Summer in Wisconsin’s capital city can really bring the heat, with temperatures regularly reaching the 80s and occasionally climbing into the 90s. Use this short list of water activities in and around Madison to find a way to stay cool this summer.
Walter R. Bauman Outdoor Aquatic Center
Visit this outdoor water park with your kids in tow for a truly memorable way to beat the heat. Children will be thrilled with the interactive play equipment and sand playground, and there is even a zero-depth pool entrance for the youngest children to ease their way into the water. Adults can test themselves in an eight-lane competition pool or play a game of volleyball on one of two sand courts.
The main attraction of the Walter R. Bauman Outdoor Aquatic Center, though, is the two waterslides. Both of the slides are 134 feet long. The park is open from June through August.
Madison Log Rolling
This is one fun activity you probably haven’t tried before. You’ll meet up with instructors at local Lake Wingra, where the company places synthetic “logs” in the water. Your challenge is to stand on these logs and roll them, maintaining your precarious balance for as long as possible. You’ll almost definitely end up in the water, but that’s just part of the fun.
This unique sport pays tribute to the lumberjack history of Wisconsin, and it’s also become a bona fide athletic event in its own right. Serious competitors now roll logs on ESPN. Bring the whole family for maximum laughs.
Stand Up Paddleboarding
Hop onto a board and use a paddle to propel yourself through the water when you take part in one of Madison’s most popular up-and-coming activities. You can take your first lessons in stand up paddleboarding (or SUP, to those in the know) by booking a private lesson with organizations like Paddleboard Specialists.
This is a great way to see if the activity is right for you without investing too much money into your own equipment. If you find out that you do have a knack for SUP, consider joining one of Madison’s local SUP yoga or SUP polo groups for an added challenge.
Madcity Flyboards
Strap on a pair of specialized boots and fly nearly 30 feet into the air above Lake Mendota. The boots are connected to your instructor’s personal watercraft by a long hose, and he or she will control the thrust that allows you to shoot straight up into the air as water rockets from your feet.
You can even use the thrust to dive several feet under the water — before you know it, you’ll be flipping in and out of the water like a dolphin. You’ll have to tilt the flyboard with your feet to control your balance and direction, but most people get the hang of it in a few minutes.
There are plenty of opportunities to swim or kayak on Madison’s lakes, but these specialized water activities in our region offer an even more unique way to stay cool during the upcoming summer.
“Midwest Log-Rolling Championship 06-29-2013 060-1” via Flickr by Richard Hurd. Used with permission via CC BY 2.0 / cropped from original
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