Sak's Woods - Middleton, WI

Middleton was named after Middletown, Connecticut. The absence of the ‘w’ was a clerical error that was never corrected. Early citizens hoped Middleton would become the premier city on Lake Mendota, but Madison won that contest. As its neighbor to the south expanded, so has Middleton, but on a much smaller scale, which helped retain the small town charm that makes it such a fantastic place to live.

For cultural events, residents of Middleton need travel no further than downtown Madison. Here, they can enjoy a musical or stage performance at the Overture Center for the Arts or an exhibit at the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art, which also hosts the yearly Art Fair on the Square festival around the capitol building. For some culinary culture closer to home, folks can visit The National Mustard Museum, home of the biggest collection of mustards and mustard memorabilia in the world.

Middleton is a small city, but it does have a central location for good dining and drink options in and around the Hubbard Avenue area.

Folks in Middleton who appreciate a good curry head to Dhaba Indian Bistro for tender chicken tandoori and lamb biriyani served with basmati rice and topped with nuts. The Bistro’s vegetarian dinner features vegetable pakora, chana masala and spinach paneer.

For a traditional American-style bar experience, The Village Green won’t disappoint thirsty residents of Middleton. Affordable and freshly prepared burgers, Reubens and roasted pork sandwiches provide a good base for a night of lifting a pint or two of locally brewed draft beer. The Village Green remains a classic family-owned restaurant that’s been serving the community for over 35 years.

Middleton may be in the middle of southern Wisconsin, but once you step down the stairs into Louisianne’s Etc., you may think you're in southern Louisiana. Cajun and Creole-style food can be found here and live jazz and blues piano can be heard five nights a week. Appetizers of crawfish cheesecake (not a dessert, despite the name) and steamed mussels will set the palate for dinners of tasso and shrimp fettuccine and stuffed grilled tenderloin. Save room for the frozen peanut butter cream pie.

Monk’s Bar and Grill has a long history in Middleton. The first location opened in 1947, and the current location has been in existence since 1962. That means a lot of University of Wisconsin Badgers games have been watched in this sports bar, not to mention the Green Bay Packers. Monk’s serves up a quality bar menu of burgers and wings and a good selection of beer, both bottled and on tap.

Live music is never far away for residents of Sak’s Woods. A short trip to downtown Madison and the Capitol Square area provides options of the Orpheum and Majestic Theaters for larger touring bands, or visit the much smaller Frequency venue for more intimate local music showcases.

Sak’s Woods can be traveled easily and safely on foot or on two wheels. Dane County features many miles of interconnected paved bike paths that can be used for short of long bike journeys. Uber ride sharing is available in the area and many options for taxi service exist. It’s better to call for a cab than to attempt to flag one down on the street. Free parking can be found in residential areas, but residents do need to pay attention to street signs that may prohibit parking during certain times of the week, month or year and depending on the amount of accumulated snowfall. The Madison Metro Transit System serves Middleton with several routes. The Middleton Transfer Point bus hub can be used to connect to Madison’s downtown and points throughout the city. US Highway 12 runs through town and provides access to Interstate 90 for travel north to Minneapolis or south to Chicago. US 12 can also be used to access I94 via Highway 151 for travel east to Milwaukee.

Located just north of Sak’s Woods lies the Pheasant Branch Creek Conservatory. This county park offers visitors many opportunities for hiking and observing wildlife. The high ground of the park offers terrific views of the state capitol building and surrounding wetlands. To enjoy the park, both Dane County residents and non-residents can purchase a variety of daily or yearly permits with fees based on which activities and sections of the park visitors wish to access.

For a city park that's free to the public, Sak’s Woods residents can take advantage of Parisi Park. The park features a play area for children, sheltered picnic areas, a basketball court and baseball diamond. For a good workout of jogging, biking or walking, folks can access Pheasant Branch Conservancy Trail from Parisi Park. This 4.2 mile trail runs though the wooded Pheasant Branch Environmental Corridor which provides wonderful nature watching opportunities as well as exercise. Middleton Dog Park, located north of the city, is a large, fenced-in park featuring a wood chip trail and various obstacles for dogs to navigate. The park also features a separate, fenced-in area for smaller dogs.

The cost of living in Sak’s Woods and Middleton is higher than both the state and national average in everything except utilities. A one-bedroom apartment rents for around $830 per month. A beer at a local bar costs about $3 for a can or bottle of domestic and $4 for a bottle of import or a pint of locally brewed beer. Fuel prices in the area are roughly 5 percent less than the national average. A bus trip around Middleton or to downtown Madison, costs $2 and includes free transfers for 3 hours after issue. Seniors and children under 12 qualify for discounts on these fares.

Greenway Station Shopping Center in Middleton has a variety of shops for home goods, clothing and accessories. You'll find Francesca’s here. This upscale boutique offers an array of shoes, bags, clothing and accessories from watches and belts to sunglasses and scarves. Nearby Z Bella Boutique boasts a good selection of dresses, skirts, pants and lingerie for plus-size women.

Known as America's Dairyland, Wisconsin has many great places to buy cheese, such as Carr Valley Cheese in Middleton. Carr's features many choices in sheep, goat and cow milk cheeses and also sells jams, jellies, butters and syrups.

Willy Street Co-op tops the list of Madison’s favorite places to buy fresh, whole and organic food. Folks in Middleton are fortunate they have a location of this venerable grocery store right in the heart of town too. Become a co-op owner, and save money on every visit.

The Dane County Farmers Market commences every Saturday around the capitol building in downtown Madison. With an almost overwhelming amount of locally grown produce, this outdoor summer market draws thousands of people from the surrounding area. A smaller market takes place just off Capitol Square on Wednesdays. From January to April, the Saturday market moves inside the Madison Senior Center and the Wednesday market closes.