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Henry Vilas Park Zoo

4.4 (254 reviews)
Closed 9:30 am - 5:00 pm

Henry Vilas Park Zoo Photos

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Amanda W.

While visiting the Madison area for our chemo checks in UW- we decided to stop at Henry Villas Zoo for distraction. The last time being there was probably twenty years plus, but it's such a lovely zoo. Not too busy and best part- it's free! We really loved seeing the otters and the monkeys! We even got to experience the baby's birthday last year!!! Thanks for distracting us from the real life scenarios going on. So thankful for these memories. We will be back soon!!

Amanda G.

This place was very cute and nice. Very clean and well kept. Was so happy to be there. The parking is street la and you may have to walk so be prepared. Nice area. The animals look well kept I love going to the zoo. A fun lunch place you need to check out.

Elizabeth B.

Henry Vilas Zoo in Madison is such a gem and it's completely free!!! It's smaller than some city zoos, but the animal selection is still impressive: lions, orangutans, rhinos, bison, and more. The layout is easy to navigate, and it's a great way to spend a few hours without feeling overwhelmed. Because it's free, it can get a bit crowded on nice days, but it's worthy of an hour or two stroll, as a couple with no kids we spent maybe 75-90 mins there.

Jessica M.

This is a great spot for visitors. It is free admissions with plenty of animals to see. Our group of 14 only spent 1.5 hours at the zoo because two of the kids fell asleep after skipping their nap earlier in the day. We had to leave a little earlier than originally planned but it was enough time for us to see the turtles, grizzly bear, rhinoceros, tiger, seal, donkey, flamingos, peacock, and several other animals. The highlight was the children's playground which was busy but not overwhelming. Our four kids enjoyed climbing the amazing treehouse with a tall slide, conquering the monkey bars, pretending to be archeologists in the small section with dinosaur bones, and climbing the stairs for the tubular slide. One slight disappointment was the café with coffee and ice cream was closed during our visit. However, the Glacier Grille was operating and our kids enjoyed the Dippin' Dots.

We found a sleeping Polar Bear and he was not Lost.
Janet S.

Great enclosures for the animals, large and furnished with toys, giant scratching posts, things to jump on and stimulate. Quite the best enclosures we have seen in a long time. Not too many exhibits but what is there is great. Tiger, Polar Bear, Rhino, Lions and the stars of the show Red Pandas. It's a free zoo so do drop in a few dollars to support it. There are drop stations for money around the zoo.

Red panda
Martha R.

This is a great zoo. Free entry. Multiple spots to view animals in every exhibit. Lots of animals and a logical flow though path. Parking is terrible on the weekends.

Savanna B.

Great free zoo with an epic kids area. My son loved the playground so much we didn't end up riding the train or the carousel- unbelievable for him! The coolest thing for me (being a Madagascar RPCV) was that most of the lemurs actually had Malagasy names- well done!!! We had lunch in the cafe by the polar bears which wasn't a particularly memorable experience- expensive, typical mid-quality burger, not filled up soda for $5....would definitely recommend skipping in favor of Cafe Zuzu across the street...although the fries would have been great if served hot.

Tom S.

We went as a family this past year for their annual zoo lights! Perfect date night! Grab some hot cocoa at the entrance and dress warm!! Such a fun experience! If you haven't already been I highly recommend!!

Gabby Z.

go here with family, friends or even a date for a quick nature outing. the zoo is nicely laid out and free to enter and park. there is a lot and street parking wherever you find. it does fill up quick so i'd recommends going in the morning if you want parking lot parking. some animals were out others weren't. there was a couple exhibits that looked like they should be bigger for some of the animals like the penguin exhibit and the lion exhibit and the sea lions. overall not bad because it was free but when leaving definitely donate to keep this cute place going.

Amur tiger
Anne H.

This is a greatly cared for park and zoo. I saw no trash anywhere, and the flowers and gardens were really kept up well. I was very impressed with the size of this free zoo and it is 100% free. An impressive amount of animals and a lot of conservation information. This is a great place to spend a day just meandering around.

Mina H.

The Henry Vilas Park Zoo is a free zoo. Can you believe it? I've never been to a zoo for free! (They accept donations though, so I recommend bringing a bit of cash if you can spare it!) Unfortunately, we visited when it was close to closing time, so most of the animals had already been transferred to their indoor enclosures for the night, and we could not see them. (That's our own fault, really! Hahaha) The animals we got to see were great though! I recommend going earlier in the day when the animals are still outside for the full experience! Apparently though, some animals are taken indoors even during the day if the temperature is too cold, which is understandable since it's Wisconsin. Just some things to keep in mind! I'll have to try to make it back over there earlier in the day this week to see if I can catch a few more sightings!

