Madison, WI: Your FREE “Must-Dos” List with Kids
If you’re spending time in Wisconsin for your next family vacation, I guarantee you will love Madison and all the free things it has to offer.
Madison is the capitol of Wisconsin and home of the state’s flagship university. What I imagine most folks don’t realize is that it is located on an isthmus and is the perfect destination for a family vacation.
Full disclosure, I went to UW-Madison for my undergrad, so I love this city and know it quite well. Now, as a mom, I see the city differently than I did as a student in my early twenties but I can honestly say this city is perfect for families with any age of children.
In this post, I’ll give you a slew of free activities for your family. I’ll break the list into three locations to make planning easy.
And I’ll also remind you what an isthmus is.
Capitol Square
It makes sense to start the list of free “must-dos” with the Capitol Building itself. During normal business hours, anyone can walk into the capitol building and take a look around. There are free tours and the observation deck on the sixth floor is open to the public. From this view, you can see both lakes (Mendota and Monona) as well as the beautiful city.
(That’s a clue for what an isthmus is.)
*Pro Tip: An elevator will take you from the first to the fourth floor. But be aware that strollers must be left on the fourth floor with two more sets of stairs to go.
There is a museum on the sixth floor which has artifacts and articles about the building. To be honest, it’s not going to be anything of interest for young children (or some adults even) but the indoor view of the Rotunda and the outdoor view of the city will be well worth the climb for everyone in your family.
If you’re lucky enough to be in the area on a Saturday, you can participate in the Dane County Farmer’s Market. The market completely circles Capitol Square and it’s the largest producer-only market in the country. This means every wonderful person sitting behind those tables grew that food/flowers/etc. With over 150 vendors, it is quite the amazing site to see.
Not only are there countless food vendors, but there are many musicians, food trucks and craft vendors that round out this amazing experience.
My one and two year old loved to run around the greenspace between the market and the capitol building along with the countless other families doing the same. Plan on eating your breakfast and/or lunch here and don’t forget Stella’s famous cheese bread!
Definitely bring your stroller and if you have a blanket, bring that too. It’s nice to walk around a bit, grab a few items, then bring them into the shaded, grassy area and eat them as you let your kiddos run around.
But even if you don’t want to buy anything, it’s a great way to spend a morning.
The list of free things to do on Capitol Square would not be complete without a mention of the Madison Children’s Museum. This gets to make the list because if your child is younger than one, you get in for free! Also, if you go on Thursdays between 4pm-8pm, everyone gets in for free!
*Pro Tip: There are many other ways you can qualify for free or reduced admission as well. They’re listed here.
The museum is open Wed-Sun 9am-4pm and late on Thursday. If you book online, you get a $1 the fee for normal admittance.
My oldest son and I took advantage of his being free on one of our visits to Madison when he was just under one and there is plenty for a baby to do here. If you have a toddler or older children, the options are endless for fun. There’s a wonderful outdoor space on the roof as well. And if you get hungry, they have a cafe!
Memorial Union Terrace
Depending on the day and time you visit, Memorial Union Terrace can be a fun, lively place for great food, amazing music and beautiful views. It can also be a tranquil location to dip your toes in the lake and sip on a coffee.
*Pro Tip: You’ll notice this Terrace is “for members, students and staff only”. But… you can purchase a day pass for $1 at any of the cafes and restaurants and viola!, you’re a member for a day!
Full disclosure, I’m a Lifetime Union Member. As a student of UW and now a parent of “hopefully” future Badger fans, we have frequented the Memorial Union Terrace often. The music is eclectic, the food is quintessential Wisconsin. They also play movies on the Terrace at various times during the warmer months and you can’t leave without trying UW-Madison’s own, Babcock Ice Cream. I promise, this is a location that is supremely unique and one you’re whole family will enjoy.
Vilas Park & Henry Villas Zoo
Henry Vilas Zoo is located in Vilas Park. You could easily spend a day enjoying the park, and the zoo, all for free. The park offers a beach for swimming, playgrounds for kiddos, multiple sites for fishing and, of course, the zoo. When we were in Vilas Park, there was also a Snow Cone Truck which is always a huge hit.
Henry Vilas Zoo will easily supply a couple hours of entertainment. There are many exhibits, some of which are indoors. The exhibits and animals are well taken care of. The Children’s Zoo is especially fun as it boasts a carousel, train and a huge playground that looks like it was carved out of a tree. There are also exhibits where you can feed the animals. It is crazy to think this is all for free.
I feel like zoos come up frequently on itinerary recommendations for families with kids and for good reason. Zoos provide a space for kids to run around and interact with animals and exhibits for as long or short as their attention spans allow. The Henry Vilas Zoo is no different.
Where to Stay
If you stay around State Street/the Capitol, then two of these three areas will be within walking distance and you’ll never have to pull your car out of the parking lot (Vilas Park & Henry Vilas Zoo are the exception). If you do want to walk to most of the downtown attractions, I can highly recommend the Hampton Inn & Suites as a place to stay.
Overall Summary: Many FREE things to do in this great city
To recap, if you’re taking your family to Madison, WI, here are the free things to do during your stay:
Capitol Square
Capitol Building (Free tours and Observation Deck)
On Saturday’s: Dane County Farmer’s Market
Children’s Museum (Free for babies and for all on Thursdays from 4-8pm)
Memorial Union Terrace
Live Music
Lake Views/Dip your Toes
Movies
Food & Drinks (Though not Free)
Vilas Park & Henry Vilas Zoo
Henry Vilas Zoo
Swimming Beach
Fishing
Playgrounds
*And… what is an isthmus?: A narrow strip of land with water on both sides, forming a link between two larger areas of land.
I promise this isthmus, as well as many other unique things about this city, will create memories you will never forget. I hope you love this city as much as we do!
