Madison School & Community Recreation (MSCR) in Madison, WI

MSCR offers a wide variety of programs for kids as well as adults. We have taken a few classes including Pre-Ballet, Parent/Child Art and currently, our three year old is enrolled in a swimming class called Shrimp Dip. It is a parent/child class, which means a parent or other adult needs to go in the water with her and participate. Basically, you are your child's teacher. She is loving it and will even let me pull her hair back for class, which is a MAJOR accomplishment!! The classes are reasonably priced (I think swimming was about $30 for 8 weeks). A new MSCR guide comes out every season. I think I may enroll myself in an exercise class. It's something you should check out. They have something for everyone.

Madison School & Community Recreation (MSCR)
3802 Regent St
Madison, WI 53705
(608) 204-3000
mscr.org

(Thanks for the review Julie!)

Olbrich Botanical Gardens in Madison, WI

Olbrich Botanical Gardens is one of my family's favorite places to go, all year round. Last week we went to see their spring flower show entitled "Springtime Skyline: An Urban Oasis". A rooftop garden is all set up with beautiful flowers, including daffodils, tulips, violas and hydrangea. It was wonderful to step out of winter and into spring, if just for a little while. The show is free but a $2 donation is suggested. Here's a link to the spring flower show, if you would like to read more about it:

http://www.ci.madison.wi.us/Olbrich/special%20events/Spring%20Show/spring_show.htm

We also wandered through the Bolz Conservatory, which is like stepping into a tropical rainforest. It is so warm and balmy, it helps you beat your winter blues. There's a waterfall, which falls into a goldfish and Koi pond and stream, which always captivates my girls. Sophie loves running around in the rain forest. The Conservatory is $1 per person, kids 5 and under are free. It is also free to Garden members.
In the spring, summer and fall we like to stroll (or run, as Sophie does!) through the beautiful outdoor gardens. It's a great place to wander through and enjoy the flowers and plant life. A fabulous place to be outdoors.

Olbrich Gardens does have a special events. Our favorite is Blooming Butterflies. It starts in the the lobby, where they have butterfly displays set up to enjoy, then the conservatory where they house live butterflies!! It's an amazing sight! Then out to the gardens to collect stamps to fill your Butterfly Passport. Find butterflies in their native habitat throughout the gardens, and earn a custard cone from Michael's Frozen Custard! Who can beat that!!
Make sure you check out the Olbrich Gardens website, which is listed below. A great family outing.

Olbrich Botanical Gardens
3330 Atwood Ave
Madison, WI 53704
(608) 246-4550
ci.madison.wi.us/Olbrich/

(Thanks for the review Julie!)

Mid-Continent Railway Museum in North Freedom, WI

We took a ride on the annual "Snow Train" from the railway museum last weekend. Our son loved it - the train was filled with lots of small children, there was a lot to see, and the ride was the perfect length. Fifty minutes was long enough that it was still fun for the kids, but not so long that they got too squirrely.

"Conductors" and "Engineers" walk around in full regalia, which is also fun for the kids. It's relatively inexpensive, and there's a decent gift shop where you can buy a wooden train whistle. Even in the winter, the steam heat kept the cars toasty. The museum itself is sort of in the middle of nowhere - they have many old trains on the grounds, and a larger museum that we didn't duck into. We just wanted the train ride. If you've got kids who are even mildly interested in trains, check out their daily rides this summer.

Mid-Continent Railway Museum
E8948 Diamond Hill Road
North Freedom, WI 53951
midcontinent.org

(Thanks for the review Honkus!)

Chazen Museum of Art in Madison, WI

The Chazen Museum of Art is located on the east end of the UW-Madison campus. Children and adults can go through the museum in a couple of hours and cover 2000 years of art from ancient Greece to 20th century New York. Artists in the permanent collection include Gauguin, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, and Andy Warhol. The Chazen usually has two exhibitions in addition to the permanent collection.

The museum's size makes it a very intimate setting to view art. It is probably most age appropriate for children who can stick with the "look with your eyes, not with your hands" rule. Parents of children who are not old enough to be aware of museum etiquette should keep it in mind though for a weekend when the babysitter is available and they want to get reacquainted with culture.

Entrance to the Chazen is free. There are also free concerts in the museum on most Sunday afternoons between September and May.

Chazen Museum of Art
800 University Ave
Madison, WI 53706
(608) 263-2246
chazen.wisc.edu

The Mattel Toy Store at American Girl in Middleton, WI

Mattel just recently opened a Mattel Toy store in their American Girl headquarters in Middleton. It's a fabulous place to go for some great deals on Mattel toys, including Fisher-Price, Matchbox cars, Barbie, Hot Wheels and others. They have a lot of great specials, many 50% off. They have 50% off clearance sections, where the boxes are a little banged up or damaged, but the toy is fine. You can get some great deals!! You never know what you're going to find as their stock rotates weekly. So if you see something you want, don't wait! It will most likely be gone the next time you come back. They not only carry toys, but also Fisher-Price baby items, such as infant swings, bouncers and bathtubs at discounted prices. If you haven't yet finished your holiday shopping and have kids on your list, you NEED to check this place out! Oh, and they have some fantastic coupons on their website, too.

