03.07.2024

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53º | 7% chance of rain | Sunrise 6:22 a.m. | Sunset 5:54 p.m.

Consider us your 608 tour guide

Your ultimate guide to tours of Madison

Six smiling people share a toast with glasses of pink champagne.jpg

Madison Eats Food Tours is but one of many escapades one can have in the 608. | Photo via Madison Eats Food Tours

Whether you’re a lifelong Madisonian longing to embrace your inner tourist or you have a limited amount of time in Mad City, here are 10 tours guaranteed to show you the sights you want to see.

Note: Price estimates are based on individual adult rates available at the time of publishing. Check each company’s website to see current pricing.

Five bicyclists gather around the outside of the Wisconsin state capitol building.jpg — People can zip around Madison on an eBike while learning about the 608. | Photo via Madison Adventure Tours

Top Tours

Betty Lou Cruises | Prices vary
Cruise on a yacht on Lake Mendota while learning the city’s history.

Madison Adventure Tours | $95
The two-hour e-bike tour takes you around Madison’s most iconic landmarks, including three lakes, the Wisconsin State Capitol, and the UW-Madison campus.

Eat and drink

Babcock Dairy | Free
Discover dairy delights with an observation deck tour that showcases expert dairy production being done at UW-Madison.

Madison Eats Food Tours | $69-$129
Madison Eats offers four walking tours and one biking tour, highlighting local chefs, producers, and food artisans.

The exterior of the Wisconsin State Capitol showcasing three statues and regal columns.jpg — The Wisconsin State Capitol is over 200 feet tall, making it one of the largest capitol buildings in the nation. | Photo by 608today

All in on history

Wisconsin Executive Residence | Free
Stroll through the public rooms of the governor’s house to experience the history of this 100+ year-old home.

Wisconsin State Capitol | Free
Built between 1906 and 1917 for $7.25 million, the Capitol building reaches a height of over 200 feet. A tour guide will teach you about its architecture and history.

Natural History

Cave of the Mounds National Natural Landmark | $13-$460
In Blue Mounds, wander through an array of underground crystal formations on paved lighted walkways.

Henry Vilas Zoo | Prices vary
The zoo’s behind-the-scenes tours give attendees a chance to meet an animal or two and see areas of the zoo normally only seen by keepers.

Art is all around

Chasen Museum of Art | Free
Take a guided tour of one of Madison’s most beloved arts institutions that houses art by Andy Warhol, Dale Chihuly, and others.

Madison Museum of Contemporary Art | Free
Private guided tours of MMoCA’s exhibitions are available to groups of six or more adults with four weeks’ advance notice

Click the button below to take a tour of yet more tours.

Let us guide you

Asked

What would you like to tour in the 608?

Think: abandoned buildings, cultural institutions, government entities

Head right this way

Events

Thursday, March 7

Wine in the Wilderness | Thursday, March 7-Sunday, March 17 | Times vary | Ronald E. Mitchell Theatre - Vilas Hall, 821 University Ave., Madison | $9-$26 | Playwright Alice Childress offers an intimate and raw study of race, gender and class in this work set in 1964 Harlem.

Friday, March 8

Beer & Chocolate Pairing | Friday, March 8 | 6-8 p.m. | Starkweather Brewing Company, 2439 Atwood Ave., Madison | $35 | Enjoy an assortment of beers to go along with an assortment of locally made truffles and chocolates.
Chris O’Leary Band | Friday, March 8 | 8-11 p.m. | Red Rooster Madison, 2513 Seiferth Rd., Madison | $12-$15 | With grit, stamina, and a harmonica, the singer from New York’s Hudson River Valley just released his CD debut.

Saturday, March 9

Best Picture Festival | Saturday, March 9 | 10 a.m.-11 p.m. | Marcus Point Cinema, 7825 Big Sky Dr., Madison | $36.87 | Catch up on the nominated Best Picture films throughout the day before the Academy Awards on Sunday.
Madison New Music Ensemble | Saturday, March 9 | 6 p.m. | Madison Museum of Contemporary Art, 227 State St., Madison | Free | Classical music is alive and well with this organization dedicated to playing contemporary pieces, including works by Mason Bates, William Ryan, and more.

