When it comes to energizing your next meeting or retreat, sometimes it is worth taking a break or having a day or evening excursion outside the four walls of a traditional meeting room. Enhance your meeting experience with outdoor outings that encourage team connection, creativity, and a refreshing change of scenery—right here in Wisconsin’s vibrant and naturally charming capital city. There are plenty of venues and experiences in the city for you and your attendees, with options for groups of all sizes. If your group needs to stretch their legs and explore all the open-air, outdoor outing options Madison has to offer, here is our guide to get the ideas flowing:
Picnics in the Park
Madison’s vibrant outdoor culture makes it easy to incorporate open-air options into your meeting itinerary. Whether it’s a breakout session in a botanical garden, a lakeside brainstorming walk, or a team-building picnic in a local park, the city’s many green spaces provide a memorable setting that helps guests feel relaxed, engaged, and inspired. Many of Madison's city parks have shelter spaces available for rent so that your team has a space to accommodate them that is a comfortable, easy way for them to enjoy beautiful weather and fresh air with a roof above their heads...just in case.
Your group can also rent a picnic site at Picnic Point along the Lakeshore path near campus. It's a beautiful, forested area along Lake Mendota where groups large and small can get together for a cook-out or picnic of any style. It's a fun way to collaborate, have fun, and enjoy Madison's natural beauty.
The Excitement of Madison
If you're looking for a more urban outdoor setting, Madison has many popular locations that are perfect for your group's night out. The rooftops of both the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art and The Madison Children's Museum are both located a short distance from the hotel, and both have great views of downtown. These venues are able to host a variety of events from social gatherings, business presentations, and other types of meetings.
If you're looking to relax and unwind for an evening with a pitcher of cold beer along the lakefront, your group can spend some time at the iconic Wisconsin Memorial Union. The sunsets are stunning, and there is music on the weekends to add to the atmosphere. The Union also offers art galleries, event space, art workshops, and more.
Or perhaps a team outing to a Forward Madison soccer game is the ticket for you and your attendees to get some real excitement? Breese Stevens Field offers their Forward Club and stadium for rent. No matter the activity, Breese Stevens has the space to fit your energy. They even have their own catering
Wellness Meets Productivity
Outdoor outings offer more than a change of scenery—they also support well-being. Fresh air, natural light, and movement can all help reduce stress and boost focus. Consider hosting a walking meeting along Lake Mendota, a morning mindfulness session at the UW Arboretum, or an afternoon break along some of Madison's scenic bike trails. You can purchase bulk daily passes to our local city e-bike program BCycle, the nearest station is across the street from the hotel.
Elevate the Experience
With the right planning, outdoor meetings and social gatherings can take your conference or event to the next level. These outdoor Madison outing ideas are here to enhance your meeting or conference, and make your time here in Madison memorable for your attendees to where your meeting can be a work or business trip that they will look forward to and keeps them coming back.
Ready to meet? Let us help you explore the best meeting and outing options Madison has to offer. Contact our team to start planning a one-of-a-kind experience.