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Need tips for my trip to Madison

By Catherine Toth Fox • November 14, 2011 • #CatTravels

I can’t believe I’m leaving for Madison, Wisc. this week.

I remember booking the trip months ago, thinking, “Man, I’m planning ahead!”

But now it’s just a few days away — and while I’m stressing about getting all my work done before I get on that plane (and yes, it’s a United flight), I’m excited about going to a city I’ve never been to before.

Believe it or not, I’ve been to Wisconsin. When I was a graduate student at Northwestern University, I spent Thanksgiving with my classmate’s family just outside of Milwaukee. I immediately fell in love with the area — rolling hills, strawberry farms, actual apple trees. (We don’t have those in Hawaii!)

But Madison will be a whole new experience.

This charming college town of 233,000 people — 17,000 of which are Asian, just FYI — is home to museums, art galleries, breweries, farms, coffee shops, vintage bookstores, restaurants, casinos, hiking trails, even a few drive-in theaters.

For sure, I want to walk about the University of Wisconsin, where Derek is getting his Ph.D. I want to see all the places he haunts, from the campus coffee shop he frequents to the Wisconsin Historical Society (above) where he studies every weekend.

But I wouldn’t mind checking out the Great Dane Pub & Brewing Co.; touring the Cave of the Mounds, a popular and quite beautiful cave about 20 miles west of Madison; the Third Coast Surf Shop, your one-stop-shop for lake surfing; and — get this — the National Mustard Museum, where you can sample the world’s mustards.

See? Lots to do.

Anyone got any other suggestions for me?

I’ll be traveling to Madison, Chicago and Las Vegas on this two-week, whirlwind tour. Follow me on Twitter (@thedailydish) and Facebook (/thecatdish).

Cave of the MoundsDerek TairaGreat Dane PubHawaiiMadisonNational Mustard MuseumThird Coast Surf ShoptravelUniversity of WisconsinvacationWisconsin
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About the Author

Catherine Toth Fox

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17 Comments

  • Reply David Jackson November 14, 2011 at 1:54 am

    Two words. Thermal underwear.

    • Reply Catherine Toth November 14, 2011 at 9:40 am

      Hmm. Wonder where I could get that in Hawaii…

      • Reply David Jackson November 14, 2011 at 10:14 am

        LL Bean 🙂

  • Reply Ray November 14, 2011 at 7:28 am

    I’ve never been there but a buddy from Madison says to go to Culver’s for their “butterburger”. With a name like that you gotta try it.

    • Reply Catherine Toth November 14, 2011 at 9:40 am

      BUTTERBURGER? Oh, my. I need to find that.

  • Reply matt November 14, 2011 at 8:38 am

    Never been, but…cheese curds.

    • Reply Catherine Toth November 14, 2011 at 9:41 am

      Derek did find a place that serves cheese curds. But he’s waiting for me to come up to try it. I’ll eat anything. Once. 🙂

  • Reply Lisa November 14, 2011 at 9:02 am

    I lived in Madison for seven years, and I agree with Ray, Culver’s butterburger!! Micheal’s frozen custard (it’ll be cold there, but that place is worth the suffering), or Babcock Hall ice cream, both are delicious. Ancora coffee is wonderful, and there are many great eats along State street and Monroe. One of my girlfriends that still lives there also told me Pizza Brutta on Monroe was delicious!! Hope that helps!! And safe travels!

    • Reply Catherine Toth November 14, 2011 at 9:41 am

      Whoo hoo! Thanks for sharing! These are great suggestions!

      Butterburger and frozen custard. I better get to the gym today.

  • Reply M November 14, 2011 at 9:33 am

    Hello Cat,
    Warm clothes…

    • Reply Catherine Toth November 14, 2011 at 9:42 am

      Problem is, I mostly have tank tops and bikinis. Yikes!

  • Reply WildeOscar November 14, 2011 at 1:06 pm

    Essen Haus restaurant on Wilson for German food, beer, and oompah music. Hold off on warm clothes until your Siberia adventure or January in Madison. Any long jacket with a hood will do. If you’re cold, you can buy a hooded UW Badgers sweatshirt when you get there. Better yet, tell Derek that you’re chilly, and he’ll figure a way to share some body heat. PhD candidates are good at figuring stuff like that out…

  • Reply Hannah November 14, 2011 at 8:02 pm

    Went there to visit a friend. State Street is like visiting Washington DC (close). Enjoy! Bought a cigar (just for kicks) and we had fun smoking it while walking around the campus lol.

  • Reply oldshoes November 15, 2011 at 1:34 am

    House On The Rock , it will change your life for ever.

  • Reply oldshoes November 15, 2011 at 1:40 am

    ……occupying the State Capital for a day is fun too! Think you still can bait a hook and land a perch…or just go to any restaurant for the ever popular Friday Fish Fry! yay!

  • Reply oldshoes November 15, 2011 at 1:44 am

    But how could you live with yourself if you’re in Wisconsin and dont rent a car and drive to Green Bay and visit the PACKERS!?? Head North young lady!……

  • Reply The Chicago Cuz November 16, 2011 at 4:33 am

    You could always come visit the Chicago Cuz and family? Or even better bring Derek down and I could take you both to the Bears vs San Diego Chargers football game this Sunday!

    Just my thoughts Cat, have a safe and wonderful trip!

    By the way it is cold now… so bring that winter jacket and be sure to put some darn pants on for crying out loud.

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About Me

About Me
Born and raised on O‘ahu, Hawaiʻi, Catherine Toth Fox has been chronicling her adventures in her blog, The Cat Dish, for more than a decade. She worked as a newspaper reporter in Hawai‘i for 10 years and continues to freelance—in between teaching journalism, hitting the surf and eating everything in sight—for national and local print and online publications. She’s currently the editor of HAWAIʻI Magazine.

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