Memorial Union Terrace

The Memorial Union Terrace is iconic. Once the chairs are out—the iconic green, yellow, and orange trademarked Sunburst chairs—it’s Terrace season, and Madisonians rejoice. The thing to do here is simply eat, drink, and be merry (various indoor and outdoor food establishments make that easy), though there are also live concerts, movies, and on-water events here during summer.

Any good Madison tour includes a stop at the Terrace, which is open to the public and sits on the edges of Lake Mendota. Combine it with a visit to State Street and downtown Madison to get your fill of all things Mad Town.

• You’ll technically need to buy a day membership to purchase food and drinks at the Union—though the staff often don’t ask.

• The Union offers everything from pizza to coffee, but the iconic snacks are ice cream, beer, brats, and cheese curds.

• On sunny days, come early and be prepared to fight for a good seat.

Parking ramps are regular finds across the UW campus if you come here with a vehicle. With the number of pedestrians and one-way streets, a car isn’t the best way to go. Walk, bike, or grab a rideshare to the Terrace if you can. The Route 81 bus is free and services the UW campus and State Street.

The Memorial Union Terrace is open spring through fall—which you’ll know by the hundreds of brightly colored chairs (or not). There’s no bad time to get here, though the crowds can be pretty intense whenever the weather is nice. If you’d like a quieter experience, come in the morning on a weekday; if you’re here for an event, arrive as early as possible to nab a good seat.

The Terrace has two of Madison’s most iconic selfie spots: The first is a statue of Bucky the Badger, which stands on the eastern edges of the Union, right on the water. The second is a giant-sized Sunburst chair, which should be easy enough to spot. You’ll need to climb up to sit on it, but once you do, you’ve got your Madison badge of honor.