1. Badgers Are Way More Than Just A Cousin To The Weasel
Madison goes absolutely nuts for badgers. Home to the University of Wisconsin, out-of-towners should expect to see plenty of the UW cardinal and white while they’re walking around town, especially on game days.
2. Winters Can Get A Little Hairy
When it comes to cold weather, Wisconsin doesn’t mess around. Madison can be especially rough. The snow quickly accumulates and can turn into dirty slush on the roadways.
If an out-of-towner from a warmer area of the country is coming to visit any time from December to February, give them a heads up that they’ll be in for a rude and icy awakening.
3. But Snow Doesn’t Slow This City Down
While tons of American cities seem to cower in fear the second flurries are mentioned, Madison residents don’t really change their lifestyle when snow starts to fall. Schools don’t usually close, people still drive into work, and grocery stores don’t run empty.
Snow is just another part of life that Madisonites have learned to embrace.
4. The Madison Summer Is Worth The Wait
The real reason that Madisonites stick around is for the warmer months. As the snow starts clearing, the city comes to life with boats, bikes, swimming, and festivals. It’s hard to beat a summer in Madison.
5. Knowing Someone With A Lake House Is More Valuable Than Gold
In order to take full advantage of the Madison area, it helps to have access boat. Don’t have a boat? Knowing someone who has a boat is just as good.
There’s nothing better than getting invited to someone’s lake house for a weekend of fishing, wakeboarding, and water skiing.
6. Being Called A Cheesehead Is A Compliment
While the term “cheesehead” might be a little confusing for an out-of-towner, in Wisconsin the term refers to the Green Bay Packers’ fan base. People in this city go crazy for the green and gold of this state’s favorite NFL team.
7. The Capital Building Looks Like It Belongs In D.C.
Built in the heart of downtown, the things don’t get much fancier than the Wisconsin State Capitol. It’s truly a stunning piece of architecture, making it one government building that you should be excited to explore.
8. Yes, That’s An Animal On The Golden Lady’s Head
Standing tall atop the Wisconsin Capitol Building is a large golden statue of a woman with an out-stretched arm. She’s officially named “Wisconsin,” but is often called “Lady Forward” or “Miss Forward. And, seriously, what else would be on her head but a golden badger?
It’s not weird. You’re weird for thinking it’s weird.
9. Basically Every Other Building Is A Bar
While an out-of-towner is walking around in downtown Madison, they’ll probably quickly notice how many bars there are. Drinking culture is huge in Wisconsin and Madison is no exception. Bottoms up, guys.
10. Beer Is A Big Deal
When it comes to drinking, beer tends to be the drink of choice in Madison. With over a dozen local breweries in the area, Madisonites could easily become beer snobs if they wanted to, however they’ll probably never desert the Wisconsin classics like Miller and PBR.
11. But Madison Also Loves Their Bloody Mary’s
Bloody Mary’s are also a big deal in this city, with most of the area’s many bars having their own special mixture they serve up.
Often topped with a variety of condiments including anything from mini burgers to sausages, Madison is one of the best places in the country to have a drink during brunch (or, in some cases, drink your lunch).
12. Mac N’ Cheese Is A Normal Pizza Topping
Another Madison favorite is Ian’s Pizza, perfect for ending any late night. This pizzeria offers up their food by the slice with tons of crazy toppings like mac n’ cheese, smoked briskets and tater tots, mini ravioli, and even a pizza that resembles a giant quesadilla.
It’s a sure thing you’ll fall in love at first bite.
13. Cheese Is Best When It Squeaks
In a state that’s known for their dairy products, it shouldn’t be much of a surprise that Madisonites take their cheese very seriously. A popular way of serving it up is in cheese curd form, found anywhere from fancy restaurants to local food trucks.
They come in bite size pieces, they’re a bit chewy, and you know they’re high quality curds if they squeak when bitten into.
14. There’s Monona And Mendota
One thing that makes Madison unique is its downtown’s placement directly between two magnificent lakes. To the northwest, there’s Lake Mendota, and to the southeast, there’s Like Monona.
Not only do these lakes provide awesome recreational activities during the warmer months, they provide beautiful sunsets year round.
15. Madison Didn’t Steal The Statue Of Liberty
When out-of-towners are exploring Lake Mendota during the winter, they’re often shocked to see a very familiar face.
Many years ago, a replica was made of the Statue of Liberty depicting her sinking into a frozen lake. When ice starts to cover the lake in the winter, the statue is moved into its position.
16. The Food Is Fresher Here
Farmers’ Markets are a huge deal in Madison. In fact, this city is home to the largest producer-only farmers’ market in America.
With over 160 vendors coming to the square every Saturday and roughly 300 unique sellers throughout each year, the Dane County Farmers’ Market is a great place to go to get anything from veggies to cheese to meats.
17. Brats Are A Big Deal In Madison
Perhaps it’s a Wisconsin thing, but everyone in Madison is absolutely obsessed with bratwursts.
