartners for a beer and a fabulous cheese sandwich. There is a great restaurant called "The dining room in Monticello which is between New Glarus and Monroe. A new restaurant just opened in Mt Horeb. It is getting great reviews called Bistro 101. Friends were there the other night and raved about it. If you are up for pizza in Mt Horeb, there is Sol Sapori. The best pizza I've had in the US.
Please don't forget to spend a day hanging out in Madison. Tour Overture, Monona Terrace, the Wed night you're in town there will be concerts on the square at 7pm I wouldn't miss that for the world. buy a great box lunch from one of the vendor, a little wine and listen to great classical and contemporary music. Then head over to the Brocah irish pub for more music and Irish spirit.
Of course you have to go to the Memorial Union to sit on the terrace....need more ideas.... No, I'm not overweight and I don't work for the Chamber of Commerce, I just love my Madison and all it surroundings.

Holldoll

Unless you are insane, avoid the House on the Rock. I took my mom there once, thinking it would be a nice day trip. It may have been one of the worst days of my life. However, I do agree about Talesin and that area--lots of good stuff there.

Cassandra

Surprised it took so many posts before someone mentioned Spring Green/Taliesin, which I'd consider a Don't Miss -- WAAYY before the House on the Rock.

http://www.taliesinpreservation.org/

In case you fear that something devoted to an architect and architectural history would be borrrring: 1. it's a gorgeous, gorgeous site with great grounds and 2. the story of what happened there re: his family, a fire, a mystery is really dramatic.

Cassandra

My favorite building on the tour/grounds: The Romeo and Juliet Tower.

Holldoll

A friend of mine has highly recommended a book about Frank Lloyd Wright called Loving Frank. She said it was a page turner. Might be something fun to read before your trip if you plan to go to Talesin.

donnawho

Check out Kohler, WI...home of Kohler Plumbing..it's really an interesting town, especially one of the American Club resort golf courses, Whistling Straits, which is right on the Lake (Michigan). The clubhouse and course layout will make you think you are in Ireland and Scotland. A spectacular duned beach setting, and great place to have lunch on the terrace, even if you don't play golf.

kcscheer77

I'm probably too late on this, but if you like wine, the Wollersheim Winery is gorgeous, gives a great tour, and has delicious wine.

Karen