Olbrich Botanical Gardens
3330 Atwood Ave, Madison, WI 53704
10am-4pm
608.246.4550
Sixteen acres of outdoor gardens with Midwest-tolerant plants, open every day and free. Bolz Conservatory offers tropical plants that Wisconsinites would otherwise not experience. Six dollars at the door or catch the early-bird special on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 10am to 12pm. Olbrich Botanical provides classes and workshops to teach green-thumbing knowledge and how you can apply the same strategies on your own—waiting for your second shot to go back out in public? Enjoy the virtual lecture course, available until May 2021.
Additionally, save your money and tour Cuba online with the “Rainforest Rhythms” series. Purchase a membership for exclusive offers at Olbrich Botanical and their twelve gardens. Schedule your wedding, party, or concert at Olbrich Botanical Gardens. Volunteer at Olbrich or donate to pass the importance and love of gardening to future generations.
State Capitol
2 E Main St, Madison, WI 53703
8am-6pm
608.266.0382
Home to both chambers of Wisconsin legislature and Wisconsin Supreme Court and Office of the Governor, designed by architect George B. Post with a neoclassical and Beaux-Arts style. Tour the capitol and learn about the state’s history. Get travel and road information as well as all your permits and licensing for outdoor recreation. Register your business or search for your next job and begin the career of your dreams.
Allen Centennial Garden
620 Babcock Dr, Madison, WI 53706
Mon-Fri 12pm-Dusk
Sat & Sun Dawn-Dusk
608.576.2501
A free garden open to the public belonging to UW Madison. On-site is the Agricultural Dean’s house which the first four deans of the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences called home. Reservations are not required but recommended as occupancy limits are in place. Group tours are capped at four people. Well-behaved dogs are allowed; please remember to bring bags to clean up after your pup. There are no bathrooms for the public, so be sure to use the restroom before visiting. At this time, events and activities are not being booked. Meander the Garden at your leisure but be mindful of the one-way paths so everyone can enjoy their visit.
UW Madison Arboretum
1207 Seminole Hwy, Madison, WI 53711
7am-10pm
608.263.7888
The gardens and trails are open from 7am-10pm—hike over seventeen miles of trail forged through rehabilitated prairies, savannas, and woodlands and wetlands. Enjoy protected wildlife habitat and ecosystem integrity. It is asked that visitors wear protective clothes and shoes as trails can be flooded or frozen over. Pests such as mosquitos and ticks should be assumed, and therefore remember to pack insect repellant. During the winter, there are select paths open to skiing and snowshoeing. For the preservation of the environment, “pets, picnics, hammocks, slacklines, in-line skates, skateboards, bicycles, drones, and collecting natural materials” are strictly not allowed on Arboretum grounds. Unfortunately, the Visitor Center is closed, and no in-person programs are being held. Be sure to visit the website and see what virtual and online programs are being arranged at this time.
Henry Vilas Zoo
702 S Randall Ave, Madison, WI 53715
9:30am-5pm
608.266.4732
A free, public zoo stretching twenty-eight acres. Certified by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums, Dane County owns Henry Vilas Zoo. Opened in 1911, the zoo hosts more than seven hundred-fifty thousand visitors yearly. Become a member and obtain privileged advantages. With virtual programs, there is much to learn even when you cannot visit the zoo. Plan your visit today and donate to the Henry Vilas Zoo to keep over six hundred fifty animals homed and loved. With beyond one hundred-fifteen species, twenty of whom are endangered, the Henry Vilas Zoo has plenty of creatures to learn and study about.
