Camps in Madison, WI

Yes, Mendota Park is probably closest to the bike park. http://www.countyofdane.com/lwrd/parks/mendota.aspx Blue Mound State Park is farther but is at the biggest off road biking site in the area. Your best bet to know what's up and get riding tips is register on the www.madcitydirt.com forums. That site also has information on all the area riding and people post rides.

Mendota County Park & Campground County Highway M 608.246.3896 Website<http://www.countyofdane.com/lwrd/parks/parklist.asp#mendota> Located off County Highway M near the intersection of County Highways Q and M. A 30-unit campground and a 5-unit boat campground with reservable sites. Electrical sites, bathroom and shower facilities and trailer dumping station. Mendota Park also offers two shelter facilities, unsupervised swimming area with an accessible swimming ramp, tennis and basketball courts, softball field, play equipment and a shallow launch for small boats and canoes. This park is only a few miles southwest of Governor Nelson State Park.

What about Sidie Hollow for camping, my B & B for lodging and Eckhart Park for a shelter. The Inn could be a gathering place for socializing -- in the house or on the back deck and yard. The B & B is a great place for these types of events.

I would check out: http://www.naturenooksretreat.com/ or http://www.kvranch.com/ or http://www.trilliumcottage.com/

Adams App. Repair 228-6865. But a very wise woman once told me to go straight to a laundromat, do all the loads at in the time it takes to do one, and avoid the risk of what might be coming home in those bags.

Standish Appliance 251-3499 (given to me by Jake)

Amanda Ginther swore by the guy she called out.

I use Rover.com. They come to you. They can do drop in visits, with walks, playtime, feeding, etc. or overnights. And it's affordable. I've had great luck with them.

Hickory Hills Kennel is great!

I second Hickory Hills! My dog has been going there for several years.

Diapers especially! Check out newmomsinc.org .

We'd do that with the $1ºº stocking caps and gloves at Menards. Now, year 'round we stop every time we go and get $10ºº worth of toothpaste tubes, shampoo bottles, or deodorant for Sandy to drop off during her weekly shift at the Pantry. Used Kids Books……. the kids that come in with their folks love 'em!

How far do you want to go? Friends of mine have hiked the [ice age trail](http://www.iceagetrail.org/) and it seems like a lot of fun. Really roughin' it out there too.

Check out the state parks and National forests. Close to Milwaukee won't get you too remote or solitude, but it can be quiet. Remember that some camp sites must be reserved, while others are first come, first serve. Fees vary and are required in some places. Have fun.

Newport Beach State Park at the tip of Door County. You can't hear/see your neighbors. Hike or bike in. Bike + small bike trailer = minimal effort to be isolated.

Weird, I was going to post this exact thing yesterday. I read a few things about kettle moraine having backpacking trails and sites but cannot figure out exactly how secluded they are. If you're ever trying to go a bit further out of town I would highly recommend the apostle islands.

The Ice Age Trail in the Northern Kettle Moraine State Forest or Nicolet National Forest are good spots.

Pie irons; the most absolute fun ever. So versatile too. http://www.pieiron.com/recipes.htm

The Aldo Leopold Nature Center offers summer camps, not sure of hours and I know it's probably not the cheapest option. I also know of families in the neighborhood who do the summer camps through MSCR and have been happy with the offering.

Spartan Day Camp, in mcfarland