Hanging with my two youngest!!
Angela S.

For a free zoo, they do amazing things with keeping up the animals health and the grounds/facilities. They have lots of places to rest and catch a breath in the shade, as well as stations for food nearby.

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1 year ago

Such a fun place to go that's opened year round! Had a group of 10 of us and came during winter.

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2 years ago

Good zoo and nice people that work there. No admission charge. The animals are friendly also.

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2 years ago

Friendly staff ,cool animals, highly recommend it . Very enjoyable had a lot of fun . Looking forward to going back there again sometime .

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3 years ago

Almost no animals were out at all. Lots of ppl. Nice walking area and very clean but where are the animals?

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Madison Children's Museum - Outdoor playground

Madison Children's Museum

4.1(98 reviews)
1.7 miCapitol

Wow, just...wow! The Madison Children's Museum is floor after floor of both indoor and outdoor…read moreactivities (all the way up to the roodtop) for kids of all ages, all with a view of the gorgeous Capitol building! The creative play could last all day if you have the time. There's everything from water play (you'll probably get wet!), climbing, interactive play zones of so many themes, art and even small live animals! Even as an adult, it never got boring. My 2.5yo daughter and her friends just couldn't get enough of it. Lots of opportunities for kids to learn while playing. The staff are incredibly friendly and I believe all, if not most, are volunteers. There's a pay-what-you-can food area, which is so thoughtful. Very bright interior with plenty of natural light. Clean and updated play spaces for such a big facility to keep up with! Very clean restrooms. Small area for parents who have babies to sit in to play while their older kids explore. We've been to other children's museums and this is one of my favorites. The cost for anyone over the age of 1yo is currently $18 each (or 10% online) but if you're planning on spending a day here, totally worth it. I do think it would be a little more reasonable for ages 1-8 to be a little less than a full adult ticket price but it is what it is. If you live within an hour or have a larger family, it's definitely worth it to get a season pass' some include guest passes for friends. It's a worthy investment or a great gift! There's nothing more heartwarming seeing your child smile nonstop and exploring while in a learning environment. Stop on by, you'll love it and sleep well afterwards! One staff member said they're expanding so we're looking forward to that in the future.

Super fun place for the littles! It was quite packed on a Saturday and is not a very large…read moreestablishment compared to other children's museums, so I'd recommend going during a non-peak time to enjoy it to the fullest. They have an awesome outdoor playground which is unique and our toddler loved it. Indoors, there's a great play space for kids under 5 so the smaller kids can enjoy an area without being totally run over by big kids. It's pricey, for a family of 4 (we had to pay for our 15 month old, it's only free for 12 mos and under) it was about $80. With that, if you're going to spend the money, make it worth your while on the time commitment there. Lastly, the staff was very friendly and attentive which was a plus.

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Madison Children's Museum - Indoor toddler woodlands

Indoor toddler woodlands

Madison Children's Museum - Beaver damn play area

Beaver damn play area

Madison Children's Museum - Outside play area

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Outside play area

National Mustard Museum - Lots of Mustard!

National Mustard Museum

4.6(202 reviews)
5.6 mi

One of the most unexpectedly fun stops I made while in Middleton, Wisconsin? The National Mustard…read moreMuseum. And yes... it's exactly what it sounds like. Inside you'll find thousands of mustards from every U.S. state and countries all over the world, all displayed in this massive wall of jars. There's also a mustard tasting bar where you can sample tons of different flavors -- from classic yellow to sweet, spicy, and some seriously unique combinations. Beyond the tastings, there's a whole museum section dedicated to the history of mustard, plus plenty of quirky displays and memorabilia that make it a surprisingly entertaining stop. Whether you're a mustard lover or just looking for something different to check out while in the Madison area, it's definitely worth popping in.

