The surrounding countryside is beautiful and includes an assortment of outdoor recreation areas and attractions such as Taliesin, Wright’s former home and studio, and the Wisconsin Dells, a collection of good but somewhat touristy family attractions. The area boasts many buildings of architectural interest, most particularly those designed by Frank Lloyd Wright including the spectacular Monona Terrace convention center on the Lake Monona shore but also including churches and several residences. The downtown is exceptionally clean and gives strong evidence of the city’s twin roles as state government center and college town.
The city itself surrounds a pair of lakes- Lake Mendota and Lake Monona- both of which provide recreation and attractive views from many city business and residential locations. The state capital and home to the University of Wisconsin, Madison is clean, attractive, progressive and well-planned.
