Smith's Crossing - Sun Prairie, WI

Sun Prairie was named by a group of men who had travelled for several days in the rain west from Milwaukee. They were on their way to start work on the state capitol building. Upon encountering the clearing that would be the future site of the town, the sun was finally shining. One of those men would return to the area and become the first settler. Residents can learn more about the history of their community by visiting The Sun Prairie Historical Society and Museum. Locals can also enjoy the area's corn harvest at the annual Sweet Corn Festival. For art and theater, a trip downtown to the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art may be in order and productions of traveling Broadway plays and musicals are frequently staged at the Civic Center, located one block from the Capitol Building.

Smith’s Crossing and the surrounding area have many choices for fast-food and full-service dining options. Wisconsin is known for its cheeses, so it's no surprise that MACS, short for Macaroni Cheese Shop, does a brisk business in Sun Prairie. It’s easy to load up on the starch here, especially with dishes such as the loaded baked potato MAC. Wisconsin is also known for beer, so thank goodness for the hangover MAC, which includes bacon, onions, sriracha, hash browns, three different kinds of cheese and a fried hot dog. The Mediterranean cuisine of the Atlantis Taverna gives locals a chance to try classic Greek dishes of souvlaki and moussaka from the dinner menu and classic gyros, feta-burgers and fries for lunch. Along with beer and cheese, Wisconsin loves its sports too. When the UW Badgers aren’t in town playing at Camp Randall, folks can gather to watch them on TV at Varsity Bar & Grill while enjoying daily drink specials including $1.50 cans of Hamm's beer, served every day, all day.

Good live music can be found a short distance away at venues such as the High Noon Saloon, for a more intimate live setting, and at the Orpheum or Majestic theaters, for larger touring acts. Also located in downtown Madison are a number of great clubs and lounges, such as Paul’s Club, the Plaza Tavern, and Wisconsin Brewing Tap Haus.

Public transportation can be obtained via the Madison Metro Transit system, which can be accessed at the American Center Park and Ride and taken south to downtown Madison. Biking and walking are safe enough on residential streets with low traffic levels, and Dane County has many miles of paved trails with some roads and streets featuring designated bike lanes. For travel east to Milwaukee, residents can access Interstate 94 from US Route151, which can also be taken north to Fond du Lac and southwest to Madison. The Madison area has Uber ride-sharing, and taxi service is available as well, but the preferred way to summon a cab is by phoning for one. Parking can be found on residential streets quite easily, and there are plenty of paid public parking options when visiting the area around Capitol Square.

Smith’s Crossing Community Park features a covered picnic area for residents to enjoy family picnics while the kids make use of the park’s playground equipment or soccer field. Nearby Sheehan Park features two volleyball courts and a baseball diamond for more exercise options. There’s also a skate park for kids who prefer solo sports. Sheehan Park's location across the street from the Sun Prairie Library makes it a good place to occupy the kids for an afternoon. Sun Prairie's Dog Park is a fenced off area where pets can get their exercise off-leash and Dane County’s many bike trails give fitness-minded residents options for hiking, biking, jogging and rollerblading. The county and city trails and parks are free and open to the public. The annual Sun Prairie Blues Fest bring folks out to Angell Park every September for food, drink and live blues.

The area around Smith’s Crossing has a higher cost of living than the state average. A bottle of beer at a local bar costs about $3 for a domestic and about $4 for a bottle of import or a draught of domestic. The price of fuel is in line with the national average if not a few cents lower. The median rental price of a one-bedroom apartment in Smith’s Crossing is $1040.18 and a trip downtown on the bus costs $2 but includes free transfers for three hours after issue.

East Towne Mall serves Madison’s east-side communities, including the areas of Smith's Crossing and Sun Prairie. Bath & Body Works, Lane Bryant, and GameStop are just a few of the many retail outlets located there.

For groceries, the Sun Prairie Woodman’s location has great daily deals on produce, canned goods and frozen foods. The Dane County Farmer's Market, held year-round at indoor and outdoor locations, provides county residents with many options for locally grown produce. Quality wines from around globe can be purchased at Cannery Wine and Spirits.

For good clothes shopping, a trip to Madison’s west side yields an abundance of choices in fashionable, upscale boutiques such as Twigs. The downtown State Street area is lined with stores such as Ragstock, for vintage clothing deals, and Citrine for a great selection of jewelry.