As someone who puts mustard on everything (and I really mean everything because I even have dessert…read moremustards) I could not believe my luck to happen upon the National Mustard Museum during my brief trip to WI! A true gem, this museum is born out of adoration for this most perfect condiment. The exhibits are all playful as well as informative and one will learn all about mustard from it's noble seed to final liquid elixir. There are literally thousands of jars on display, and over a hundred for tasting up in the gift shop area! Do yourself a favor and make sure you travel with checked luggage so you can take home a treasure trove; they do ship though if you're traveling light! Prices are super reasonable. The staff were warm and welcoming and ready to assist without being overbearing at all. If you're in town, you have to check this museum out!

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National Mustard Museum
National Mustard Museum - Display

Display

National Mustard Museum

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Vilas Park - Huge plowed ice rink

Vilas Park

3.7(3 reviews)
0.0 miVilas

Sometimes I forget how massive this park is! Vilas Park abuts the Henry Vilas Zoo and offers tons…read moreof green field space, two playgrounds (including the Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe slide that's been there forever), a beach, and a fair amount of parking if you can figure out how to get to it. I've attended a few birthday parties here, spent a few afternoons on the beach looking at Lake Wingra, and hiked through to get to the zoo when parking in the surrounding neighborhood. If there's a park activity you want to partake in, Vilas probably has it. I have yet to make it to the park in the winter, but there is a speed skating track on the lagoon and a some other skating/hockey spots. With the zoo being free, it's easy to make a day at Vilas.

Vilas is a great park with ample green space and an excellent lake for swimming in the summer and…read moreice skating in the winter. While pets may not be allowed in the park, you can certainly walk along the road/path with your pet. Vilas beach offers a great swimming spot and a sand beach. Lake Wingra is a wake-free lake so it's less busy, quieter and presumably cleaner than other lakes around. There is a lifeguard stationed at the beach and a maintained swimming area. Note - be sure to check the City website to make sure the beach is open before heading out, Madison beaches can close unexpectedly due to bacteria (translation -don't feed the geese! They poop & then beaches end up closed!) Vilas also offers a great playground for kids and ice skating in the winter. The only thing on my "wish list" for Vilas is that they would actually pave a sidewalk along the road through the park. You have to walk either on the grass or along the road, which can feel dangerous. It's also a one-way drive through the park but with some regularity drivers get confused and/or impatient and drive the wrong way through there so keep your eyes open for that!

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Vilas Park - Skate area.

Skate area.

Vilas Park - Playground

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Playground

Eplegaarden - Display

Eplegaarden

3.9(34 reviews)
6.7 mi

I went here on a Saturday morning, and it wasn't too busy until noon hit. There were a good variety…read moreof apples! Quite a bit were on the ground, but there was a good amount still on the trees when I went in mid October. I got the apple cider brat, and it was great! However, I wish that there were more activities and that there were more fresh products (like fresh, warm donuts). Also, beware of all the wasps!

Recently had an adult child moved to the area and I was looking for some fall activities. Came…read moreacross this Apple picking/you pick farm, which is very close to where she lives plus downtown Madison. There was plenty of parking out front when I arrived on Monday probably around 10 AM/10:30 AM. There was a small cashier station out front. A lady was short brown hair was explaining how the process works and that you would buy a choice of two different size bags. I chose a smaller bag for $22. I was shown the map and I took a picture of it and headed out to the Orchards. Everything is clearly marked and the paths are also well marked however, if you have any mobility challenges, this might be an issue for you. I don't know if there's any tractors that travel out there. There are wagons for younger kids, etc. I went all the way out past the final orchard to the Honeycrisp. I was surprised to see quite a bit of apple still on the tree. Please follow the directions on how to pick them because you do not want to damage the trees. I got a bunch of varieties which all tasted delicious. I then walked through the little store behind the initial cash register. They have already pre-picked apples, frozen cider donuts, and fresh cider for sale. On the day I arrived. They were already sold out of the fresh cider donuts and they were on their way, but I was already departing the location. Before I left, however, I opted to do the you pick raspberries and cherry tomatoes, which was fun although a bit arduous for the raspberries. Everything actually tasted delicious. I would definitely come back for other activities and of course, supporting local farm. I think this is really good for all ages, etc.. I did see a mix of families and young adults on this visit. Be advised of the closing times I believe it closed at 1 PM on Monday. It was just a fun experience.

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Eplegaarden - Highly recommend the zestar (bottom) and akane (top) varieties

Highly recommend the zestar (bottom) and akane (top) varieties

Eplegaarden - Menu

Menu

Eplegaarden - Great date idea, even in the rain!

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Great date idea, even in the rain!

Henry Vilas Park Zoo - zoos - Updated May 2026

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