We were looking for a place not too far away to get out and enjoy our recent snow. Given we had…read morejust bought a state park pass we decided to go to the close-by Gov Nelson Park to cross country ski. There is no additional fees for using the trails unlike some other state parks. It was a weekday so it was pretty empty - good for us. There was a fresh inch of snow on top of a good base. We skied the un-groomed Woodlands trail which was very nice and then the groomed Morningside trail which was better. The grooming really helped. If it were windy that trail would be a bit exposed. We will definitely return to ski.

I had a terrific hike in this small, off the beaten path, park. It is located on the banks of Lake…read moreMendota, near Madison, WI. We were staying at the Holiday Inn in Middleton, and I decided to check out this park. I went there around 7am, and maybe it gets crowded later in the day, but there were just a few fishermen putting their boats in at the marina. The maintenance people have done a great job cutting trails through the fields. There is a paved trail also (for bicycles and hikers), but I didn't take it. I sure wish I lived closer to this little park! Living in Cincinnati, it is just a little too far for me to drive.

Even on an overcast winter afternoon this arboretum was lovely to wander around. Almost completely…read moreempty, only saw a few other hikers. Free. Plenty of parking. A nice option for a safe, free walk in the woods in Madison. I'll be back in the spring!

I had a work meeting at the Arboretum and took a walk on a few trails during my lunch break…read more There's plenty of parking, though none of it is shaded, so it can get pretty warm on sunny days. The facility has a few meeting rooms with good audiovisual equipment, plus a small library and reliable wifi. There's only one bathroom, but it does the job. The trails are well maintained, and I even spotted a couple of cranes while walking. Overall, it's a peaceful spot that works well for both meetings and a quick nature break.

This was a nice place to have a simple wedding. It had all the basics you'd need to put on a nice…read morewedding. As mother of the groom, I didn't know much about the whole process, but I helped decorate the venue. We brought & put up all the decorations so I'm not sure what they offered for that. The building is nice and large and perfect for a summer/ fall wedding.

I like Olin Park! It's large, it's grassy, it has a lot of nice shaded spots…read more I don't typically come here just to.. come here. Usually I find myself at this park when there is some sort of event happening. Great Taste of the Midwest, the Polar Plunge, the Festival in Lights. But regardless, I am still at this park at least numerous times per year. It's got a great location, right on the lake, and there is even a boat launch! I don't boat Lake Monona much anymore, but this used to be a place I came to often as a kid when my dad would take me out, we launched from here all the time! Oh, the memories :) The park is very versatile which is nice. It can easily host several different types of events easily. The playground area is nice and seems to be pretty well kept up. There is plenty of parking. And there is a ball diamond too. It's right on John Nolan Dr, which some might think, that's a busy road, not safe for the littles! But fortunately everything here is set very far back from the road. We're talking a huge wide open grassy area that separates the traffic from the fun. Plus, the park has it's own little "frontage road" type thing that keeps things even more separated from the busy road.

This park was one of our favorite places we have ever stayed. My husband and I came to stay here…read morewith our small Yorkshire terriers and our cat, and we had a wonderful time. Tim ( the host for the park) is friendly and helpful, and takes great pride in keeping it beautiful and orderly. He lent us an extension cord as the electrical hookups are fairly far away. The park was quiet and lovely. There were lots of friendly people, and it felt like a little community. It was very close to town which was really convenient. We travel in a 36 foot toy hauler with a one ton truck, and I do think that we were pushing it to try to get into some of the spots. Because we had not booked early ( we called the morning of) we had to move spots, and it was the hardest spot we have ever had to get into. Not the parks fault at all, our trailer was just a bit big. Both my husband and I really wished that we were traveling in a sprinter van. That would have been so easy. Lake Mendota is lovely and relaxing, and this is a special spot.

Good little campground for those with kids. Large play area near a beach. In town camping at its…read morebest! Bring lots of bug spray

This is a fun section of the ice age trail just outside of Belleville. It has some nice elevation…read morechanges and the beautiful outcroppings are very cool. I like the different topography included on the trail. There is a really nice flat space on top of the ridge to enjoy the view. Dogs are allowed if they are on leash.

This is such a good find! I'm visiting Madison and was looking for a place to do some light hiking,…read morereading, and just enjoying the outdoors. I came across this place on Yelp. Not only does it have a few trails in the woods, which are beautiful but the way, but there is also a community garden up top and it is connected to a school and a covered shelter with tables, bathrooms, and a water fountain next to a ball field. Would be a great place for kids. No pets allowed on the trails or in the garden. So glad I found this gem!

Great trails, beautiful field grass and fauna. The views of the lake are crisp and serene. Highly…read morerecommend visiting while in Madison.

Token Creek is a huge County park with a campground, disc golf and numerous group shelters for…read morepicnics. It's also dog-friendly with numerous trails through the park (on-leash) along with a fenced in off-leash area. The off-leash area is at the back of the park (if you enter off of 151) so keep driving back, back, back until you get to it. There is a perimeter trail that follows the fence line which is your best hope for some shade as the rest of the park is primarily prairie and sunny. You can do loops circling the whole park or cut through the middle (over a slight hill) to make your loop shorter. It's maybe 15 -20 minutes if you're doing the full perimeter loop. There also is a separate puppy / small dog area which is nice. This area offers some agility equipment but unfortunately that's not accessible to the rest of us! It's similar to other County/City parks, there are bags for poop pick-up but no running water so bring your own. There also weren't a lot of people at this park so if you're looking for fewer folks, this may be your spot. If you want a lot of canine company, you may be better off at nearby Sycamore Park. Overall, it's a great option if you're passing through town as it's right off the highway.

This park is lots of fun! It's a large circular park with one main walking trail (although there's…read morea less waked trail along the perimeter of the park). The park has a couple small forests, one of which reminds me of the Blair Witch Project- it's got these tents made out of fallen branches and sticks from the park- super creepy vibe if you're there when it's gloomy or dark out. The small dog section has these dog agility course which are great for training. This is definitely one of my favorite parks to go to!

A great place to walk or jog. The trail is flat. It's a beautiful scenic topography. I heard active…read morefrogs, saw different types of birds and animals. Overall, it's a peaceful place to enjoy nature.