Sunday, March 10

Winter Festival of Poetry | Sunday, March 10 | 2 p.m. | Arts + Literature Laboratory, 111. S. Livingston St., Madison | Free | Join poet and host James P. Roberts for poetry readings all based, in part, on the circus.
Teen/caregiver Rock Climbing | Sunday, March 10 | 2-4 p.m. | Boulder’s Gym, 3964 Commercial Ave., Madison | Free | Take part in a fun day of rock climbing while getting to know other adoptive, guardianship, foster, kinship, and reunified caregivers in your area.

Monday, March 11

Power of Mentorship Mixer | Monday, March 11 | 5-7:30 p.m. | AmFam DreamBank, 821 E. Washington Ave., Madison | Free | Celebrate Women’s History Month with discussion, mentorship activities, free professional headshots, and refreshments.
Resin Coasters Workshop | Monday, March 11 | 6-8 p.m. | Delta Beer Lab, 167 E. Badger Rd., Madison | $55 | Make coasters and a coaster holder, all perfect for holding your craft beer.

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

News Notes

Civic

Monona will have candidate forums for those running for city council, school board, and judge positions on Saturday, March 9, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. The public is invited to tune into the livestream or hear them speak at the Monona Public Library.

Plan Ahead

Breese Stevens Field will host 100+ local artisan and food vendors this year with the return of the Bodega Series. For five Friday evenings (April 26, May 31, June 28, July 26, Sept. 13) the field will be filled with locally-made products. Admission is free. (WMTV)

Eat

This is whey cool. The 2024 World Champion Cheese Contest, taking place at Monona Terrace, will crown the best cheese in the world at 2 p.m. today. You can watch the winner be crowned live online.

Community

The new Madison Softball team doesn’t have a name yet and is asking Madisonians to weigh in. Eight finalists remain in the bracket. Make your vote count.

Sports

Serah Williams is having a ball. The sophomore UW-Madison women’s basketball player was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and has been selected to the All-Big Ten first-team. (Bucky’s Fifth Quarter)

Arts

Artists in the Tenney Lapham neighborhood are encouraged to apply to be part of the coming Tenney Lapham Art Walk. Taking place Sunday, June 23, from 1 to 4 p.m., artists can exhibit their work in their homes, on their porches, or in their garages for the public.

Job

Dane County Regional Airport will host a hiring event for transportation security officer positions this Friday, March 8, from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Register to attend the event at the DoubleTree by Hilton Madison East.

Holiday

Other cities must be green with envy. WalletHub lists Madison at No. 20 as one of the nation’s best cities for St. Patrick’s Day celebrations. Madison’s St. Patrick’s Day parade will take place on Sunday, March 17, at 1:30 p.m. on Capitol Square.

Pets

Wonder Paws’ Omega Max Drops for dogs are veterinarian recommended, support healthy joints, and reduce itchy skin and shedding. Get 15% off with code DQMRME3N.*

Food

Hail, Caesar

Going mad for Madison’s Caesar salads

A bowl of Caesar salad on a wooden table.jpg

Caesar salad was invented 100 years ago. | Photo by 608today

In the summer of 1924, in Caesar Cardini’s new restaurant in Tijuana, Mexico, the Caesar salad was invented.

According to his daughter, Rosa, Cardini had run out of some ingredients, so he gathered together some romaine lettuce, olive oil, egg, croutons, Worcestershire sauce, and Parmesan cheese.

Cardini had his chefs mix it together tableside for some razzmatazz.

It’s the 100th anniversary of, arguably, the world’s most famous salad and Madison’s got some good places to get it.

The Coopers Tavern, 20 W. Mifflin St.
The Caesar salad includes sweet corn and red pepper salsa.

Ian’s Pizza, multiple locations
Known for pizza, the casual restaurant should also be known for its grilled chicken Caesar.

Mickey’s Tavern, 1524 Williamson St.
Red onion and shaved asiago cheese are added to the mix.

Tempest Oyster Bar, 120 E. Wilson St.
This salad is elevated with white anchovies.

The Buy

The Buy 3.07.24 (Affiliate + Six & Main)

Your favorite pair of sneakers from Nordstrom Rack’s spring sneaker edit. We’re loving the prices on pairs from Cole Haan and Lacoste.

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The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Jonathan

From the editor

If you haven’t been to the outside observation deck at the Wisconsin State Capitol I would recommend it. Open in the summer, you don’t need a tour guide to make your way up for some stunning views of our fair city.

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