Wondering where to go this weekend near Madison, Wisconsin?

Shop & Eat at the Spring Green General Store 🥪 Spring Green, WI

Whether you trek to Spring Green, WI via WI-23 northbound from southern Wisconsin or westbound from Madison, Wisconsin, the drive to Spring Green is amazing and could be considered part of the adventure. The Spring Green General Store features a cafe offering local fair and a retail store highlighting artists’ goods, environmentally-friendly groceries and household items. Look for fair trade and local items at this small community-focussed business which is a great place to meet friends for a drink, bite to eat or live music. In addition to regular music gigs at the cafe, mark your calendar for the Spring Green General Store’s annual music events including BobFest and BeatleFest. Visit them on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest or read more about the Spring Green General Store on TravelWisconsin.com.

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Governor Dodge State Park 🌲 Dodgeville, WI

This popular park just west of Madison, WI boasts over 40 miles of hiking trails, fishing and beaches each with boat rentals and pavilion rentals in two lakes, two campgrounds plus groups campsites and backpack sites, two caves, an amazing waterfall along fields of lupine, gorgeous views, wildlife and so much more.

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Historic Small Town Tour 🏘 Mineral Point, WI

High Street is the given name for the primary thoroughfare or Main Street in British towns and in Mineral Point, WI, you’ll find High Street to be there too. This beautiful city offers a variety of small family business including a brewpub, wood-fired pizzeria, a southwest cuisine craft bar, a historic opera house, historic homes and hotels, an artist retreat center, amazing local food, a beautiful garden center and so many more shopping and reasons to stay the night.

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Canoe the Wisconsin River 🛶 Arena to Spring Green, WI

There’s a day trip opportunity to float down a lazy river with family or friends: canoe the Wisconsin River. Experienced swimmers only! The Wisconsin River can be very dangerous. However with safety and experience, the Wisconsin River provides remarkable recreation opportunities for families or an individual. Start in Arena, WI with a canoe or large inflatable to paddle for 3 hours or float for five hours all the way to Spring Green, WI. Drop off and pickup shuttle arrangements can be purchased ahead of time through canoe outfitters like Black Hawk River Runs or so many others along that stretch of the Lower Wisconsin Riverway. Another idea is launch from Spring Green, WI and end in Muscoda, WI which is an overnight adventure involving sleeping on the sand bars so make sure to tie the boat to a tree, periodically checking that your selected overnight sandbar hasn’t washed out and situating the tent away from the morning sun but preferably in the direction of wind, to blow away bugs before the sun sets.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BzY0WNepSJc/

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New Glarus Brewing Co. 🍺 New Glarus, WI

If you shy from alcohol consumption, feel free to skip this SW day trip recommendation. Overlooking the little Swiss town of New Glarus, WI, New Glarus Brewing Co’s tourist friendly hilltop location features self-guided brewery tours, a huge beer depot store, a gift shop and so much more to enjoy. This location seems to be under a state of constant expansion of its brewing and visitor facilities. Beer fans, this craft beer business is incredible.

 
Thanks for reading!

Feature photo by the Spring Green General Store, Spring Green, WI.