Looking to have fun this year and try something new? Our Residence Life Staff is sharing their checklist of things you MUST do. Check it out and see how many you can experience this year.
- Complete the Residence Life Policies & Information course in Canvas.
- Go to a Wisconsin Welcome Event.
- Meet your House Fellow.
- Complete your Roommate Agreement with your roommate(s).
- Get dinner with someone you just met on your floor.
- Watch the sunset at the Memorial Union Terrace. One of the absolute best things to do in the summer is watching the sunset at the Terrace with a group of friends. Sit by the water, listen to music, and eat good food. There’s nothing better.
- Check out the Henry Vilas Zoo, open daily from 9:30am-5:00pm. The best part? It’s completely FREE! It’s about a 15-20 minute walk from campus, located just down the street from Camp Randall!
- Visit Olbrich Gardens! The outdoor gardens are free and display tons of plants, flowers and landscapes for you to view. Each summer, Olbrich Gardens hosts a summer concert series on the Great Lawn as well for anyone to attend!
- With over 17 miles of trails and three different garden collections to walk through, the UW Arboretum is a must-see when you’re in Madison! Free garden tours are available spring, summer, and fall!
- Take a day trip to Devil’s Lake. Approximately 50 minutes away from UW Madison, Devil’s Lake State Park is located in Baraboo, WI. It’s one of WI’s most popular parks, and it’s absolutely beautiful. Plan to spend an entire day hiking, swimming, biking and exploring the beautiful outdoors.
- Walk or run the Capital City Trail. It’s a beautiful, 17-mile paved trail that’s great for walking, running or biking! The views of Madison and Lake Monona are breathtaking.
- Rent a stand-up paddle board or kayak on Lake Mendota. Rentals are only $12 per hour for students or WI Union members. Super-affordable and lots of fun to get out on the water! Rent stand-up paddle boards, kayaks or canoes.
- Take a Terrace Yoga Class. Seeing the sunrise at the Terrace is just as good as the sunset! Every Saturday and Sunday in the summer, the Terrace offers yoga classes for $7. You won’t want to miss it!
- Take a bike ride on one of the many trails. One of the best things about living in Madison is all the trails! Madison is a very active city, so you’ll see lots of bikers everywhere you look. Grab your bike or one of the electric BCycles, and hit the trails!
- Paddle boat on Lake Monona. Spend an afternoon paddle boating on Lake Monona. Rentals are very affordable, and you’ll have the best time!
- Try a new restaurant. There are tons of restaurant options in Madison, but if you’re looking for a few recommendations, here are a few of our favorites.
- Grab your swimsuit, a beach towel and a volleyball and head to James Madison Park! It’s always a good time.
- Go to the Farmer’s Market. The farmer’s market on the square is always a favorite Saturday morning activity. Pick up some flowers and produce and casually stroll the market, before heading to brunch with your friends.
- Go to a Terrace After Dark Movie. A few times a month from June to August, the Terrace hosts a movie night. Grab your group of friends, a blanket and some snacks and head to the Terrace!
- Located on 1605 Linden Drive, the Babcock Dairy Store produces ice cream, milk and cheese for UW Madison and the community to enjoy. There’s an observation deck where you can see the production lines and the machinery used, and there are 22 ice cream flavors to try! Babcock ice cream is the best!