The Wisconsin Union was the first college union in the country (and still one of the few) to sell beer. What's that say about UW priorities? ;-) The best place to drink in Madison, possibly in the state of Wisconsin. Inside The Rath is a Germanish beer hall. Dull lighting and their own Rathskeller Ale are the two main ingredient here. Nice on a cold winter day. But the staple of The Union is the terrace. Those unmistakable colorful chairs (we have a couple at home). And the amazing view of being right on the lake. Watch the crew teams practice while drinking beer from one of the many little stands setup around in the summer. The beer selection is great and even when the place it packed there isn't much of a line as the stands are fairly spread out. You do need a Union membership but that's what friends are for. Nothing like a bucket of beer with friends on a warm summer day. The music acts they get and other events are always a ton of fun and there's no better place to watch the fireworks on July 4th (come REALLY early if you want to get or enough chairs for you and your friends). Food is great and they even have an ice cream shop made with fresh milk from the vet school (girlfriend use to work there in college). Stay at the Edgewater hotel just down the lakefront and you'll be within walking distance of your hotel (and lakeside rooms have a great view too). All in all this is THE place you have to stop if your in Madison. It's a piece of history and a killer time.
All USA
The Wisconsin Union was the first college union in the country (and still one of the few) to sell beer. What's that say about UW priorities? ;-) The best place to drink in Madison, possibly in the state of Wisconsin. Inside The Rath is a Germanish beer hall. Dull lighting and their own Rathskeller Ale are the two main ingredient here. Nice on a cold winter day. But the staple of The Union is the terrace. Those unmistakable colorful chairs (we have a couple at home). And the amazing view of being right on the lake. Watch the crew teams practice while drinking beer from one of the many little stands setup around in the summer. The beer selection is great and even when the place it packed there isn't much of a line as the stands are fairly spread out. You do need a Union membership but that's what friends are for. Nothing like a bucket of beer with friends on a warm summer day. The music acts they get and other events are always a ton of fun and there's no better place to watch the fireworks on July 4th (come REALLY early if you want to get or enough chairs for you and your friends). Food is great and they even have an ice cream shop made with fresh milk from the vet school (girlfriend use to work there in college). Stay at the Edgewater hotel just down the lakefront and you'll be within walking distance of your hotel (and lakeside rooms have a great view too). All in all this is THE place you have to stop if your in Madison. It's a piece of history and a killer time.