Your parents are in town and boredom has made its presence loud and clear. Your mom has organized your sock drawer for at least the third time and your dad is starting to comment on the ESPN broadcaster's shirt color. Sound familiar? It's time to get your parents out and show them what Madison is really all about. Use this as a resource guide of some of the best places to go with your parents in Madison.
The State Capitol
It is one of the major symbols of Madison and the most distinguishing feature of the skyline. To show your parents the interior of this impressive building, you can take them on one of the daily-guided tours, which are free. The tours give history of the building, explain the artwork and walk you through the Senate and Assembly chambers, the Supreme Court, the Governor's conference room and the rotunda.
'It's a beautiful building and the tours are very interesting,' said Capitol employee Teri Nelson.
Beyond the tours, the Rotunda often has different musical groups performing during the noon hour and periodically has different artwork displayed.
The Chazen Museum of Art, 800 University Ave.
When your parents are in town, you may want to show them that the tuition fee is actually paying for something by taking them somewhere educational. The Chazen Museum of Art is an entertaining and educational place to visit. Their wide variety of collections available'which include paintings, sculpture, drawings and watercolors, prints, photography and applied and decorative arts'make the museum interesting no matter what your taste in art.
'We work to provide a wide range of exhibitions that appeal to different audiences,' said Christine Javid, an editor for the museum.
The Arboretum, 1207 Seminole Hwy
After all your ventures to State Street, you and your parents may need a retreat to the wilderness. The Arboretum'with 1,260 acres of wetland, prairies and woodlands surrounding the southern part of Lake Wingra'offers just the opportunity. It allows for hiking, jogging, snowshoeing and skiing around the diversity of ecosystems. Not only this, the Arboretum also has educational opportunities, such as luncheons with ecology speakers, nature photography meetings and bird walks. For more information on tours and trails, visit www.uwarboretum.org.
The Orpheum Theatre, 216 State St.
It's been here since the '20s and you simply cannot miss it walking down State Street. The Orpheum truly gives people a 'going out on the town' kind of feel. The theatre offers concerts of all genres, comedy acts and movies typically not seen in mainstream theaters. On top of all of this, the Orpheum has a lobby restaurant (not open during special events) which offers anything from pasta to steak to seafood. For showing off Madison's nightlife to your parents, this is the place to go. To see what shows will be in town and the restaurant hours and menu, visit www.orpheumtheatre.net.
The Overture Center for the Arts, 501 State St.
If your parents have been wondering about the hoards of drunken pictures they have seen since you began college, you may want to show them there is more to your social life than beer bongs. Taking them to a show at the Overture Center is a great opportunity to show them the variety of things to do in Madison.
'It'll give parents a great impression of the culture available in Madison to the students,' Overture administrative clerk Thomas Lund said.
The culture available at the center is certainly diverse, including plays, musical acts, Broadway theatre and operas. For more information on the shows available, visit www.overturecenter.com.
Takara japanese restaurant, 315 State St.
Although you and your friends may know every item on the Qdoba menu by heart, having your parents in town is a great opportunity to enjoy the finer dining in Madison (and hopefully not pay). Takara has a unique atmosphere that catches the eye as soon as you walk through the door. The view of an indoor waterfall is soon distracted by a chef bursting flames on the Hibachi grill'tables where customers watch their meals being cooked while being entertained by the chef's dazzling tricks like spinning and throwing knives and starting a fire volcano of onions. The highly popular Hibachi tables usually require a call a week in advance for the weekends. All the razzle-dazzle does not take away from the fantastic food available, such as sushi and chicken teriyaki on rice.
Porta Bella restaurant, 425 N. Frances St.
If your family feels like some pasta in a quaint atmosphere, Porta Bella is the place to go. The restaurant, which has been in Madison since the '60s, offers a sense of tradition your parents will probably appreciate.
'We're more along the lines of traditional versus corporate,' Manager Kerry McKinnon said.
Along with its diverse menu, which includes a wide variety of pastas, pizzas and seafood, Porta Bella has a charming atmosphere. With a picturesque garden out front and a trendy wine cellar downstairs, it provides a feel unlike other restaurants. This is not to say that this is a black-tie affair, however'as McKinnon said, 'We really want to stress that this can be a casual atmosphere.'
The Essen Haus, 514 E. Wilson St.
Whether you are 21 and want to drink some German beer with your family or are younger and simply want to enjoy some German food while listening to Polka music, the Essen Haus offers something for everyone. With its authentic-looking d??cor and staff with German dress, the Essen Haus feels like a brief step into Europe. The bar has 17 German biers on tap and live music every night it is open (Tuesday through Sunday). Those that really want to get into the scene can drink out of a glass boot and play the classic boot game. According to Owner Bob Worm, 'It's like going to a wedding you're not invited to.'
