Madison Area Information

Madison is the capital city of Wisconsin, and if you have any preconceptions about the state of Wisconsin you should prepare yourself for a surprise.  Occasionally referred to as "77 square miles surrounded by reality," Madison has a young, liberal, hip culture similar to that of Boulder or Austin.  In addition to being the capital, Madison is also a true college town, hosting a student population of approximately 50,000 annually.  Schools include the University of Wisconsin as well as Madison Media Institute and several other private schools.  In fact, Forbes ranks Madison as the #2 city in the United States in overall education.

Outdoor Activities

Madison is also one of the very rare cities built on an isthmus.  The city sits on a narrow strip of land between two beautiful glacial lakes, and several smaller lakes joined by rivers surround the area.  Outdoor activities are plentiful with boating, kayaking and waterskiing on the water, and running, rollerblading and biking popular on the 120 miles of bike paths that cover the entire area.  Over 250 parks and even several beaches complete the experience for outdoor enthusiasts locally, not to mention the extensive additional opportunities a little further afield in the beautiful Wisconsin Dells.  There are even multiple ski resorts within an hour's drive of Madison, and snowboarders will be amazed at the number of technically-challenging course options.

Downtown Madison, and Dining

Back downtown, State Street is the famous pedestrian mall joining the Capitol building at the top with the UW campus a mile down the hill.  Lined with restaurants, bars, the Orpheum theatre and shopping for every taste, there's always something happening on State Street!  

Speaking of restaurants, Madison truly has something for everyone.  Ranked as having the highest number of restaurants per capita of any other city in the U.S., the variety of options is what really stands out.  From subs and pizza to every imaginable ethnic cuisine, there's something for everyone and every budget.

Accommodation

With its enormous college student population, Madison has a massive amount of rental accommodation available.  From small room shares and studios to 4- and 5-bedroom apartments, or entire houses for bigger groups, and at every price point, you're bound to find exactly what you're looking for to enhance your overall student experience living in Madison and attending Madison Media Institute.