I grew up just a two-hour drive from Madison, Wisconsin, and have long appreciated its charm. I’ve enjoyed runs along the lakes and strolls among its leafy streets. I’ve shopped and dined downtown in the light of the Wisconsin State Capitol. I’ve felt the youthful energy and student passion on the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus. But only recently have I gotten to know Madison from a business events point of view, and I realized just how much it can offer the meetings segment.
It's fun being reintroduced to a place you know so well. As I kayaked on the waves of Lake Monona with a group ahead of a conference and snapped pictures of our host venue from the water—the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Monona Terrace Community & Convention Center—I began to understand that everything I love about Madison as a leisure traveler also makes it a compelling destination for meetings and events.
With 17 direct flights into Dane County Regional Airport, national access to the city is getting easier, and for Midwest-based attendees, its an easy drive from major metros like Chicago, Minneapolis and Milwaukee.
Madison is extremely walkable and compact. Monona Terrace and attached Hilton Madison Monona Terrace are just two blocks from the Capitol and all the surrounding shops, bars and restaurants. Other lodging options like the new Embassy Suites Hotel, the Edgewater Hotel, The Madison Concourse Hotel & Governor’s Club and Best Western Premier Park Hotel are all within steps, too.
More than 300 restaurants and attractions are within a mile of Monona Terrace as well. You’ll find plenty of opportunities to sample Wisconsin-famed cheese curds, but Madison is also increasingly upping its foodie game, counting James Beard accolades and appearing on Top Chef: Wisconsin last year that featured spots like The Harvey House, which celebrates Wisconsin supper club culture in a vintage baggage claim house and train car behind Madison’s historic train depot.
And, of course, Madison’s five lakes and 200-plus miles of biking and hiking trails are beloved features by locals that visitors treasure just as much, whether it’s for a morning pedal before a convention or stroll in between meetings.
It’s one of those destinations that sticks with you after a visit, surprising and delighting in so many little, meaningful ways.
—Danielle LeBreck
[Related: How Groups Can Experience Milwaukee and Madison's Dining Scenes]
Where to Stay in Madison
Hilton Madison Monona Terrace is perhaps the most convenient option for meetings groups in Madison, directly connected to Monona Terrace. The 240-room hotel has nearly 4,000 square feet of meeting space of its own, views of Lake Monona and is within steps of the Capitol building and surrounding restaurants.
Where to Eat in Madison
Top Chef: Wisconsin spent a lot of time in Madison last year, and for good reason. Home to the largest producers-only farmers market in the country, fresh fare is easy to find in the capital city, much of which is within walking distance of the convention center. Try fine-dining hotspot L’Etoile Restaurant, buyout three-story Lucille for pizza and Pan-Asian plates or enjoy a cheese tasting at Fromagination.
Fun Activities in Madison
Madison is home to five lakes, and one of the best ways to get on the water as a group is with Brittingham Boats, which offers full-service rentals of kayaks, paddleboards, canoes and more. Paddle on Lake Monona to view the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Monona Terrace from a different vantage point.
Read more meeting and event news in Wisconsin.
Taking Off is a column from the desk of Senior Content Director and resident destinations expert, Danielle LeBreck, which uncovers the destinations you haven't thought of for meetings or events, from under-the-radar locales to new neighborhoods you should know about. Read more Taking Off columns here.
