Spring Weekend
Spend 48 hours in Middleton with scenic trails, patio dining, birdwatching and one-of-a-kind local experiences — rain or shine.
Soak up the fresh energy of spring, the warmth of the sun on your face and the colors returning to the landscape. Start your refreshing, joy-filled weekend.
After a peaceful night’s sleep in one of Middleton’s nine conveniently located hotels, you’ll wake up ready to embrace the best of spring.
Start your day on the north side with a visit to Prairie Café & Bakery or C’s Restaurant & Bakery — two unique restaurants that can only be found here. Settle in with a fresh cup of coffee and a homemade bakery item, or grab something from the display cases and head straight into the day’s adventures. Sit, sip and savor, or grab, go and get exploring. Either way, spring starts here.
Get Outside
Middleton is home to more than 30 parks and green spaces, 30 miles of trails and the Middleton Bike Park stands out with its mix of scenery and excitement. The park features 4.5 miles of trails built for mountain biking but also open to walkers who follow guidelines and stay alert for riders. The newly opened pump track is available no matter the weather!
You don’t need to be a pro to enjoy the trails. The 1.2-mile Fairway Trail is a friendly introduction to off-road biking without sacrificing the fun. More experienced riders will find routes that challenge and reward with every turn.
To protect the trails, they close when conditions are too wet. Trail status is updated regularly on CorpTrails by local volunteer trail stewards who help keep the park in top shape.
Bike rentals are available from Playtri in Greenway Station (starting at $65/day). For electric or mountain bike options Trek Bikes just outside of Middleton (8108 Mineral Point Rd.) offers rentals for e-bikes ($75/day) and mountain bikes ($100/day).
Pack a Picnic
After spending the winter cooped up, you might be looking for any excuse to get outside. Here’s a good one: Middleton is the perfect place for a picnic. The city is full of beautiful parks and green spaces — ideal settings for your next outdoor meal. There are plenty of local spots where you can pick up picnic essentials. View a list of ideal picnic spots here.
Break Out Those Binoculars
Spring opens a window to the wonders of birding.
The call of Sandhill cranes can be heard across Middleton, marking the return of spring. Pheasant Branch Conservancy and other local ponds are hot spots for birdwatching during spring migration, offering plenty to see and hear.
Spot blue herons hunting in Confluence Pond for their next meal. Listen for the rattly call of a belted kingfisher while strolling the Graber Pond boardwalk. Watch for American white pelicans gliding across Tiedeman Pond. Or scan the treetops for the nesting pair of bald eagles that have called Pheasant Branch Conservancy home for several years. In spring they can often be seen soaring above the prairie or tending to their eggs. Track bird migration in real time through BirdCast or explore recent sightings on eBird to find your next birding “lifer.”
Outdor Eats
After a day outdoors, you’ve likely worked up an appetite. Middleton’s food scene features more than 80 restaurants and cafés to satisfy any craving. With patio season in full swing nearly half of these spots offer outdoor seating.
If spending the day at Pheasant Branch Conservancy, 1847 at the Stamm House is a historic tavern-turned modern-day Supper Club and is just steps from the creek corridor trail. Looking for Friday Night Fish Fries or a great Old Fashioned? Or enjoy live music at the bier garten at Capital Brewery — the longest running micro-craft brewery in the Midwest, where outside food is welcome. Keep an eye on their event calendar as weekends often feature live music and a lively crowd.
Rainy Day Activities
Wisconsin is the perfect example of the saying, “If you don’t like the weather, wait five minutes.” When the skies turn gray the city has plenty of indoor activities to keep the day going strong.
For golfers, X-Golf offers high-tech golf simulators featuring world-renowned courses. Each simulator tracks 12 different stats (like speed, launch angle and distance) so you can fine-tune your game before hitting the green at Pleasant View Golf Course.
The Kickback Bar is packed with more than 50 pinball machines and a variety of arcade games, making it a go-to rainy day hangout. It opens at 3 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and at 11 a.m. on weekends. The Kickback Bar and X-Golf both offer a full bar and a limited food menu.
Then there’s the unforgettable National Mustard Museum, home to more than 6,700 jars from around the globe. Visitors can explore interactive exhibits, gain knowledge by watching a show at the Mustard Piece Theatre and sample flavors at the complimentary tasting bar. It’s the kind of place that turns a rainy day into a trip highlight.
And that’s how you spend a spring weekend in and outdoors in Middleton. There are plenty more of the middle things to do during your next visit. We’ll see you soon!
