THINGS TO DO AND SEE IN AND AROUND LODI-MADISON AREAS

NEAR VICTORIAN TREASURE INN

Within walking distance of the Inn
• Goeres Park and Swimming Pool
• Susie the Duck Plaque and Spring Creek Duck Feeding Spot
• Walking Tour of Historic Lodi Homes
• Main street with its turn of the century architecture
• Local restaurants for a sandwich, great burger or fish fry
• Unique shopping at a number of local gift shops
• Various local festivals throughout the year

Within a short drive or  bike

• National Scenic Ice Age Trail
• Car Ferry across Lake Wisconsin

• Lake Wisconsin boating, sightseeing and fishing
• The foothills for horseback riding, hiking and picnicking
• Gibraltar Rock scenic climb

• Slack’s Jams, Jellies and Antique shop
• Scenic drive, a bird's-eye view of Scenic Lodi Valley
• Lodi Farmer’s Market every Friday

A little farther out

• Devil’s Lake State Park - 12 MILES
• Frank Lloyd Wright Taliesin - 35 MILES

• American Players Theatre (APT) - 35 MILES
• Bald Eagle Viewing in Prairie du Sac - 12 MILES
• Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch  - 3 MILES
• Skiing Devil’s Head Resort  -  9 MILES
• Skiing at Cascade Mountain - 18 MILES
• Wollersheim Winery - 11 MILES
• House on the Rock - 38 MILES
• Wisconsin Dells - 35 MILES
• Ho-Chunk Casino - 30 MILES
• Explore the City of Madison - 20 MILES

GREAT WALKS & HIKES

WALKS

Historic Homes Tour of Lodi through residential areas of scenic Lodi and of downtown is a "must do" to get a real feel for Lodi and its past. There are many homes featured of famous architect/builder Carl Menes. Ask your Innkeeper for a description and map of the tour. It takes a minimum of 60 minutes and is about 12-15 blocks long.

Morning Java Walk takes about 30 Minutes. You'll walk from the Inn to the Susie the Duck feeding station , feed the ducks and pick up a cup of Latte’ or Espresso across the street at Lodi Coffee Roasters, and return.

Wollersheim Wine Tours - Guided tours of the winery run daily at 10:15, 11:15, 12:15, 1:15, 2:15, 3:15, and 4:15. The tours last approximately one hour and conclude with a wine tasting. Tour fees are $3.50 for adults, and children 11 & under are free when accompanied by an adult.

Olbrich Botanical Gardens - Madison - Explore the mystery and beauty of nature at
Olbrich Botanical Gardens. Stroll through 16 acres of outdoor display gardens including Olbrich's award-winning Rose Garden and Thai Pavilion and Garden. Enjoy a tropical paradise year-round in Olbrich's Bolz Conservatory, a glass pyramid filled with exotic plants, bright flowers, a rushing waterfall, fragrant orchids and free-flying birds and ride through the acres of flowers, plants and trees

HIKES

Miles of trails meander through the hills, forests and valleys of Lodi...truly a hiker's paradise. Some local favorites follow.

Ice Age Trail – Lodi Branch. Nearly all of Columbia County was covered by the Green Bay Lobe during the Wisconsin Glaciation. North of the Wisconsin River, the Ice Age Trail in Columbia County has flat to rolling topography with large open wetlands and forested woodlots. South of the River, the county looks very much like the Driftless Area to the west, except the ridges are rounded and valleys have been widened by glaciation.
The land between the Wisconsin and Fox rivers, where the City of Portage now stands, was an extremely important transportation route to Native Americans, French explorers and fur trappers. It provided an easy canoe portage for travelers between the Mississippi River and Lake Michigan. Europeans first used this portage in 1673. In 1828, the U.S. Department of the Army erected Fort Winnebago on the north bank of the Fox River. Work on a canal to create an all-water route began in 1834. Boats used the canal between the early 1850s until 1951.
Download the Sauk-Columbia county map (1065K) here. This file is large and may take several minutes to display or download; please be patient.
(The map is in PDF format and you will need Acrobat Reader to view or print it. Get Acrobat Reader here for free

Devils Lake State Park - Devil's Lake has over 29 miles of trails for any skill level.
Trails may vary in difficulty. Not all trails are surfaced. Steep climbs or descents and stairways may be encountered. Use caution when on the steep bluffs or near cliffs. Stay well away from cliffs and watch small children closely. There is a 1-mile interpretive nature trail and 1.5 miles of trail that are accessible for people with disabilities.

Park Trails are not maintained for winter hiking. Winter Use Areas maps are available at the park office.

BEACH AREAS

City of Madison has 16 beach locations. The major beaches are located on Lake Monona and Lake Mendota.

Devil’s Lake Beaches Devil's Lake State Park has two very large sandy beaches, each with a bath house. Lifeguards are not provided. (High Water is no longer a problem) These beaches are located on both the north & south shores of the lake. Devil's Lake normally maintains a very comfortable swimming temperature from Mid-June to Late September.

NATURE, GARDENS & ZOOS

The Arboretum
University of Wisconsin - Madison
The Arboretum's 1260 acres of land border the southern half of Lake Wingra. There are two main vehicular entries: the northern most is where McCaffery Dr., N. Wingra Dr., and S. Mills St. intersect, the southern most entry is north of the Beltline (Hwy. 12) at the intersection of McCaffery Dr. and Seminole Highway. (Be forewarned, a gate near the Visitor Center prohibits motorized vehicles from using McCaffery Dr. as a thoroughfare, except on Sundays from noon until 6 p.m.) For your convenience, there are several parking lots and bike racks within the Arboretum. Also note that around the perimeter of the Arboretum, there are multiple pedestrian accesses, some of them near Madison Metro bus stops.
The Arboretum's address is 1207 Seminole Highway, Madison, Wisconsin 53711. Follow this link for a map of the Arboretum

Olbrich Botanical Gardens - Madison - Explore the mystery and beauty of nature at Olbrich Botanical Gardens. Stroll through 16 acres of outdoor display gardens including Olbrich's award-winning Rose Garden and Thai Pavilion and Garden. Enjoy a tropical paradise year-round in Olbrich's Bolz Conservatory, a glass pyramid filled with exotic plants, bright flowers, a rushing waterfall, fragrant orchids and free-flying birds

Henry Vilas Zoo
Adventures with animals from all over the world await you at Dane County's Henry Vilas Zoo, located in the heart of Madison, Wisconsin. The Henry Vilas Zoo has more than just animals. Located within Vilas Park on the shores of Lake Wingra, the zoo is next to plenty of green space, and across the street from a popular scenic beach.