The state capitol is located on that thin strip of land between the two biggest lakes in Madison, Lake Monona and Lake Mendota. That area is rather spotless, yuppie-fied and under construction. It was a nice surprise to find so much food growing on the grounds of the state capitol like tomatoes, squash, basil, thyme, cilantro, and a few I didn't recognize. Food was growing in several other places around downtown too. Too bad Wisconsin has a dick like Scott Walker as their Governor, but we have Gov Abbott in Texas, so ....
West of downtown is the huge University of Wisconsin campus and many old, large, fine homes on broad, tree-lined streets with hills mixed in. Just beautiful. Bike routes everywhere. Lots of people on bikes.
If not for those winters.
We took in the Henry Vilas Zoo on another lake just west of downtown on a friends recommendation. Glad we did.
The Vilas Zoo is one of the few free zoos remaining in America and, for being free, is remarkably well-maintained.
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| a tree boa in the Herpetology Exhibit |
Gorgeous day. A few clouds here and there and around 75 degrees. There are benches all over the zoo to rest your weary feet and soak the place in. And they were all donated by members of the community.
Didn't go near the Children's Zoo. After all, we had no child with us.
The badger is the official state animal of Wisconsin.
This is a small zoo, but they found the space for a few gardens tucked here and there, and lots of open green space for humans to have a picnic or just soak up the sun. And one of the best things about this zoo (don't have a pic of it) is that the explanatory plaques in most cases were elevated up above head level so it was very easy to read the info even with people in front of you. I've been to many zoos where the info plaques are low, around knee-level, and anyone between you and it blocks your ability to read. This is a small thing, but still smart.
Well done, Henry.
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