Madison

Visitors' Center - Just five blocks from the State Capitol on Washington Avenue, the Greater Madison Convention & Visitors Bureau is ready to welcome and guide you. Phone them (toll free) at 1-800-373-6376.
  From I-90 eastbound, take exit 135-A and follow US-151 into Madison. The Visitors' Center is at the end of the block after Blount Street.
  From I-90 westbound, take exit 142-A and follow the US-12 freeway westbound to exit 261. Exit and follow US-151 northbound into Madison and around Lake Monona. On the far side of the lake US-151 turns left onto Blair Street, goes 4 blocks to Washington Avenue and turns right. The Visitors' Center is there.

Allen Centennial Gardens - Maintained by the University of Wisconsin-Madison Dept of Horticulture to "provide state-of-the-art demonstrations and information on the use of traditional and novel horticultural plants in diverse landscape settings", the 2.5 acre Allen Centennial Gardens are a 'must see' for all gardeners.
  Open daily from dawn to dusk. Admission is FREE.
  For more information, phone the Department of Horticulture at 1-608-262-1490. UW has a page on their web site about the Gardens at AllenCentennialGardens.
  From the visitors' center (see above) continue to the end of the block and turn right. Drive to Gorham Street and turn left. Drive to State Street (this is the street that intersects Gorham at a 45º angle) and turn right. Drive to the end and turn left. Go 1 block and turn left again. Go 1 block and turn right. The Horticulture Building and Allen Centennial Gardens are about 400 yards down the street (1575 Linden Drive).

UW-Madison Arboretum - More the 'normal' arboretum, this 1,280 site includes wetlands, forests, & the Curtis Prairie, the world's oldest restored tallgrass prairie. The facility (trails and landscaped areas) is open 7a to 10p daily except holidays. The McKay Visitor Center is open from 9a to 4p weekdays and 12:30 to 4p weekends. Also closed holidays. Admission is FREE.
  From the visitors' center (see above) which is on Washington Avenue where Washington is also US-151, follow the US-151 signs (the route takes an immediate left turn at Blair Street) to the US-12 freeway. Using the westbound on-ramp, merge with US-12 and follow it to the Seminole Highway exit. Exit and turn right on Seminole. The Arboretum is at 1207 Seminole Hwy - a little more than 4 blocks from the off-ramp.
  For more information, phone 1-608-263-7888 or visit their web page at GardenWeb.

Monona Terrace - A community and convention center inspired by famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright, this beautiful structure is located on the north shore of Lake Monona.
  To best view the Monona Terrace we suggest you drive to Olin Park - also on the lake. From the visitors' center (see above) which is on Washington Avenue where Washington is also US-151, follow the US-151 signs (the route takes an immediate left turn at Blair Street) to the lake front where US-151 becomes John Nolan Drive. Follow the lake shore staying on John Nolan Drive (US-151 turns right away from the lake but you continue straight), crossing the lake on the causeway. On the other side of the causeway, take the first street on your left (Lakeside Street) and follow it around to Olin Park. Now you have a splendid view of Monona Terrace - and downtown Madison.

Bascom and Observatory Hills - For over 150 years, staff members of the UW botany and horticulture departments have worked to improve the cultivars and trees on the UW campus. The results of these efforts are self evident. The Environmental Management office has just completed several self-guided tours that loop around both Bascom Hill and Observatory Hill. Stops along these walks are accented with posted signs that identify the names and origins of the trees. Also, an informational brochure including a route map is available for each walk. If you would like to take these walks, phone the department at 1-608-265-3417. Visitors are very welcome.

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