You might think that there’s never enough time to explore Madison in one day; and that’s where you’re wrong. I am about to prove to you that the unthinkable has been done. Yes, it is possible to cover every hotspot in Madison all within 24 hours.
The journey all began late (or early I guess…) Friday morning with a quick little phone call to Ian’s Pizza on State Street. Obviously, anyone who’s visiting this school wasn’t leaving without shoving Mac N Cheese pizza down their throats, and what better way to eat it than at 3 a.m.?Mother Nature must’ve known that Madison had to be shown off this weekend and blessed us with sunny 30-degree weather. Our first stop the next morning was obvious. Lake Mendota covered in ice and snow is just as beautiful as a bright blue lake surrounded by rainbow chairs on the terrace. It truly is the best of both worlds.
The 24-hour timer was ticking, and there was still so much left to do. Luckily, a walk up State Street covers a majority of it. From the liveliness of the food truck area all the way to the infamous capitol, State Street is one of a kind. From stopping in every bookstore to pick up “Jump Around” souvenirs and noticing how many random popcorn shops there are, it is impossible to not fall in love.The Capitol offered us more than great Instagrams, cheese and restaurants, but also a place where the true sense of Madison’s character can be captured. There is no other place where you can turn to your left and tip street performers and look to the right to an array of Farmer’s Market carts. The variety of restaurants from Red Sushi to Tornado Room adds a spice of culture from all over the world.
As the time was running out, there was only one thing left to do. As a student, hiking up Bascom, especially in this weather, is something you try to avoid at all costs. However if you’re visiting the university, seeing some classrooms might make your stay a little more worthwhile. After 5 minutes of panting, frostbite and misery you can finally make a wish on Abe Lincoln’s toe and look down at the beautiful city ahead.
It is safe to say that in a matter of 24 hours you can grasp the welcoming, diverse and entertaining features that Madison has to offer.