How Madison stays fit outside the gym!

NO GYM MEMBERSHIP?
NO PROBLEM! MADISON HAS LOTS TO OFFER TO STAY FIT THIS WINTER!

It is January and it’s the month with the most beginnings and the most giving-ups. Gym memberships are booming at their highest and everyone tries to get the best deal. Why not look outside the box and see what else Madison has to offer to stay fit. Here’s our TOP 10 list of winter activities and ways to stay fit, get a little vitamin D, fresh air and stay healthy and away from viruses and busy banter.

1. Downhill Skiing, Snowboarding or Tubing at Tyrol Basin, Mount Horeb
3487 Bohn Rd., Mount Horeb, (608) 437 4135

Spend your weekend days or week nights to ski or tube, including rental, lift ticket and a hot yummy meal at the tavern. This local family-owned business has specials that are hard to top:
Ski:
Tyrol Tuesdays: $20 lift tickets All Day! $20 Rentals All Day!
Late Night: $30.00 Lift tickets 6-11pm!
College Night: $25.00 lift tickets & rentals 6-11pm on Fridays, January & February!
Kids Ski Free Every Day: Kids 5 yrs old and & under ski free!! Rentals are $40.
Student Ski Lessons: $59, 90min. incl. rentals
Tube:
Tyrol Tuesdays: $20, incl. tube for 4hrs.

2. Ice Skating at the Edgewater Hotel, downtown Madison
1001 Wisconsin Pl., Madison, (608) 535-8200

Another winter activity that is fun is ice skating. There are several free ponds to go daily but have you tried the Edgewater Hotel downtown Madison with breathtaking views of lake Mendota? It’s Madison’s top address to skate, plus it’s guaranteed. Ice skate rentals are available or bring your own! Fire pit rentals $100, 90min., skates $3.

3. Wellness & Sauna at Sauna Day, Madison
315 S. Blount St., Madison, (608) 460-0435

Check out Madison’s newest day spa and relax, unwind and unplug after a workout. Sauna Day offers a bath house with cedar salt scrub showers, steam saunas, cedar dry saunas, cold plunges, a relaxing lounge and hot tubs (extra charge). The experience is offered for $55/2hrs and you don’t need a membership. Although inside, sauna is a perfect way to tend to body and mind during winter months.

4. Cross Country Skiing at Elver Park, Madison
250 McKenna Blvd., Madison, (608) 266-4711

Try to cross country ski this year – it’s fun and works your whole body! The largest community park in Madison Parks, Elver Park, offers a variety of trails to ski, for beginners or advanced. Warming huts are available and the park offers equipment rentals and ski passes.

5. Snow Shoeing at Donald County Park or the UW Arboretum, Madison
1945 State Highway 92, Mt. Horeb, (608) 224-3730
&
207 Seminole Highway, Madison, (608) 263-7888

Snowshoeing is a fantastic way to explore many of Madison’s parks during the winter months and is easy to learn. It’s a great activity for any age and much easier than snowboarding or skiing, plus it’s a great cardio workout! We recommend the groomed trails at Donald’s County Park or the UW Arboretum. To get the right gear, check out places like: UW-Madison’s Hoofers has snowshoe rentals available through its location at Memorial Union, including for students, Union members and guests. You can also purchase locally or online from local stores like: Fontana Sports, LL Bean, REI, and Cabela’s.

6. Running, Hiking & Walking on Madison’s Capital City Trails
3102 Lake Farm Rd., Madison, (608) 242-4576

One step at a time. Start to jog and run on Madison’s city trails and combine your workout with brisk walking. Every time you step outside, you will go a bit further. Enjoy the outdoors, bundle up and get your cardio on. The Capital City State Trail in Madison offers excellent running, a scenic 17-mile paved path connecting forests, prairies, and downtown views, linking to other trails like Military Ridge, suitable for all levels with gentle grades in parts and offering year-round access for runners.

7. A Workout on the UW Madison Fitness Trail, Madison
Lakeshore Path, UW Madison, (608) 262-8244

Why going to the gym when you can workout outside, breathe in fresh air and be away from crowds? The Fitness Trail along Lakeshore Path features nine stations, each with a piece of equipment optimal for targeting specific muscle groups. Go ahead and step out of the gym and onto the Lakeshore Path for a fresh and fun outdoor workout. The website features all workout stations with explanations and videos on how to use them.

8. Meditating at Holy Wisdom Monastery, Middleton
4200 Co Hwy M, Middleton, (608) 836-1631

Immerse yourself in nature on beautiful meditation trails at Holy Wisdom. Walk the meditation trail, taking time for contemplation and meditation at each platform. You may use the guided meditations provided by Healthy Minds Innovations, or a practice of your own. It’s a beautiful place to use on your own to meditate, walk, hike and reflect or join in at many of their in- and outdoor activities, nature walks and guided meditation retreats.

9. Fat Biking at Quarry Ridge, Fitchburg
2740 Fitchrona Road, Fitchburg, (608) 270-4285

Maybe this year it is time to try something completely new! Maybe it’s fat biking? There are many trails you can choose in Madison but check out Quarry Ridge in Fitchburg. Just minutes from downtown, this system offers technical features, rock gardens, jumps, and steep terrain, popular for both mountain biking and fat biking in winter. You don’t have to own the bike to try it. Madison has several places to rent a fat bike for a small fee. Try Machinery Row Bicycles, Motorless Motion, or ERIK’S Bike Shop. For more places to ride, explore local parks like Badger Prairie, or even our frozen downtown lakes.

10. Stair Climbing & November Project, Madison

Take the stairs! The vertical movement of climbing stairs increases resistance from gravity, which helps build leg strength quickly. Stair climbing is great cardio. It burns more calories than running, so if you’re looking to challenge yourself this winter, give it a try! Check out November Project Madison which is a bunch of fun, active people of any ages working out together outside, no matter the temperatures and there is plenty of step climbing involved every time they meet. This group welcomes everyone and it’s free to join. They meet every Wednesday (UW Madison. Bascom Hill) and Friday (Capitol Square, Lady Forward Statue) from 5:45-7:15AM for a free 45min.-90min.-workout. Drop in any time! Join November Project on Social Media to get weekly updates on workouts and events.