Our convenient hotel in Monona offers an ideal location near prime shopping, sightseeing, museums, sports, businesses and outdoor activities. Whether you're up for an adventure or getting down to business, our Madison, WI lodging is an idea home base for exploring the area. With the University of Wisconsin and downtown Madison just a short drive away, this hotel puts you close to a wide variety of Madison attractions and activities.
Our hotel is close to the following exciting local attractions:
Alliant Energy Center (3.8 miles) The Alliant Energy Center hosts lecture series, symposiums, expos, conventions, trade shows and consumer shows. Phone: (608) 267-3926
Allen Centennial Gardens (6.5 miles) Allen Centennial Gardens is a horticultural education garden managed by the University of Wisconsin. The lovely grounds are often used for weddings. Phone: (608) 262-1490
Betty Lou Cruises (10 miles) Cruise on Lake Monona and enjoy the beautiful scenery, a buffet meal, and professional service with Betty Lou Cruises. Phone: (608) 246-3138
Dejope Gaming (3 miles) Enjoy a little Vegas, right here in Madison. This facility includes over 1,000 bingo slots in the beauty of the new Dejope building. Phone: (608) 223-9576
East Towne Mall (5.4 miles) The East Towne Mall features stores such at J.C. Penny, Sears, Boston Store, the Gap, Victoria's Secret, Bath & Body Works, restaurants and more. Phone: (608) 244-1387
Geology Museum (5.8 miles) Exhibits of reconstructed dinosaurs, a mastodon skeleton, mineral samples and more are part of the experience at the Geology Museum of Madison, WI. Phone: (608) 262-1412
Governor's Mansion (8.4 miles) Free public tours are available from April through August at the majestic Governor's Mansion. Phone: (608) 246-5501
Henry Villas Zoo (6 miles) The Villas Zoo houses primates, lions, seals, white rhinos, camels, a children's zoo, a carousel ride and more. Phone: (608) 266-4733
Madison Children's Museum (5.5 miles) Enjoy unique opportunities to have fun learning alongside your child with hands-on exhibits at the Madison Children's Museum. Phone: (608) 256-6445
Monona Terrace Convention Center (5 miles) The Monona Center offers music concerts, Tai Chi, Wright Lectures, and a sunset diner cruise along with 85,000 sq ft of exhibition space and a Frank Lloyd Wright gift shop. Phone: (608) 261-4000
Olbrich Gardens (3.6 miles) Olbrich Gardens offers 16 acres of outdoor display gardens, rose gardens and the Thai Pavilion & Garden. It also houses the Bolz Conservatory, featuring a glass pyramid building with exotic plants, flowers, birds and a waterfall. Phone: (608) 246-4550
University of Wisconsin (6 miles) The University of Wisconsin offers nine undergraduate schools, 160 majors, 70 academic programs and is listed in the top 10 universities in America by U.S. News & World Report. Phone: (608) 263-2400
Wakesport Adventures (10 miles) Wakesport Adventures is the place for water skiing, tubing and water boarding on Lakes Monona and Mendota. Phone: (608) 255-5292
Wisconsin Historical Museum (5.6 miles) Here, intriguing stories are told using rare artifacts and four floors of exhibits. Perfect for all ages, this museum is a must-see. Phone: (608) 264-6555
By all accounts, Madison's picturesque setting is beyond enviable, nestled as the city is amid four glacier-created lakes. Even better, the downtown district claims the isthmus between Lakes Monona and Mendota, ensuring that both water and views are never too far distant. Presiding over everything is the State Capitol, an impressive domed edifice whose silhouette commands the scenic skyline. The lovely city is a far cry from the tiny settlement that existed early on, when the site of the capital was chosen by virtue of location alone. Once the Capitol was built and legislators had a place to convene, the University of Wisconsin-Madison followed in 1848, and the city began to flourish. Today, the cosmopolitan town has truly come into its own and is a center of culture, business, education, politics, and leisure. In fact, Madison has repeatedly been named one of the nation's most livable cities, thanks to the synergy created by its diverse aspects. Traditionally a bastion of liberal thinking, "Mad City" appeals to the broad-minded, especially given the strength and influence of the university. That's not to say, however, that academics rest in ivory towers. Bars, clubs, and restaurants appeal to folks of all persuasions, outdoor activities abound thanks to the lakes and numerous biking trails, and Badgers games at Camp Randall Stadium elicit strong emotions from loyal fans. Plus, industry thrives as government, technology, and insurance companies maintain sound community standings. For an initial overview of the city, make sure to wander through the Capitol and check out events held on its lawn, explore the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Monona Terrace, and browse the shops and restaurants along State Street. These, along with Madison's parks and museums, define the city, illustrating the compatibility between what nature has provided and what humanity has wrought in the city among the lakes.
Did you know?
Madisonians take great pride in their beautifully designed State Capitol, which essentially functions as the city's landmark. So as not to obstruct its prominence, building codes demand that new structures not overshadow it in position or height. As a result, the Capitol always appears prominently in the downtown area.