A progressive, cosmopolitan city of over 200,000, Madison offers both small town charm and a range of cultural and recreational opportunities usually found in much larger cities. With four lakes and over 200 hundred parks, it is one of the nation's most scenic cities. Madison has the most restaurants per capita of any city in the United States and ranks second in the nation per capita book purchases. Madison also boasts one of lowest unemployment rates in the nation.

The sprawling University of Wisconsin sets the tone for this college town of cafes, bookstores, brewpubs, numerous restaurants (more per capita than anywhere else in the U.S.) and a good share of cultural and historical attractions. Stunning glacial waterways make the City of Lakes one of the more picturesque state capitals in the country. More than 150 parks offer residents and tourists plenty of recreational areas to choose from. If you visit the campus, be sure to try the famous Babcock Ice Cream at Memorial Union or Babcock Hall, before or after a visit to the Elvehjem Museum of Art's collection of Greek, Roman and Egyptian antiquities. And to really get into the college spirit, head over to State Street's eclectic range of ethnic restaurants. Be sure to try the mouth-watering bratwurst sandwich on a homemade bun at State Street Brats, a student favorite. At the end of State Street, the white granite, Roman Renaissance-style Capitol dominates the skyline and offers an observation platform for views of the city and lakes.

Madison is a shopper's paradise. With a variety of local specialty shops and natinal chains, if you can't find ithere, maybe it's not worth finding. Downtown is State Street and the Capitol Square. It is filled with students and professionals, and the mix is evident in the varied shops. You will find bookstores, clothing shops, ice cream, coffee and many jewelry, gift and accessories shops not to mention a wide variety of many restaurants from fast food to fine dining.