It’s my favorite time of year: Memorial Day weekend! I know it’s still spring, but this weekend is my defacto start of summer. The weather usually cooperates, and pools and waterparks open for the season.
For those who aren’t sticking around town for backyard BBQs, Brat Fest or other local Memorial Day celebrations, here is a curated list of events, restaurants and activities within a two-hour drive of Madison, Wis. (updated for 2024).
Wisconsin Dells
Mt. Olympus Water & Theme Park has added a 145 ft.-tall slide called the Rise of Icarus, which is the country’s tallest waterslide. This comes two years after Mt. Olympus unveiled Medusa’s Slidewheel, a combination waterslide and ferris wheel. Rendering from Mt. Olympus website- The Kalahari is currently undergoing extensive renovations. So far, it has created a new entrance to the indoor waterpark and added a few new restaurants, including Cinco Niños, which has a ton of TVs to watch sporting events. The swim-up pool bar also has been given a name: Thirsty Turtle (I also appreciated that it now has machines to make blended drinks, which saves the bartenders a lot of time).
- Ishnala Supper Club, which overlooks Mirror Lake, added the Tomahawk Bar near its private beach last July. It’s another place to enjoy the view as well as live music on the beach.
- Big Sky Drive-In Theatre is now open for the season (warning: it’s cash-only).
Lake Geneva area
I recently visited the historic Maxwell Mansion. It is home to The Apothecary Bar, which takes mixology to the extreme. I brought my fancy cocktail to an adjacent room and sat on funky furniture (see photo). Musician Pat McCurdy will be performing on Friday.- Grand Geneva Resort & Spa will begin its weekly fireworks display on Sunday. Make sure to try the “Ouisconsin” croissants.
- Lake Lawn Resort in Delavan will host its annual Pig Roast, complete with outdoor activities and live music.
- The Burlington Jamboree takes place Friday through Monday and features pony rides, a rock-n-circus and live music.
Elsewhere
- If you want to go tubing, you can’t go wrong with Wisconsin Riverside Resort in Spring Green, S&B Tubing in Albany or Sandy Shores in Mauston.
- For distilleries, visit Blaum Bros. Distilling in Galena, Ill., Driftless Glen in Baraboo or Minhas in Monroe.
- For breweries, I like Hillsboro Brewing. Co in Hillsboro, Tyranena in Lake Mills and Potosi Brewery in Potosi, which also houses the ABA National Brewery Museum (definitely worth checking out).
- Baileys Run Vineyard in New Glarus is a trendy place, and it will have live music on Memorial Day weekend.
Have a great weekend!
Tags: Lake Delton, Lake Geneva, Wisconsin Dells
