If You Go:
Madison:
-Coming from the West on I-90, exit right into Madison. In the summer months, rent a bike and ride around the trails, or partake in one of the many other recreational opportunities at Lake Mendota and the adjacent Lake Monona. The enormous University of Wisconsin at Madison sits right on the shores of Mendota.
-If you have the opportunity to catch a football game at the famous Camp Randall Stadium, do not pass it up! You will feel the passion and energy for the football team from any of the residents at anytime throughout the year.
-Visit the state capitol building, or any of the museums and restaurants in the capitol district of the city just east of the campus.
-If you are looking for some nightlife, be sure to check out State Street. In particular, State Street Brats offers some amazing bar food and a plethora of beer options, all at reasonable prices. Otherwise, State Street has plenty of other unique and lively bars that will quench any thirst you may have.
Milwaukee (Specifically Miller Park):
-I can’t say too much about Milwaukee; I did not get a chance to see everything the city has to offer. The only experience I had with Milwaukee was a Brewers game at Miller Park, one of the newer baseball stadiums in the country.
-Miller Park draws any common fan in right off the bat with the beautiful exterior architecture and layout. Inside the stadium, you must try any of the number of sausages and bratwursts they offer paired with a Leinenkugel’s beer. This is the epicenter of the USA for Brats and, arguably, Beer. On the side get a few deep fried cheese curds while you watch the Brewer’s high-powered offense run up the score. In the 2011 season the Brewers had the best home record in all of baseball, featuring MVP Ryan Braun and fan favorite Prince Fielder.
-The stadium, built in the early 2000’s, offers great views from anywhere in the park. There are restaurants and plenty of places to buy a local brew. When the Brewers hit a home run, be sure to look to left field and see Bernie the Brewer head down the beer slide! Also, don’t miss the sausage races in between the innings. Overall, the park has A LOT to offer. Unfortunately, to pay for all the features (including a dome retractable roof) they sold much of the open space to advertisers with bright signs. This takes away from the classic baseball feel that an old ballpark offers, but there is always a trade-off.
Chicago:
-Any person could spend years exploring and reviewing Chicago, and I will not even try to go there. But I did spend a few short days there, so I will talk about what I experienced. I saw the tourist sites, and they were actually pretty amazing.
-Wrigley Field from the outside is not as breathtaking as it must be on the inside, but the Cubs were on the road when I was in town. Be sure to head there and get a picture. After that, head back down the street and let the nightlife begin! Known as Wrigleyville, the bars and restaurants are deservingly famous. You can walk into any of the bars and experience the energy from the residents of Chicago. I found it surprisingly easy to strike up a conversation with anyone around here.
-Chicago is famous for its architecture, and deservingly so. Check out the various Frank Lloyd Wright projects, and weave your way through the crowds to get a picture with the giant reflective bean. Browse the shopping district, grab a bite to eat riverside, play some volleyball on the beautiful shores of Lake Michigan. Chicago has it all. The people are friendly, and the city is suspiciously clean to top it all off!
Overall, this area of the country shocked me. I came in not knowing what to expect from this area of the Midwest. I came out shocked, really. The natural beauty, down home friendly residents, and variety of subcultures and activities will bring me back in the near future.
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