I grew up in Wisconsin, but I admit when we first moved to Baraboo (about an hour north of Madison) I had no idea what to do with my two little kids. A Milwaukee native, South-Central Wisconsin was a mystery to me.

Fortunately, between the Dells to the North, a surprising number of things to do in Baraboo, and the wealth of family-friendly ideas in Madison we kept quite busy for three years. I still miss our quiet mornings at Devil’s Lake and busy ones at the Madison Children’s Museum.

Here are our favorite things to do in the Madison Area with young kids.

15+ Free & Cheap Things
to do in the Madison Area

Outdoor Activities for Kids

1. Go to a Lake, our favorites include;

• Lake Monona – Madison WI. There are several access points, but we like the beach and trails in Governor Nelson State Park.
• Devil’s Lake State Park – Baraboo WI. There are two beaches and lots of trails. I loved the South beach the most.

2. Visit a Playground. There are some awesome ones in the area. 

McKee Farms Park in Fitchburg is my favorite. It is huge, full of places to climb, and walking paths that wind through the park. There is also a fantastic farm themed splash pad to cool off in during the Summer.

3. See the Animals at the Henry Villas Zoo. 

It’s FREE and completely awesome.

4. Ride the Merrimac Ferry

This is about a half an hour north of Madison and runs during the warmer months. It is completely free and doesn’t take long. I recommend parking on one side so you can walk on the ferry. Ride is across and back so your kids can see the lake. Pack a lunch to eat on the shore to make a day of it if you want or get ice cream at the little shop on the Merrimac side.

5. Watch a Mallards Game

A cheap night out with lots of fun baseball, food, and people watching. Younger children will not understand or appreciate the baseball-ness of the activity, but they will be fascinated by everything going on around them. There is also a kids play area inside the stadium. See Website.

6. Visit a farm. 

We love visiting farms to pick apples, pumpkins, blueberries…whatever is in season. We love:

• Green Thumb Farms in Prairie du Sac
• Eplegaarden Apple Farm just outside Madison.

7. Dane County Farmers’ Market

This is a huge Farmers’ Market the forms around the Wisconsin State Capitol Square from 6am to 2pm every Saturday. On nice days it gets super crowded but it’s worth it.

8. International Crane Foundation

This is a little hidden gem in Baraboo WI. It’s small but is easy for kids to wander and has quite a collection of cranes. You’ll pay $10 for yourself, but kids under 5 are free. See website.

also read: 10+ Things to do with Kids on Milwaukee’s East Side

Indoor Activities for Kids

9. Madison Children’s Museum – Madison MS

This is a fantastic children’s museum. While one trip is not cheap, I highly recommend a membership. If you have kids under 5 you could find yourself here at least once a month. View Website.

10. Library Storytime

Throughout the city there are preschool story times at the various libraries. One of our favorites is the main branch in downtown Madison. It has an amazing children’s area full of great books, interesting nooks, and kid friendly technology. Check online for a storytime there or near you.

11. Barnes and Noble

This isn’t unique to Madison, but it is still a fun way to pass a few hours. There are several branches in the Madison area, but each has a wonderful children’s area. Our kids love playing and browsing for books. Check the website for brief storytimes as well.

12. Olbrich Gardens

Looking to warm up on a cold day, this is a great place to do it. The indoor dome is steamy and small enough for little legs to wander on their own. We also love the Christmas Trains Exhibit.

13. Kids in the Rotunda

On Saturdays, the Overture Center puts on delightful free family events. They vary, so check the schedule, but in our experience they are all awesome. View Website.

14. Mall Play Area

If you aren’t in the midst of a terribly flu season, the indoor play areas at the East Towne and West Towne malls are fun places to play. Visit in the early morning to avoid the chaos of lunchtime and afternoon.

15. Visit the University of Wisconsin-Madison

There are plenty of kids friendly things to do at the U. You can eat custard at the Babcock Hall Dairy, bowl at the bowling lanes, or climb on the climbing wall in the lower level of the Student Union.

16. The Chazen Museum of Art

This is a museum on the UW campus. They have some fun events for children and their caregivers. Check the website for dates.

17. UW Geology Museum

This FREE musuem on the UW campus is a fun place to visit. There are also storytimes on the first and third Thursday of each month. See website for details.

18. See Play at the Children’s Theater

For the three years we lived in Baraboo, WI we went to several productions at the Children’s Theater in Madison and were impressed each time. One of my favorites was their production of Anne of Green Gables. I love when a beloved book comes to life. Movies are great, but there is something extra magical about a play being performed live in front of your eyes. In general the theater is a lovely place to visit. Clean, comfortable, and full of helpful, welcoming staff.