- Camp or explore at a Wisconsin State Park!
- Go chasing some WI waterfalls – there are 6 within an hour of Madison.
- Take a trip to Door County.
- Check out a Food Truck (there are LOTS)!
- Check out Old World Wisconsin!
- Visit Sauk City Riverfront Park.
- Visit the Olbrich Biergarten – you can also order pizza while you are there and eat outside with beautiful views!
- Head to the Henry Vilas Zoo… one of the only free zoos in the US.
- Pack a picnic, lay a blanket out, and drink some wine at a local winery.
- Head to Fireman’s Park in Verona!
- Take the Merrimac Ferry and head to Parfrey’s Glen.
- Check out the Wisconsin Historical Museum.
- Check out Ripley Beach in Cambridge.
- Head to the Sounds of Summer Concert Series in Oregon (begins July 11)!
- Spend a day at Indian Lake County Park.
- Play a round of mini-golf and/or hit the batting cages at Vitense Golfland.
- Head to a Friday Fish Fry!
- Hit up the Olbrich Botanical Gardens or make the trip to the Rotary Botanical Gardens in Janesville.
- Head to a petting zoo!
- Check out Blooms & Butterflies at Schuster’s Farm (in August)!
- Head to Bay Beach near Green Bay.
- Go to a Summer Festival.
- Swim in one of the local public pools.
- Visit a local beach!
- Pick our own strawberries at a U-Pick berry farm!
- Attend Concerts on the Square!
- Head to the New Zoo Adventure Park in Green Bay.
- Check out Fox River Park in Waukesha.
- Cows on the Concourse – enjoy the live music, tasty food, fun games, and real, live cows as you peruse the Dane County Farmers Market!
- Madison Jazz Fest – June 11-20!
- Visit a Dream Park.
- Head to Wisconsin Brewing Company — bring your dinner and listen to live music!
- Indulge in some Babcock Dairy ice cream, brat or a beer (they also have sangria!) at the Memorial Union Terrace.
- UW Arboretum: So many different ways for your children to explore and learn about nature. Plus, another great picture opportunity for the budding photographers.
- Take the kids on a tour of Sassy Cow Creamery!
- Plan a day trip to Cave of the Mounds.
- Another great day trip: Sandy Beach (Lake Mills)
- Participate in the Wisconsin Friends Explore Challenge 2021.
- Bike Riding – Madison offers trails galore. Load up the bikes (and the kids) and ride bikes while seeing the sites.
- Take the family to a Drive-In movie.
- Go see some animals at Haven’s Petting Farm and Eugster’s Farm
- Go for a hike at Picnic Point… don’t forget to a pack yourself a picnic lunch!
- Paddle Boat or Canoe on Lake Wingra or go sailing on Lake Mendota.
- Visit as many parks as you can (check one off your list each week!)
- Walk around the Farmers Market – Madison has an abundance of awesome markets – including at least one each day of the week!
- Grab a drink in the beer garden at Capital Brewery.
- Spend the day at Little Amerricka Amusement Park!
- Have a water balloon fight in the backyard!
- Rent a boat — from Madison Boats.
- Swim in a lake or pool – or check out a splash pad in the Madison area!
- Start a Lemonade Stand.
- Check out Governor Dodge State Park.
- Get some ice cream on State Street – Calliope & The Chocolate Shoppe are Madison musts!
- Head to Milwaukee for a Brewers game (only an hours drive!)
- Go to Story Time at the library or sign up for a Summer Reading Program.
- Tie Dye a t-shirt.
- Potato Donuts and fresh fruit from the Farmers Market – grab a blanket and enjoy on the capitol lawn (bring bubbles!)
- Go on a Kids Camping Scavenger Hunt! (free printable here)
- Visit the DreamBank.
- Do a puzzle on the patio.
- Tour a Fire Station!
- Camp out in the backyard!
- Fly a kite at Wingra Park (or at your neighborhood park)
- Head to see some 4th of July Fireworks as they light up the sky!
- Take the family out to the ballgame at a Madison Mallards minor league game!
- Make your own Popsicles
- Grill out with some of these yummy recipes!
- Head to a Madison Forward soccer game.
- Take lunch to Devils Lake State Park!
More Summer Content from Madison Mom
