Favorite City
Winner
Madison, Wisconsin
Chelsea and Sam have lived in Chicago, Copenhagen, Bristol, and now Madison. What lucky people they are! We have enjoyed visiting them in all and love the city they now call home.
Favorite Restaurant
Winner
Off Broadway, Madison, Wisconsin
We love this place right around the corner from Chelsea and Sam’s house featuring an amazing beer selection and supper club food like fried chicken, pork chops, great salads and Friday Night Fish Fry. I love the fried cheese curds!
Runners up
Madison is really a great foodie town. Here are a few more of our favorites!
The Harvey House, Sardine, Tornado Room, Tempest, Mint Mark, homecoming, Nook, Taqueria Guadalajara
Favorite Winery Visits
Winner
American Wine Project – Mineral Point, Wisconsin
I was knocked out by the quality of the wines at AWP, who sources all local, cold climate grapes. The owner Erin had worked and studied in California and New Zealand before returning to her home state to champion local grapes. She makes great whites and reds with grapes such as St. Pepin, LaCrosse, and Marquette but my favorites are her sparkling Pet Nat and Piquette.
Best Wine Shops
Winner
Square Wine Co., Madison
With views of the Capitol building outside the front window, this is everything you want a wine shop to be. The owner Andrea has curated an excellent selection of bottles focused on small family run wineries from around the world. She is very knowledgeable and is happy to help pick out the perfect wine for any occasion. She greets all her regulars as they come in the door where they can order wine by the glass as they shop or open a bottle and enjoy it on a couch.
Runner up
Doe Bay Wine Co., Orcas Island
An excellent bottleshop in Eastsound focusing on wine, beer, and cider from the Pacific Northwest with a concise collection from around the world. Cheese and charcuterie are also available.
Best Bar
Winner
Muskellounge – Madison
Set in an unlikely strip mall this a great spot to catch the Sunday game, play a few rounds of Jenga with friends, or even catch a live bluegrass session. With a fantastic collection of beers on draft, a great cocktail menu, and outdoor seating, this has become a favorite spot to unwind and even bring Andy (Chelsea and Sam’s dog)!
Best Hikes
Winner
Cascade Canyon Trail – Grand Teton National Park
The National Parks really are national treasures and we took advantage of our time in the US visiting several of them. We loved all our hikes in Grand Teton with the spectacular scenery and wildlife, but this one really stood out. Thanks to advice from one of the Park Rangers, we accessed this trail from Jenny Lake Lodge, avoiding the crowds who cross the lake on the ferry and only go up as far as Inspiration Point. Best of all we saw several moose! I wish we had brought binoculars for a closer look.
