23 Things People In Madison Can’t Live Without

1. Knowing Badgers Aren’t All Cute And Cuddly Like Bucky

Actual badgers aren’t the cuddliest animals, but the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Bucky Badger is adorable, and the teams he represents are as fierce as the real thing. Great sports teams represented by a cute mascot that also happens to be a badass in the animal kingdom? No wonder everyone loves the Badgers!

2. Two Wheel-ing It Everywhere

People in Madison enjoy a good bike ride, whether it’s just around the neighborhood; on one of the city’s many trails, paths and bike lanes that connect bikers to their city; or at a biking event, like the Cyclo Frost Cyclocross, Ride the Drive, or the Bike the Barns event. Madison is also hosts the World Naked Bike Ride, which is exactly what it sounds like.

3. Big, Fake, Pink Flamingos

Although “tropical” might be the last word you’d associate with Madison, it’s fun to pretend sometimes, right? Enter the pink plastic flamingo, the city’s official bird.

4. A Good Brew, Especially A Local One

Madison has all the ingredients for beer appreciation: a young demographic, great local breweries and brew pubs and the craft beer festival to end all craft beer festivals, the Great Taste of the Midwest. These people have a reason to raise their glasses!

5. Winning At Tailgating Even If They Lose The Game

With extreme fan dedication comes extreme tailgating, and Badger fans can tailgate with the best of them!

6. Knowing Chicago Has Nothing On Their Fireworks Show

The 4th of July may be the loudest holiday in Madison, thanks to Rhythm and Booms, which locals claim to be the largest fireworks show in the Midwest. The celebration begins with concerts, and when it’s dark enough, the fireworks show set to music begins.

7. And Knowing Their Capitol Building Is Prettier Than Yours

Madison’s capitol building is dramatically situated on an isthmus, between Lake Monona and Lake Mendota, and state law does not allow any buildings to be taller than the capitol. So, not only is the building itself beautiful, it also looms over its domain in a striking fashion.

8. A Scoop Of Babcock Ice Cream For The Perfect Ending To The Day

Madisonians know where to go to get their Badger Blast on: the Babcock Hall Dairy Store. Creamy deliciousness in a dish or cone, Babcock ice cream is a favorite on a hot sunny day or a freezing cold one.

9. Being The Birthplace Of Everyone’s Favorite Fake News Source

College kids love comedy and sarcasm, and two of those University of Wisconsin-Madison students loved it so much, they built an empire based on satire and news back in 1988. Tim Keck and Christopher Johnson were juniors at the time, and since then the Onion has gone from having a few local fans in Madison to being adored internationally.

10. Buying Produce From The Neighbors

The people of Madison love their farmers’ market, and with good reason. The Dane County Farmers’ Market is the country’s largest producer-only farmers’ market. It’s open outside during the summer, and moves indoors during the winter, which means buying fresh, local and in-season all year round.

11. Cheese Curds, The Definition Of Culinary Perfection

Deep fried cheese curds, to be exact. Sure, you can find them throughout most of the Midwest, but those are usually the pre-packaged, frozen kind. The people of Madison, however, have turned them into a delicious delicacy. Ranch dressing continues to be a dipping sauce of choice, but Madisonians have even gotten creative in that department, creating dips that pair perfectly with their particular curds.

12. Freezing To Catch A Fish, And Having No Regrets

In the winter, when people in Wisconsin aren’t indoors cheering for the Badgers or the Packers, there’s a good chance they’re outside, sitting on a frozen lake. By the time New Year’s rolls around, the lakes are sufficiently frozen, which means ice fishing is being done on Madison’s lakes, especially Lake Mendota and Lake Monona.

13. Paying Nothing For Their Zoo

The Henry Vilas Zoo may be small, but that’s part of its charm. It’s also beautiful, admission is free and it’s accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, which assures a high quality of animal management and care, as well as conservation and research, educational programs and more.

14. Festivals Over Nightclubs Any Day

When you live in a beautiful city, enjoying festivals and events outdoors is a no-brainer. Each year Madisonians enjoy art festivals, food festivals, ethnic festivals, a pride festival and more.

15. The Madison Masterpieces

Nothing says culture like a good art museum, and Madison has two: the Chazen Museum of Art and the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art, both of which locals can’t get enough of. And for a more laid-back event, they flock to the Art Fair on the Square every summer.

16. Being In, On Or Near The Water

Most major cities are situated next to water in some form, be it river, lake or ocean. Madison residents have not one, but five lakes to enjoy: Lake Monona, Lake Mendota, Lake Waubesa, Lake Kegonsa and Lake Wingra.

17. Exploring What’s Below The Surface

Locals are proud of Madison’s natural beauty, but not all that beauty can be viewed at ground level. Madison is beautiful beneath the surface too; the Cave of the Mounds is a limestone cave more than 20 feet high, with other rooms and galleries, filled with mineral formations, beyond.

18. Shopping Small Business All The Way

Madison residents are unique and love supporting the local businesses that contribute to that uniqueness. This means they enjoy shopping at specialty stores all over the city, but strolling along places like the State Street pedestrian mall and Monroe Street.

19. Grooving To The Music

For a city that experiences frigid temperatures much of the time, Madisonians know that warm weather is not to be taken for granted. What better way to do that than at an outdoor concert? Madison residents love grabbing blankets and coolers filled with good food, wine and beer, and coming out to enjoy summer and a good band at a variety of venues across the city. Popular free concerts include Concerts on the Square, Live on King Street and Jazz at Five.

20. The Magic Of Snow

Sure, most people do a lot of sidewalk and driveway clearing in the winter months, but that doesn’t mean snowfalls are seen as just a chore. From snowman and snow angel making in front yards, to ice skating at night during a gently falling snow, to building a tightly packed snow ramp that propels sleds into the air, locals know that snow is also magical.

21. Flexing Their First Amendment Muscles

Freedom to assemble? We’ll show you freedom to assemble! Madison residents have always enjoyed a good protest, from the Vietnam War student protests of the 1960s to the more recent 2011 protests against the 2011 Wisconsin Act 10, when as many as 100,000 protestors gathered at the capitol for days.

22. All Brats, All The Time

Home to the “World’s Largest Brat Fest,” and Oscar Mayer, Madison loves its encased meats.

23. Escaping Into The Arboretum

Locals love nature, which is why the UW Arboretum is so popular. Everyone loves exploring the paths through forests, prairie grassland, wetlands and more. What do you love about living in Madison? Leave a comment and let us know!