I’m arriving a day (or more) early and/or leaving late. Any recommendations for what to do with my free time?
There’s lots to do, depending on your interests and whether you’ll have a car. Within walking distance of the Hilton and Monona Terrace, every Saturday morning around the state capitol, there is a fabulous farmers’ market, the biggest in the country, in a stunning setting. Even if you’re not looking to buy a dozen ears of sweet corn, you’ll have fun joining the thousands of Madisonians who walk counter-clockwise round the market. If you like architecture, be sure to visit the State Capitol. You’ll enjoy shopping, dining, and people-watching on State Street, which connects the University campus and the capitol. At the Hilton and Monona Terrace, you’ll be right on one of the best bike/jog/walk paths in the city, which curves around Lake Monona to a great park on the other side. You can even rent a bicycle at the bike shop on the corner of John Nolen Drive and Williamson streets, which are just northeast of Monona Terrace. If you wander down State Street toward the University campus, be s