Madison makes Badgers, and Badgers make Madison great. Whether you’re a longtime resident or are visiting your old stomping grounds for the first time since college, check out these Badger-owned and -operated destinations in and around Madison for bespoke experiences that pair beautifully with a trip to the farmers’ market, a stroll down State Street, or an evening on the Terrace.
For the agriculturally inclined:
- Pick apples at Door Creek Orchard, owned by Thomas ’72 and Gretchen ’76 Griffith.
- Visit Julie ’89 and Matt ’89 Sutter at Sutter’s Ridge Farm for an autumnal smorgasbord of apples, pumpkins, and corn.
- Sweeten your summer at Carandale Fruit Farm, where Dale MS’65 and Cory ’01 Secher grow familiar favorites alongside less-common varieties.
- Head out to Sassy Cow Creamery, where James ’93 and Robert ’96 Baerwolf sell milk and ice cream less than a mile from their dairy herds.
- Enjoy farm-fresh produce and other local goods at Vitruvian Farms, cofounded by former UW roommates Shawn Kuhn ’11 and Tommy Stauffer ’11 and operated with Stauffer’s wife, Marissa Degroot ’08.
For the mover and shaker:
- Visit the animals at the Henry Vilas Zoo, a Madison institution since 1904, when William F. Vilas 1895 donated the land in memory of his young son and mandated that admission always be free of charge, which it is to this day.
- Treat the kids to a day of discovery, creativity, and play at the Madison Children’s Museum, led by co-CEOs Brenda Baker MFA’90 and Kia Karlen ’92.
- Search for frogs and count butterflies as you wander the verdant Olbrich Botanical Gardens, led by director Tanya Zastrow ’98.
- Venture out to Danika ’02, MA’08 and Nic ’02, PhD’10 Mink’s Seven Acre Dairy Company for culinary events that range from fine dining and cheese tasting to movie nights and butter making. And don’t leave without a cone of soft serve from Anna Landmark ’99’s award-winning Landmark Creamery and Café.
- Join Garret ’10, MBA’17 and Jade ’10, ’12 Olsen for an e-bike spin around Madison with Madison Adventure Tours.
For beer, wine, and spirits:
- Visit Old Sugar Distillery, founded by Nathan Greenawalt ’04, for classic cocktails in a rustic setting.
- Stop into Garth’s Brew Bar, voted one of Wisconsin’s best craft beer bars, for a curated experience brought to you by Garth ’14 and Briana ’14, MPA’18 Beyer.
- Take in Wisconsin’s wine country at Wollersheim Winery and Distillery, founded by the late Robert Wollersheim ’66, MS’67 and currently co-owned and operated by his daughter, Julie Coquard ’87.
- Learn the hows and whys of bourbons and ryes at J. Henry and Sons Bourbon Tasting Room and Farm, where Liz Henry ’83, MBA’96 and son Joe Henry ’14 help create spirits distilled from an heirloom corn variety revived in partnership with UW–Madison.
- Get your cider fix all around town from Deirdre Birmingham PhD’96’s The Cider Farm, from Marie MS’10 and Matt MS’10 Raboin’s Brix Cider, and from Walker Fanning ’17’s Hidden Cave Cidery.
For the shopper:
- Browse the bookshelves and visit the wine bar at the newly reopened Lake City Books from Molly Fish ’08.
- Upgrade your outdoor gear at near–State Street stalwart Fontana Sports, owned by Elizabeth Ganser ’05.
- Add to your record collection at Strictly Discs, Wisconsin’s largest record store, which was co-owned and operated by Angie Roloff ’97 before being sold to Rick Stoner ’06, Dru Korab ’06, and Kyle Nakatsuji MBA’11, JD’12.
- Shop stylish and sustainable clothes and accessories at Pam Schwarzbach ’94’s Hive of Madison.
- Pick up unique gifts, jewelry, socks, stationery, stickers, and more at Anthology, the State Street store owned and operated by sisters Laura MS’99 and Sachi MFA’03 Komai.
- Explore the nooks and crannies of the relocated Room of One’s Own Bookstore, a Madison staple since 1975, co-owned and operated today by Gretchen Treu ’08.
For the café connoisseur:
- Settle in for coffee and a waffle at Indie Coffee, opened on Regent Street in 2004 by Barrett ’89 and JJ ’89 Kilmer.
- Grab breakfast, lunch, or a latte at Johnson Public House, co-owned by Gwen Shales ’07.
- Enjoy farm-to-table meals or coffee and a pastry at Christy McKenzie ’04’s Pasture and Plenty.
- Stop into one of EVP Coffee’s four Madison locations for a brew brought to you by founder and former UW rower Tracy Danner. (EVP stands for “Êtes-vous prêts?” the starting rowing command that translates to “Are you ready?”)
