It's Time to Take a Hike in Madison, Wisconsin! Madison and the surrounding area is a surprising cornucopia of great hiking destinations, many of which fly right under the radar. Avid hikers will find 60 detailed hikes, more than any other area guidebook, with a wide variety of terrain and skill level. This is a new edition of what has already become the definitive Madison trekking guide by author Kevin Revolinski. Wisconsin native Kevin Revolinski is an avid outdoorsman, public speaker, and author of more than a dozen books, including Best Tent Camping Wisconsin (co-author), Best Easy Day Hikes Milwaukee, Paddling Wisconsin, Backroads and Byways of Wisconsin, Wisconsin's Best Beer Guide, Michigan's Best Beer Guide, and Minnesota's Best Beer Guide, as well as the travel memoir The Yogurt Man Cometh: Tales of an American Teacher in Turkey. His articles and photography have appeared in a variety of publications, including The New York Times, Chicago Tribune, and Miami Herald. He lives in Madison, Wisconsin. MADISON CAPITOL AND DOWNTOWN LENGTH & CONFIGURATION: 3-mile loop - DIFFICULTY: Easy - SCENERY: Historical buildings, downtown shops, the Capitol, views of Lakes Mendota and Monona - EXPOSURE: Mostly sun - TRAFFIC: Moderate to heavy - TRAIL SURFACE: Sidewalks - HIKING TIME: 1 hour - DRIVING DISTANCE: 0.5 mile from the Capitol Square - ACCESS: Year-round - MAPS: USGS Madison West - WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBILITY: Yes - FACILITIES: In shops and restaurants along the route - CONTACT: visitmadison.com - COMMENTS: This area is busiest on Saturday mornings, especially during Wisconsin Badger football games and the Farmers’ Market. IN BRIEF Stroll the eclectic downtown area, visit the majestic Capitol, climb Mansion Hill, and take in the lakeshores on both sides of the isthmus. DESCRIPTION Starting from the corner of Lake Street, begin up State Street toward the Capitol. Just about every style of ethnic food can be found in the next seven blocks (0.5 mile), from the classic Wisconsin State Street Brats to more exotic fare, such as Peruvian, Afghan, and Tibetan cuisines and Russian dumplings. Clothing, music, books, coffee shops, and an assortment of gift shops and boutiques make this a nice alternative to the usual mall-variety stores. Street musicians, university students, and a few panhandlers, unfortunately, are ubiquitous and add to the vibe that is quintessentially Madison. You pass State Street Brats on your right halfway up the first block. Cross Gilman Street; in the next block to your left, across the street is Lisa Link Peace Park, where a historical marker remembers Madison’s role in the antiwar movement in the 1960s and 1970s. Continue toward the Capitol and pass Sacred Feather, a fine hat store and one of the only freestanding houses along here. You’ll cross the one-way, traffic-heavy Gorham Street and, another block later, Johnson Street heading the opposite direction. Henry Street crosses this intersection as well. Cross Johnson Street and then Henry Street to stay on State Street. At this corner, find the towering glass corner of the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art (closed Mondays; check mmoca.org or call 608-257-0158 for hours and exhibit information). There is a somewhat upscale rooftop terrace restaurant and bar. The view of State Street makes it worth a visit. The museum is part of the Overture Center for the Arts complex, which runs along the entire next block. Look for the old façades of two of the structures that once stood here―most notably the 1922 Capitol Theater; they were worked into the new building. Across the street is the Orpheum Theatre, which brings in a mix of concert events throughout the year. In the last block of State Street before you reach the Capitol Square, find Ian’s Pizza, a local favorite. At the top corner of State Street are two museums: The State Historical Museum and the Wisconsin Veterans Museum. Cross the street to get to the Capitol at the corner of Mifflin and Carroll Streets. The Capitol is open to the public, free daily tours are available, and, from Memorial Day through October, you can climb to the observation deck for great views of the city in all directions. Hours are Monday–Friday 8 a.m.–6 p.m.; weekends and holidays 8 a.m.–4 p.m. Call 608-266-0382 for more information. Go right along Carroll Street to Main Street, and head left. Halfway along the block is Martin Luther King (MLK) Jr. Boulevard. Go right here and follow it two blocks to get to the Monona Terrace. Based on a design by Frank Lloyd Wright, the convention center’s rooftop terrace offers views of Lake Monona and occasional live music in the summer months. Return along MLK Jr. Boulevard to the Capitol and continue around the square, going right on Main Street to Pinckney Street. Go left here and follow it to Mifflin Street. At this intersection, you will find the award-winning Madison Children’s Museum (madisonchildrensmuseum.org). Cross Pinckney to the right and then Mifflin to the le