Share this tour
Offered languages
- German
- English
Explore the narrow glacial neck of land that squeezed Madison's government, university, and public life between two glacial lakes. This walking tour traces how urban planning, state power, and world-changing lake science collide across the Madison Isthmus.
- A 3.5 km self-guided tour with 8 stops over 123 min
- Ideal for travelers interested in Urbanism, Infrastructure & Innovation and Power, Protest & Civic Spaces
- Immersively told in a podcast style by experts and locals
- Matching audio content, AI guide and navigation through the app
What's Included
Meeting and pickup
Meet outside Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center on John Nolen Drive. From Madison’s main transit hub, take local transit toward Monona Terrace and walk the final stretch. Check current connections on your travel day.
End at Muir Knoll beside the Howard Temin Lakeshore Path, near the UW–Madison lakeshore. Walk to the nearest local transit stop for your return to Madison’s main transit hub; check current connections on your travel day.
Itinerary
-
1Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center
Frank Lloyd Wright's civic vision spans rail lines and connects Madison's urban space to Lake Monona.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free -
2Wisconsin State Capitol
The political and physical summit of the Isthmus, perched on a central drumlin hill.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free -
3
Capitol Square at the corner of West Mifflin Street: The ring around the statehouse where markets, protests, and urban life converge.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free -
4
State Street Pedestrian Mall: The pedestrian corridor linking the Capitol summit directly with the university campus.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free -
5
UW–Madison Science Hall: A Romanesque landmark where early geographers mapped the glaciated landforms of Wisconsin.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free -
6
Hasler Laboratory for Limnology: The lakeside birthplace of North American limnology, helping define modern aquatic ecology.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free -
7Memorial Union Terrace
The university campus's social living room, directly on the shore of Lake Mendota.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free -
8
Muir Knoll beside the Howard Temin Lakeshore Path: A quiet rise honoring John Muir, whose early environmental ethic was sparked on this campus.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free
Additional info
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Tags
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Cancellation Policy
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Your guide to the flawless travel experience
Popular Countries
Get our app
