What a gem I never knew was here! My extended family and I were looking for something to do on a…read moreSaturday in winter and checked out the Geology Museum. It was free and super fun. Surprising amount of cool stuff packed in a small-ish venue. From the adults in our group to my preteen nephew, everybody had a great time. We spent at least an hour in there. Whether you're into rocks, fossils and meteorites or not, this is just plain cool and well worth your time!

Free museum in the Geology Sciences building on campus. A quiet place to stroll around for about 20…read moreminutes alone. I did not expect to see a dinosaur area with a giant armadillo! There is a built-in seat for pictures. There is some interactive parts like the blackroom (view rocks under UV light) and a place to "smell" prehistoric times. Before walking into the museum, there is a small cash-or-checks-only global rock collection for $20-100 along a wall, where funds support the museum! Walk out with some treasure and more appreciation for what rocks can reveal.

Whenever I'm visiting somewhere new, I like to take in the local museums as a means of getting a…read morefeel for the place. The Chazen was a sublime way to spend part of my afternoon and I'm so envious of the students who attend school there--I would've killed to have had something like this on my campus as an undergraduate. There are three floors of art to digest; the first two are rotating exhibits so make sure to take it all in. Everything was so well lit and while spacious to accommodate all the art, it also feels nice and cozy inside. The third floor is the true gem though. That's where you'll find art throughout the ages; there is so much for the eyes to feast upon, and more notable names in art history. The best surprise for me was encountering several works by my favorite artist (Calder). To behold his mobile in the flesh is otherworldly and always moves me to tears. You cannot come to Madison and skip this museum without doing yourself a huge disservice. I'd haunt this place if I were a local. It's truly sublime.

Free, Free, and Free. Trust me, somebody's paying for it, but this is a must visit gem. We were…read morelucky enough to catch a portion of a classical ensemble in the lobby that was exquisite, then tour the galleries and as you can see from my pics, they did not disappoint. We apparently were on the cusp of a museum reset, so some areas had already been closed off to the public as a result. When in the area again, we will def revisit the Chazen. Whether a couple with many miles or a new budding romance, or even solo, this stop is a must on your itinerary for the heart, soul and mind.

Wow, it is hard to believe that such a high quality museum of this size and collection is…read morecompletely free to the public. Throughout the entire building, it's clear that a lot of thought was put into assembling such an amazing collection and maintaining a professional appearance throughout. The displays here are split across several different floors and a top floor which provides a great view of the street below. During my visit, I was happy that I had plenty of space to enjoy the art as each item in each exhibit is generously spaced away from the next one. Even with several people enjoying the same piece of art at the same time, I never felt crowded. The temperature and lighting across all exhibits were controlled nicely to create a pleasant viewing experience. With plenty of restrooms and an elevator that goes between the first, second, and third floor it was easy to get around the museum. It was also easy to park nearby at the Overture Center Garage at a reasonable price (State Street Capitol Garage is another option). Overall, well worth a visit if you're in the area to enjoy some amazing art within an excellent facility.

MMoCA is a unique building offering a few levels of art. I have to say, the exhibits that I saw…read morewere not my favorite, but the staff were nice and the building itself is very spacious and modern. It's the perfect stop to warm up for a bit on a cold day!

This was an unusual, a bit quirky, off the beaten path (though it's right in the middle of…read moreMiddleton) type of museum. It was free - which is why I actually did go in and look around. There is free public parking right near the museum and when you walk in, you walk immediately into the gift shop, with not only mustard paraphrenalia, but also Wisconsin-themed and other gifts. The cashier by the front door greets you heartily. At the back of the gift shop, there is a mustard tasting bar. A number of different flavored mustards are available with pretzel sticks for tasting. A large number of jars that are available for tasting are at the bar and you can taste as many as you like. The mustards are available for purchase, and they have recipe cards for ideas on ways to eat the flavored mustards. The musuem istelf is downstaris, and if there is a mustard product, it is downstairs, with sizes and flavors of all kinds and from all over U.S., Canada, and the world. There are bottles and bottles and containers of mustard, a large mustard bottle plushy, a film about how mustard is made, and even a mustard vending machine. I learned, because of the museum, that the largest producer of mustard is Canada. The mustard museum is a fun, low-stress, low-key stop if you're in the area. It's free, fun, easy to access, educational, and a nice value for the visit.