The Mattel Toy Store at American Girl
8400 Fairway Pl
Middleton, WI 53562
(608) 836-4848
mattel.com/matteltoystore/

(Thanks for the review Julie!)

Capitol Kids in Madison, WI

Capitol Kids is a fabulous store in Madison for kids. Located on the Capitol Square, it's a convenient spot for anyone to get to. They have a great toy selection for kids of all ages. A nice place to find a holiday gift for that special someone on your list. They have beautiful clothes for kids there, too. Some really cute stuff! You should stop in and check it out. Don't miss it this holiday season.

Capitol Kids
8 S Carroll St
Madison, WI 53703
(608) 280-0744
capitolkids.com

(Thanks for the review Julie!)

Beerntsen's Confectionary in Manitowoc, WI

Beerntsen's Confectionary is a fabulous little candy and ice cream shop that I have frequented since I was a little girl. Beerntsen's is located in Manitowoc, Wisconsin and has been around since 1932. My parents used to take my sisters and I there for home made sandwiches, sundaes and, of course, their yummy candy. My parents still live in the area, and when we go to visit, we always make sure to stop at Beerntsen's. Our daughter's love it as much as we do! It's a great tradition.

Beerntsen's Confectionary
108 North 8th Street
Manitowoc, WI 54220
(920) 684-9616
beerntsens.com

(Thanks for the review Julie!)

Betty Brinn Children's Museum in Milwaukee, WI

The Betty Brinn Children's Museum is a wonderful museum at the end of Wisconsin Avenue overlooking the Milwaukee Art Museum and Lake Michigan. The space is big enough that there is room for the kids to play and climb and not have to wait in a line. The toddler area is enclosed and separate from the rest of the exhibits for the older kids so you don't have to worry about the toddlers accidentally getting knocked over.

There is parking underneath the museum so no need to go out into the elements between the car and the museum entrance which is nice in the winter.

Although we've never had a birthday party there, they do have party packages.

Betty Brinn Children's Museum
929 W Wisconsin Ave
Milwaukee, WI 53202
(414) 390-5437
bbcmkids.org

Madison Public Library: Lakeview Branch in Madison, WI

Lakeview library is our neighborhood library branch. Located in a mini mall, you would never guess that it was so wonderful inside. It has a nice children's area, with a play/reading space and a fish tank to keep the kiddos occupied while you're looking for books. The magazine room, which is in the back of the library. is spacious, warm and cozy, with many large windows and a fireplace. This is where many of the library's activities take place, including the preschool story time, which is a big hit with my three year old. I love the fact that you can browse the Madison Public Library's website for items, request them and when available they will be shipped to whatever library branch you choose. Very convenient when you have kids.

Madison Public Library: Lakeview Branch
2845 N Sherman Ave
Madison, WI 53704
(608) 246-4547
madisonpubliclibrary.org

(Thanks for the review Julie!)

Playthings in Madison, WI

Playthings is a toy store with high quality toys, not the kind of toys that have television cross promotions with six restaurant chains.

Playthings carries costumes for dressing up, dinosaurs, dolls, sailboats, and science experiments pretending to be toys. They also have more recognizable characters like Thomas the Tank Engine and a huge Playmobil selection. You can't go wrong giving a kid a toy from Playthings.

Playthings
702 N Midvale Blvd
Madison, WI 53705
(608) 233-2124
playthingstoystore.com

Sequoya Library in Madison, WI

This is the self-proclaimed busiest branch of the Madison Public Library system. They have a large children's book and video collection plus frequent storytimes for younger kids. The are comparatively few activities for older kids.

The library is undergoing a major expansion due in 2008, but that has not impacted the existing building except for parking.

The new library is now open.

Sequoya Library
513 S Midvale Blvd 4340 Tokay Boulevard
Madison, WI 53711
(608) 266-6385

http://www.madisonpubliclibrary.org/about/sequoya.html

(Thanks for the review ChrisDolan!)

Henry Vilas Zoo in Madison, WI

The Henry Vilas Zoo is one of the best places to visit in Madison. There is no entrance fee to the zoo, which is wonderful. It is also the perfect size to take children, small enough that you can make it through in an hour, but with enough variety to hold their interest. There is a newly renovated Children's Zoo, which includes a goat feeding area where, for 75 cents you get a pellet filled ice cream cone to feed them. The Children's Zoo also is home to the Conservation Carousel, which for one dollar you can ride almost any animal you can imagine. There is also a large play area for the kiddos. The zoo recently acquired three new giraffes, which my three year old can not get enough of. She would go to the zoo every day, if she could!!

Henry Vilas Zoo
702 S Randall Ave
Madison, WI 53715
(608) 266-4732
vilaszoo.org

(Thanks for the review julie!)

Kindermusik with Debbie in Madison, WI

Kindermusik with Debbie is a great way to expose your child to music and dancing. I highly recommend the program. It's a great way to bond with your child. Debbie is an experienced teacher and great with children. The Kindermusik program is of high quality and has a great curriculum for children 0-7 years of age. You can preview a free class by contacting Debbie.

