This giveaway contest is over and the winner has been chosen.
“It’s always about food,” insists Izzie the Intern. That’s why food is going to be the focus of our next few giveaway contests.
If you want to win a $25 gift certificate for Claddagh Irish Pub at Greenway Commons in Middleton, you’ll want to enter this Madison on the Cheap giveaway contest.
This is a Restaurant.com gift certificate and it does not have an expiration date – although we suspect the winner probably won’t wait too long to use it. We chose Claddagh Irish Pub because we like the food and the atmosphere – and because we know that gift certificates for this establishment usually aren’t in stock too long at Restaurant.com
and are rarely available near the end of the month when prices are very low.
This $25 gift certificate is good with a minimum purchase of $35 and is valid for food only. It may be used Sunday-Thursday (excluding holidays and special events).
If you’d like to enter this giveaway contest, here’s what you’ll need to do:
Leave a comment on this post and tell us your favorite free, cheap, or inexpensive place to visit within a 100-mile radius of Madison (one of our’s is Dr. Evermor’s sculpture park near Baraboo).
You must leave your name (first name only, if you wish) and a valid e-mail address (which will not be visible to others). We need the e-mail address to contact the winner for addition information (mailing address).
The contest is open until 11:59 p.m. CST on Monday, September 6th, 2010. Any entries received after that time will not be accepted. Only one entry per person. Multiple entries will be discarded. Contest open only to U.S. residents with a U.S. mailing address.
Winner will be selected using Random.org and notified by e-mail. Winner will have 48 hours to claim their prize.
Note: We use comment moderation, so your comment may not appear immediately. We’ll check comments in the queue several times a day, so check back later if you want to see yourself in print.
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I like to visit the Indian mounds at Beloit College, my alma mater, and then the museums at the college. The college grounds are lovely, and have sculptures and a “poetry garden” too. All free!
We love visiting the Zoo in Madison and Bay Beach up in Green Bay!!
One of the best free spots is the Henry Vilas Zoo in madison.
I always love hitting the Wisconsin Welcome center in Beloit on the way back into the state. What a great way to welcome us home!
Amish area near Pardeeville. There is a great greenhouse, stores and furniture.
One of my favorite places is the International Crane Foundation in Baraboo. The cranes are fascinating to watch (some will come right up to the fence as you walk by). Many like to show off their calls while doing their crane dances. Admission is cheap (around $15 last time I was there) and you can walk around for hours. There’s also an educational building with interactive displays, videos and art. They also offer optional guided tours and self-guided tours.
While it is again closed do to flooding, I have so enjoyed Parfrey’s Glen up near the dells. A free state park that is filled with awesome views.
I like Olbrich Gardens. It changes with each season.
I’d have to say it’s a toss up depending on the company. Between Dr. Evermore’s/Parfrey’s Glen, Union Terrace or the Zoo. If it’s early enough in the day, I like to take people to Olbrich for yoga.
I took my out-of-state friends on a weird Wisconsin tour a couple of years ago. Most of the places were free. In addition to evermor’s, we stopped at the cress funeral home’s taxidermy display on university ave, the circus world museum in baraboo and derwards glen near merrimac.
The farmer’s market on Saturdays!
I like Governor Dodge State Park. It isn’t free, but $7 split between a car full of people is still pretty cheap!! The hiking, views and picnicking there are top notch!
I LOVE to wander through the arboretum, watching the changing seasons is a thrill there. My 2-year-old may even love it more than I do : ), which is great – cause it’s free!!
New Glarus Brewery. Home of Spotted Cow. It doesnt get anymore Wisconin than that…………….
Amishville north of Pardeeville.
We love to visit Devil’s Lake
We always enjoy taking a stroll through the Arboretum in Madison.
The Henry Vilas Zoo is my favorite. Gotta love the animals!
I love going to Devil’s Lake. It is so beautiful out there and there are some lovely rock formations to wonder at and who can beat a sparkling lake!!
The Castle Park in Monona is awesome and my 6 year old son loves it; totally free and the Monona Library is just across the street. Madison Public Library users can use their library too!
