This Travel Tuesday Trivago.com takes us back to Madison, Wisconsin, one of our favorite American cities. One of the best things about returning to a destination you have visited previously is the sense of familiarity that allows you to explore more fully. And this trip we not only visited favorite places, we found some great new ones.
When you travel we recommend you consult TRIVAGO to find the ideal place to stay. This visit Trivago inspired us to stay at HotelRED, a modern boutique hotel.
HotelRED
A stay at HotelRed at 1501 Monroe Street puts you steps away from the University of Wisconsin’s legendary Camp Randall Stadium and the eclectic shopping, sights and sounds of Monroe Street. Featuring concrete columns and a modern, loft-style metal structure, the HotelRED offers free Wi-Fi and spacious, well-appointed rooms with balconies and kitchenettes.
The sleek and modern HotelRED offers 48 rooms on four floors, each with a kitchenette, Wi-Fi, a pillowtop bed, a 42-inch LCD TV and a balcony accessed from sliding glass doors. The on-site WISE restaurant and bar features three meals daily prepared from locally produced ingredients, and you can also order meals straight to your room. The hotel provides access to bike rentals and passes to nearby fitness centers. A free airport shuttle is available.
Gailen and Bobby relax at HotelRED’s Wise Restaurant and Bar
Dane County Farmer’s Market
The Dane County Farmers’ Market on the Square is a Saturday and Wednesday tradition in Madison, and one of our favorite places to visit. The market features the season’s best bounty of vegetables, flowers, meats, cheeses, and specialty products from approximately 300 vendors throughout the year. Over 160 vendors attend every Saturday. All of the agriculturally related items are produced in Wisconsin.
The Bee Charmer
Mary Celley (L) talks bees and honey with Bobby and Gailen at The Bee Charmer stand at the Dane County Farmer’s market
Mary Celley is known locally as “the bee whisperer” and is a trusted expert that other beekeepers turn to for advice. She has over 100 beehives, along with about four acres of land on which she grows organic strawberries, raspberries, and sweet Ambrosia corn. She has been selling her honey and produce at the Market for the past 25 years. Her stand, The Bee Charmer, can be found on East Main Street from April through November. She also sets up shop at the Wednesday markets (see Dane County Farmer’s Market website for directions). The Bee Charmer’s products are featured at several Madison restaurants and are a favorite of market goers.
Ale Asylum
Bobby talks ale with Dean Coffey, co-owner of Ale Asylum
Reinheitsgebot sometimes called the “Bavarian Purity Law” is a regulation that originated in 1487 that required the only barley, hops and water be used in the production of beer. The Ale Asylum honors this old tradition. In this day and age such beers as seen as a novelty. The brewmasters at Ale Asylum are able to stick to these simple ingredients while producing a truly impressive range of flavors and styles.
Ale Asylum’s flagship beer, Hopalicious, is featured as well as three others available in the taproom, in kegs, and in bottles year-round: Madtown Nutbrown, Ambergeddon, and Contorter Porter. They also have an intriguing range of rotating seasonals available in bottles, as well as special seasonals available only in the taproom. This last group includes some fantastic Belgian-inspired brews such as Happy Ending as well as Big Slick Stout. We enjoyed trying the unique tap-room only offerings with co-owner Dean Coffey.
Ella’s Deli
A trip to Ella’s Deli is a favorite activity to at least three generations of Madison families. Not only does Ella’s have great deli food and delicious ice cream, but the interior of the restaurant features an amazing collection of antique mechanical toys. Outside there is a wonderful old carousel.
Ella’s rolled out the hospitality for us by posting a welcome on their sign.
Visitors enter the restaurant and find themselves in a fantasyland of whirring and buzzing animated and mechanical displays.
Named “Best Deli” by Madison Magazine, Ella’s boasts a 20-page deli, a 12-page dessert, and a special two-page entertaining kids’ menu. Even the tables provide entertainment. Heavy glass-topped oak tables display landscapes, collections, scenes, trains that go around, and interactive games.
For starters you can order one of Ella’s famous homemade soups including matzo ball, sweet and sour cabbage, or chili. Want to know the secret of why everything tastes so good? It is all made from scratch in the restaurant kitchen.
Ella’s offers a menu of Jewish ethnic cuisine like corned beef sandwiches piled high on fresh rye bread. Vegetarians need not despair — the menu has a full page of vegetarian options. And, if you can save room for dessert, tuck in to a nut-topped sundae or the signature Ella’s #1, a grilled pound cake hot fudge sundae.
Bobby and Gailen get a lesson in Ella’s Deli history
Outside the restaurant is the 1927 C.W. Parker Carry Us All Carousel which operates three seasons (not in winter) and is one of less than 75 known original carousels in this America. Originally built in 1927 in Leavenworth, Kansas, the carousel was originally in North Tonawonda, New York. When the park closed the carousel was dismantled, sold, and remained in storage for many years where it deteriorated until Ella’s brought it back to life. A ride on Ella’s Carousel is a rare treat.
Tune in to see more on our adventures in Madison, Wisconsin on TAKE OFF!
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