These hearty tubed meats are known for going perfect with a beer, so it shouldn’t be much of a surprise that Madison is home to the “World’s Largest Brat Fest”, during which over 200,000 brats are consumed over a 4 day period.
18. You Might See The Weinermobile From Time To Time
Oscar Mayer has been headquartered in Madison since 1957, so don’t be shocked if you see a giant hot dog car driving around the city. You’re not hallucinating. You’re in Madison.
19. There’s A Fight Over Paul Bunyan’s Axe
As every Badger fan knows, Paul Bunyan’s axe is one of the most coveted trophies in college sports.
Given to the winner of the Minnesota-Wisconsin rivalry game each year, this trophy gets around quite a bit. In fact, it’s one of the most even rivalries in the NCAA with Minnesota barely leading over the Badgers in a 59-57-8 series.
20. Don’t Drink From The Water Fountain
To an out-of-towner, drinking from a water fountain might sound totally acceptable. But in Madison, a spigot you drink out of is called a bubbler and a decorative display is what most people associate with the term “water fountain.”
21. Bikes Are A Big Deal In Madison
Often called the “bike capital of the Midwest”, there are actually more bikes than cars in this city. With over 200 miles of scenic trails made for biking and hiking, Madison is a great place to be a cyclist.
22. The Duck Pond Is A Great Place To Drink
They might not be a major league team, but that doesn’t keep people from getting excited about Madison Mallards baseball. With 14 seasons in the bag, a trip to the Mallards’ game is always a blast.
Of course, it’s not complete without ballpark food and plenty of beer.
23. Madison’s Nicknames Can Get Confusing
For some reason, Madisonites can’t pick a single nickname for their city. There’s Mad City, Madtown, People’s Republic of Madison, Athens of the Midwest, Berkeley of the Midwest, Lake City, and the City of Four Lakes, along with several others.
If an out-of-towner is visiting, make sure they know that these nickanmes all refer to the same place.
24. You Don’t Have To Leave The City To Experience Nature
While Madison might seem like a big city, it’s close enough to nature to give its resident plenty of places to escape the hustle and bustle. With over 1,200 acres of walking and biking at the UW Arboretum, it’s hard to find an excuse not to get out and get moving.
25. It’s Hard To Beat Chill Time On The Terrace
Featuring brightly colored chairs and a great lakeside view, the Terrace at UW’s Memorial Union building is a summer hang-out favorite. It’s not restricted to students either, making it an awesome spot the entire downtown area can enjoy.
26. It’s Not Weird If Someone Orders A “Spotted Cow” At The Bar
While most out-of-towners might take the words “spotted cow” literally, it’s actually just the name of Wisconsin’s favorite beer. Made by New Glarus Brewing Company, this cloudy farmhouse ale is one of the tastiest ways around to get your buzz on.
27. Madison Is A Really Huge College Town
Young people tend to flock to Madison. With over 50% of the population under 30 and tons of local students, this unique makeup of the city keeps the area exciting and ever-changing with the times.
28. Madison Loves The Left
When it comes to politics, Madison tends to be more liberal than most places in the Wisconsin, as seen by the many protests around the State Capitol building.
Sure, there are still plenty of people that support the GOP in the Madison area, but with regards to most social issues, Madison leans left.
29. Plastic Pink Flamingo Pride Is A Thing Here
It might not be native to the area, but the plastic pink flamingo is Madison’s official bird. This odd decision stems from a 1979 prank in which 1,008 pink flamingos were placed on Bascom Hill on the first day of classes by UW-Madison students.
30. Frank Lloyd Wright Is A Celebrity Here
To an outsider, it might seem strange that an architect was able to achieve hero status in Madison, but after growing up locally, Frank Lloyd Wright gave back to the city in a huge way.
He designed tons of awesome buildings than have since become landmarks, including the Airplane House, the Eugene Van Tamelen House, and the very recognizable Monona Terrace Community & Convention Center.
31. The SERF Has Nothing To Do With Water
If an out-of-towner hears someone talking about the surf, they should know that there’s a good chance no one’s getting wet.
In Madison, the “SERF” is an acronym referring to the University of Wisconsin Madison’s Southeast Recreational Facility, a great place to go for a good workout as a local student.
32. Don’t Believe All The News You Hear Here
Now an internet sensation, The Onion was actually started by two students from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1988. Occasionally, the ridiculous headlines from these satirical newspapers can be spotted around town.
33. Madison Is The Best Place To Live In The Country
It’s beautiful here, the people are happy, there’s tons of awesome food, and a great local night life. The city is also home to one of the best universities in the country and some of the most passionate sports fans around.
Frankly, life in Madison is pretty hard to beat. If you can get over a few months of cold weather every year, Madison is the place for you.
What have you had to explain to out-of-towners about Madison? Tell us in the comments below! 
