You’ll love the abundance of nature in North Madison. Thousands of acres of conservancy, wetlands, parks and of course, the shores of Lake Mendota. Waunakee offers several local boutiques charming enough to make you think you’re in Door County with it's unbeatable small town vibes. Scroll down to learn more about neighborhoods on the north side.

Westport

Hugging the northern shores of Lake Mendota, Westport boasts several hiking trails, parks & natural wonderlands. Here’ you’ll find the Yahara Heights County Park (including a dog park), Mendota County Park (with a campground) & one of my favorites, Governor Nelson State Park. Cherokee Marsh is quite close & Pheasant Branch Conservancy isn’t far. Soak in the small town feel while being within a stone’s throw of Middleton, Waunakee & Madison. Westport boasts a handful of locally owned bars & restaurants, both on and off the water, making it a great place to catch live music in the summer.

North Madison

The Northside quietly beckons nature lovers with thousands of acres of conservancy, wetlands, parks & trails thanks to the beautiful Cherokee Marsh & Warner Park, not to mention access to Lake Mendota & the Yahara River. Cross country skiing, biking, snowshoeing, birding, paddling, fishing; it’s all here.

The north side’s community & business offerings continue to expand & revitalize with the newer Willy St Coop, Ale Asylum, FEED Kitchen, Warner Park Community Center, renovated Mallards Stadium. A new public pool is being discussed and the Isthmus Montessori Academy is set to open it’s doors just off of Packers Ave within the next year or two as well. (IMA would change from a private, tuition-based school to a public, tuition-free one in the fall of 2018.)

Town of Burke, Windsor & DeForest

Nestled between the Cherokee Marsh, Token Creek & Upper Yahara River, plentiful outdoor opportunities such as hiking, birding, cross country skiing & paddling await.

The Yahara River Trail System in DeForest, once complete will loop through the village, providing approximately 18 miles of trails while connecting Token Creek to Cherokee Marsh.

Town of Burke, Windsor & DeForest boast hundreds of acres of parkland, conservancy space & community gardens. Just northeast of Lake Mendota, Madison is just minutes away.

Town of Vienna

At a population of around 1600 people, the Town of Vienna is perfect for those craving a small town but appreciate urban amenities within reach, as numerous locally owned boutiques, restaurants, bars, coffee shops are all within 10 minutes (see Waunakee & DeForest)

Waunakee

This charming community is buzzing with life as the architecturally interesting downtown Waunakee offers several locally owned shops, each one bursting at the seams with beautifully curated collections including local wares not to mention a wine bar, wellness center, breweries & restaurants.

With fantastic parks & gorgeous conservation areas nearby, it’s easy to see why so many people flock to Waunakee.

Springfield Corners

On the outskirts of Middleton, Waunakee & Cross Plains, this rural community is within a stone’s throw of the beautiful & historic Indian Lake County Park. Hike or cross country ski the winding trails to soak in breathtaking views or hit one of the popular road bike routes that pass through.