Madison, Wisconsin

This down-to-earth state capital has everything from lakefront views and countless nature trails to beloved cult beers and dedicated farm-to-table food scene

Why go: When it comes to pleasant weekenders with a wealth of things to do, Madison comes out on top. When you add in its walkability, it’s the hands-down winner. There are two ways to do this trip, or combine both options for a trip that has it all. Stay as close to the Capitol building as possible (there are plenty of both hotel and Airbnb options). All the action is right here in the heart of the city, from streets of shops radiating outward from the square -- the Fromagination fine cheese shop and Earthbound Trading Co. are worth a visit -- to Comedy on State, which draws comedy acts from across the nation. Grab a Madison B-cycle in the summer and take a spin around the lake, or plan a trip during the free Frozen Assets winter festival, featuring bike races and kid friendly activities on the lake itself.

Must eat/drink:New Glarus Brewing Company’s current Thumbprint Series brew. Meanwhile, restaurants like Heritage Tavern boast locally sourced -- almost too easy in these farm-filled parts -- and craftily prepared fare, while bars like Camp Trippalindee and Paul’s Club deliver tasty cocktails with a side order of kitsch. Finish up with brunch at Sardine, where French classics -- recent offerings included duck confit with a warm bacon lardon vinaigrette and decadently rich baked creamed eggs -- are lovingly treated and the lakefront views are superb.

Weekend highlights: Camp at New Glarus State Park, which, like all Wisconsin state parks, allows alcohol on-site -- major plus. It’s also a convenient walk from New Glarus Brewing Company, where one of the country’s largest craft breweries produces perfectly balanced beers like Spotted Cow and Two Women, all sold exclusively in Wisconsin.

Don’t leave without: Visiting the Chazen Museum of Art, the University of Wisconsin’s free art museum. Pieces like the worn, canyon-wrinkled “Ethel Long,” by American painter Arthur Byron Phillips, and an appropriately eerie David Lynch work leave lasting impressions, while string quartets and other music acts fill the galleries on Sunday afternoons. Temporary exhibitions like Southern Rites, a gripping portrait series of Georgia teens attending segregated proms in the 2000s, often highlight the works of university alumni and uphold the reputation of collegiates as forward-thinking provocateurs.