Madison Travel OverviewMadison is the capital of Wisconsin. It blends big city culture with small town charm. The city center is dominated by the State Capitol; modeled after the Capitol in Washington; D.C. Its stunning rotunda is always open to visitors. Saturday mornings from early spring to late fall; area farmers transform the Capitol Square into an open-air market. There's everything from twenty different varieties of bean sprouts to freshly made summer sausage. The people-watching is unbeatable. Directly south of the Capitol; perched on the edge of Lake Monona; is the celebrated Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center. The center; completed in 1997; is based on a 1938 design by one of Wisconsin's most notable native sons; Frank Lloyd Wright. At the opposite end of downtown sprawls the University of Wisconsin campus; a pleasant site for a leisurely stroll. Linking the Capitol and campus is a pedestrian mall dotted with interesting shopping and dining opportunities; as well as museums and galleries. Nestled on a narrow isthmus between two lakes; Madison has been recognized as one of the country's top canoe towns by Paddler magazine; as well as one of the 10 best bicycling cities by Bicycling magazine. The city is also a perfect jumping-off point for day trips to dozens of picturesque communities in the beautiful surrounding countryside. Appealing side trips might include the Mount Horeb Mustard Museum; Cave of the Mounds and Little Norway. But visitors always want to return to Madison where everyone feels welcome. | 