Madison is a relaxed city for little kids: a big children’s museum on the Capitol Square, a free zoo, a free campus geology museum with a mastodon and gardens and parks between the lakes.
Not this week’s events, just the reliable stuff. Where to eat with a toddler, where to burn off energy when it rains, where to splash, what’s worth the admission, and where to spend a night without going far.
Places where a dropped fork is no big deal and nobody minds a little noise.
A neighborhood diner and bakery with breakfast all day, plus sandwiches, soups and salads. There’s an attached parking lot.
Pizza by the slice, home of the mac ’n’ cheese pizza, which is easy to split with picky eaters.
UW’s own dairy store, using the same ice cream recipe since 1951, with about 20 flavors on hand. Cash isn’t accepted.
For rainy mornings, cold afternoons and anyone who needs to run in circles for an hour.
A big hands-on children’s museum downtown.
At the door; 10% off in advance. Free Thursday evenings, 4–8pm
Free guided tours cover the building’s history, art and architecture. Groups under 10 just show up at tour time in the Rotunda.
Madison Public Library’s downtown branch, a block off the Capitol Square. Free kids’ programs are on the library calendar.
A free campus museum where kids can stand under a mastodon’s tusks and see dinosaurs, glowing minerals and a model of a Wisconsin cave.
Pools, fountains, zoos and theme parks: the big all-day outings.
Prairies, woods, gardens and more than 17 miles of trails, free to visit.
Botanical gardens whose outdoor gardens are free to walk year-round. The tropical Bolz Conservatory costs extra.
Madison’s largest community park, with 250 acres, an accessible playground, a free splash park in summer and sledding in winter.
Museums, animals and farm days that hold a little one’s attention.
Madison’s free zoo since 1911, open every day.
A night away without a long drive. New bed, same bedtime.
Wisconsin’s largest state park, with tall quartzite bluffs over a lake, sandy beaches and a year-round campground.
These don’t change week to week. Last checked . Hours and prices change, so check the place’s own site before you go. Know a spot we missed? Tell us at hello@littlesweekly.com.
Where a family can go in Madison without paying for admission. For free days, free events and this week’s free outings, see every free thing to do in Madison.
Capitol SquareWisconsin State CapitolFree guided tours cover the building’s history, art and architecture.FreeIndoor
Downtown, 201 W. Mifflin St.Central LibraryMadison Public Library’s downtown branch, a block off the Capitol Square.FreeIndoorUW–Madison campus, 1215 W. Dayton St.UW Geology MuseumA free campus museum where kids can stand under a mastodon’s tusks and see dinosaurs, glowing minerals and a model of a Wisconsin cave.FreeIndoor
Near west sideUW–Madison ArboretumPrairies, woods, gardens and more than 17 miles of trails, free to visit.FreeEast sideOlbrich Botanical GardensBotanical gardens whose outdoor gardens are free to walk year-round.FreeSouthwest side, 1250 McKenna Blvd.Elver ParkMadison’s largest community park, with 250 acres, an accessible playground, a free splash park in summer and sledding in winter.Free
Vilas ParkHenry Vilas ZooMadison’s free zoo since 1911, open every day.FreeFree or cheap for babies and toddlers, and easy with a stroller.
Capitol SquareMadison Children’s MuseumBabies under 1 are free, and there’s lots at toddler height.$18 eachUnder 1 freeIndoorUW–Madison campus, 1215 W. Dayton St.UW Geology MuseumMastodon tusks and glowing rocks hold little ones’ attention.FreeIndoorDowntown, 201 W. Mifflin St.Central LibraryFree kids’ programs for little ones.FreeIndoorRecurring and free. Times change by branch, so check the calendar.
Weekly; days and times vary by branchFree storytimes for babies, toddlers and preschoolers at Central Library and the neighborhood branches.
Schedule ↗Weekly at the Sun Prairie Public Library; Monday–Thursday, plus evening sessionsFree baby, toddler and preschool storytimes. This fall's regular sessions include Itsy Bitsy Lapsit Storytime (Mondays 10am) and Cuentos Infantiles (Spanish Storytime) (Wednesdays 5pm).
Schedule ↗Weekly at the Monona Public Library; TuesdaysFree baby, toddler and preschool storytimes. This fall's regular sessions include Baby & Toddler Storytime (Tuesdays 10am) and Toddler Playtime (Tuesdays 10:30am).
Schedule ↗Baby storytimes, places where babies get in free, and where to change and feed. For rainy days, see indoor play places; for zero-cost ideas, see free things to do.
Mondays at 10am and 11:15am · Sun Prairie Public LibraryItsy Bitsy Lapsit When: Mondays at 10:00 or 11:15 a.m.
Storytime calendar ↗Tuesdays at 10am · Monona Public LibraryBirth to 2 years. A lap-sit storytime for our youngest patrons (ages 0-2 years old) and their caregivers.
Storytime calendar ↗
Under 1 free
Admission page ↗
From spring through fall, rent strollers for $10 at the gift shop by the main entrance on Drake St.
Official site ↗Santa visits and Christmas lights only run part of the year, so they have their own pages with this season’s dates and prices.
The guide is the evergreen list. Here’s what’s happening in Madison right now.
Yes. Admission and parking are both free. The lots have a three-hour limit and fill on busy weekends.
Henry Vilas Zoo, the UW Geology Museum, the Capitol tours, Olbrich’s outdoor gardens, the Arboretum and Elver Park are all free. The Children’s Museum is free on Thursday evenings.
The Children’s Museum, the Geology Museum, the Capitol and Central Library are all indoors, and the Zoo has heated buildings.
Madison Children’s Museum: Babies under 1 are free, and there’s lots at toddler height. UW Geology Museum: Mastodon tusks and glowing rocks hold little ones’ attention. Central Library is also easy with a baby or toddler. See best for under 3s.
Madison Public Library: Weekly; days and times vary by branch. Sun Prairie Public Library: Weekly at the Sun Prairie Public Library; Monday–Thursday, plus evening sessions. Monona Public Library: Weekly at the Monona Public Library; Tuesdays. Library storytimes don’t need a ticket, but times change by branch, so check the calendar first. See library storytimes, and this week’s dated sessions are on the Madison weekly list.
Every one of the 12 places is somewhere we’d take a baby, toddler or preschooler, with a note on who it suits and when to skip it. Prices, hours and menus come from each place’s own site, and 3 of them have checked admission or menu prices. The guide was last checked Oct 18, 2026. How we choose and check.
Under 1 free; kids: $18; adults: $18 (at the door; 10% off in advance. Free Thursday evenings, 4–8pm). We checked this on its official site on Oct 18, 2026. Prices change, so confirm before you go.
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