We stopped here during our cross-country road trip as a place to stretch our legs, and it turned…read moreout to be a fun surprise. The museum is free to visit and, while it's not very large, there's much more to see than we expected. The basement features a fascinating collection of mustard-related memorabilia and exhibits that showcase the history and culture surrounding this unique condiment. It was surprisingly interesting and added a lot of character to the visit. The main floor is home to an extensive selection of mustards from around the world, along with complimentary tastings. The staff member leading the tastings was exceptionally knowledgeable and took the time to explain the different varieties while letting us sample quite a few of them. Overall, it's a quirky and enjoyable stop that's well worth a visit if you're passing through the area. It's the perfect place to take a break from the road and experience one of the more unique museums you'll come across.

Free! Tucked right inside the door of this building on campus is the Physics museum…read more It is a little museum. It was not what we expected when you read museum, however worth the stop. We found parking about a block away in a ramp. Inside the Chamberlin Hall just to the right is the entrance. The entire exhibit is hands on. Experiments are explained and are really cool. My husband and I spent over an hour here. He loves to understand how things work and enjoyed explaining some experiments to me. We played around for some time and pretty much had the place to ourselves. We recommend the stop.

This is a great little free museum on the University of Wisconsin campus just inside the entrance…read moreto Chamberlin Hall. We spotted it during a prospective student campus tour and circled back afterward. The museum consists of hands-on physics experiments and is well worth 30 minutes if you have school aged kids who are interested in science.

Don't drive too fast or you will miss it!! You should stop, well worth a quick stop! There is a…read morelittle gift shop too!! Incredible.

On the way to Wisconsin Dells from Madison, you'll find Dr. Evermor's Sculpture Park, a free,…read morequirky roadside stop with a small parking area (donations welcome). The park is packed with giant metal creations--towering birds, a 20-foot insect, a guitar, and a massive centerpiece made from salvaged boat parts, motors, and pipes. It's like walking through an outdoor museum of welded imagination. I wouldn't drive out of my way to visit, but since it's right off the highway, it's a fun and memorable stop for photos and a dose of weird Wisconsin art.

Beautiful gardens all around with a large expansive area to walk around and be amazed by. If you…read morecome during certain times you can get into the inside building for free, which is normally $6 for adults (check their website for dates and times)....as I came during that and was very grateful to see the song birds in there and the diverse, lush plant life. For me, this whole garden has plenty of paths and diversity. It was beautiful to see during the fall and I'm sure each season boasts its own unique beauty here. I absolutely loved the Thai sala and that whole area was my favorite part and quite a gem to see. Stunning! I recommend bringing water and a few snacks to enjoy as you take your time here. You can easily spend a few hours here and soak it all in.

We had such a lovely time visiting Olbrich Botanical Gardens in Madison! One of the best parts is…read morethat the outdoor gardens are free, making it a wonderful, budget-friendly family outing. You can also pay extra to visit the tropical conservatory. Our family enjoyed taking the trolley to get an overview of the gardens and see what caught our eye, then walking back to spend more time in the places we loved most. The Thai Pavilion, beautiful waterfalls, and peaceful reflection pools were some of our favorites. There's something so relaxing about wandering through the gardens, taking in the scenery, and enjoying a little escape from the everyday hustle. It's a beautiful place to slow down, reconnect with nature, take photos, and enjoy time together. Whether you're visiting Madison or live nearby, Olbrich is definitely worth a stop with a beautiful view of lake monona! Enjoy

We visited from chicago and this place is a total 10/10! We…read morewent on a Friday on our way up to the dells and it wasn't super busy. Everything was super hands on and got kids energy out for the car ride. We will be back!

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.