Baumgartner’s Cheese Shop in Monroe not only sells Wisconsin (mostly Green County) cheeses, but there’s an old-fashioned tavern in the back half of the store that has that quintessential feel of the old family taverns I used to remember in Milwaukee. Their specialty is a swiss or limberger cheese sandwich served with chili and one of several local tap beers. On the walls are a humorous handpainted mural and an ancient map of the cantons of Switzerland. Looking up at the very high ceiling will also provide for interesting conversation.
One of my favorite places to visit in Madison is the Olbrich gardens!
McKee Farms Park is one of my favorite places to take the kids! They love it and call it the Castle Park
the Memorial Union Terrace
I love to go to Devil’s lake with friends, kick back with a couple beers and float in the lake..
a self-guided tour of interesting sculptures on the East Side. There’s a TON of Sid Boyum sculptures, and Harry Whitehorse.
Peck’s Farm Market on Hwy 14. There are two. One, West of Spring Green and one East. They are both great petting zoos and particularly fun for fall / Halloween activities. Free horse drawn carriage rides at West on the weekends. East offers more playground equipment and a sand area. We love them both. Of course we never REALLy get out of there without spending some money on their superb produce.
I still love the MILWAUKEE lakefront, after all these years. 90-minutes from Madison, but it looks so different from here!
I love going to Wild West Days in Mazomanie every year! The tough trucks competition on Saturday is always a great time. The food is always good and pretty cheap (pork sandwich = best $3.00 I’ve ever spent!), the Friday night and Saturday night bands are great (and very inexpensive)! And, if I’ve sampled one too many $2 beers. . .I can ride the “safe ride bus” home. They drop anyone off within a 20 mile radius of Mazomanie at no charge! Can’t get much better than that!
It’s coming right up too – September 10th, 11th and 12th! Oh – I love this time of year!!
My family loves the Zoo!
I love the Paul & Matilda Wegner Grotto near Sparta, WI. The Kohler Foundation purchased the property and had it restored, then donated it to Monroe County as a park. It is an amazing collection of bits of china and glass on all kinds of animal sculptures, boats, a small chapel, etc.
It is tucked away on a country road, so when you come upon it it is such a surprise, and it is well worth the drive through the beautiful rolling hills of west central Wisconsin. Great Fall Trip!
Devil’s Lake
The Big Cat Rescue in Baraboo is pretty cool. Fall time seems to be the time that the cats are most active. Sassy Cow Creamery in Columbus is a cute little place to grab some cheese and ice cream.
In the fall I love taking guests to Holy Hill in Hubertus -the view of the autumn colors from the cathedral is breathtaking, as is the cathedral itself. There are trails to hike, a gift shop and a cafeteria that has fantastic pie! It’s an hour drive from Madison and taking back roads provides great scenery.
We love so much around here – Memorial Union is always great, watching th boaters and just generally people watching. Can’t wait now for Taste of Madison – yummy – and more fun people watching! We especially love Circus World in Baraboo. After reading Watere for Elephants (twice) and anticipating hte movie next April, it just comes to life seeing the circus acts, and all the beautifully restored circus wagons. The museum is an amazing part f history and we love it!
Capital Brewery on Friday nights for free live music all summer long. Tonight (9/3) is the last night! Go see Westside Andy Mel Ford from 6-9pm.
Our family loves going to Devils lake, We have six boys and they like to hike there, swim, and climb the rocks, there something for everyone.
I love to visit Wisconsin Dells when they run a special promotion during the month of June. Certain radio stations offer a summer kick-off card for the Dells where you can free admission to attractions such as the Original Ducks, Jet Boats, Hypnosis Comedy Show, and the Tommy Bartlett show. It also has a free ticket to the House on the Rock. We go every year with this fantastic deal.
I love visiting the Chazen Art Museum on campus. It’s free and they have a new exhibit every few months!
So many places to choose from! Arboretum is probably my favorite, though!
I love an early morning bike ride through the UW Arboretum, then to down to the Capital City Trail to loop back home downtown. I almost always see turkeys, deer, and sandhill cranes, and am reminded how lucky I am to live in such a beautiful area!
My kids love the UW Geology Museum!
New to town, but so far we’re loving the biking paths and farmers markets!
Parfrey’s Glenn
Take a walk or bike ride down the southwest bike path, with a stop at the “secret park” (Glenway park). Fun!!
I love going to Parfrey’s Glen near Devil’s Head. It is a beautiful, easy walk and you get to be in nature.