Why Madison, Wisconsin?
By Ava Griffiths, University of Wisconsin, Madison, USA
Madison is such a special city, and to me, it has the perfect college town vibe. The campus sits right on a lake, everything is super walkable, and the way the city and campus blend together so seamlessly is honestly just really nice, all while keeping that distinct college feel. Now, as you may have noticed, I’m the only person writing about UW-Madison on this blog. And yes, that’s because I’m the only person who chose Wisconsin all the way from Manchester. Honestly, I have no idea why more people don’t come here! Ok, maybe I’m a little biased, but I truly believe UW-Madison has to be one of the best American universities on the list. Don’t believe me? Well, consider this blog post my pitch for everything that makes Madison, Wisconsin, the perfect spot for a year abroad!
The Campus
My walks to class were a 10-minute stroll along Lake Mendota, honestly, the ideal walk. Everyone hangs out by the lake, and in winter, when it freezes, there are parties on it. Then in the summer, it’s perfect for swimming. The sunsets over the lake were always amazing, and I spent so much time just sitting by the water, working or with my headphones in.
You could walk along the natural trails next to the lake, leading you to so many campus spots. Whether it was ice skating at the state-of-the-art fitness center, playing beach volleyball when it warmed up, or just taking a relaxing stroll, there was always something to do! If you ever find yourself at UW-Madison, you have to get a semester fitness pass for the Nicholas Recreation Center. This place was incredible! For just $40 a semester, you had access to a ton of fun classes, you could attend up to 10 a week if you wanted. My friend and I started doing 7am yoga in their amazing studios and then switched to afternoon Zumba, which was honestly such a blast. They also offered Pilates in the evenings, the perfect way to wind down after a long day. And let’s not forget the indoor running track and the 50-meter pool, all just for students! The facilities were really next level. Before my year abroad, I never really worked out, but having access to all these classes made it fun and a great way to take a break from studying.
If you’re looking for that American college sports experience, UW-Madison definitely has you covered! With an 80,000-capacity football stadium at Camp Randall, and the Kohl Center where you can catch basketball and ice hockey games (a sport I grew to love), there’s no shortage of action. As a Big Ten school, we compete in NCAA Division I athletics, the highest level of collegiate sports, so game days are a huge deal. They get wild! If there’s an 11am game, people are up by 6am tailgating (that’s the pre-game gathering with food, drinks, and music)…it’s all a little crazy, but so much fun!
The City
Madison may be a small city, with just over 200,000 people, but it’s packed with charm. The heart of it all is State Street, where you’ll find shopping, restaurants, and bars. The best part? It’s a pedestrian-only street (which, let’s be honest, is pretty rare in the U.S.). Walk up State Street, and you’ll reach the State Capitol building, the true center of the city. Around here, you’ll discover even more amazing cafes, Wonderstate is a personal favorite, and Michaelangelo’s is a must-try! Also, don’t miss Gotham Bagels, where you can grab a classic bacon, egg, and cheese bagel, then enjoy it on one of the benches right next to the Capitol building.
Every Saturday morning, the area around the Capitol hosts the farmers market, and it feels like the whole city shows up, it’s got such great energy! This quickly became my Saturday morning ritual: grabbing a coffee and wandering around the market, sampling all the tasty free samples along the way.
It’s worth mentioning that Madison has long been recognized as one of the best college towns in America, which is one of the reasons I was so drawn to UW-Madison. Now that I’ve experienced it, I can definitely see why. Everything you need is in one place, which means you can walk everywhere, something I absolutely love!
Here are a few spots in Madison you can’t miss:
Ian’s Pizza: Perfect for grabbing a slice after a night of bar hopping down State Street (special shoutout to Red Rock, where they have a mechanical bull… enough said).
Vintage Bar & Grill: This was my favorite spot to grab food and drinks. I still dream about their buffalo chicken wrap and waffle fries…
The Memorial Union: Think of it as the student union, but on the lake! You can grab food, enjoy live music, and it’s really the heart of the lakeside scene.
