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What to do
Betty Lou Cruises Step aboard a Betty Lou motor yacht for a leisurely cruise around Lake Mendota or Monona. (608) 246-3138; bettyloucruises.com
Chazen Museum of Art A $43 million expansion (opened in 2011) is a work of art itself. Inside, dedicated galleries display African, Asian and 21st-century international works. Read Midwest Living’s review. (608) 263-2246; chazen.wisc.edu
Dane County Farmers Market The country’s largest producer-only market is a colorful way to start a weekend in Madison. It’s open Saturday year-round and Wednesday in summer. (608) 455-1999; dcfm.org
Madison Museum of Contemporary Art Housed in the airy, expansive Overture Building near the capitol, the museum holds engaging exhibits from global artists. (608) 257-0158; mmoca.org
Monroe Street Indie shops and restaurants line a mile-and-a-half stretch of Monroe west of downtown. Favorites include Orange Tree Imports. shopmonroestreet.com
Olbrich Botanical Gardens Amid 16 acres of outdoor gardens, the 2-acre Rose Garden showcases hardy shrub varieties in a space inspired by Wisconsin native Frank Lloyd Wright’s Prairie style. Free admission to outdoor gardens; $1 for conservatory. (608) 246-4550; olbrich.org
State Street This area bustles with more than 250 shops, restaurants and nightclubs. visitdowntownmadison.com
University of Wisconsin Arboretum This 1,280-acre oasis features prairie, savannah, marsh and deciduous forest, plus gardens and more than 20 miles of trails. (608) 263-7888; uwarboretum.org
Click ahead for where to eat and where to stay.
