Madisonjump around

In a bicycle-friendly city, there is no better way to experience some of the area’s most beautiful neighborhoods than by making the 13-mile loop around Lake Monona. Rent a bicycle at Machinery Row Bicycles, located right on the bike path, and pedal toward Monona Terrace Convention Center. The marked route follows bike trails, bike lanes and some low-traffic streets. Make a pit stop partway around the lake at Monona Bait & Ice Cream Shop (4516 Winnequah Road), a local institution across the street from a park with a beach. The live bait is in the back, but the front of the store offers lunch items and 14 flavors of ice cream made on the nearby University of Wisconsin-Madison campus. Don’t forget to stock up on Pop Rocks and other throwback candy.