Kindermusik with Debbie
1501 Gilbert Road
Madison, WI
(608) 274-6635
youngstir.com/debbie/

(Thanks for the review aforer!)

Warner Park Parent/Child Playtime in Madison, WI

Parent/Child Playtime, a Madison School and Community Recreation Program,takes place at Warner Park in Madison. A great open space to take your 0-5 year old where they can run, climb, ride trikes and other riding toys and play with various age-appropriate toys. Located in Warner Park's gymnasium, Playtime is a wonderful place for kids to interact with other kids and develop social skills, while parents get a chance to chat with each other. It takes place every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9:30 to 12. A Family ID to Warner Park Community and Recreation Center is required, but this yearly pass is quite inexpensive (I think ours was $10). There is a $3 entry fee, but you are allowed to try it for free the first time you go. This place is INVALUABLE to us in the wintertime when there are few other places to let your kids run around and release all that pent up energy.

Warner Park Parent/Child Playtime
3110 N. Sherman Ave.
Madison, WI
(608) 245-3690
http://www.ci.madison.wi.us/parks/warnerpark/index.html

(Thanks for the review julie!)

Madison Children's Museum in Madison, WI

The Madison Children's Museum is a fun place to take your kids. They have many exhibits and play areas where kids can really get involved, whether it's pretend play, making music with instruments or brushing a cow. They also have many programs for toddler, preschool and school-aged children. If you live in the Madison area and have kids, I would highly recommend purchasing a yearly membership, because if you attend any of the weekly programs for kids, your admission is then free. Definitely worth it! It does get crowded because of it's popularity, so I recommend going early in the a.m.

Madison Children's Museum
100 State St
Madison, WI 53703
(608) 256-6445
madisonchildrensmuseum.org

(Thanks for the review Julie!)

New Zoo in Green Bay, WI

Green Bay, Wisconsin has a new zoo and it's called The NEW Zoo! The NEW Zoo has many animal exhibits, including a Snow Leopard, a Red Panda, and my personal favorite, the penguins. The most incredible spot at the NEW Zoo has to be the Giraffe lookout tower where, twice a day, you can get an eye-level view of the giraffes and actually hand-feed them! It's amazing!! I have never had a cooler experience at a zoo.

New Zoo
4378 Reforestation Rd
Green Bay, WI 54313
(920) 434-7878
thenewzoo.com

Underwater Adventures Aquarium in Minneaoplis, MN

The aquarium at Mall of America near Minneapolis, MN is awesome even if it's too short and a little pricey.

The attraction starts with a walk down a simulated canyon with taxidermy mounts including a fox, skunk and muskrat. I'm not exactly sure why it starts that way, but I think maybe it was to simulate the flow of water down the Continental Divide to the ocean.

After the short trip down, you finally arrive at the aquarium itself. It is incredible. The fish are huge. There were saw fish and nurse sharks that had to have been 10 or 12 feet long. There was also a turtle the size of our coffee table! I was glad to see that after trying in vain to point out "Nemo" amongst all the animals swimming around in the big tank that there was an exhibit that had fish and jellies from "Finding Nemo" in it. That saved a lot of time answering the "Where's Nemo?" question.

After seeing all the animals, I understand why it was $17 for an adult(13+) ticket at the time of this writing, but it seemed really short probably because the people mover, despite its slow speed, still moves you through pretty quickly. We walked back to the start a couple of times along the part of the floor that doesn't move. It let us see all the animals and really spend some time there. Definitely step off the mover and look at the fish.

Kids under 3 were free.

Underwater Adventures Aquarium
Mall of America, 120 East Broadway
Bloomington, MN* 55425
(952) 883-0202
sharky.tv
*Minneapolis, MN is nearby.

Milwaukee County Zoo in Milwaukee, WI

The Milwaukee County Zoo is a lot of fun. We have a really great time riding the train and the carousel. They do have free days for families. About the only complaint that I have is that you have to wait in line awhile before getting to the parking lot. It seemed like a lot of people parked on the street and walked in. I also might pack a picnic instead of eating the cafeteria food. The zoo is open all year round.

Milwaukee County Zoo
10001 W Bluemound Rd
Milwaukee, WI 53226
(414) 771-3040
milwaukeezoo.org

Happy Bambino in Madison, WI

Happy Bambino is an incredible store for moms, dad, kids, anyone looking to buy unique baby and children's items. Locally owned and operated by 2 mothers, it carries everything from baby carriers to Booty Balm (a personal favorite!) It offers a children's play area to keep the little ones entertained while you shop, and the sales associates are knowledgeable and very friendly. Have a question about slings or cloth diapers? They'll have the answer. They offer a used clothing section called the Eco-Boutique for children of all ages and maternity wear too! I personally have found some fabulous bargains for my daughter. Good stuff! They also offer all kinds of classes and groups, including Parent and Child Activity classes. If you live in the Madison area and haven't been to Happy Bambino, make sure you check it out!

Happy Bambino
2045 Atwood Ave
Madison, WI 53704
(608) 204-6147
happybambino.com

(Thanks for the review Julie!)