Madison, Wisconsin. The best place on earth. For those of us who’ve had the privilege of calling Madison home for the last four years, we know how lucky we are. We tell ourselves we’ll seize the moment, indulge in school traditions, and explore everything Madison has to offer. Yet somehow, we spend countless Saturdays on the couch nursing the result of Madison’s favorite weekend tradition.
With the semester in full swing, the clock is literally ticking on the class of 2014’s undergraduate career. Since August, my friends and I have been telling ourselves that we would make a senior year bucket list, and well… It’s February. So seniors, here’s the ultimate to-do list for your final semester. Whether the items on this list are the little things we take for granted or what you’ve been saying you’d do for the last three and a half years, it’s time to get cracking!
1. Take advantage of Lake Mendota – walk on it while it’s frozen and swim in it if summer ever comes.
2. Go to the Farmer’s Market – make an entire meal from Farmer’s Market purchases complete with a roll of Stella’s cheesy bread.
3. Stand on Camp Randall’s 50-yard line
4. Spend all day at the Terrace – skip class on opening day to do so.
5. Late night Ian’s Mac and Cheese Pizza
6. Drink – Live by the motto “work hard, play hard,” and hit up all of Madison’s fine drinking establishments: Enjoy pitchers at the Terrace; Pink Drinks at the Kollege Klub; Fishbowls and bacon at Wando’s; dirt-cheap rail mixers at Johnny O’s; Beer boots at Essen Haus; Flip Night at Brats; Punch Bowls at the Comedy Club; ride the bull at Whisky Jack’s; attend Power Hour at Nitty Gritty; and venture to Piano Bar.
7. Eat Babcock ice cream – directly from Babcock Hall Dairy Store.
8. Explore the Henry Vilas Zoo
9. Go inside the Capitol
10. Walk to Picnic Point
11. Attend the Spring Football Game – squeeze in one final game day on April 12th.
12. Pretend you’re a freshman – make out with a guy in a crowded bar, extra points if he’s younger.
13. Eat a brat at State Street Brats
14. Have lunch at Gordon Commons
15. Enjoy Union South – go bowling, see a movie, or just grab a table and people watch.
16. Relax on Bascom Hill – if the snow ever melts.
17. Sample every food cart on Library Mall
18. Be a jersey chaser – spend a night shamelessly flirting with an athlete.
19. Eat custard from Culver’s
20. Wander through the Chazen Museum
21. Get lost in the UW-Arboretum
22. Find the best cheese curds – sample every restaurant in Madison to do so.
23. Fool around in the Memorial Union Stacks
24. Hitch a moped ride to class
25. Sit on Abe’s Lap
After you’ve exhausted this list, there’s something else you need to do. Graduate and leave Madison. Start the next chapter of your life and show all those around you why we are so proud to call ourselves Badgers.
Got anything else to add to the list?? Comment below!