Things to Do in Baraboo

The course at Glen Erin Golf Club harkens back to the earliest days of golf with a links-style layout inspired by traditional courses in Ireland. Though it opened in 2003, the course pays homage to yesteryear with rolling fairways, oversize greens, and deep pot bunkers. Native fescues ensnare wayward shots that venture outside the first cut of rough, forcing players to chop through dense grasses with scythe clubs just to get the ball back onto shorter grass. The back nine is bookended by par 5s on holes 10 and 18, each more than 575 yards in length and unreachable in two strokes for all but the longest hitters or golfers who have wired their golf ball with hummingbird wings.

Course at a Glance:

• 18-hole, par 71 course
• Total length of 6,849 yards from the back tees
• Course rating of 72.4 from the back tees
• Course slope of 126 from the back tees
• Four sets of tees per hole

Spread out across 16 acres, the award-winning outdoor displays at Olbrich Botanical Gardens showcase both Midwest-hardy plants and floras native to the world's tropical forests. Water lilies and dragonflies occupy the Perennial Garden's 200-foot stream, whereas a boardwalk snakes through the Rain Garden's flood-tolerant plants. Elsewhere, guests can marvel at the pavilion in the Thai Garden, which nine Thai artisans reassembled after it traveled to Olbrich by sea and rail for seven weeks.

Inside the Bolz Conservatory's 50-foot-high glass pyramid, temperatures kept at between 65 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit maintain a steamy atmosphere for more than 640 tropical plants, a waterfall, and free-flying birds. Along with its plentitude of plants, Olbrich Botanical Gardens hosts a range of classes and events, which include concerts, botanical-themed art exhibits, and the annual Blooming Butterflies exhibit.

On the waters of Lake Wingra, Madison Log Rolling's seasoned lumberjacks and jills channel the pastimes of 19th-century loggers, who would spend downtime competing to see who could balance the longest atop logs that were ferrying downriver. In 2010, Olivia Judd and Shana Martin started their log-rolling requiem to preserve and share this regional sport with newcomers. Instructors demonstrate the art of softly skimming the feet across the surface of the log to stay balanced. Beginner classes allow students to practice log rolling while showing how the sport can improve one's balance, agility, mental fortitude, and ability to pull off a plaid flannel tuxedo. Madison Log Rolling offers log-rolling classes, boom-rolling classes, and events for team building and birthdays.

The echoes of hooves clopping against loose dirt carry across the green pastures of Madison Horse Connection, where equine aficionados bestow their vast knowledge of safe riding techniques upon pupils of all experience levels. Riders hone basic horsemanship and steed-steering skills with the ranch’s varied collection of horses and ponies, whose gentle personalities and built-in air bags make learning safe for first-timers and advanced riders. Veteran instructors can guide students through the ins and outs of various riding disciplines, such as western, hunt, jump, saddle-seat and showmanship. These instructors also lead day- and week-long horse camps all year round. When they aren’t carrying students through lessons, the facility’s horses stop in to make appearances at summer horse camps or pony parties for younger children.

Stationed on the shores of Lake Mendota, SkipperBud’s staff pairs clients with their choice of vessel before launching them into the lake’s placid waters. Up to 12 passengers can lounge on the Sylvan pontoon’s wraparound couches as the vessel cruises past the university campus and circles Governor’s Island. The more compact Sea Ray, meanwhile, kicks up waves as it races to the dock, water-skiers or hitchhiking mermen in tow.