Middleton, WI - Kidsville

In Middleton near the west side of Madison, is a lovely place called Lakeside Park. Within that park is the playful Splash Pad, a happy little outdoor water park for children of all ages, but especially the little ones. Water shoots out of the ground, out of posts, out of turtles, bubbles out of the cement, rolls out of high buckets and onto expecting little heads...it's fantastic! We took our 1-year-old cautious niece this summer, and though she didn't run loudly from spout to spout (she's much too refined for that), she did spend over half an hour playing with a stream of water that shot out of the ground, smiling and laughing and splashing all the while. If you're looking for a way to spend a warm day, you can do so easily at the Splash Pad. Shelter is nearby for picnics, a dry playground is nearby, and plenty of warm grass and trees surround the area. Splash around with your kids or just sit on the bench and watch the aquatic theater. Have fun!

6300 Mendota Avenue
Memorial Day to Labor Day
10:00am - 7:00pm

Madison, WI - Art Installations

There is so much outdoor art to see in Madison! One of my favorites is called "Dreamkeepers" by Dr. Evermor (see "Past The Trash Fence" for more about him). Two giant birds made of metal stand in front of a building near downtown Madison and just a few blocks from a nearby bike trail. These birds are 3-stories tall and just amazing!

211 S. Paterson Street

Madison, WI - Center Camp

My vote for Center Camp in Madison, WI is...the Memorial Union Terrace of UW-Madison!

I've spent several summer evenings in sunburst chairs with friends, and many years watching the July 4th fireworks across the lake. In addition to coffee, the memorial union offers ice cream made from the UW's own dairy, brat and beer sales in the summer, art galleries, free concerts in summer (outside on the terrace or inside in the Rathskeller), beautiful lake views and plenty of seating to see it from, rentals to use on the lake, and much more. That, and its proximity to museums, concert halls, theaters, and pedestrian-friendly State Street make it a prime choice. If you're lucky, you may even see some LED hula-hooping behind the stage on a Saturday night.

800 Langdon Street